Melbourne, Australia
If you want to know which city is the most livable in Australia, locals and tourists will tell you that it is Melbourne, Australia. I am one of them who will vow for it.
It is a city that reminds me so much of a city in my own country, Cape Town, where nature can dress it in all four seasons in one day: summer, autumn, winter, and spring.
When I visited Melbourne, I had five things on my “must do” list.
1. Standing and shouting my name in the middle of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
I am a cricket lover, and since I was a little girl, I’ve been dreaming of putting my two feet on the international cricket grounds of the world. A visit to the MCG was the an unbelievable experience.
2. A visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral
A landmark in Melbourne is St. Paul’s Cathedral. When facing the building, you are filled with peace, yet when you turn around, you are drawn into the rush of Flinders Street Station.
3. A visit to the Old Melbourne Gaol
Coming from South Africa with the famous “apartheid” background, a visit to Melbourne’s most famous goal or prison was a must. Five of the first nine executions in Victoria were of Aboriginal men as a result of a clash of cultures.
4. A walk along the piers of St. Kilda Beach
A visit to Melbourne’s most famous beach, with its view of Port Phillip and outline of Melbourne, was not to be missed.
5. A cruise to Williamstown on the Yarra River with a city view of Melbourne
A must for me when I visit cities around the world is to take a river cruise to view the city. Well, that is, if they are located near a river.
The two-hour cruise on the Yarra River, which is the heart of Melbourne, was incredible. It was sightseeing at its best.
This is also where I want to stand still for this contest.
A a city view of Melbourne from the Yarra River, just after Princess Bridge, which was built where the oldest crossing of the river was.
Melbourne from the Southbank of the Yarra.
Looking back from the boat as soft rain was starting to fall.
- All photos are my own