Central Melbourne and Train to Sydney

Monday was my last full day in Melbourne and I wanted to explore some of the areas I had not yet toured. First up on my list was a visit to the Shrine of Remembrance across the Yarra River. I took the tourist shuttle to the park that surrounds the Shrine. Like the Anzac memorial in Sydney, the Shrine of Remembrance was built in the 1930s to honor Australian soldiers who fought in World War I. The shrine had a small section dedicated to World War II, but I have found far more attention paid to the memory of the Great War. The Shrine is a large complex with an underground visitor's centre below the shrine which is a rectangular building with a diamond shaped roof. The inside of the shrine is an open area with regimental flags. I climbed up the stairs to the outside balcony that surrounds the top of the building. The balcony afforded a picturesque view of downtown Melbourne and on a rare sunny morning I had an excellent view.

I left the Shrine and walked to the nearby Old Melbourne Observatory. It is a smaller complex and spread out over a couple buildings unlike the large classical Sydney Observatory. I continued on into the Royal Botanical Gardens for a leisurely stroll along the pathways and down to the lake. Even in winter there was still plenty of life in the gardens, including a handful of black swans. At the edge of the gardens is the outdoor Sydney Myer Musical Bowl. With a panoramic view of the city in the background, I'm sure it is a wonderful place for a performance on a summer's eve. Visiting in winter has its benefits but also has drawbacks like missing out on things like outdoor concerts. I was near the sports complex and walked down to pick up the shuttle to return to the hostel.

Being the off season, I had little trouble finding hotel vacancies during my trip. The lone exception was the Melbourne Metro YHA where I could only book three nights and Monday was fully booked. I had to make other arrangements and so I booked myself into the Victoria Hotel, a classic old hotel in the middle of central Melbourne. I retrieved my bags from the hostel and took them down to the Victoria Hotel. After checking in, I set out to explore the interior of the CBD where I had only been through in passing.

I walked down Collins Street, the desired address in Melbourne. Downtown Melbourne is a mixture of 19th Century and modern buildings. The city has gone to great lengths to preserve the heritage of the city while incorporating modern structures. The result is a very inviting feeling with classic facades and intimate little lanes and alleys. I really had to leave the main streets and explore the lanes to really understand the character of Melbourne. I walked up Flinders Street past the classic train station and as I approached two firetrucks screamed past. I garbage can had caught fire in front of the station, or as someone said next to me "someone's put a ciggie in the bin." The firemen quickly sprayed down the bin and just as quickly they were gone.

I returned to the Victoria Hotel for a little rest and then returned to the streets to soak up the atmosphere. I had a nice dinner and then caught a movie before getting back to the hotel to go to sleep. I awoke Tuesday morning early in order to pack up my things and walk to the train station. When I left the hotel an eerie fog had descended over the city and walking through the downtown with the tops of buildings shrouded and the roads not visible was a weird experience.

I walked across Melbourne to Southern Cross Train station for an 8:30 train to Sydney. I decided to take the train back to Sydney because it would be a good way to see the countryside while not driving. The train ride would take all day, but I enjoy the train and it was fun to watch the countryside roll past. We passed many farms with sheep and cattle. I could still the hallmarks of flood damage in many areas The ride was uneventful and I passed the time by reading, writing journal entries, and napping.

The train arrived in Sydney just before eight in the evening. I returned to the Sydney Central YHA for one last stay. This being my third time checking in, I felt very familiar with the hostel and the area of town. It was nice to be back in Sydney and I looked forward to one final day around town before departing Australia.

See pictures related to this post