From lunch it was out to Chadstone shopping mall to the Lindt Café. An essential for chocoholics like us three, and worth every morsel of succulent hot melted chocolate. The hot chocolate is served in a separate little jug and the hot milk in its own jug. The idea being to make your drink to your own liking. The temptation to just pour the jug of chocolate straight down ones throat is there, but decorum allows that mixing it with a token amount of milk in the cup provided is the responsible thing to do. So Jason and I use our fingers to dredge every last drop so as the staff had less washing up to do, because we just that kind of people. Also the shop had 20 different kinds of Lindor Balls, and though Jason and Vanessa insisted on some disgusting peanut butter filled taste monstrosity, I went for the mint cream in the bright green wrapper.

After strolling around Chadstone mall for an hour or so, as this is the fashion centre of Melbourne, we left and continued south down the Morning Peninsular to Rosebud for dinner on the 'beach'. Chips were perfect, pineapple rings were good, according to Jason & Vanessa the fish was great, but I use the term 'beach' lightly. I think the Hamsters from Canberra Airport could holiday here and not find the surf too big. Yes I concede that sand and sea water come in contact, but 'beach' does imply more than hungry sea gulls. There were no waves to speak of. I have seen a bigger swell in Lake Burley Griffin when to tourist ferry goes by. But is was great watching the ships heading into port and it was a nice place to sit and chill before heading to the Day Spa to warm up and chill.

Yes, the main reason for trekking to the most southerly point on the Australian mainland I remember going was to experience the Thermal Spa on Mornington Peninsular near Rye. To save face for Melbourne beaches Jason insisted we cross the Peninsular to the 'back side' and look at the beaches on Bass Straight. Yes there are great waves here and this looks like a real 'beach'. But this is not Melbourne so it does not count. But I am not going to fuel the Sydney/Melbourne debate. I know which city is the best….and then there is Melbourne. But I am having a great time.

The Thermal Spa is a Day spa with all the normal stuff like massages, beauty treatments, hot springs etc if you want to pay lots. But also the springs are open to the public for a small amount and the evening is worth the drive. We lounged around in the different pools ranging from 36 C to 42 C with the once only plunge into the cold pool to restock the skin ready for another hot pool. However by about 8 pm there is little need for the plunge pool as the air is cold enough that the walking between the pools is enough. The Sauna worked as a dome like St Pauls whispering gallery and there are very hot mineral water showers. It really was a great place to absolutely relax. And as Jason had come off a morning shift and I had an early start with the flight it was the perfect way to end my first day in Melbourne.