Melbourne

After my traveling through beautiful sunshine weather, exciting new cities, and fabulous beaches, it was bittersweet to head back to Melbourne. Thankfully I had three days of tours already planned to keep me busy and give my holiday a final kick. On Monday, I toured the Great Ocean Road. On Tuesday, I went to Philip Island and watched the Penguin Parade. On Wednesday, I took a tour of the Yarra Valley, riding Puffing Billy, going to a winery for a wine tasting, and spending time at Healesville Sanctuary.

I have to say I love Melbourne. It is a fantastic city full of wonderful things to see, do, and taste (I'm sure I have hinted at this before). Since I had spent a bit of time in the city I chose these tours to get me out of the city and exploring the more popular (but out of the way) regions of Victoria/Melbourne. Unfortunately for me, Melbourne decided to throw at me some classic Melbourne type weather. Monday was a day on the coast, and it was the coldest day of the year, getting to about 14 degrees (C). That's very bitter when with the wind and rain coming off of the ocean and your in flip flops, ripped crops, and a button up shirt without a coat or any way of protecting yourself against the elements. I was quite upset with Melbourne that day. There were beautiful sights, like the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, and London Bridge, that if I was properly dressed (or the weather was cooperating) I would have stayed for much longer and explored. However, most of Monday was spent running out of the van, snapping one or two shots, and dashing back as quickly as I could.

Tuesday was an improvement. The weather wasn't much better but since I had a later pick up time I made a stop at Queen Victoria Market to find a scarf and a hot coffee to get me started on a warm note. Driving around Philip Island I got to see the famous motorcycle race track, the Nobbies (home to fur seals, little penguins, and great white sharks), and the day ended with the penguin parade. Every night, hundreds of little penguins (about a foot tall and only 2 pounds) make their way from the ocean to their burrow in the side of the land. It is the third largest attraction in Australia, trailing Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef. You aren't allowed to take picture of the penguins because the flash can disorient them and they may not be able to find their way back to their home. As a lover of animals, I was okay with this rule. If you're ever in Victoria, make time for this. The penguins are so adorable, and they make the craziest noises! After they come up on the beach you can walk around the boardwalk and get an extremely close view of the penguins finding their way home. These guys were too cute, falling, tripping, and running to catch up with their mates.

Wednesday the weather was perfect Autumn weather. It almost felt like an October day. Beautiful sunshine and crisp air made traveling on Puffing Billy, a historical steam engine, relaxing and enjoyable. Although I'm not a wine drinker, the lunch at the winery was absolutely delicious. Since I was traveling on a tour, there were several other visitors on my bus. Today it was an older crowd and by the time we arrived at Healesville my patience for waiting and explaining was spent. It was the basic kangaroos, koalas, emus etc., all of which I had seen before (multiple times). Healesvilles does, however, have a platypus and that made the trip a lot better. I have to say, they are the strangest looking creatures ever. Oh and did you know an animal is classified a marsupial not just because it has a pouch but because it has a non-placenta birth. I found that interesting, although after the tour guide said "placenta" for the third time I became more grossed out than anything.

Thursday was my last day on holiday and I spent an enjoying the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Queen Victoria Market. It is the largest open air market and holds everything you can think of-and most things at a reasonable price (but you can always talk them down). I finished up my gift shopping, indulged in some classic Aussie foods, and slowly made my way back to where my holiday started, Southern Cross Station.

Going on holiday in Australia can mean so many things. People do everything from jumping from hostel to hostel, to living on couches, to sleeping in tents on beaches. I have heard of other people taking months off from work, renting a RV and driving wherever the highway takes them. There is so much to see and do in this expansive country, and it's all worth taking a look.

I'm heading into my last week in Australia. There will probably be a few posts this week-my thoughts on being a female traveling on her own, frequently asked questions, and my reflections from this journey.