The Great Australian Adventure
Dec 26th, 2014, 09:10 AM
#22
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Let's finish this up with Melbourne. Enchanted. Loved walking around, looking at the architecture, again friendly folks, more casual/less uptight than Sydney.
We stayed at the Hotel Mercure Treasury Gardens. Nice location to walk to sights, right across from the gardens. Made for nice lingering in the lounge/restaurant. The decor was decidedly modern. The bathroom was a designer's wet dream: no place to store anything, but it sure looked good! We went walking on arrival, window shopping, some real shopping. Dinner this evening was at Young and Jackson Hotel in Chloe's. Delightful server, really spoiled us. The food was quite good. On the way back to our hotel, we were staring at what looked to be bats or birds or UFOs circling one of the skyscrapers. True to form, as I can't walk and chew gum at the same time, took a fall. No harm, no foul.
Next morning we were picked up for a city tour. Main streets, Fitzroy gardens and the conservatory, Cook cottage. Some lovely pictures. The bus broke down, and we were rescued by another to take us back to the hotel for our pickup for Philip Island Penguin.
I thought originally that this was hokey, but our travel partners really wanted to do it. Long drive, scenic but long. We had dinner in a little Italian restaurant, which was pleasant (not sure if there is a town name here?)
As the sun sets, you are on bleacher seats facing the ocean. Soon, a few little penguin heads pop up, scouting for enemies. As they signal all clear, up come a group of 30 or so, scuttling across the beach into the dunes. This happens over and over in various sized groups. The best viewing now is from the elevated boardwalk paralleling their trek to their nests. We learned that these penguins make hundreds of dives daily on their hunting trips. Felt sorry for the long walk home on those tiny legs. All in all a lovely experience to have had.
After a long ride home and fitful sleep, our final day in OZ was with Outback Billy tour of the Great Ocean Road. One of the big drawbacks to a tour: we were picked up before 8 am, and spent the next 90 minutes traveling around picking up at other hotels/private residences. This day was long but memorable.
We walked in the rainforest, stopped to see koalas in the wild and feed exotic birds. We drove to a secluded creek, where many swam. The tour hosts provided a buffet of native Australian fruits. Exotic. Finally the 12 Apostles, and traveling down many steps to a quiet beach. But oh, that walk thru the sand and back up those steps. Wowsa!
Home the next morning after a noneventful check in at the airport, and back to LAX before we started! DH took a good 10 days to get back on a sleep/wake cycle once we got home. Just a day or 2 for me.
A true adventure, and one I am glad we were up for. Highlights for both of us were the Fodors GTG. Next for me, The King and I, and for DH the Penguin Parade.
As I have said many times before: in all our travels, we encounter Aussie tourists and know they are all engaging and energetic. Even more true now that we have seen them on their home turf.
Good on ya for reading, and hope to see you all in Florida soon!
(Now if we could figure a way to see NZ without all that flight time...)
We stayed at the Hotel Mercure Treasury Gardens. Nice location to walk to sights, right across from the gardens. Made for nice lingering in the lounge/restaurant. The decor was decidedly modern. The bathroom was a designer's wet dream: no place to store anything, but it sure looked good! We went walking on arrival, window shopping, some real shopping. Dinner this evening was at Young and Jackson Hotel in Chloe's. Delightful server, really spoiled us. The food was quite good. On the way back to our hotel, we were staring at what looked to be bats or birds or UFOs circling one of the skyscrapers. True to form, as I can't walk and chew gum at the same time, took a fall. No harm, no foul.
Next morning we were picked up for a city tour. Main streets, Fitzroy gardens and the conservatory, Cook cottage. Some lovely pictures. The bus broke down, and we were rescued by another to take us back to the hotel for our pickup for Philip Island Penguin.
I thought originally that this was hokey, but our travel partners really wanted to do it. Long drive, scenic but long. We had dinner in a little Italian restaurant, which was pleasant (not sure if there is a town name here?)
As the sun sets, you are on bleacher seats facing the ocean. Soon, a few little penguin heads pop up, scouting for enemies. As they signal all clear, up come a group of 30 or so, scuttling across the beach into the dunes. This happens over and over in various sized groups. The best viewing now is from the elevated boardwalk paralleling their trek to their nests. We learned that these penguins make hundreds of dives daily on their hunting trips. Felt sorry for the long walk home on those tiny legs. All in all a lovely experience to have had.
After a long ride home and fitful sleep, our final day in OZ was with Outback Billy tour of the Great Ocean Road. One of the big drawbacks to a tour: we were picked up before 8 am, and spent the next 90 minutes traveling around picking up at other hotels/private residences. This day was long but memorable.
We walked in the rainforest, stopped to see koalas in the wild and feed exotic birds. We drove to a secluded creek, where many swam. The tour hosts provided a buffet of native Australian fruits. Exotic. Finally the 12 Apostles, and traveling down many steps to a quiet beach. But oh, that walk thru the sand and back up those steps. Wowsa!
Home the next morning after a noneventful check in at the airport, and back to LAX before we started! DH took a good 10 days to get back on a sleep/wake cycle once we got home. Just a day or 2 for me.
A true adventure, and one I am glad we were up for. Highlights for both of us were the Fodors GTG. Next for me, The King and I, and for DH the Penguin Parade.
As I have said many times before: in all our travels, we encounter Aussie tourists and know they are all engaging and energetic. Even more true now that we have seen them on their home turf.
Good on ya for reading, and hope to see you all in Florida soon!
(Now if we could figure a way to see NZ without all that flight time...)
Jan 1st, 2015, 12:11 PM
#27
Same to you & yours, Cheryl.
If you think our place names are tricky, wait 'till you get to New Zealand!
Whakatane, Whangarei,Ngauruhoe had my Wellington based in-laws in paroxysms of laughter at my mangling many moons ago.
If you think our place names are tricky, wait 'till you get to New Zealand!
Whakatane, Whangarei,Ngauruhoe had my Wellington based in-laws in paroxysms of laughter at my mangling many moons ago.
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dkw
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