2017 had been a hectic year. As the year was coming to a close last Christmas, I looked back upon the year's happenings and I was still deeply enchanted by my trip to Melbourne that was taken back in June. Lauded as the most liveable city in the world, Melbourne is indeed the ideal getaway spot for city dwellers who are tired of being surrounded by our concrete jungle.
It was not easy to arrange the trip as it was the school holiday season and many of my colleagues needed to bring their kids out during the break. However, it had been eons since I went on a vacation with my aunt's family and I was determined to make it happen. One of my cousins was still attending junior college and the June break was meant for revision. It was after much persuasion that we managed to get her teacher to release her for the much awaited trip.
Melbourne City
In June, it is early winter and temperatures typically hover at around eight to ten degrees Celsius. But knowing how unpredictable the Australian climate can be, we packed the thickest down jackets and winter clothes for the trip, complete with gloves and skullcaps.
The overnight flight meant that we were pretty dishevelled by the time we reached Melbourne around seven in the morning. Still trying to orientate ourselves with tired sleepy eyes, we were whisked off to the tour bus to have a tour of Melbourne City amid the city's morning flurry of activities. We were greeted by howling cold winds that reminded us that we were under clothed in our one-layer shirts. Putting on the down jackets, gloves and skullcaps did little to fend off the icy cold wind that sliced our faces. As the state capital of the Australian state of Victoria, Melbourne is sparsely populated with a population of less than five million although it is more than ten times the size of Singapore.
Melbourne, with its lush greenery, fresh air and good town planning, is also known as Australia's garden city. Colonial-era buildings line the streets as electric trams ply through the roads. Although it was during the morning peak hour, traffic was not heavy and we saw that Melburnians took their time to go to work, smartly dressed in overcoats with cups of hot fragrant cappuccino in their hands. Mothers brought their children and babies for strolls in the city's numerous parks, and children chattered cheerily despite the sunny but cold weather. The Flinders Street station was bustling with activities as pedestrians and cars thronged the street. The Federation Square, which is another landmark of Melbourne City, frequently oversees major celebrations and is where important ceremonies are held.
Next, we headed over to Queen Victoria Market where all kinds of trinkets and goods were on sale. Since we were all feeling chilly in the windy weather and that it had been some time since we had our last meal on board the plane, we gladly made our way to a nearby cafe for food. We wolfed down delicious sausage buns, french fries, spring rolls and potato wedges while enjoying warm and fragrant cappuccino, which Australia is famous for. We bought bags, hats and souvenirs and were very surprised when a friendly Italian retailer could actually recognise our accent and pointed us out as Singaporeans!
After the shopping spree, we visited St Patrick's Cathedral – the largest church in the Southern Hemisphere. Intricate murals were painted on the cathedral walls and peaceful silence filled the air as we toured the sprawling complex in awe. The Parliament House is also another must-see, with its colonial-era architecture and stoic grey-white pillars. Alas, after walking around and snapping photos, it was time for lunch. We enjoyed a sumptuous buffet at Docklands Lotus, which offered international cuisines from western food to Peking duck rolls, sushi, seafood and an eye-popping selection of desserts. We ate to our hearts' content, amid the hustle and bustle of the restaurant.
Finally, we checked into our hotel, which was located conveniently at the heart of the city, all tired and ready to wash up. Dinner was another mouth-watering spread of lobsters and Chinese delicacies at a local Hong Kong restaurant, and we were glad that Melbourne City is so cosmopolitan that they have all kinds of cuisines, so food is certainly not an issue around here.
