Day One – Melbourne

Over the next seven days you will be travelling up the South East coast of Australia visiting places like Melbourne and Sydney. You will make a detour to the Red Centre, the heart of Australia, where you will visit Alice Springs and Uluru, before heading back to dive the depths of the Great Barrier Reef.

During your holiday you will experience some of the amazing sights of Australia, learning about the history and culture and visiting some of its famous landmarks, monuments and museums. We hope you enjoy your travels.

You will be picked up from your home by a stretch limousine and taken to the nearest airport, from where you will be flown to the Melbourne Airport in Victoria, Australia.
(www.melair.com.au/)

As you enter the airport your ears are filled with the sounds of talking, laughter and the squeak of people’s feet and suitcases on the shiny floor. The high pitched tones, crackles and echoing voices of the tannoy system reverberate around the large open space.

Click to listen to the sound of the airport...

The limo driver carries your case to the check in and you hand in your ticket. The man on the desk takes your ticket and looks at your passport before handing it back. You place your baggage on the weighing in scales and watch as it is then carried away on the luggage conveyor belt. The man gives you your boarding pass, instructing you to head through to the departure lounge to wait to board your plane.

You look out of the large glass windows and see all the planes standing on the tarmac. One bright red plane stands out, catching your attention. This is your plane to Australia.

A woman in a smart red uniform announces that it’s time to board and you head to the gateway, carrying your hand luggage. Handing in your boarding pass, you make your way onto the plane.

As you board the plane you are shown to your seat in First Class. Reclining in your chair you stretch out and are brought a glass of orange juice or champagne and some snacks. Help yourself to some sweets to suck, to stop your ears popping during takeoff.

A voice comes over the intercom, it’s your Captain and he welcomes you on board the flight and informs you that the plane is heading to Melbourne a distance of over 17,000 km and you will be landing at the Melbourne Airport in about 22 hours. He hopes you have a pleasant trip. As the plane begins to rumble along the tarmac you feel completely
relaxed in this virtual environment and are filled with excitement at the start of your holiday.

Listen to the low hum of the engines and feel yourself being gently pushed back into your seat as the plane begins to take off.
(www.getrelaxed.com/044.htm)

Click to listen to the sound of takeoff... 

The plane glides effortlessly into the air and you can now remove your seatbelt and relax. Make the most of the in-flight entertainment by watching one of the films, all set in Australia, for example Crocodile Dundee, Muriel’s Wedding or Strictly Ballroom. You can track the flight of the plane on the website’s live radar.
(www.melair.com.au/flight_radar/)

The flight attendant brings round the trolley with the meals on and you help yourself to your favourite. It’s actually very good and you really enjoy it, despite having to use plastic cutlery.

Click to listen to the interior of the jet... 

While you are on the flight it’s a great time to learn some facts about Australia, so you flick through your guide book. Australia’s official name is the Commonwealth of Australia; this is because it’s made up of the Australian continent, the island state of Tasmania, two external territories, and several dependencies including Christmas Island, Coral Sea Islands, and Norfolk Island.

Australia is the smallest continent and covers an area of 7,686,645 sq.km (2,967,897 square miles) and has a population of over 20,400,000 people.

Australia is run by a democratic parliament; but recognizes the British Monarch as sovereign. The Capital of Australia is Canberra, where the parliament can be found.

The currency is the Australian Dollar (A$) and there is roughly A$2.18 to the £1.00.

The Australian flag is blue with the flag of the United Kingdom in the upper corner and a large seven-pointed star in the lower corner known as the Commonwealth Star. The star represents the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901 and has one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories. The remaining half of the flag is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars.

Having learnt a bit about Australia you suddenly become aware of a change in the flight and look out of your window. The plane banks round and you see the amazing view below. The city of Melbourne is laid out before you in all its glory. A sparkling combination of glass, metal and green open spaces, with the silver thread of the Yarra River winding its way through the city.

The captain announces that you are about to land in Melbourne and informs you that the city is +10GMT, which means its ten hours ahead of the UK so set your watch forward by ten hours. For example if it’s 12 pm (noon) in England set your watch to 10 pm.

The “fasten your seatbelt” sign blinks on and you do yours up again, clicking the buckle shut. The plane begins to descend smoothly, until you touch down on the runway with a gentle bump.

Click to listen to the fasten seatbelt tone... 

You get off the plane, stepping onto Australian soil, and enter the terminal. You follow the other passengers to the baggage collection area and you stand by the luggage carousel waiting to see your suitcase emerge on the conveyor belt. When you spot it, you lift it off and then make your way through to the arrival gates. You see a smartly dressed man holding a sign with your name written on it. You walk over and he introduces himself as Alf your personal chauffeur for the week.

Alf leads you outside the airport to where another limo is waiting. He holds open the door as you climb in and then closes it behind you.

As you settle back into the large comfy leather seat you look around. There is a TV and DVD, stereo and even a mini fridge full of champagne and soft drinks for you to help yourself.

