Hello Melbourne Australia !

We arrived on the Coral Princess on a sunny, warm morning and quickly saw why Melbourne is considered one of Australia’s great cities. Set on Port Phillip Bay and shaped by the Yarra River, Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and a major hub for business, education, arts, and sport. Founded in 1835 and officially named Melbourne in 1837, the city grew rapidly during the Victorian Gold Rush of the 1850s, when wealth and immigration transformed it into one of the world’s largest and most prosperous cities of the era. That boom helped create the grand historic buildings and wide streets that still define parts of the city today, even as modern towers continue to reshape the skyline.

Getting into the city was easy. The city centre is about 25 km from the port, and there was a train station right at the dock. We were greeted by friendly local guides who handed out city maps and shared what was happening around town. We also bought an all-day tram pass for $10 each, which gave us flexibility to move around without thinking twice about fares.

We boarded the train at about 9:30 a.m. and enjoyed the 30-minute ride into Melbourne, knowing we had to be back on the ship by 5:30 p.m.—a full day to explore.

Our first stop was the main train station, and from there it was a short walk to the shopping district and mall area. It was the last weekend of a buskers festival, and because it was Sunday the streets were especially busy, with a lively, weekend-in-the-city feel.

Melbourne is located in South Australia on the southern sea. Most of the cities we have visited in Australia have very unique designs and we were told that when the buildings are constructed, the owners will get tax incentives or rebates for different designs and this is why the buildings are always different all around the cities.

• 

• 

• 

• 

There was a church on our walking path so I quickly went in to get a photo as we have not had an opportunity to see many church buildings.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We decided to head to the market, where the stalls were filled with fresh vegetables, dairy, meat, and fish. It felt like a real slice of everyday Melbourne—locals shopping, chatting, and moving through the aisles with purpose.

• 

• 

• 

• 

After the market we went to the park where the busker show was on, but we couldn’t see any acts because the performances were ticketed. Even so, there were lots of people there and the festival atmosphere was fun to experience.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Back on the main street, we enjoyed the wide pedestrian mall and stopped for lunch and a German beer—an easy, relaxing break in the middle of a busy day.

• 

• 

• 

• 

The mall area had buskers, musicians and other entertainers as people walked and did some shopping. There were both high end stores as well as souveneir shops along the way. The Canadian dollar is stronger than the AU buck by about 5% so the costs to purchase items was good.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

There was a candy store on the walkway with an antique store front inside the store with small characters that represented the olden days. It was very creative and the manager was kind enough to allow us to open it up and take a picture with Captain America and Deadpool inside. They do go everywhere with us.

One of the things Melbourne is famous for is its laneways, and we spent time walking the streets to look at the graffiti and murals. Some were excellent—bold, creative, and detailed—while others were older and deteriorating, which somehow made it feel like a living outdoor gallery that’s always changing.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We tried taking a tram to go around the city, but it was so congested that we changed plans and took a different tram out to the beach instead. The beach area impressed us again—open views, sea air, and that relaxed Australian coastal vibe that’s such a contrast to the busy city centre. The architecture was unique and mirrored the balconies you see in New Orleans and still we are unable to understand why. There was a large Ferris wheel and many restaurants and beach properties for the tourists. It was a great reminder that Melbourne isn’t just a downtown experience; it’s also a waterfront city with easy access to places where people slow down and enjoy the outdoors.

The was a memorial that stood about 30 feet high with a model of a sailing ship. It was very detailed and as you peered up into the blue skies you could see the detail.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Finally, we took the tram back to the ship and made it with 30 minutes to spare. It was a fun, full day in Melbourne as we walked close to 20,000 steps in our exploration of the city —history, culture, markets, street art, and the beach all in one stop—and a great snapshot of why this city is so important and so well loved.

As we left the harbour there was another cruise ship still docked and I believe that it is going to the same spot as us so we can follow its journey as well.

Now we will have three sea days as we travel to Perth which will be our final stop in Australia before we head northbound to Bali.

It was a wonderful day in Melbourne