Melbourne - a wonderful city......

[kopiuncle]

12 Apostles along the Great Ocean Road... a fantastic drive along this scenic aread. See the 12 Apostles at your leisure...and perhaps now there are less with all the constant erosion . A geological masterpiece, carved by the hands of nature.

Witness the rugged splendour of the famous 12 Apostles, magnificent rock stacks that rise up majestically from the Southern Ocean on Victoria's dramatic coastline.

Limestone cliffs
Created by constant erosion of the limestone cliffs of the mainland beginning 10-20 million years ago, the stormy Southern Ocean and blasting winds gradually eroded the softer limestone, forming caves in the cliffs.

The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed rock stacks up to 45 metres high were left isolated from the shore. View the 12 Apostles at sunrise and sunset as they change colour from dark and foreboding in shadow to brilliant sandy yellow under a full sun.

How to get there

The 12 Apostles are located 275 kilometres west of Melbourne, approximately a four-hour drive along the Great Ocean Road.

 

[kopiuncle]

Philip Island - also known as the Penguin Island....cute little penguins suddenly appear from the darkness of the seas...and they all come to shore in parades!!! MUST SEE when you are in Melbourne.....take a drive or take a bus to Philip Island and also enjoy the Great Ocean Road....and don't forget the wonderful steak in Philip Island itself!!! And remember to wear thick jacket...it's windy,chilly and extremely cold!!!...and no flash photography!!! ( But there are still some recalcitrant tourists who ignore the warning...)

Experience that electrifying moment as you spot the first little penguins emerging from the sea and waddling along a Phillip Island beach at dusk. You have to be very patient...you wait and wait.....and then suddenly from the darkness, the little penguins come parading up the beach....and some go into their burrows nearby....an good example of ecological control and nature's preservation....

The daily parade of little penguins draws thousands of visitors from around the globe every year. Line the observation boardwalks at Phillip Island Nature Park at dusk to see them race up Summerland Beach to their burrows. Bring warm clothing year-round, as the nights on the beach can be cool.

Get even closer to the action at the Penguins Plus viewing platform with commentary from a ranger. Splash out on the Penguin Sky Box to see the Penguin Parade from the comfort of an elevated viewing tower, or visit a secluded beach to view the penguins with the latest night vision technology as part of the Ultimate Penguin Experience.

Over 4,000 of the 26,000 little penguins living in the waters around Phillip Island have their burrows around Summerland Beach. Native to Australia and the smallest of their species at just 33 centimetres, the little penguins leave their burrows about an hour before sunrise and swim up to 100 kilometres each day before returning at dusk.

 

[kopiuncle]

My favourite hotel....The Melbourne Crown Plaza!!!....No not for the casino, but good and great FOOD!!!...THE OYSTERS are really excellent!!!

...I love the night stroll along the river bank...very beautiful and very romantic....and good food , good wine and good company!!!

...and do be careful when you meet up with some drunks or some drug addicts who beg for a dollar or two.....

 

[Raiders]

I met an ang mo girl who wanted some cash while I was eating at one of the restaurant at the Crown. Totally messed up. Luckily won about 2k AUD and was in a good mood. Passed her some cash and ask her to go home.

 

[Raiders]

Don't forget to take this ship if you are at Melbourne. Cars can board as well. Brings you to Tasmania, another lovely place in Australia.

 

[Raiders]

Sydney has its Darling Harbour, Melbourne has the Yarra River

Nice place for dating at night...

 

[Raiders]

Another icon in Melbourne. Luna Park at St. Kilda

 

[Raiders]

This is the reason as to why I have always had a soft spot for Melbourne

 

[theblackhole]

I met an ang mo girl who wanted some cash while I was eating at one of the restaurant at the Crown. Totally messed up. Luckily won about 2k AUD and was in a good mood. Passed her some cash and ask her to go home.

You are a very kind man sir. I usually try to avoid them, if possible. When they approach me, I will try to siam....There are many Vietnamese men and women in the casino. I watched them - very fierce players!!!

 

[theblackhole]

Of course, I love Victoria Market...I got all my food and my fruits here!!! And my oysters too. The fruits are very cheap and very sweet...and it's a fire sales when you go about 4 in the afternoon....you can get almost anything for a song!!!


Queen Victoria Market is Victoria's premier open-air market. It's a thriving and vital place pulsating with life.

The friendly competition between stallholders, and their concern for customers, is what gives the Market its Old World charm and the addictive power to draw millions of visitors each year.

The vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere of this historic site has endeared the Market to Melburnians for 130 years. The Market is probably best known for its huge variety of fresh produce. Almost 50% of the Market area is dedicated to the sale of fresh produce, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, chicken, seafood and delicatessen products.

The remainder of the Market is used for variety and speciality goods, with Sundays being the most popular day for this category. On Sundays, the hustle and bustle of the weekday Market gives way to a more relaxed and leisurely family day. Queen Street is closed and converted into an outdoor cafe area, with children's rides and other activities.

This is also a historic and cultural icon of Melbourne....

 

[kopiuncle]

In Melbourne, NEVER NEVER miss the Melbourne Flower Shows...It is one of the world's most beautiful flower and garden shows!!!

 

[heliotrope]

Melbourne is scenic.