Click to listen to the sounds of the city...

As you begin to drive Alf lowers the glass partition and begins to fill you in on a bit of Melbourne’s history.

Melbourne was founded on the mouth of the Yarra River in 1835 when a settler called John Batman sailed across the Bass Straite seeking new grazing land. He decided to build a house in the Port Phillip area. Batman 'paid' the local Aboriginal people in blankets and trinkets for about 243,000 acres of land; which included the area now known as Melbourne.

It was from these humble beginnings that Melbourne became the thriving city it is, mainly due to the 1850’s gold rush, when many people arrived to live and work in the area. A total of more than £100 million worth of gold was mined during this period.

Today, Melbourne is the second city in Australia, capital of the State of Victoria and home to over three million people. It is a thriving commercial centre and produces aircraft, cars, food and textiles as well as being a large shipping port.

As you drive around the city you may notice one of Melbourne’s trams. Melbourne is home to the third largest tram network in the world and is one of the few Australian cities which have not replaced its trams with other forms of transport.
(www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au)

Alf pulls up outside a tall glass skyscraper; he informs you these are the Rialto Towers. One tower has fifty five floors; the other has forty floors, making it the tallest office building in the southern hemisphere. As you get out of the limo you look up at the twin buildings which dominate the sky line. You are going right to the top of the taller tower to The Observation Deck. From here you will get 360° views of Melbourne. You can take the lift, which reaches the top in just 38 seconds, making it one of the fastest lifts in the world! Alternatively climb the 1254 steps to the top.

As you step out onto the observation deck, you feel your breath catch in your throat as you take in the spectacular views. Look out of the great glass windows at the skyscrapers, office blocks, roads, shops and houses. See the Yarra River meandering through the city. Use the telescopes to zoom in on different areas.
(www.melbourne360rialto.com.au)

When you’ve finished looking round, return to the limo and Alf will drive you to Swanton Street to visit some of the city’s civic buildings. As you travel through the city, notice the dominance of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, especially in the centre. The area is a pedestrian precinct until 7 p.m. so you’ll have to get out of the limo to explore.
(www.melbourne.vic.gov.au)

As you step out into the warm midday sun take in all the sights and sounds of the city, listen to the chatter of people as they walk past you, noting the sound and tone of the different accents, including Australian, Italian and Greek. The sound of traffic floats towards you from the
distance, bringing with it the scent of cars, engines and exhaust fumes; but a fresh breeze blows in off the Yarra River, quickly clearing the smell. View the real-time webcam of Melbourne and the port.
(www.portofmelbourne.com/shipping/webcams/smc_cam4.asp)

Melbourne feels very spread out and airy, and you notice there is a good mix of shops, museums, restaurants and hotels.

On your left is the City Baths, built in 1903 in the Edwardian style and still used as a health, fitness and wellbeing centre with a swimming pool and gym.

Click to listen to the sounds of the street...

Next to it is the RMIT Building, home to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The unusual building is made of bold contemporary colours in horizontal and vertical lines.
(www.rmit.edu.au)

Now cross Latrobe Street, and you will see the State Library of Victoria, recognizable by its neoclassical building with its high dome and rows of windows. It was designed by Joseph Reed in 1854, although the dome was added in 1913.
(www.slv.vic.gov.au)

Step inside and browse the shelves for a book or audio book set in Australia for example Red Dog by Louis De Bernier, The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough or Still Waters by Judith Saxton. You could sit inside the octagonal reading room and read or listen to your book or alternatively visit Mr Tulk, the Library’s café where you can enjoy some homemade refreshments while you read.

Enjoy the stillness and tranquility of the library. The air almost feels thick with information and knowledge, waiting to be absorbed.

When you have finished reading, head back onto Swanton Street, where you will notice the large glass dome of Melbourne Central one of the city’s best shopping areas.

On your left is the Melbourne Town Hall, built in 1867 and also designed by Joseph Reed. The entrance to the building has a stained glass window, showing the four motifs of the city’s coat of arms: a whale, a ship, a bull and a sheep signifying the main colonial industries.

Ahead you can see a large open space where lots of people are milling around. This is Federation Square, or Fed Square, and is a popular meeting place with its many restaurants, bars and cafes. The Square is also home to several museums including The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, ACMI: Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Champions: Australian Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, National Design Centre. You can also find the Melbourne Visitor Centre.
(www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/info.cfm?top=259&pg=3059)

Pop in to see what’s going on in the city during your visit. Take a look at what’s happening on the web camera.
(www.fedsquare.com/index.cfm?pageID=20)

You may even be able to catch one of the many live events that are held in the Square. On one side of the Square is Saint Paul’s Cathedral, built in 1866 on the site of a small church. You may be lucky enough to hear the peal of 13 bells, the largest number to make up a peal outside the UK. Listen to the rich tones as they ring out across the city.

Click to listen to the sounds of the bells...

