Melbourne was the first stop on my vacation to Australia in May 2014. For the longest time Australia had been a dream of mine to visit so I was extremely excited about this trip. My sister and I were initially only going to Sydney but good thing she added Melbourne to our itinerary. At the time of booking I seriously never even heard of Melbourne before (evidently I had been living under a rock).
We spent a total of 8 days 7 nights there. For a list of top attractions in Melbourne check out my other post. Below is an overview of my trip there.
Journey
Chicago (ORD) → Los Angeles (LAX) → Melbourne (MEL)
Total Flight Time: 20 hrs 19 mins
Culture
Upon arrival to Melbourne, I was entranced by the Australian accents. I always found their accent super sexy. The first thing I noticed during our train ride into city center was all the graffiti on the walls. I also noticed that the fashion was extra casual here compared to the States.
My impression of Melbourne was that it was a small hip city and very walkable. The free city circle tram was an added plus. There were a ton of restaurants and cafes.
Memories
- Hands down my scariest turbulence experience during the flight there- the passenger next to me was on the verge of a panic attack; I tried to remain calm but was semi-freaking out as well; my sister somehow slept through the whole ordeal
- Getting up close and personal with kangaroos at Maru Koala and Animal Park
- Cozying up with a koala pleasantly surprised at how soft its fur was
- Dangling our legs out aboard the Puffing Billy on a ride through the sweeping Dandenong Ranges
- Winery hopping on horseback with Horseback Winery Tours- amazing experience; my horse Dancer was adorable but very hyper so I struggled to keep her in line with the rest of the group
- A rhino attacking our safari bus at Werribee Open Range Zoo
- Trying clay pot rice for the first time at Chinatown- soooo delicious; it was ultra spicy though causing me to tear up so I kept harassing the poor waitress for a water refill
- Witnessing the natural phenomenon of cute little penguins waddling home from the ocean at Phillip Island- truly unforgettable
- Stargazing around the Penguin Parade in Phillip Island- magical; bright stars filled the night sky and they appeared so close I could almost touch them
- Being the only cheap ones in our Great Ocean Road Tour group who opted for the complimentary lunch option which turned out to be a homemade sandwich (literally)
- Rainy day on the scenic drive down Great Ocean Road- still remarkable
- Staring in awe at the Twelve Apostles- absolutely stunning
Last Impression
Melbourne is one of my top favorite destinations. It has a cool artsy vibe to it and I preferred it over Sydney. I especially loved its close proximity to the surrounding natural wonders. I fell in love with Australia and all its breathtaking nature!
Have you been to Melbourne? What was your favorite memory? Let me know in the comments!
