The origin of this trip can be found in the previous article: Australia's long-distance train experience, full-time mom skipping work.
Love Melbourne, the city of Melbourne!
This is the first time I've been to Melbourne, and I've been to Sydney for ten years.)
The original plan is to experience the Australian long-distance train, Melbourne is just a temporary destination, thought nothing interested in playing more, only two days arranged. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it. Even the attractions in the city are not finished. Had to leave it for later.
I this time mainly in the Yala River around the belt around, there are some places did not have time to see, I also collated in the back of this article, interested in can be referred to, perhaps my own later also used. Without further ado, the attractions come one by one.
1, Southern Cross Railway Station (Southern Cross Station)
Southern Cross Railway Station is an important transportation hub in Melbourne city center. The long distance train terminal and airport bus terminal are both located here.
Speaking of the airport bus, it might be worthwhile to introduce it, maybe I'll use it myself in the future.
The airport bus, Skybus, takes just over half an hour each way, costs A$19.50 each way (with a discount for online purchases), and operates from 06:30 - 19:30 every day. After arriving at Southern Cross train station, you can transfer to their free city hotel shuttle minibus to go to your hotel (SkyBus' Free City Hotel Shuttle). For the return trip, you can ask your hotel to help you book a minibus. You can find the nearest drop off point by typing in your hotel at www.skybus.com.au/free-city-hotel-shuttle/
There's also a minibus called Starbus that goes from point to point from the airport to your city hotel for AUD$20 each way.
I took the train from Sydney and am not a SkyBus passenger, so I can't take advantage of their free hotel transfers. But my hotel is not far away, just a 10-minute walk. If you're too lazy to walk, you can also take the tram, all trams are free within the city center.
The big staircase opposite the back of the tram in the picture below is the Southern Cross train station. But you can't go up that staircase on the train, it's a cross-railway access to the stadium and office buildings behind the station. The spacious street with the trams directly across from the train station is called Bourke Street, where you can get on the trams if you want to.
2. Free Trams and Sightseeing Buses
Melbourne has the world's largest streetcar network, which runs all over the city and to the surrounding areas.
All I knew about Melbourne was the free City Circle 35 trams, which run in both directions every ten minutes. The whole journey takes about an hour. When I first came to Melbourne, I rode it once, and the ancient body was very flavorful. The clanking sound of the trams gave me the illusion of traveling back to Dalian. The streetcars in Dalian still remain today, connecting me to my childhood memories.
This time, I realized that in recent years, Melbourne's convenience measures have made new progress, as long as in a certain range of the city, no matter how many numbers of trams, are free to ride. When you are about to leave the free zone, there will be a voice announcement on the tram.
In addition, there is a free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle in the center of Melbourne, the driver will briefly introduce the attractions of the site, half an hour, the whole 1.5 hours, one-way traffic. It takes 1.5 hours and runs in one direction. I took it the first time I came to Melbourne.
Below is a map of the city's free tram coverage, the green border is the route of free tram 35.
Map of tram routes:
3. Myki Card
I didn't use the card this time, but here's a quick note.
Melbourne's transportation card is called Myki Card. there is a card fee of A$6 for the card, there is no refund of the card and no refund of the fee, there is only a four-year period, and there are no temporary paper tickets to buy, so to pay for a ride, you have to buy a transportation card. Quite a waste for most tourists. However, starting this year, it is rumored that you can use the Myki card on Android-powered phones through the Google Pay software. The phone itself is an invisible card, so there should be no card fee to speak of.
As for transportation cards, the Opal Card, which is Sydney's new state transportation card, is much more user-friendly. There is no card fee or deposit to open a card. If you don't want to open a card, you can buy a disposable paper ticket, but you won't get the benefits of a transportation card.
4. Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street is a must-visit, and it's dotted with famous Melbourne landmarks. Here are the attractions on this street in order.
Flinders Station is one of the famous landmarks in Melbourne. It is the terminus of the local train line in Melbourne, and also the earliest train station in Australia, which has been used for more than 160 years since 1854. Typical Victorian architecture, classical and gorgeous, day and night give people a very different feeling.
