Out and About in Melbourne

So as much as it sounds like all we did on our Melbourne trip was sit around, enjoy cocktails and feed swans, we actually did leave the house and see some of this exciting city.  Here are a few of the things we did:

Southbank Promenade:
One sunny afternoon, we headed down to the Southbank Promenade for lunch and a stroll.  The riverwalk is adjacent to Melbourne's CBD (central business district) along the Yarra River and is home to many restaurants, pubs and street performers.  We stopped to watch a comedian/magician and two guys doing the whole throw swords while on stilts kind of thing.  The kids were of course enthralled, after the second one, us adults were admittedly itching to move on!

We had a great meal at the World Restaurant & Bar (seriously, I cannot get enough of the Fish & Chips in this country) and sampled some James Squire beer.  It was a delightful lunch with our delightful companions!

 

Werribee Mansion and Park:
Located just a few minutes from our friends' house, Werribee Mansion is a 19th century Victorian mansion built by the Chirnside Family and now open to the public for tours.  With over 60 rooms, many of the family's original items such as furniture and clothing are on display.  The most interesting yet disturbing room was the billiards room.  It displayed many of the family hunting trophies, notably rugs made out of tiger, jaguar and lion, a stuffed dog, a hippo head end table and a rhino foot stool.  As you can imagine, Sophia was horrified.  Really, really horrified. 

The grounds of the park were beautiful, and the kids all enjoyed running free.  We wandered through the Victoria State Rose Garden and circled the Italian Grotto (the signs warning of snakes freaked me out of course!).  Many people were around, busy setting up for what we found out was a beer festival scheduled for the next day.  Alas, we couldn't attend, but were still impressed with what looked to be a great event!

 

Shadowfax Winery
Also located in Werribee Park is the Shadowfax Winery.  Deb had never been there, so we stopped on our way back to the house (obviously that's the ONLY reason we stopped).  The winery had a really lovely lawn complete with bocce, picnic tables and ample shade.  We didn't stay for long though, so just opted for a tasting inside.  The winery also has a restaurant with an impressive menu - I have a feeling there will be a girls lunch in Deb's future! 

Jason wasn't thrilled with the wine, but as usual, I seemed to like everything I tasted.  I have never pretended to be some wine conneisseur.  It always amazes me that there is a bucket for spitting out or throwing your wine away - what a waste!  The only negative I could find about the place was that it was named for a horse in "Lord of the Rings"...possibly the worst movie ever made.   Well at least I think it is, I couldn't get through the whole thing.  The kids sat at a table and chatted the entire time, drinking water the staff offered them.  Love those kids.

Melbourne Zoo

Of COURSE we had to go to the Melbourne Zoo.  Sophia's life would not be complete without visiting every zoo on the face of the Earth.   Highlights of the zoo included the always adorable Meerkats, the Asian Elephant Trail (Sophia especially loved the baby elephant), Wild Sea exhibit and the Orangutan Sanctuary.  But by far the coolest moment of the day was the HUGE brown bear.  When we walked up to his habitat he was standing about 30 feet away in an alcove in the rocks stretching tall.  I swear he looked over at us immediately (Sophia to be exact, she was the first to get there) and headed straight for us.  He came up right to the wall like he was a dog.  It was CRAZY!  I will never forget that big guy.  After spending a couple of hours, we capped off the trip with the required ice cream for all!

Williamstown
Another interesting spot Deb and John took us to was Williamstown.  Originally Melbourne's first sea port, it has recently been renovated into a popular family and tourist destination.  Surrounded on three sides by water, the main street is lined with shops, restaurants and bars.  The adults sat down at an outside table and enjoyed a beer and a chat, while the kids ran and played at the playground across the street.  Before we headed out the kids got yet another ice cream and I eyed up some clothes at a cute boutique, but ultimately resisted the urge.  We didn't have time, but any potential visitors take note - there is a railway museum located in North Williamstown as well as the HMAS Castlemaine, a restored warship, available for touring at Gem Pier.  And on the third Sunday of every month, there is a 100-stall craft market open from 10am-4pm.  Lots to do!

Melbourne Cricket Ground
No visit to Melbourne, especially during the Christmas season, would be complete without a visit to the Melbourne Cricket Grounds for a Boxing Day Test Match.  This year, Australia faced off against Sri Lanka and Jason wasn't about to miss an opportunity to check out the event.  Part cricket match, part fraternity party, Boxing Day was a "boy's only" event during this visit, and John and Jason were joined by John's brother, Tom, and their friend Graham.  Australia played very well, as they both bowled and batted on the first day of the match (very uncommon, apparently).  Jason ate the obligatory "meat pie", drank pints of mid-strength, participated in the wave (booing at the MCG Club section) and actually managed to squeeze in some time to learn a bit about the game.  By the looks of John and Jason upon returning home, however, it was obvious the meat pie and mid-strengths were the top priority.

Campbell's Cove 

Finally, as our time wound down in Melbourne, and we prepared to leave Australia and our friends behind, we visited a lesser known area of Melbourne called Campbell's Cove.  Only a short drive from John and Deb's house, and just a few miles from Werribee Mansion, Campbell's Cove is a small coastal area on the Port Phillip Bay, and is apparently recognized as Melbourne's "first nude beach".  Honestly, we stopped because Deb thought the houses were interesting, and she didn't even know it was "clothing optional" (yeah right).  She was right though, it truly is a fascinating little area.  The coast is dotted with small shacks, nearly one on top of another, with the sand and surf just a few feet away.  We didn't stay very long, as the "wildlife" quickly showed itself (and I mean, "showed itself").  Luckily the kids stayed in the car as we walked down to the beach, so only the adults were exposed to the show.

 

So that's it for Melbourne, folks!  Until next time...thanks for the memories Deb and John!