A magical trip Down Under

Travel tale

Hip, arty and stylish Melbourne was the first stop on our much awaited ‘Down Under’ aka Australia trip. My husband and I tried to contain our excitement of exploring this vibrant city, as we began our descent into the Tullamarine airport.

After the visa formalities, which were a breeze, we found ourselves on a shuttle bus going full throttle towards our accommodation at the CBD (Central Business District). We checked into our hotel with excitement, as this city was going to be our home for the next five days. Without exaggeration, Melbourne, the cultural capital of Australia, lives up to the name of being the world’s most live-able cities.

We started our first evening at the best place — Federation (Fed) Square. With its jagged geometric facade, it is one of the major meeting stop for tourists and locals alike. Across the street from Fed Square is the elegant Flinders Street Station. The landmark structure with a dome, tower and clocks at its entrance, has led to the much used statement “Meet you under the clocks”. We then wandered around using the ‘trams’, taking in the full picture of the city. Burgundy coloured City Circle Tram number 35, which is free within CBD, took us to the Queen Victoria night markets. We devoured delicious pancakes and potato sticks, and ended our first night.

Sightseer by nature, we found ourselves on a train to Belgrave Station to visit the century old steam train ‘Puffing Billy’ on the second day. The journey aboard Puffing Billy took us through the magnificent Dandenong Ranges. With the lush fern gullies brushing past, and the tall Mountain Ash trees towering overhead, we relaxed and enjoyed the fresh air. Lakeside Station houses the most beautiful gardens where we had a picnic alongside the gorgeous lake. After a while, we took a return trip and made our way to the Royal Exhibition Building and lazed around in the Carlton Gardens.

The next morning, having a long day ahead of us, we filled ourselves with Boreks and Market Lane Coffees at the Queen Victoria Day Market. We then made our way to Brighton Station and saw the iconic colourful bathing boxes by the Brighton beach. Looking for more beaches, we took a bus to St. Kilda. The pier was absolutely spectacular. Having accustomed to trams, we boarded one towards the Dockland Precinct. Wandering around, after a while, we went into the Crown Casino. We played big, won big, lost big and won big again.

Fourth day was the most special as the Great Ocean Road (GOR) drive was up. No trip to Melbourne is complete without travelling to the 12 Apostles through the GOR. We were ‘overawed’ by the stunning scenic coastal views. The Apostles were spectacular. The blue water, the lime shacks and the landscapes made our drive a success. The picturesque scenery grew onto us by the end of it all.

Last day, we took off with street-art hopping, right from Hosier Lane till Union Lane. We drank coffee and had pastries at Brunetti’s. The endless coffees that we had in Melbourne, a coffee lovers’ paradise, were second to none. We explored the Degraves Street, one of the legendary laneways and arcades, full of lively cafes, bars and boutiques. Having visited Lords Cricket Ground during our London trip, I knew my husband was looking forward to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. And it sure didn’t disappoint, as we enjoyed thoroughly.

The Yarra park, next to it, was beautiful and a perfect spot as well for our last day picnic.Before we had realised, five days had passed and it was time to get on to our next destination — Sydney. Our whirlwind romance with Melbourne drew to a close, but we left a piece of our hearts back there and vowed to be back soon to relive the enthralling experience!

How to get there

 We took the Singapore Airlines flight from
Mumbai to Melbourne with a layover at Singapore. The flight services especially the food was top notch.

Places to stay

We stayed at Ibis Styles Kingsgate in Kings Street, CBD, and I would strongly recommend it owing to its ideal location at the heart of Melbourne. It is a four minute walk from
Southern Cross station, and other major attractions like Fed Square, National Gallery of Victoria, Etihad Stadium, and more.

 She is a banker and a blogger. Sharmistha can be contacted at www.thatgirlslifestories.com