End of Melbourne, Start of Sydney

The day following the Great Ocean Rd adventure we had a late start, driving down to Phillip Island in the afternoon to see the wildlife on show there. Unfortunately the seals that were supposed to be on the rocks at the Nobbies were so far away that we couldnt see them.

Then we went 3km down the coast to watch the imaginatively named Little Penguins come up to shore, cross the beach and head up to their nests on the dunes, all under the cover of darkness. Couldn't take any pictures of that though.

Lazy day on the 5th, spent some time at the beach before having a BBQ for Caroline's birthday. The Gould family flew home early the next morning. We went down to St Kilda the next evening for a great meal at a Cantonese Restaurant.

On the Saturday I did my duty as a Brit and former student by going on the tour of the Neighbours set, where they took us to the tiny Ramsey Street cul-de-sac and the studio where they film all the outside bits, before taking us to a random riverbank to meet Dr Karl, the only actor who stayed in Melbourne over their 5 week break from filming...

Finished off my stay in Melbourne with a visit to Der Raum, ranked one of the best cocktail bars in the world, which certainly lived up to its reputation, with one cocktail being served in a tonic bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag...

Caught my flight to Sydney on the 11th, checked into the new hostel before walking up to Circular Quay for my first glimpse at the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

Booked myself onto the 17.30 Bridge Climb, where we got to walk along the top of the arch right to the top, standing at double the height of the tallest sail of the Opera House. Not great weather, with wind and rain, but spectacular views nonetheless.

On Wednesday I walked up to Darling Harbour, visiting the Maritime Museum (it was free...) and the Wildlife World, followed by another trip to the Harbour Bridge, this time to climb the stone pylons, for the weather was sunny and good for photos