If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and get close to nature while soaking in the comforts of civilisation, Melbourne is the place to visit. And to fully experience the gems that Mother Earth has to offer, you should get yourselves to these places:
1. Brighton Beach
From a distance, you can snap Melbourne’s city skyline and the beach’s colourful bathhouses in one picture. Made in a variety of colours and designs, the famous bathhouses are a sight to behold as you stroll along the shore with the sun on your skin and the wind in your hair. The waves along Brighton beach are also calm, which makes swimming and soaking in the sea ideal.
2. The Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road
The limestone formations are a stunning sight, and you’ll also get a breath-taking view of the strong ocean waves as you drive along the Great Ocean Road.
Apart from being scenic, the Australian National Heritage listed road is historically intriguing as well, with tales of its own. The Loch Ard Gorge (located a three minute drive from The Twelve Apostles), for instance, was named after a ship that ran aground nearby in 1878. Of the 44 people on board, only two teenagers survived: Tom, then 15, became a hero when he rescued Eva, who was then 17. A love story could have blossomed but unfortunately, they went their separate ways.
Look out for wildlife as you drive along the Great Ocean Road: koalas are a common sight, and they tend o look like balls of fur stuck on trees. Watching them go about their business in the wild is surely a unique experience; there are no barricades or cages to hinder your interaction with nature at its very best. Mama and baby koalas were literally right before my eyes.
3. Rock Pools near Phillip Island
This is probably one of the rare times when you can venture further away from shore and into the ocean with your clothes on. Take in the fresh ocean air and enjoy the sea water gliding through your toes!
4. St Kilda Beach
This place has the best sunset views, and they happen after 7.30pm in the summer. Just make it to St Kilda Beach by sunset to take a stroll along the shore, and head over to the pier for the best penguin experience after!
The penguins come back to their homes at night and may even come close to you. They’ll be making love and cute penguin sounds — this will definitely be the highlight of your night. What’s more, you don’t have to pay to check these penguins out. They’re all in the wild and absolutely free for viewing to your heart’s content.
5. Queen Victoria Market
This is the place to satisfy your tummy. You can grab your breakfast here in the morning before setting out for the day, but if you’d prefer to spend more than just an hour here, you’d be glad to know that they offer seafood, meat, freshly-baked pastries, cakes…the list goes on. They offer a wide range of intriguing delicacies, and everything looks mouth watering. It’s the place to surprise your taste buds!
This post was contributed by Sim Meiyi, and was submitted via Vulcan Post’s submission platform here.
