Landing in Melbourne after 24 hrs travelling we thought the best way to avoid jet-lag and stay awake would be to stand in a glass cube as it moves outwards from the tallest tower in Australia 300 metres above the ground. This new attraction called The Edge certainly got the adrenaline pumping and the views were fantastic.
After coming back down to earth we then enjoyed an excellent meal onboard the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant. This has turned into a bit of a Melbourne icon and combines great food with a piece of Victoria’s history and is a great way to see the city.
Having spent 3 days exploring Melbourne it was time to hit the open road. We spent 3 days exploring the Mornington Peninsula and Great Ocean Road regions. The coastal scenery was inspiring and the wineries of the Mornington Peninsula very welcoming, however, the highlight had to be a convincing win over my travelling companion at The Sands Golf Course. Just outside Torquay, this Stuart Appleby designed Championship Course was pretty challenging (and if signs were to be believed fairly well populated by snakes), and as the name suggests there was quite a lot of sand!
After dropping off our hire car and a short flight to Sydney it was time to try a few of the trips we recommend here at Bridge and Wickers. The first being the ‘Cruise like a Local’ trip offered by Sea Sydney Cruises. After being collected by Shawn, our guide for what was a perfect summers day, we were handed a beer and settled down for a splendid afternoon leisurely cruising around Sydney Harbour. The trip took in the many bays of the harbour and quite a few celebrities houses were pointed out. After couple of hours we dropped anchor in a quiet bay looking back at the Opera House and had a swim before being served a wonderful lunch. A little more cruising and it was time to be dropped back at Circular Quay.
The next day we headed out of the city on a wine tour of the Hunter Valley with Australian Wild Escapes. Again, perfect weather and after a couple of hours driving and a morning tea stop we arrived in the Hunter. As well as tasting some fantastic wines we were treated to a full culinary experience with cheese, chocolate and beer tasting also included. The guide was very knowledgeable and although it is a fair drive from Sydney (the journey back was much quicker as everyone seemed to enjoy a wine inducing snooze) it was a great day out.
Our final day in Australia was the 5th day without seeing a cloud and at this stage we weren’t looking forward to being back in London in March in a few days. Luckily for us we could make the most of the fantastic weather as we had arranged to do the Sydney Harbour Bridgeclimb. After undergoing the safety procedures and donning rather attractive outfits we set out onto the bridge for some amazing views of the harbour, the city and the ocean beyond. It was a great way to end our time in Australia and there can’t be many better views in the world.
If Matt's trip has inspired you to book a trip Down Under and you want to find out more, please contact him by email mattl@bridgeandwickers.com or call his direct line 020 7483 6565
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