Out of the city
After a good night's rest, we were ready to leave the city to take in the Australian outback. We headed off to Phillip Island to see the flora and fauna of Australia. Along the journey, we passed by vast expanse of lush greenery and beautiful houses and farmlands. The sky was a clear blue, the air refreshingly cool and it was so serene to take in the quiet scenery. Cows and horses dotted the farmlands, grazing peacefully on the greenery. It was as if time stopped and nothing mattered in this tranquillity. We made a stop at Warrook Cattle Farm and that's when all the youngsters in the group got excited. We milked a gigantic cow, had great fun feeding the kangaroos with their saliva dripping all over our hands and saw how sheep wool was sheared. It was a great joy being so up close to the native animals of Australia, snapping photos and taking in the farmland. Lunch was at a cottage restaurant with a charming burning fireplace, surrounded by friendly waiters and waitresses. We tucked into freshly cooked chicken drumsticks, baby carrots and potatoes that were all local produce from the farm, and ended off with tasty chocolate cakes. We downed glasses of red wine and I was so full that I was eager to walk around to get my full stomach down.
The next destination was another kids' favourite: the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory! It was thronged with visitors touring with their families and we had to squeeze our way through the bustling crowd. There were many toys, statues and exhibits made purely out of all kinds of chocolate and by the time we went into the shop selling a myriad of chocolate produce, we were all ready for a buying spree! There were chocolate powders, bars, cookies and truffle balls on sale and I bet a chocolate lover probably won't bear to leave the place for there was just everything imaginable made of chocolate.
Munching on the crunchy chocolate bars, we visited the Koala Conservation Centre to see koalas in their natural habitat. Alas, it wasn't easy to capture the camera-shy koalas who hardly faced the crowd. The Nobbies Centre showcased the Antarctic Journey, an exhibition that focuses on the conservation of the Antarctica and its wildlife, such as polar bears, penguins and seals. We took a few photos at the Seal's Rocks along charming shorelines and mind you, it was so windy that I had to wear a mask to protect myself from the chilly air.
As dawn fell, we waited in great anticipation for the renowned and much awaited Penguin Parade! We were lucky that the wind had died down, because staying out in the open air next to the beaches is a sure no-no if you are not dressed with at least five layers of thick clothing. The wind is usually strong and temperatures can drop to sub-zero in a matter of minutes. Since we could not photograph the penguins for fear of scaring them with lights, we contented ourselves with straining our eyes in the dark for signs of any penguins that came ashore from their hunting grounds out at sea. Slowly, a few tiny shadows made their way up the shoreline and I heard visitors exclaiming in bated breaths upon sighting them. There were just a few penguins instead of the hundreds that some would have seen on other days and heeding the advice of our tour guide, we quickly made our way out before the crowd overwhelmed us.
The following day, we hopped onto the iconic century-old Puffing Billy steam train that brought us through the Dandenong Ranges and Sherbrooke Forest. Cold wind caressed our faces as the train sped along the old train tracks and we took in the scenic view of forests, hills and valleys. It was like travelling through sheer wilderness and we were allowed to sit on the train's railings with our feet dangling in mid-air to take in the fun. In the afternoon, we visited a local winery and orchard, and because it was already winter, there were almost no fruits to be picked and the vast lands looked barren. Nevertheless, we tasted local wines and whatever fruits that were left of the season.
Coming to the highlight of the trip – who goes to Melbourne without visiting the famous Great Ocean Road? We started off early in the day as the journey is about six hours to and from the Great Ocean Road and we stopped for lunch midway at the Apollo Bay for Australia's signature fish and chips before heading off again. We were greeted with a picturesque shoreline on one side of the road and thick forests on the other, and it felt like we were in some kind of a utopic place surrounded by nothing but blue skies, sandy beaches, crashing waves and dense forests with deep valleys. When we finally reached the Twelve Apostles, it was already afternoon. These iconic limestone stacks are indeed amazing; out of nowhere they rest amid the sandy shorelines, overlooking the deep blue seas. My scarves and caps fluttered furiously in the strong winds as we stood on high grounds to snap photographs of the scenic view. We experienced this top-of-the-world feeling as we bathed in the bright sunlight and howling winds. The Loch Ard Gorge is another must-see and by the time we made it back to the city, we were tired but happy.
Till next time
Alas, time flew by and we soon had to bid goodbye to Melbourne. The trip was short but certainly invigorating and fun-filled. For those who are looking for a short getaway from city life, Melbourne is really a good choice. I'll certainly be back to visit Australia in the near future!