Beaches, Hikes and Wine

What fantastic two full days we had on the beach! We drove down (about 250 km) from Perth through Busselton (photo) with its jetty (pier) on Saturday in our more normally-behaved Hyundai Venue, which we had picked up in the morning at the Europcar city office closeby our friends' house. They had made arrangements and we all stayed in a beautiful beach villa close to Dunsborough (Quindalup), in Geograph Bay. At least one swim a day was on the itinerary, as well as some wine on the terrace, wonderful meals and great conversation.

"Our beach" – BTW, nearby a couple of weeks ago a boy saved his mother and sister, drifted out in the ocean. It was on the news  everywhere without mentioning the exact location. Below, "our" house, conveniently close to the beach and just perfect!

For two days we went on excursion with our friends. They drove us around and showed us the beauty of this area called Margaret River Region, in the southwest corner of Western Australia. What we absolutely liked best were the beaches and the views! Turquoise-blue water, fine sand, super-clean beaches - divine! 

Big surf scene in the Margaret River area - the Margaret River Pro is one of the premier surf events there. We didn't see much surfers due to the calm conditions, but we saw dolphins - photo further below - and, later, emus and kangaroos, too!. We learned that there is a "Shark Watch" by helicopter (supervising beaches) and that all beaches are public and can be used at your own responsibility.

 

Besides beaches - photos above can only give a rough idea about how beautiful they are! - we went for a hike every day, around Cape Naturaliste with its lighthouse and in Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park, and explored the flora and fauna. Thanks to our botanically very knowledgeable friend Bruce, we learned all about eucalyptus varieties and other plants as well as birds like the Galah (Rosa Kakadu - photo above).  

Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) Marri (Corymbia calophylla), Karri ((​Eucalyptus diversicolor) are the main varieties in Western Australia, but there are many more,,,

Wineries ,,, the Margaret River Valley, a pocket in the secluded south-west of Australia, is a coastal wine region. Its Mediterranean climate of wet winters and long dry summers produce excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay - but these are only the flagship wines of the region. The Margaret River wine region features over 100 cellar doors (meaning: wineries open to the public, selling wine) with superb fine dining and café options, too. You get a broad spectrum: from modest and very affordable wineries like Happs (below, free tasting) to fancy and very exclusive like Voyagers or Leeuwin Estate. Wines are very good, high quality and compared to e.g. California still affordable.

Leeuwin Estate above and below, with extensive grounds, an exclusive restaurant and an art gallery:

Voyager Estate below, with a rose garden!

Wise winery below:

It's been fun to taste these wines, and, other than in the Hunter Valley, wineries are much more approachable, inviting and very different in style. Loved it! We had a fantastic time and are sure that this part of the country is one of the most beautiful in the world.

Well, this is the second version of the text I've originally written - due to bad internet connection, somehow the first version wasn't saved and I had to re-write. A bit tired in the meantime after another interesting long day on the road. We left the beach house and our friends this morning and drove on further south towards Pemberton. More on that tomorrow!

Departure Day - Flying West to Perth

After packing and breakfast in the apartment - emptying our fridge - we took the tram to the South Melbourne Market. Established in 1867 it is the oldest continually running market in Melbourne, nowadays open Wed/Fri-Sun. A wonderful, not-at-all touristic market, and, cheap, too! Seafood, fish, meat, sausages, Italian and greek food in a great variety, a food hall, veggies & fruit and artsy vendors, too. 

So fantastic to stroll through, and, so embarrassing if you think about what we are having back home in comparison! Overpriced goods in a by-far-not so appealing presentation and in a much smaller variety. 

 

 

 

There were some nice murals in the South Market's neighborhood, too!

We had to check out at noon (already had arranged for a late check-out), we did that and went over to the great Spencer Outlet adjacent to the Southern Cross Station. Took turns in exploring the stores. Same here: not your standard mostly American brands, but also Australian, good deals! Just wished our luggage capacities wouldn't have been that restricted.

At around 2 pm we took the airport bus to Tullamarine Airport. Jetstar, the budget company, we were flying with, was not very accommodating in regard to hand luggage, and, we had to pay extra. But, we arrived well and on time - photos above were taken when approaching Perth at sunset. And, we were picked up by our friends and enjoyed a warm welcome to Perth in their beautiful historic home. For the next three days I'll take off, won't be writing on the blog. We'll be out with them at a beach house - vacation!!!

Museums and beer in Melbourne

Cool this morning and cloudy, about 16 deg C, with some sprinkles of rain! 

Thursday morning: Melbourne Museum first. Passing by the Royal Exhibition Building, a UNESCO World Heritage-site, built in 1879–1880 and 150 m long. It was getting ready for a the big Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (left photo), but we got a glimpse. It's supposed to be the world's oldest remaining exhibition pavilion and is beautiful inside and out.

The modern Melbourne Museum (right) is located adjacent to the Royal Exhibition Building and has several departments, one of them the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, a space dedicated to honouring First People's (the Eastern Kulin Nations) history and culture, through exhibits of all kinds. Unfortunately, photo taking is not permitted in these galleries.

There is the Forest Gallery, offering a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the flora and fauna, the "600 Mio. Years" gallery with "The Dinosaur Walk", "Our Wonderous Planet", and, interesting: the Melbourne Gallery informing about the city's history. 

 

 

On to the State Library Victoria (right photo) - beautiful, completely unexpected: the splendid main reading room and the exhibitions, e.g. on rare books. It is Australia's oldest public library, renowned for its heritage architecture, particularly the iconic domed La Trobe Reading Room. The library opened in 1856 as "the people’s university", as a place for everyone, a radical idea in the mid-19th century, when education was the preserve of the high society!

Walked over (photo above) to the Parliament House (photo above) - tours on the hour only, long lines, seems like the Parliament of Victoria is a popular sight! Therefore, we visited the Old Treasury Building instead, with more interesting historic exhibitions (below). The building was built 1858-62 and hosts the original gold vaults where gold was stored during the gold rush era (from 1851 into the 1860s), as well as rare and historic documents.

Next: Immigration Museum in the Old Customs House. This museum focuses on Melbourne and Victoria's immigration history. A bit too much digital/multi-media and general information for us, but it seems like especially the Greek (photo on left side) and Italian population seems to be strong (got it confirmed at the South Market today).

Melbourne's history in a timeline above.

Melbourne's craft brewery scene as the grand finale: excellent! We took the train for a change instead of the tram, but all is unified thanks to Myki, a card which has to be loaded with money (daily max is $ 11,40/7 Euro, but in downtown it's free anyway). Drove to the suburb of Collingwood, notable for its historical buildings along the main axle, Smith Street (photo further below). The formerly industrial neighborhood is nowadays one of Melbourne's innovative areas and a major nightlife and retail strips. It has been voted one of the coolest street in the world and it has some great murals, too!

 

Stomping Ground is located in a large industrial warehouse. Exceptionally good variety and quality food for a brewery! We had to try the BBQ pork meat pie (below, right). The Bendigo Hotel ("The Bendi", further below) is another Collingwood institution and home of The Mill Brewery - pure contrast to the previous one! Old rockers around, dark, cozy atmosphere and superb Special of the day: Porterhouse Steak for $ 25/15 Euro (!). A pint of beer (0,6 l) went for AUS$ 9/10 (6 €) at Happy Hour, otherwise around $ 14.

Something typically Australian, BTW, are the many historic corner buildings, often former hotels, now transfered into restaurants and bars, some of them still renting out rooms in the upper floors.

Wishing, we would have planned a day or two more in Melbourne! Running out of time,,,