I prefer it at night. Whenever you stand at that intersection, your eyes can't help but be drawn to it. It's like a calm and energetic big brother, quietly watching over Melbourne and witnessing its growth.
The top picture is just the front face of the train station, but the back body is actually very long, otherwise how can it afford to be the terminus of local trains. It's the long row in the center of the picture below.
5. Federation Square
It was built in 2001 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Federation. Next to Flinders Railway Station, it is in a prime location on the banks of the Yarra River, with an excellent view. The exterior is an irregular shape full of modern elements, which houses the National Gallery, the Performance Hall, SBS TV Broadcasting Office, and the Passenger Information Center. Many of Melbourne's celebrations are organized in this square.
Again, I prefer it at night. This is Melbourne in July, when winter is at its coldest, and there are still people sitting on the ground, not feeling cold at all. I wandered around taking photos and it wasn't cold either, it was very laid back and quiet.
6, St. Paul's Cathedral (St. Paul's Cathedral)
From Federation Square through Flinders Street, is St. Paul's Cathedral, which is the Anglican Church of Australia, the cathedral of the Diocese of Melbourne. It is free to visit, but you will have to pay if you want to take photos.
The buildings are more layered with lighting effects and the photos are better than during the day.
7, Arts Center Melbourne
One of Melbourne's famous landmarks. On the south bank of the Yarra River, its 162-meter-high spire is like a tutu, which can be seen from a distance.
However, I prefer it at night, there is a lot more room for imagination.
In fact, Hamer Hall, the round pier building next to the river, also belongs to the arts center. I saw a concert there this time.
Speaking of concerts, it was also interesting. I'm not even sure what kind of ticket I bought. Before the trip, I searched around the major theaters and concert halls, correctly predicted their English hearing, and decided to give up all the performances with lines. I thought I was buying a ballet, but I realized that it was a concert, a sing-along and a symphony.
Also counted crooked, watching the American-Russian composer Stravinsky (Stravinsky) of the famous "the Rite of Spring" (the Rite of Spring). A quick check of the internet introduces the choreographed ballet, and there is also a version of Yang Liping's dance that is touring the world and will soon be going to Melbourne as well.
I thought I didn't understand it at all, and I really didn't understand much, but I cried. I realized what is called art and music without borders, even if you do not understand the language to read the subtitles, the singer wants to convey the emotion can also be straight to the heart.
When it came to the second symphony, I simply had to hold my chest. At the end of the piece, my heart was pounding and I couldn't help but chant, "I haven't seen enough... I haven't seen enough... I haven't seen enough!"
The symphony is so different from listening to the record, that if we all listen to it live, I'm afraid not many people will say they don't love it. I'm not sure how much I'm going to love it, but I'm sure I'm going to love it, and I'm going to love it, and I'm going to love it. Those who are struggling to hold on to the piano children, often come to listen to the scene, I am afraid that will learn to be more active and happy!
The concert hall is basically full of white-haired elders, ginger or old hot, a lifetime of experience is not cover, what is really enjoy, they understand than anyone else. The poor me to this age only a shock to slow down the spirit.
The first time I saw this, I was able to get a panoramic view of the city.
I spent a lot of time at the Center for the Arts this time, not only for the concerts, but also for the showroom downstairs. The basement of the Center for the Arts has a lot to offer. There are free exhibits of former performance costumes and more.
The lounge with large paintings is quiet and elegant, and sitting in such a place, you will get a moment of peace and quiet.
Sitting on a sofa like this is like sitting in a landscape painting:
Outside the Art Center, I came across this street performer who stood from daytime to early evening, and this is how much he loves and persists! Who can say that he is not as good as the main character in the spotlight of the art center?
8, National Gallery of Victoria (National Gallery of Victoria)
The last time I came to Melbourne, I took my kids to see it in detail, and this time I didn't go in. I can't help but take a picture of it as I pass by the entrance. Look at this transparent blue sky, compared to the last time I came here is much more beautiful, look back at the last photo, the sky is cloudy.
