Melbourne

It's been 11 years since I was last in Melbourne, my first ever visit to Australia. I have been hanging out for another trip there, with the bonus being able to see my Auntie again as she lives there.

Less than pleased to arrive at the airport to wait for my flight when the 12:30pm boarding time comes and goes, then the announce a half hour delay at 1pm, with 1:15pm boarding. 1:15pm comes and goes, and at 1:30pm the flight gets cancelled... Great, but I suppose I'd rather not fly on a plane with 'technical issues'. Flights get rescheduled and I'm told I'm on the 5:30pm.. seriously?! Get them to change me onto the next earliest possible which as 4pm. Rather annoyed to be losing some time out of my trip, but at least it's not too bad. I finally get on my flight and arrive in Melbourne, but they've stuck my bag on the later flight they'd originally put me on... ah well it did turn up eventually.... at 11pm.

I love this photo.

Ah so lovely to see my auntie again! Spent the weekend going around the city, the shops and the Zoo. And I managed to negotiate changing my flight back from to be later on in the evening free of charge! Result; not only gaining back a few more hours that I had lost, but being able to spend more time on our visit down to Phillip Island.

It was so much fun to go and visit the Phillip Island Wildlife Park again and feed the Kangaroos. I remember it so well from last time and is such a great experience.

This one was so cute!

Kangaroo Selfies

Sydney

Ah Sydney was lovely. On my first day there I made the rather silly decision to walk from the Central train station to my hotel. Google maps said 30 minutes or so... In the sticky humidity, with a suitcase, I'm sure it was longer and didn't feel fun!

Looking up to a very cloudy, overcast sky all I could think about was how disappointed I would be if the weather were to be the same the next day for my climb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Alas, the weather was much less cloudy throughout the day and I lucked out big time for my Twilight climb. Climbing the Harbour Bridge was absolutely amazing and something I cannot wait to do again!

Walking from the main building underneath the bridge, whilst still being able to see the ground below, was perhaps the most unnerving part. Then the fun of climbing up several ladders to reach the main part of the climb. It was incredible to view the city from that height. The climb from there on was rather easy complete, but got windier as we made our way to the summit where the sun made its appearance.

I bumped into a colleague of mine, who happened to be staying on the same floor of the same hotel as me in Sydney. They'd planned on renting a car for the day and asked if I'd like to join them. Best decision, as it was a very hot and humid 34' day! It also meant that I'd see more of Sydney then I possibly would've done by myself. I've now literally seen and gotten photos of the Harbour Bridge from all different areas around the city. We viewed the city from Rose Bay, Watson's Bay and Balmain. Got to visit Bondi Beach and Coogee Beach, as well as driving past Bronte and Tamarama beaches. We also stopped by Botany Bay, which I wouldn't have even thought about visiting myself.

Coogee Beach

Botany Bay