Melbourne, Australia

Klass was really keen to see Melbourne before he left Australia, and I’d been itching to go for a long time. So, when he suggested going there for the long weekend, I couldn’t really say no could I.

Arriving at 8 in the morning - I’d been out the night before with the Duke (Chris to those who don’t know that nickname) - so arising at 5am was quite a shock. Thankfully, my friend June had offered to take me to the airport at stupid o’clock for my flight - thank you June. Whisking through the airport, and onto the Skybus I was soon in the heart of the city, and greeted by the sound of an emergency siren going off, telling us to abandon the bus station. Just what I needed in my sleepy state.

But, soon I was with Klass at our hostel, and heading out onto the streets of Melbourne. The first thing that hits you is how wide and open the streets are, and then how little traffic there is, and then how clean it all is. It’s like something out of one of those movies with a near perfect vision of a city of the future. It immediately felt alien compared to Sydney, with trams trundling by, people and cars seem to be in much less of hurry to get to wherever they’re going. I was hoping this could be a much needed relaxing few days.

I’m going to start by summing up how I felt about Melbourne. It was really, really nice! Compared to Sydney, it’s much slower, much more relaxed. Much cleaner, and there aren’t crazy people on every other corner. But, it was almost too slow, too nice and too quiet for me. Coming from London, and living in Sydney now, I need that not stop pace and those bits of urban decay that come with larger cities. It’s strange, as I was almost certain that I’d be tempted by Melbourne.

Wandering the streets, as everyone who reads my blog knows I like to do, you get to see some wonderful architecture and wonderful open streets. Occasionally the ground will shake slightly as one of Melbourne’s fleet of trams trundles past. The Melbourne Central shopping mall is built around and under an old building.

The city is seperated on one side by the Yarra River, which is a hive of activity with rowers, tour boats and helicopter tours buzzing around. To the South you have the simply breathtaking Eureka tower, which is a residential apartment block, under which my friend Nicole works.

As for nightlife, well, Klass was recovering from the flu, and I’d been out almost everynight for the previous 2 weeks, on top of working late, so we weren’t on best form for sampling the nightlife. One thing that did catch us off guard was leaving a park to be greated by the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles, who were both in town for the AFL finals.

But, the biggest highlight of our trip was driving along The Great Ocean Road. Hiring a car for the day, we set out bright and early (ok, possibly not so bright, but it definately early!). Getting to the coast is dull… Really dull… But once you’re there, wow, is it a beautiful site. Vast, fierce oceans swirls set against the mainland. Driving the road is easy, and taking in the vast coastline, with it’s lighthouses, and gently sweeping road etched into the side of the cliffs is something that has to be seen to be believed.

I did love Melbourne, and we were blessed with some of the best weather for seeing it. I can’t wait to go back in the near future. Hopefully with slightly more energy, and an enthusiasm for tracking down the music that I’ve heard so much about.

Links
City of Melbourne
The Great Ocean Road
Melbourne Central
Skybus
Yarra River
Eureka tower
AFL