The water curtain glass wall of the Museum of Fine Arts is a photo object that everyone can't bear to let go of, just a shot, it is a half-realistic and half-abstract painting.
Outside the museum, I came across this craftsman making all sorts of fantastic animals out of wire, and according to him, it takes about an hour or two to make one. The art on the street should be no different from the art in the museum.
9. Graffiti Streets
In fact, there are quite a few places in Melbourne where graffiti works are scattered, and two of the most famous ones are Hosier Lane and Union Lane, which are the embodiment of the artistic flavor of this cultural capital.
These works are frequently updated. A visit every now and then will reveal different surprises. Or, if you're out at night, you can catch some live graffiti:
Again, cross Flinders Street from Federation Square and find the entrance to Hosier Lane a little east of St. Paul's Cathedral, while Union Lane is near the Royal Arcade, which you can check out while you're walking around.
10, The Royal Arcade (The Royal Arcade)
Obviously, it is a shopping center, but tourists are more just to appreciate its architecture. This is a world-famous European-style classical arcade building. The arcade leads to Little Collins Street in the south and Bourke Street in the north. I like its simple and sharp ground, black and white is a timeless classic. Beauty must leave a small photo here.
Many people on the internet have introduced the Macaron stall in the center. It is a kind of French small round cake, different colors have different tastes. The color is too bright food does not like me, reflexively associated with no technical content to the death of sweet candy, even have no desire to taste it. I've lived a long time, know that there are many things in the world just look beautiful.
11, Block Arcade (Block Arcade )
Close to the Royal Arcade, built in 1891, inspired by Milan's famous shopping corridor. The roof and and the Royal Arcade is similar to the old columns more palace flavor.
As soon as you come in, there is a cake and dessert store called Hopetoun Tea Room, which is said to have a hundred years of history. It's also a popular spot on the Internet. When I went there, there were very few people in the shopping center, but there were already people lining up outside this store. I'm not a foodie and I don't have the patience to spend too much time for a bite to eat, especially on such a precious traveling time.
12, Coffee Street
The world's top ten coffee cities, Melbourne on the list, with Rome, Paris, Seattle, Vienna, Havana, Vancouver, S?o Paulo, these coffee culture towns. It is said to be because Australia has the most Italians in the world, except for Italy.
The coffee street recommended online is called Degraves Street, a small alley diagonally across from Flinders train station, which is said to have a collection of cafes considered to be the best in Melbourne.
I'm not a coffee fan, and I prefer the lightness of tea to the heaviness of coffee. I can drink it if I have to, I just don't really know how to taste it. So I didn't specifically go to the coffee street this time. In fact, in the city randomly into some alleys, are similar to the street on the street cafe.
13, Young & Jackson Hotel & Bar
Melbourne is said to be richer than Sydney in world cuisine, food and drink has always been Buddhist, although I do not care too much, but downtown shopping for two days, full of eyes to avoid eating. Whether it is the attractions, riverside or narrow alleys, all kinds of tables, always patronized.
For example, below, in the middle of the Evan Pedestrian Bridge, there's a restaurant on the water called Ponyfish Island Cafe, which is romantic enough, regardless of how well the food is prepared.
Below, outside Hamer Hall at the Arts Center on the south bank of the Prince's Bridge, there are restaurants along the river:
The Young & Jackson Bar, which is a restaurant and a hotel, has nothing to do with food.
This Young & Jackson Hotel is a very old building, and is an iconic Australian attraction. What's more, it has a famous painting called "Chole" hanging inside. The painting shows the nude body of a young Parisian girl and was created by French painter Jules Joseph Lefebvre in 1875.
The painting has won awards, and then turned around and was bought by the owner of this hotel, since 1909, has been hanging here. Many people come here just to see Chole, and it is said that during the war soldiers who were going to war came here for a drink to say goodbye.
