Since wine tasting in Newcastle we had a flying visit through Sydney where we had just enough time to do a free city walk to take in the sights and then catch up with some friends that we had met in Thailand. We are back in Sydney this weekend so hopefully there will be more to tell you in the next blog plus more photos...

So after just 3 nights in Sydney we caught the overnight bus to Melbourne - probably our worst nights sleep to date! We arrived in melbourne on Saturday 3rd Nov to rain and cold - just like England! Thankfully the weather only lasted the weekend and come cup day the sun was shining again! The weekend we caught up with our friend Chris and finished off getting our outfits sorted for the races.

Race week starts on the Saturday (3rd) with Derby day and then finishes the following Saturday with family day. Tuesday is the big one - the Emirates Melbourne Cup day and then Thursday is Crown Oaks day (ladies day!). The whole city was buzzing and in real carnival fever, a really good atmosphere around!

Tuesday (cup day) our Irish friends flew in from Sydney and we arranged to meet them at Transport bar in the Federation Square for drinks and to watch the cup race. Federation Square is opposite Flinders St station and is set up for those going and to the races and those who aren't but can place bets there and watch it on a big screen. There was a good crowd of us as our friends Chris and Tom came to meet us too, we stayed there until after the main race at 3pm. We decided to gamble and put our money on Purple Moon (thanks Big T for the tip!!) to win as the odds weren't that great, the horse came second so we just missed out! After here we headed to the Belgian beer cafe on St Kilda Road for food and some drinks and then that night we headed to St Kilda (the area in which we were staying) for a few more. It was a really good day and offered a taster for what was to come on Thursday.

Weds - nursed hangovers and prepared - face masks, foot scrubs and nail painting!!

Thursday - the big day! Day started at 7.30am where we were up and about showering and getting ready. 8.53am sitting down to a champagne breakfast of pink bubbly courtesy of Hunter Valley and poached eggs on toast - divine! 10.00am - caught tram to Federation Square to meet the others and for pre-race drinks at what has become our local, Transport Bar! The champagne had been well and truly flowing by the time we had caught the train to the race course at Flemington. There were 9 of us in total, we found a cool spot in the sun near the finishing line but equal distance to betting shop and the bar. We each decided to bet ourselves and then to put in $2 each per race as a syndicate. The syndicate crashed and burned every time and we were lucky enough on the first race to bet on the winning horse Gamble Me and win $70!! It was the best feeling ever!!! Pity our winning streak didn't continue. We had a wicked day, everyone looked fab in the dresses and suits - definitely one of the highlights of our trip. It was so nice to dress up smart and wear heels again even though now our feet are a little sore!! After end of races, we caught train back to Flinders and the partying continued back in transport bar - it was an epic day!!

Friday - alll met for lunch in transport bar, we picked up our winnings as Becky finally found the ticket and then went for drinks on the rooftop terrace. A chilled day, enjoying the sunshine and laughing over yesterdays shenaningans!!

Saturday - Great Ocean Road road trip!! The six of us (us, chris, fiona, niamh and anna) all hired Wicked Camper vans ( 2 between the six of us) to do the Great Ocean Road for a few days. The campers were an absolute bargain and were so much fun and a really cool way to travel. Our camper was painted all over in flowers and bumble bees and looked really hippy! Slogan at the back was 'pollenate the nation - ban the pill"!!! We got a few funny looks as we drove out of the city!!! The girls were fallen angels with the slogan 'good girls get fat, bad girls get eaten' very classy!!! I think they got even funnier looks!!! First stop was Torquay for lunch and then we set up camp for the night at Wye River, a beautiful spot right by the sea. We cooked spaghetti bolognaise on our gas stoves, had a a few beers on the picnic tables by the sea and then pretty much froze to death that night in our vans. Becky woke up in the night to put on her hoody as well as the layers she already had on to find Charlotte trembling next to her and Chris close to death in the feotal position the other side!! Day 2 we drove all the way to Port Campbell (the furthest west we went) stopping off along the way at Apollo bay for lucnh and a stroll along the beach, a lighthouse at Ottway National Park and then the 12 apostles for sunset. Along the way we sighted a few koalas in the wild so pulled over to take some pics - they are soo cute!!! That night we set up camp along side a football field, hid behind some bushes so we wouldn't have to pay for a campsite! We managed to make it until the moring until we were politely moved on by the police!

Day 3 - first stop was london bridge where half of it has actually fallen down! Got some good pics and then headed back to the 12 apostles where we were able to do a 6min helicopter ride for $50 dollars each! Bargain!! This was awesome and gave us great views and photo opportunities right up the coast! Another highlight of our trip! We are now considering doing New Zealand by helicopter - we are so over public transport! That night we drove back and stayed at a camp site in Lorne. En route we stopped at Airieys Inlet lighthouse which is the one off Round The Twist ( a cult tv kids show when we were younger). We were all so excited -another highlight!!! That night we all went for fish and chips and a stroll along the pier.

Day 4 - Called in at Erskine Falls - a 30m high waterfall. very beautiful, that's it. Next was surfing at Bell's beach (as featured on Point Break). You would have to be insane to surf here as the waves are ridiculous and too many rocks. Needless to say Chris got in with his bodyboard on a death wish but lived to tell the tale. We then had a couple of hours tanning at Jan Juc beach, another surf spot and then headed to Torquay that evening for dinner and then made our way back to melbourne for a night of warmth. 3 nights in a camper was enough but we had a wicked time, the coast is absolutely stunning and really nice to drive along!

Weds morning we sadly returned our vans (polly and wanda) and then prepared ourselves for a night with the killers. During our road trip we persuaded the girls to get tickets so again we had a good crowd rocking it out to the killers at the Rod Lavwer Arena which is where they hold the Australian Open tennis. We ahd a blast, we got really close to the front and brandon flowers smiled at us! They played all there classics and as it was there last show in a while we got a few extras thrown in! Well worth it!! A cool end to a melbourne trip.

We have loved Melbourne, it is such an awesome city - definitely our fave city by far! Lets hope sydney can live up to it this weekend! We fly there tomorrow morning and are staying with the girls in their flat until Monday when its New Zealand here we come!!!

Lots of love your favourite travelling two!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx