Melbourne and surrounds

Stormclouds and rainbow on the way to Melbourne

Free camping in Kosciuzko National Park - nothing better

On the road to Melbourne

Historic Flinders Street Station and tram



Federation Square



Me and Shane Warne - but he didn't text me!!!!

Part of the Sports Arena precinct

China Town lions

Yarra River waterfront

Murals Southbank

Great place for a beer

Lygon Street - the Italian area - great coffee!!!!

No idea what it is - just liked it

Charlie found his long lost brother at the Queen Victoria Markets

Beautiful little church in the main street of Healesville

One of the street scapes in Healesville

House amongst the trees in Badger Creek Reserve - Yarra National Park

Yarra National Park

Ferns and flowers

The Bird Man of Badger Creek

Well after leaving the snowfields of Canberra we set off for Melbourne to have a week there before we boarded the Spirit of Tasmania ferry.  We did some free camping (nothing better) in Kosciusko National Park at a place called Jounama Creek.  There was another caravan there when we arrived but they went the next day so we then had 2 blissful days on our own with camp fires, damper every nights.  The fishing wasn't so good but we still managed to fill in the days.  Its surprising how fast they go!!  We would have stayed longer but there was a severe weather warning for the area and as we were camping by a creek we didn't want to make the same mistake as we did at Camooweal at the start of our travels when we ignored the weather warning and only just made it out!!

We headed on to Melbourne visiting the famous Dog on a Tuckerbox in Gungadai.  We passed through Beechworth (Ned Kelly country) before heading down through Seymour and finally arriving in Melbourne.  I must say we have visited all the capital cities in all the states we have been in and Melbourne is my least favourite.  Many will disagree with me but we found it dirty, crowded and not very friendly.  The drivers are idiots and I was certainly glad that Charlie was towing the caravan!!

We did all the usual touristy things and found the free Melbourne hop on and hop off tourist shuttle fantastic as it enabled us to wander at our leisure.  Federation Square was amazing - the building fantastic with lots of eateries there.  We loved Lygon Street with all the Italian delis and coffee shops and bought some yummy nibbles as we had already eaten all the goodies my daughter in law had bought us.  Coffee was great.  We did so much walking I should be a size 6 but sadly no!!

We also visited the famous Queen Victoria Markets where Charlie met his long lost brother who was also a Raphael so they swapped a few tall stories of course.  Had some lovely Vietnamese food for lunch in the food hall - we just love our food.

We then had a lovely day trip out through the Yarra Valley and yes you've guessed it more food and wine tasting.  We ended up in Healesville which we really loved.  A lovely little town, very well kept.  We had a lovely organic lunch at a very hippy cafe with a "free spirit" on the guitar and another "free spirit " on the bongo drums.  Yum, Yum.

From there we explored the Yarra National Park and in particular Badger Creek Reserve (I just loved the name!!)  Met a lovely Greek family who were having a bbq there with their children and introduced us to the friendly parrots.

All in all we enjoyed Melbourne but were glad to leave and head off to catch the ferry over to
Tasmania which will be the subject of another blog.

So for now until next time its Adieu from The Wandering 2s.