Travel Dates: July 11, 20 - 26, 2015
My Australia trip won't be complete without a trip in Melbourne.
Since my parents went to Melbourne in time for my short holiday, my sister and I planned an itinerary for the family.
Anyway, I spent 4 days in Melbourne before i flew out to Tasmania. And after the Sydney trip, i spent the remaining days of my holiday in Melbourne.
Let me share some photos and some stories along the way...
Queen Victoria Market
first stop with the parentals. just lurked around and window shopped for souvenirs.
Flinders Railway Station
One of the iconic and recognizable landmarks in Melbourne. This station serves the entire metropolitan network.
St. Paul Cathedral
One of the beautiful churches in Melbourne. my sister and i sat on one of the pews while my parents walked around and took some pictures and selfies (which is actually prohibited. haha!).
Anyway, my sister researched if we can hear mass in this church, apparently we can not. Oh well.
Trams in the City
One of the best way to go around Melbourne CBD is by using the tram. Fare is free if within the cbd area. Moreover, there is the free tourist tram aka city circle tram that stops in almost every major attractions in the city.
Degraves Street
Melbourne is known for its hidden lanes and alleys. there are numerous lanes that are known to many, and some, still under the radar, waiting to be discovered. One of the known coffee hub lanes is in Degraves Street. it was my 2nd time to visit this inspicuous alley and hung out for a bit at Degraves Espresso Bar as a welcoming treat of our arrival in Melbourne from Sydney.
The Merrywell Burger
I have read that this burger joint won as the best burger in Melbourne a few years back. More so, when i asked my sister about it, she and her husband said it's the best burger they tried in melbourne. So we decided to give a try.
I was still full from our late afternoon tapas so i wasn't keen to get a whole burger for myself. Overall verdict? Umami burger is way better. hahaha!
Hosier Lane
I have been itching to go here and i was so delighted to finally see one of the well - known art laneways in Melbourne. the scent of the paint and spray was strong but that won't hinder you to enjoy the graffiti works of art in this street. try to catch an artist on work to make your visit more exciting.
Chadz Chickenhaus
you can take Filo out of Philippines, but you can't take Philippines out of Filo. hahaha! Chadz chickenhaus is one of the restaurants in Victoria state that serve traditional filipino dishes. The original branch is in Werribee, while we tried dining at the Hampton Park branch.
Hardware Societe
A good friend of mine recommended this brekky place. I made sure to dine here before we travel back to my sister's house in Tarneit. I must say, best brekky ever!!!
must try: Cassoulet et eggs (R) and baked eggs (L)
Brother Baba Budan
I am not a coffee drinker but this quirky place was one of my friend's recommended coffee stops. i did try their pastry and it was yummy.
Melbourne River Cruise
My sister sent me a link about this melbourne river cruise discounted deal. The discount coupon was covered within out trip dates so i decided to book as i have never tried river cruise in Australia before. To know more about melbourne river cruises, you may check this site. Anyway, on the day of the cruise, the ship itself was not full but thank God for a beautiful weather, me and the rest of the passengers had a pleasant experience. The captain entertained the passengers by telling us history and trivia about the sights covered by the cruise.
If you have time to kill and money to spend, why not give this one a try?
Carlton Gardens
Of course i will never leave Melbourne without paying a visit to my favorite garden! #kilig
Melbourne Museum
World War 1 Centenary Exhibition was being held in Melbourne Museum during our stay, which i think history buffs will enjoy. No, war history is not my thing. haha! nonetheless, it was a nice experience as well for non-war history aficionado like me.
The entrance ticket to the WW1 exhibition includes entrance to the museum's permanent galleries and exhibitions so the rest of the day was spent touring the entire museum.
Yarra Valley Tour
My sister, brother-in-law and I planned a DIY yarra valley tour, following the usual destinations for a private/group tour itinerary to Yarra Valley.
Yering Station
i love love wine tours! i am a wine drinker so naturally combining a tour plus wine equals perfect trip. Our first stop was a free wine tasting at Yering Station.
Domaine Chandon
Another famous wine tasting destination in Yarra Valley. They provide wine tasting with only 5 AU$ fee which is redeemable should you decide to purchase a bottle.
the property grounds are so breathtakingly beautiful despite a winter weather. I would love to spend more time here but we decided to take our lunch to somewhere else.