The reason the painting is so famous may have something to do with the real story behind it. The model for the painting, whose real name was Mary, came out as a mannequin at a young age to earn a living for herself and her sister. A year after the painting was completed, the artist and her sister got married. After another year, she committed suicide by drinking poison. One can only speculate as to the reason for her suicide. Perhaps both sisters were in love with the painter at the same time? Perhaps the painter had an unspoken relationship with both sisters at the same time?
People are so interested in this painting, is it a tribute to a very silly and obsessive love?
The bar's location is easy to find, on the four corners of the intersection with Flinders Station, Federation Square and St. Paul's Cathedral. When I passed by, the second-floor restaurant area where the paintings were hung was not yet open, and time was precious, so I didn't wait much. Just know what's going on. The layman, the original paintings do not see so-called.
14, Williams Town (Williamstown)
Williamstown (Williamstown) is about 9 kilometers from downtown Melbourne, only 15 minutes by car. Built in 1837, it was Melbourne's first wharf, where European immigrants landed when they came by boat in the early years. Now it has become a good place for leisure and vacation. There are sandy beaches, botanical gardens, Scienceworks, vintage car shows, restaurants and stores to spend your time.
The town is surrounded on three sides by the sea, and has great views of the tall buildings in Melbourne's city center. The town is quiet, with neat, retro buildings. The town is quiet, the buildings are neat and vintage. It is close to the busy city, but it feels like a paradise.
To come here, in addition to driving, you can also take the train, from Flinders train station to take the Williamstown line, the ride is about half an hour. Although driving and taking train are quite fast, the best transportation for sightseers is by boat (Ferry).
It's an hour-long boat ride that takes in many of Melbourne's famous landmarks, as well as the many different bridges over the Yarra River. For tourists, it saves energy and the trouble of finding the way. Because it's from the river to the Intracoastal, there's no wind or waves at all, so there's no need to worry about seasickness.
From the center of Melbourne's busiest, down the river to the sea, the slightly yellow river slowly turned into blue sea water, fishing along the shoreline, seagulls swarming over, how can the mood not relax.
The embarkation point is at Southbank Wharf, about 50 meters after coming down from the south bank of Footbridge in downtown Melbourne, near Southgate. Disembarkation is at Gem Pier in Williamstown.
Departures are guaranteed in all weathers at 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30 every day, with additional departures every hour as needed. The journey takes about 1 hour. The return trip departs at 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30. Tickets can be purchased online in advance with a 10% discount, or on-site, with the advantage of flexible scheduling. The ferry company's official website, williamstownferries.com.au
Even though it's winter, the heavens take care of it, and the sun is shining and there's no wind, so it's not too cold to sit on the deck. From the center of the city of tall buildings, slowly into the wide-open view of the mouth of the sea.
The ship in the lower right corner of the picture below, which served during World War II, is parked at the pier in Williamsville, and you can visit it if you are interested.
The bridges over the Yarra River swung over our heads one by one, giving us a unique perspective that you can't get by car or on foot.
The red helicopter in the picture below is a sightseeing plane, I just take pictures, even passenger planes love to get dizzy, I stick to the principle I set for myself when I went to Kangaroo Island: never let your body suffer for fun. I also remembered what my sister once said, "There are some things that are good enough to see in photos and videos, so you don't have to try them yourself." Yes, what others find enjoyable may be a sin for us. I don't want to see it.
This trip to Melbourne, just in time for the full moon, a round of golden bright full moon hanging in the sky, the deep Yarra River like a huge canvas, the moon and the city's neon painting silently.
In this quiet night in another country, my heart, again full of warmth and strength!
Attached is a description of other attractions. I did not have time to go to this trip, organized here for reference. City attractions roughly in order from north to south:
Queen Victoria Market (Queen Victoria Market): Melbourne's largest market, vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, souvenirs, snacks, food and other types of stalls more than a thousand. For those who don't like shopping, or have visited Market City in Sydney, this is not a must-visit place, and it is similar everywhere.
Melbourne Central: Built in 1888, Melbourne Central is a shopping center where bullets used to be made. Inside you'll find the Tower Museum, which has more than 300 steps, and one of the world's largest pocket-watch wall clocks.
