We’re moving on tomorrow, so took advantage of a mooch around some of the city centre, including riding the city circle tram. They use the old heritage trans for this route and it also includes a commentary as you travel round (and as it’s part of the free tram zone, there’s nothing to pay!).

Didn’t take many photos, but here are a few: https://goo.gl/photos/rYcguSDLurm6AsqB8

This evening we took a last stroll along the beachfront at St Kilda and ate dinner overlooking the sea and the sunset (mostly obscured by cloud).

Photos: https://goo.gl/photos/7xaAW73ibzY247eP9

We’ve really enjoyed our time in Melbourne, so we’re sure we’ll be back again one day!

As we hadn’t got in from the Penguin Parade trip last night till gone 1am, we went for a late start and lighter day today.

I went for a walk along the beach in St Kilda this morning, going further to the west than previously. After yesterday’s great experience seeing little penguins, I was really stunned to see one waddling along the edge of the beach, looking a little lost.
Photos: https://goo.gl/photos/WjwqQC66DuYaRB7u8

The weather forecast for today had been cloudy and fairly hot with high humidity, turning to rain this afternoon. In the end, the cloud burned off, the humidity stayed high, the sun was out and the temperature again reached 37C. This lead to our exploration of the Botanic Gardens area not going exactly to plan.
We explored the moving Shrine of Remembrance, dedicated to Australian and New Zealand soldiers who have fight and died in various wars, often for the former British Empire.
We then retreated under the trees in the Botanic Gardens to read and keep out of the blazing, muggy heat, before going and finding a coffee shop where we could cool off.

Photos from the Shrine of Remembrance: https://goo.gl/photos/LhFts1yrVdPPpEm77

Another fantastic day, especially the evening.

We started out late into the city, as we knew it would be a long day. After lunch, we had a few hours wandering around the redeveloped Docklands area and then down along the river Yarra.
Photos: https://goo.gl/photos/32uDRxTJozmjrhZW7

We then went on an organised couch tour to Phillips Island, about a two hour drive south of Melbourne. This is a spot famous worldwide for the huge colony of little penguins who live in burrows there, fish out at sea and return to their burrows at sunset.

We’d paid extra to get on the better viewing platform, closer to where the penguins come in and with only about 300 of us there, as opposed to 4000 on the main viewing platform.

We weren’t at all bothered by the persistent rain (it was reasonably warm), as it was magical spotting the penguins forming groups on the water, coming out, sometimes being spooked back into the water and then eventually making a dash across the beach, waiting on a safe area of rocks and then passing close by us on their way home.

We weren’t allowed to take flash photos, so my photos are a bit limited, but give a hint of how great it was: https://goo.gl/photos/hE2Gsd3LHtYiCuc28

Another fairly relaxed day today.

We caught the tram to a nearby neighbourhood, where we visited a 19th century house and its gardens (photos: https://goo.gl/photos/9HSNYD8nofhYEuWp8).

After that, and a very late lunch, we treated ourselves to seeing Rogue One (Star Wars) at the local (non-chain) cinema in Elsternwick.

The temperature reached 37C today, which is pretty darn hot. ☀☀☀

We headed to the beach at 9 this morning and stayed there till around 11.30 when it was getting too hot (and we don’t want to go overboard with our UV exposure!)

After a light lunch, we both had a siesta, Rob in the apartment and me sitting under a tree in the local botanic gardens.

We returned to the beach this evening for a couple of hours, including seeing the sunset. It was still 34C at 8pm and the beach was packed. There was a lovely atmosphere, including occasional spontaneous cheering across the whole beach (first time I’ve ever heard a sunset cheered!).

Some evening photos: https://goo.gl/photos/ADuDLE2WQZxodvg37

Lovely day. Hope your Christmas is/was a great one too.

Ho ho ho! Santa here! I bumped into Rob and Neil earlier and they kindly let me share some photos of my visit to St Kilda beach in Melbourne this morning.

Sorry if my trip here meant you didn’t get all your presents, but it was just too lovely not to stop for a while in the sunshine.

Take a look here: https://goo.gl/photos/kf5exAjYwYLndvnJ6

aka Captain’s Log: supplemental

We did actually end up going down to the beach for a wander and an ice cream. It’s cooled down to more bearable levels. There were loads of people out enjoying their Christmas Eve evening.

A few extra photos: https://goo.gl/photos/sLZFxbHNazsHjmz58

Less to report today. A quiet morning in the apartment, lunch by the beach, Christmas food shopping and a little wander round the local area this afternoon.

It’s been very hot (36C) – and may get hotter tomorrow. This level of heat is insane for Christmas Eve (hottest here for 56 years apparently) and doesn’t encourage much activity. We may wander down to the beach again later if it cools a bit.

Really doesn’t feel like it’ll be Christmas tomorrow…

Just a few photos… https://goo.gl/photos/rNdqgMJJK79pM48X7

This morning, on a longer-than-planned-for detour on the way to returning the hire car (traffic was surprisingly heavy), I dragged Rob out to see the street where Neighbours is filmed. As filming is not happening at the moment, I was able to wander up onto the street and take a few photos, while trying to be respectful to the fact that people live there.
I haven’t really watched Neighbours for a long time, although it used to be a regular favourite, so this was a bit of a thrill.
Everybody needs good photos… https://goo.gl/photos/dywT1gGHtgzhJWzUA

This afternoon we spen’t some time wandering a few bits of the CBD, ending up near the picturesque Flinders Street Station, before heading down into the riverside.
(Pictures https://goo.gl/photos/WPRStUcdWp7dHq6Q8)

It was a treat to then head up to the 88th floor of the Eureka Skydeck on the south side of the river to get some great views over the city. And here’s some of what we saw: https://goo.gl/photos/Z1asXybekATNw2PV6

After a morning walk on the beach, and being a little hassled over breakfast by a cockatoo (photos: https://goo.gl/photos/JEqj798xRCDre9io9), we set off along the last section of the Great Ocean Road.

This included stops to see the memorial arch marking the contributions of those returning from WWI who built early sections of the road, as well as to see the lighthouse at Split Point and Torquay, the official start of the road.

We then had a longer than expected trek up the freeway to Melbourne and, more specifically St Kilda, where we’re staying over Christmas.

Photos from the last leg of the journey: https://goo.gl/photos/uKHBV8RUsdSvAxqq9