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
My sister always wanted to check this out so we decided to have our lunch here. we had sandwiches for lunch (huge servings) and cakes (it's alright. so - so taste. - cake monster) for dessert after.
being a chocolate shop, various chocolate delicacies can be found here. i found the prices exorbitant but my family did try their hot chocolate and it was so rich according to them. like you'll faint of over chocolatey-ness if you try to chug it down in one sitting. for real. haha!
Yarra Valley Dairy
aside from drinking wine, i also love nibbling cheese in between sips. So this stop was a great idea. we had a free cheese sampling tour. the seller discussed about their different kinds of cheese. and as much as i wanted to bring loads of cheese, i only opted to buy the one in a tin can so it would be easier to pack.
Great Ocean Road
The ultimate road trip with the family. we only went to must stops as we felt our parents might easily get tired from the long drive.
Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
Welcome to great ocean road!
Koala Cove Cafe
we were the only ones there so we didn't have a hard time feeding the birds.
Twelve Apostles
it was raining when we arrived so we waited the rain to subside before we walked our way to the viewing deck. it was majestic as always. despite the gloomy and rainy weather, the view was as always mesmerizing.
Home in Tarneit
Ribs and steak night on our last night in Australia. YUM!
#bucketlist
i love melbourne is an understatement. i get giddy every time i'm here. furthermore, i always gain incredible amount of weight at the end of every visit. and i ain't complaining.
anyway, this trip has been memorable in all levels. when i left the city, i yearn to go back as soon as possible. i already made mental plans to visit a few months from now if original plans won't push through. but we'll see.
truth be told, i was hesitant to share this part of my trip due to the bittersweet events after the holiday. but then this was and will always will be a treasured memory and the best way to reminisce is to share it in a travel diary.
i am still crossing my fingers until my next visit to the land down under. it might not be anytime soon but i'm praying and hoping it will be sometime in the near future. see you later, mate!
My Australia trip won't be complete without a trip in Melbourne.
Since my parents went to Melbourne in time for my short holiday, my sister and I planned an itinerary for the family.
Anyway, I spent 4 days in Melbourne before i flew out to Tasmania. And after the Sydney trip, i spent the remaining days of my holiday in Melbourne.
Let me share some photos and some stories along the way...
artsy fartsy at Hosier Lane
Queen Victoria Market
first stop with the parentals. just lurked around and window shopped for souvenirs.
Flinders Railway Station
One of the iconic and recognizable landmarks in Melbourne. This station serves the entire metropolitan network.
One of the beautiful churches in Melbourne. my sister and i sat on one of the pews while my parents walked around and took some pictures and selfies (which is actually prohibited. haha!).
Anyway, my sister researched if we can hear mass in this church, apparently we can not. Oh well.
Trams in the City
One of the best way to go around Melbourne CBD is by using the tram. Fare is free if within the cbd area. Moreover, there is the free tourist tram aka city circle tram that stops in almost every major attractions in the city.
Degraves Street
Melbourne is known for its hidden lanes and alleys. there are numerous lanes that are known to many, and some, still under the radar, waiting to be discovered. One of the known coffee hub lanes is in Degraves Street. it was my 2nd time to visit this inspicuous alley and hung out for a bit at Degraves Espresso Bar as a welcoming treat of our arrival in Melbourne from Sydney.
The Merrywell Burger
I have read that this burger joint won as the best burger in Melbourne a few years back. More so, when i asked my sister about it, she and her husband said it's the best burger they tried in melbourne. So we decided to give a try.
I was still full from our late afternoon tapas so i wasn't keen to get a whole burger for myself. Overall verdict? Umami burger is way better. hahaha!
Hosier Lane
I have been itching to go here and i was so delighted to finally see one of the well - known art laneways in Melbourne. the scent of the paint and spray was strong but that won't hinder you to enjoy the graffiti works of art in this street. try to catch an artist on work to make your visit more exciting.
Chadz Chickenhaus
you can take Filo out of Philippines, but you can't take Philippines out of Filo. hahaha! Chadz chickenhaus is one of the restaurants in Victoria state that serve traditional filipino dishes. The original branch is in Werribee, while we tried dining at the Hampton Park branch.