Crossing Flinders Street and walking past the yellow brick front of the station you see Alf waiting by the limo. He informs you that now you will be taking a journey to Port Phillip Bay, southeast of Melbourne, to see the Penguin Parade. This is when the penguins come back from fishing in the sea and nest on Summerland Beach, on Phillip Island.

You climb back into the limo and make yourself comfortable for the 135km journey. Help yourself to a drink and put on some music. There are a range of Australian artists including Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia, Olivia Newton-John, Savage Garden, Jet, The Vines, Rogue Traders, INXS or AC/DC.

You notice a book of Australian Slang in the magazine rack and decide to have a browse to help you understand some of the native language.

• Arvo - Afternoon
• Barbie - Barbecue
• Bathers - Bathing suit
• Beaut or Bonzer - Wonderful
• Billabong - Cut-off river bend
• Billy - Tin used for brewing tea
• Blue - a Fight, or a Redhead (This is why Virgin calls their Australian
• service Virgin Blue, even though the planes are red)
• Brekkie - Breakfast
• Bush - Countryside
• Daks - Trousers
• Dunny - Outside toilet
• Fair Dinkum or S'truth - Honestly, really, I wouldn't kid ya.
• Galah - Kind of parrot, an idiot
• G'day - Good morning, good afternoon, hello
• POHM, pom, pommie - English person (Prisoner Of Her Majesty)
• Sheila - Female
• She’ll be right - It’ll all be ok
• Stingers - Jellyfish
• Sunnies - Sunglasses
• Swag - Gear or personal belongings
• Thongs - Flip-flops
• Tucker - Food

When you reach Port Phillip Bay you get out of the limo and immediately take in the expanse of blue sea. The sun is beginning to dip low in the sky and you see a group of people walking along some wooden boardwalks. You follow them onto the boardwalks, feeling the wood creak beneath you. The boardwalks stretch through the dunes until you reach stands overlooking a floodlit beach, this is Summerland Beach.

Click to listen to the sounds of the surf...

Everyone is gathered in hushed anticipation waiting for what’s to come, all looking out to sea, listening to the roaring of the waves. They come crashing onto the shore in quick succession, slowly creeping further up the beach as the tide comes in.
(www.ripview.com.au)

You notice a tiny dark spot in the water; but dismiss it as driftwood. Suddenly you hear a splash and another tiny dot appears out of the water. An excited murmur goes up around you. You realise it is a penguin and another wave rolls up onto the beach bringing with it two more penguins.

The penguins are Little or Fairy Penguins and are the smallest of 17 species of penguins in the world, at only 33cm tall. They look as if they are wearing little tuxedos with their dark coats and white breasted fronts. The dark feathers are not black like other penguins. They are a deep, rich blue. Their colour camouflages them from above and below the surface of the ocean.
(www.penguins.org.au)

The penguins all huddle together on the sand until there are about twenty of them and then they begin to waddle up the beach, heading towards the burrows where they will spend the night. They make a beautiful and dramatic sight set against the reds, oranges and pinks of the setting sun.

Behind them the process begins again as more penguins come up from the sea. In one night hundreds or even thousands of birds can come onto the beach and it can take up to two hours.

Sometimes the penguins are so full from their day’s catch that they stop suddenly to rest. If the penguins behind aren’t looking they often walk straight into him and the group begins to pile up! You can’t help but smile at the character of the birds.

The birds nest in spiky clumps of spinifex and the first group to arrive takes the nearest burrow. Watch as they settle themselves down, preening their glossy coats. Between August and October you may see the birds sitting on nests and if you’re visiting between November and January, Australia’s summer time, look out for the tiny fluffy babies coming out of the nests to greet the parents. Their tiny cries fill the air as they demand to be fed.

Click to listen to the sounds of the chicks...

The last birds to arrive have to walk further up the beach and you can follow behind them on the boardwalks, try to move as quietly as possible to avoid disturbing the penguins and please remember that no photographs are allowed to save disturbing the tiny creatures.

As the sun slips below the horizon and the sky begins to darken, the temperature drops and the penguins settle in for the night. Everyone begins to leave and you feel ready
to head to your hotel. Alf drives you to Abaleigh on Lovers Walk, a beautiful guest house where you will be spending the night.
(www.abaleigh.com)

Your room has a lovely, homely feel to it and is decorated in blue and white. You even have a patio area where you can sit out and look at the stars or watch the sunrise in the morning.

 

You feel a bit cold from standing outside, so why not have a warm mug of Milo? Milo is a traditional, Australian hot chocolate drink, available from supermarkets. Alternatively make a mug of hot chocolate:

Hot Chocolate

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• 25g (1oz) of good-quality plain or bitter-sweet chocolate
• 1 cup milk

Instructions:

1. Heat one cup of milk in the microwave or in a pan on the
stove.
2. Grate or chop the chocolate and add. Stir until dissolved.
3. Serve with marshmallows, whipped cream or more grated
chocolate on top.

www.easytoswallow.co.uk

Settle down with a good book or in front of the television. Have a
good night.