Made it to Melbourne!

After 24 hrs of traveling, we made it to Melbourne!

Adios Ohio! See you in a few weeks!

We arrived in the early hours yesterday after a very long trip — but were greeted by a beautiful autumn day, which made everything better. We had a full day and a half to spend in the city before traveling south by train and bus to the trailhead for the Great Ocean Walk.

Our hotel generously accommodated an 8 am check-in — a full eight hours earlier than typical — and fed us breakfast (a hearty second breakfast, since the airline had already fed us before landing).

Our hotel is a 150-year-old former Bank of Australia, now called The Treasury with a very fun vibe.

A beautifully restored interior

And fun guest rooms

We didn’t have big plans for the day, knowing we’d be exhausted from the journey, so we spent a good portion of it wandering through the Royal Botanical Garden.

It was a gorgeous 70-degree day, and the expansive park was absolutely stunning — full of extraordinary trees and plants representing both native and non-native species, plus the most colorful, raucous birds.

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring a garden that’s nearly 200 years old!

We enjoyed watching the sulfur-created cockatoos congregate and squawk their hearts out. Lorikeets, moorhens, Eurasian coots, and black swans also kept us entertained.

After a few hours in a garden like this, I just want to go home and start working in the yard!

Melbourne city view from the top of the Shrine of Remembrance (a memorial to Australians who have served in the military)

Yesterday evening, we enjoyed dim sum at a tiny Chinese restaurant for dinner after wandering through some of Melbourne’s lively little downtown alleyways.

Our train didn’t leave until 1:30 today, so we had the morning to explore the Queen Victoria Market — a 140-year-old retail hub with endless stalls of meats, fish, produce, and gloriously touristy knickknacks.

Food markets are one of our favorite ways to pass some time.

Hello banana blossom!

The fun Australian cousin of a Cornish pasty — we were tempted, but opted instead for a decidedly gourmet grilled cheese to enjoy on the train

Today’s travel involved a one-hour train ride followed by a three-hour bus ride along a very narrow coastal road with breathtaking ocean views.

When we finally got off the bus, Bob and I both laughed about it: between his grip on the seat in front of him and my toes gripping the floor through my shoes, we were pretty sure we personally kept that bus on the road. It was an incredibly winding route, with a rather modest guardrail standing between our large bus and some very serious cliffs!

We’re spending tonight in Apollo Bay. Tomorrow, we’ll essentially walk straight out of our motel and onto the trail. At the end of the day’s walk, a taxi will bring us back here for one more night. After that, each day we’ll be picked up and dropped off on the trail, staying at inns and motels along the way.

Tonight we had drinks and dinner at the southernmost brewery on the Australian mainland — at least that’s what the sign said.

A fine way to kick off the adventure.

That’s all for tonight. More tomorrow, once we’re out on the Great Ocean Walk!