State Library of Victoria: Established in 1854, this is Australia's oldest public ****ing library. It attracts many visitors because of its octagonal reading room on the third floor with a huge vaulted ceiling. There are also occasional art exhibitions on the second floor. If you want to go up to the upper floors to take a full view, the elevator only goes up to the 5th floor, and you can find the stairs to the 5th and 6th floors in the middle of the 4th floor landscape area.
Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum: Both in Carlton garden. The Royal Exhibition Building is the only ancient building in Australia to be listed on the United Nations "World Heritage List". The Melbourne Museum is the largest museum in the southern hemisphere. The Melbourne Museum is the largest museum in the southern hemisphere, and the IMAX movie theater has the world's largest screen. The most attractive is the specimen of whale stranded on the Great Ocean Road.
ST Patrick's Cathedral: one of the tallest churches in the world, famous Gothic architecture.
Fitzroy Gardens (Fitzroy Gardens): inside the Captain Cook's Cottage (Captain Cook's Cottage), is really moved from the United Kingdom. You have to buy a ticket to visit and you can try on Victorian costumes for free and have your picture taken. There is also a Captain Cook's Cottage in Sydney Rocks. Captain Cook was a great British seafaring explorer of the 18th century, who discovered the Australian mainland, New Zealand and Hawaii, among many other islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Eureka Tower Skydeck 88: At 89 stories, this is said to be the tallest residential building in the world, with the fastest elevator in the Southern Hemisphere. The 88th floor is open to the public and is surrounded by a circle of glass.
Crown Casino: the second largest casino in the world, where you can also enjoy food and shopping. Foreigners can apply for a membership card with their passport and receive a free ten Australian dollar chip. Every night from 7 to 12 o'clock, eight stone pillars along the river outside the plaza will spit fire, lasting about five minutes each time.
DFO (Direct Factory Outlet): said to be cheaper than DFO in Sydney.
Victorian War Memorial (Shrine Of Remembrance): It is said that every year on November 11, 11:00 a.m., which is the end of the First World War, the sunlight from a small hole in the glass patio of the Memorial Museum will shine on the word "Love" on the monument. Love" on the monument for four minutes from top to bottom. At this time, many tourists gather to watch. On weekdays, there are lights that simulate sunlight at half past midnight every day.
Royal Botanic Garden: The largest national botanic garden in an Australian city.
Melbourne city outside the surrounding attractions:
The Great Ocean Road (The Great Ocean Road), Phillip Island, also known as the penguin island (Phillip Island): These two are a must go place, is my first time to drive Victoria when the focus of the goal, if there is an opportunity to see the penguins nesting once again is willing to each contact with the wildlife have brought me to my heart. Every time I touch wildlife, it brings me a sense of wonder and joy.
Brighton Beach: The row of rainbow huts on the beach make a great backdrop for photos.
St. Kilda Beach : Go up to the St. Kilda Pier trestle, and walk in until you reach the iron gate, which is the penguin conservation center. In the evening, you can see wild little penguins along the embankment near the Iron Gate, which is not as big as Penguin Island. There is also a protected animal, the water rat.
Mt. Dandenong: About half an hour drive from the city. The highest peak, SkyHigh, offers panoramic views of Melbourne and the surrounding area. Take a ride through the forest on the Puffing Billy Railway. The Puffing Billy Railway is a 110-minute ride*** with five stops: Belgrave, Menzies Creek, Emerald, Lakeside and Gembrook. It is recommended to just take one stop round trip to experience it, the scenery is similar behind, it takes too long and the tickets are not cheap.
Gold Rush Town Sovereign Hill, Ballarat: Voted Australia's best tourist attraction for many years. It is about two hours drive from Melbourne. From Melbourne, you can take the V line directly, after getting off the train, there are buses to pick up and drop off. You can experience the history and technology of gold panning, and have the opportunity to try panning for gold by the river. In the evening, there is a big light show about the gold rush.
(End of full article)