Day 75, 76, 77 and 78

(Jamie)

After such a great trip on the GOR we wondered if anything else around Melbourne could compete, luckily Melbourne is probably the best city we've been to on the whole trip. The best way to describe it, is as 'finished'. There was no building work; road works, derilict flats or messy scrub land. The tram system that runs around the city eliminates the need for too many noisy busses and also runs a free tourist service. We made our way to Federation square and looked around the massive tourist info centre and decided to book two trips for the next few days. Michelle said she couldn't leave Oz without seeing the Neighbours set, so we booked that for the next morning and we both really wanted to see the Penguin march on Phillip island so booked that aswell. After booking three tours with the same company we got a free activity pass for the city including the Melbourne aquarium, the Sky tower, and a river cruise. So after a picnic lunch in the Fitzroy gardens we headed to the aquarium to make use of our free entry. The aquarium was ok and we were able to see some of the fish that we were going to see in the Great Barrier reef, and as it was quite dull outside it was a good way to pass the time. In the afternoon we decided to catch the free tram to see where the main attractions were around the city. We got off the tram in the older part of the city, which was full of small lanes and arcades with posh restaurants. Michelle had to be restrained and it was chips and beans for dinner!

(Michelle)

The following day we got up early for the Neighbours tour!! I was quite excited as although I haven't watched much TV recently I do love my cheesy soaps. Jamie however was not as keen, and was ready to mock at every turn. We first pulled into the TV studios where filming was taking place, and we caught a glimpse of Paul Robinson in the distance. They then took us to Ramsay street, which resulted in a camera frenzy with everyone trying to get a pic in front of their favorite neighbours house (apart from Jamie who thought taking pictures of a random housing estate quite boring!). As part of the tour we got to meet a star, and just as I was getting disappointed that it was going to be someone rubbish, out popped Ringo from the back of a van. Altogether it was a decent morning, but for the price we paid I was a little disappointed with what we got to do. In the afternoon we went to the old Queen Victoria market for a pie lunch and then because it was such a nice day we went for a walk along the river, and cashed in on our cruise pass too. We made it into the sky tower just before sunset, and got a great view across the whole of Melbourne.

(Jamie)

Another day, another tour as we were picked up by Bunyip for the trip to Phillip Island to see the Penguin march. Our guide was not as good as Pete for our GOR tour but was still ok. We stopped at a small wildlife reserve and fed some roos. After Michelle got to feel right at home with some farming demonstrations at Churchill Island farm park. We made one more stop at the Nobbies and Seal Rockland (but saw no seals) before heading to the Penguin parade. The Penguins arrival on shore is predicted each night and the countdown appears on the wall of the centre. We walked down boardwalks and waited on a grandstand for the sun to drop and the Penguins to arrive. Just before schedule the first group arrived whilst the local biologist told us that they all congregate out at sea and arrive in groups of 20-100 with army like organisation (I kept imagining a boss Penguin with a walkie talkie telling the groups to go go go!). We paid a little extra to get closer and the first group of Fairy Penguins (smallest in the world) stopped right in front of us. They then rest after the long walk before making their way to their burrows further up the beach. After about 10 minutes hundreds of the penguins were waddling past us looking for there burrows and the total count reached over 1000 for the night!! (yes, it is someones job to count Penguins). Overall the Penguin parade was a great spectacle and something we both really enjoyed and will never forget.

We really needed a relax day after an activity filled week so after a small lie in we headed back to Victoria market for another pie (something we had really missed in Asia). The weather was really good so we went for a walk around Melbournes Botanical Gardens and sat in the sun for a while. Our flight was very early in the morning so we waited around in the hotel making the most of our wifi before heading to the airport. Melbourne had been great and we hoped that the rest of Australia would be even half as good!