MELBOURNE -- The Beautiful City Of Victoria

ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. This cathedral is located at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets. The lovely warm stone of St Paul's Cathedral with its lofty spires and towers and trees, gives it an air of calm, as it stands at this busy intersection. It was on this site, once a corn and hay market, that Melbourne's first official church service was held in 1836. The cathedral was started in 1880 and completed in 1931. Its interior features, superb stained glass windows, lovely cedar woodwork and Gothic style are worth seeing.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Bridge Road Richmond is the number one 'must visit' if you are are looking for fashion, food and furniture or anything else from the over 500 businesses in Bridge Road. There are many factory outlets such as Espirt and Portsman selling cheap clothing, tracksuits, jeans, business suits, surf wear, glamorous evening gowns, boats.

To Get There:
Take a train from Flinders Street Station to Richmond Station or
Take No 70 tram from Flinders Street to Swan Street or
Take No 109 from Bourke Street to Victoria Street or
No 48 or 75 tram from Flinders Street to Bridge Road.

The oldest metropolitan station in Australia and a Melbourne landmark is Flinders Street Station. It is also one of the busiest thoroughfares - more than 260,000 people pass through daily.

Across Princess Bridge, on the south bank of the Yarra River, is the Victorian Arts Centre. Within the walls of these buildings the main works of art, concerts, opera, ballet and theatres of Melbourne are housed. The Arts Centre is the heart of Melbourne's culture. The complex includes the National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne Concert Hall, the Performing Arts Museum and the Theatres building, where the theatres are six levels below St Kilda Road. The 377 foot (115m) spire which tops the Centre is a Melbourne landmark, especially when illuminated at night.

Crown entertainment complex features 14 cinemas, 35 restaurants, 17 bars, nightclubs, discos, a theatre, and exclusive shopping along with the casino.

Coming from Vegas and having lived here for over twenty years, it is not even in the same league, but many locals and visitors go nuts over having the casino in the city. It just isn't quite the same level of atmosphere, but it is functional. Go see it for yourself so you can say you at least visited.

The Great Ocean is a spectaculr voyage not to be missed!! It is a day trip out of the city and will take you along one of the the best ocean drives available.

You can drive the road on your own, but we took the double decker tour bus. The bus tour provided a chance for us to look rather than focus on driving. We stopped for billy tea and had lamkins (a very aussie tea). We then saw kangaroos on the golf course (a continual hazard for those trying to play golf). From there we leisurely drove along the most treacherous coastline in the world. Numerous crosses dot the coast attesting to the ships wrecked by the perilous rocks lying in wait under that pristine looking geen-blue sea.

We passed the beach where surfers from all over come to ride "world class" waves and hope to catch a glimpse or maybe even participate in the largest surfing competition in the world.

Then, we came to the 12 Apostles, 12 free stnading limestone rock formations that jut out of the water away from the beach and biblically named. They are magnificent and breathtaking!! I easily used up a roll and 1/2 of film here.

Helicopter rides are available to those who wish to fly in and around the monoliths. We opted for the shore, and snapped away from the cliffs that look down on virgin beaches. From here one can see caves where only water wooshes in to cut its mark. Two of the apostles have fallen and only 10 remain standing, due to the softness of limestone. The water is so clear you can see lying apostles very clearly. We also visited in July, which is winter for Australia, That arctic wind is very cold!!!! After all this is the southern most part of Australia (I am not counting Tasmania here).

Wear your warmest jacket, and then take a pair of gloves, a hat and something warm to drink. But whatever you do in Melbourne, definately take a day to see the 12 apostles.

You must go see the Fairy Penguins on Phillip Island. They are the smallest penguins in the world and are the most adorable things!!

They come up at night to sleep and waddle onto the beach and then up to their burrows. At only a foot tall, they are endangered because of predators from the sea and human garbage. They are protected and live within a national park. Signs everywhere warn not to take pictures, touch the penguins or leave garbage. I was so impressed that all that was needed were these signs. There are no fences, trash, or anyone snapping away with their flash bulbs. People followed the rules and politely obeyed. How unlike some of the North American ways. It was such a thrill to stand about 6 inches away from these little critters, walk beside them for a bit and not have a fence in the way or someone misbehave and ruin the experience.

You can buy photographs in the gift shop at very reasonable prices as souveniers. All the proceeeds go to the continuation of the park.