Off down the coast toward Sydney

Monday 4th Feb

We left St Kilda early and the journey out was considerably easier than the journey in.  It was starting to feel like we were running out of time on the trip, and we had to bypass a whole bit of the coast to get up to Lakes Entrance.  If there is a next time will come back and revisit, but there is only so much you can do.

From here to Kiama, we decided to do two nights at each place along the way as one night leaves you no time to see anything, and you feel you spend your time just driving, although the scenery has been spectacular.  Of course you can spent whole weeks in this one area alone, so you can't expect to see everything.

We stopped off for coffee along the way and met Norman the donkey and what a vocal donkey it was, braying the whole time we were there.  Wanted to put him in the boot, but Rod wouldn't let me.  :((

It was surprising how different the scenery became, and we were driving through the Great Dividing Range with hills to our left, with lakes everywhere.


Our stop for the next two nights is Lake Entrance, and is exactly what is says on the tin! a little fishing town which is the entrance to the lovely lakes area. The region is called Gippsland.  We'd booked into a small motel, right in the centre of town, and it was just perfect.

Fishing boat in the harbour, literally being mobbed by birds looking for a freebie!

A quiet night, with a few beers down the local hotel was called for tonight.  

Last day in St Kilda

Sunday 3rd February

We decided to stay around St Kilda today as it was the start of the St  Kilda Festival, the markets were on, and in the afternoon it was the Gay Pride March.

So here's our day

Can  I live here please

Sunflower Parade

Art Deco everywhere

Thought it might rain

 We walk along the sea front and went to the markets, and ate ice-cream.

At 2 the gay pride march started.  Quite small and very political, focusing on discrimination of course but also alot about keeping families together.  loads of people and great atmosphere - and it didn't rain.

March Start

Hi boys

They called themselves Dykes on Bike - mega bikes

Don't you love it - the church for whoever would come

This bunch were good fun

Great atmosphere

Music at the end of the day to wind down

Our time here was at an end - we sat in a bar and drank wine as the sun went down  and headed home for an early night as we were off early the next day - and just a bit singed from being out in the sun all day.

Melbourne Day 2

Melbourne Day 2 and back on the tram into the city

We decided to start the day off by going down to the docklands area for a walk round.  A few people had told us that there was a lot of controversy around the building of this area, but couldn't quite find out what.  I presume as with everywhere else, it is about the vast money spent building an area of luxury accommodation, without anything for the 'real people', but then I could be wrong.  It's in the same vein as Canary Wharf with big businesses taking off down there.  I just hope they've made provision for everyone else - there can only be so many millionaires that can afford the property.

It felt quite desolate in some ways, and obvious that most of the accommodation was empty, but then it does take a long time for an area to develop properly. It was fascinating in some ways and quite fun.

Cow in a tree (of course!)

Old wharf piles with tops on (I think)

Don't even ask

Anyway, we walked for miles around the docks and eventually ended up at a boat show which was fun.  We thought we would just pick up a yacht to go with our docklands flat and associated mooring.

Ours is the one on the right at the back!

As with any new development there is the compulsory shopping centre, which was pretty boring apart from the painted kangeroos!  In London it was painted elephants, here they kept it local - good fun.

So enough of the docklands, we headed back to the city via the QV market for lunch and back to Federation Square and the Art District for a mooch.

We started with another visit to the waterfront and bumped into the Angel again, who was giving us a stern look.

Federation Square and where the trams come in - great meeting point

Arty Farty Stairs - but I loved the stone they used

Who let the dogs out!   sculpture in Federation Square

Well in the end we caught the tram back to St Kilda for the last time.  We both felt that we hadn't done Melbourne justice and that we would like to come back and stay for longer.  We did all the touristy bits, but we would like to explore the districts more and spend the night time there.  We felt there was so much going on.  But I suppose it is good to leave a place feeling like you want to go back - and you never know we might just do that sometime.

Melbourne Day 1

Melbourne - Friday 1st Feb

Caught the tram into the city ...stupid I know, we I was really excited about this.

The trams stop at Revolution Square - oops sorry Federation Square and we headed off down the river, which is always a good start.

We just love all the humour and sculpture everywhere in Australia, so excuse me if I bore you with lots of photographs - I went a bit mad today.

It's supposed to be an angel - but looked like a giraffe on acid to me

We walked for hours down the river walk through the centre of down and ended up at Fitzroy gardens where there is Captain Cook's cottage (that's what is says) - this small cottage was shipped over from Great Ayton, which is about 2 miles from Stokesley where Rod grew up.  Some enterprising Ozzy bought the cottage in 1935 and shipped it over.  Rod tells me that there is still a row of these cottages in Gt Ayton, with a hole in the middle where this one was.

A small but beautiful botanical garden and greenhouse here as well.

How I managed to get this shot without the 50 Japanese ladies, pushing you out of the way to take photos, I don't know.  They are small but pretty feisty!

We walked to the QVM Queen Victoria Market for lunch.  It's a lovely old Victorian food market - it was fabulous and what a shame that we couldn't buy anything as we were not going home for hours -  could have gone mad! lot's of lovely stuff.   I did buy a fleece, cos believe it or not it was quite cold, especially last night.

Luckily next door was a food market and Rod had a pile of Noodles and I had a great veggie Indian - what more could you ask.

Melbourne has The Lane's, side streets full of of cafes and restaurants, and it very trendy here to eat out or do coffee in the lanes -  Melbourne is very serious about it's coffee.

 and it very trendy here to eat out or do coffee in the lanes -  Melbourne is very serious about it's coffee.Melbourne has The Lane's, side streets really with lots of cafes and restaurants,

It also has a free tram service for anyone to use - it does a circular route in both directions and you can just hop on and off as you need - very thoughtful!

Foot weary we jumped on the tram, but we weren't finished.  Next was the Contemporary Arts Centre  on St Kilda Road.  Bizarre building, bizarre exhibition, but loved every minute.

Entrance to the University -Sweet really?

Arty Farty reflection of mine

Completely kernackered we caught the tram back to St Kilda for a lie down.

In the evening, and after I had screwed another of legs on we wandered down the esplanade again, and had an ice-cream the side of a volcano and waddled back home.

I had better stop now.  Back tomorrow after another back in Melbourne.