Hardware Societe
A good friend of mine recommended this brekky place. I made sure to dine here before we travel back to my sister's house in Tarneit. I must say, best brekky ever!!!
must try: Cassoulet et eggs (R) and baked eggs (L)
Brother Baba Budan
I am not a coffee drinker but this quirky place was one of my friend's recommended coffee stops. i did try their pastry and it was yummy.
Melbourne River Cruise
My sister sent me a link about this melbourne river cruise discounted deal. The discount coupon was covered within out trip dates so i decided to book as i have never tried river cruise in Australia before. To know more about melbourne river cruises, you may check this site. Anyway, on the day of the cruise, the ship itself was not full but thank God for a beautiful weather, me and the rest of the passengers had a pleasant experience. The captain entertained the passengers by telling us history and trivia about the sights covered by the cruise.
If you have time to kill and money to spend, why not give this one a try?
Carlton Gardens
Of course i will never leave Melbourne without paying a visit to my favorite garden! #kilig
Melbourne Museum
World War 1 Centenary Exhibition was being held in Melbourne Museum during our stay, which i think history buffs will enjoy. No, war history is not my thing. haha! nonetheless, it was a nice experience as well for non-war history aficionado like me.
The entrance ticket to the WW1 exhibition includes entrance to the museum's permanent galleries and exhibitions so the rest of the day was spent touring the entire museum.
Yarra Valley Tour
My sister, brother-in-law and I planned a DIY yarra valley tour, following the usual destinations for a private/group tour itinerary to Yarra Valley.
Yering Station
i love love wine tours! i am a wine drinker so naturally combining a tour plus wine equals perfect trip. Our first stop was a free wine tasting at Yering Station.
Domaine Chandon
Another famous wine tasting destination in Yarra Valley. They provide wine tasting with only 5 AU$ fee which is redeemable should you decide to purchase a bottle.
the property grounds are so breathtakingly beautiful despite a winter weather. I would love to spend more time here but we decided to take our lunch to somewhere else.
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
My sister always wanted to check this out so we decided to have our lunch here. we had sandwiches for lunch (huge servings) and cakes (it's alright. so - so taste. - cake monster) for dessert after.
being a chocolate shop, various chocolate delicacies can be found here. i found the prices exorbitant but my family did try their hot chocolate and it was so rich according to them. like you'll faint of over chocolatey-ness if you try to chug it down in one sitting. for real. haha!
Yarra Valley Dairy
aside from drinking wine, i also love nibbling cheese in between sips. So this stop was a great idea. we had a free cheese sampling tour. the seller discussed about their different kinds of cheese. and as much as i wanted to bring loads of cheese, i only opted to buy the one in a tin can so it would be easier to pack.
Great Ocean Road
The ultimate road trip with the family. we only went to must stops as we felt our parents might easily get tired from the long drive.
Great Ocean Road Memorial Arch
Welcome to great ocean road!
Koala Cove Cafe
we were the only ones there so we didn't have a hard time feeding the birds.
Twelve Apostles
it was raining when we arrived so we waited the rain to subside before we walked our way to the viewing deck. it was majestic as always. despite the gloomy and rainy weather, the view was as always mesmerizing.
Home in Tarneit
Ribs and steak night on our last night in Australia. YUM!
#bucketlist
- picnic in carlton gardens
- visit phillip island
- ride puffing billy steam train
- more wine tours!
- hot air balloon in yarra valley
- photo ops at brighton beach
i love melbourne is an understatement. i get giddy every time i'm here. furthermore, i always gain incredible amount of weight at the end of every visit. and i ain't complaining.
anyway, this trip has been memorable in all levels. when i left the city, i yearn to go back as soon as possible. i already made mental plans to visit a few months from now if original plans won't push through. but we'll see.
truth be told, i was hesitant to share this part of my trip due to the bittersweet events after the holiday. but then this was and will always will be a treasured memory and the best way to reminisce is to share it in a travel diary.
i am still crossing my fingers until my next visit to the land down under. it might not be anytime soon but i'm praying and hoping it will be sometime in the near future. see you later, mate!
photos by Madel and Joe Paran
No comments
Post a Comment