Much of the commentary on this
forum is centred around the highlights of the traditional Australian outback with very little discussion on the attractions within our capital cities and rural centres, so I thought I might share the story of my last weekend.
Last Friday was my wonderful lady's 40th birthday so I thought it fit to remove her for a few hours from the drudgery of her everyday life with a few surprises. The fun commenced when a stretched limo' picked us up at home and drove us to the Windsor Hotel where we booked into a Victorian Suite Then on a glorious horse and carriage ride down the Paris end of Collins Street, across the Yarra at Princess Bridge and down to
the entrance of Crown Towers at Southbank it wasn't difficult, with the melody of horseshoes on the road, to imagine oneself transported back more than a century to a time when the simple pleasures of life were far more important than the rampant consumerism which pervades today's society. In my mind the foyer of Crown is one of the most magnificent pieces of interior design and I could happily spend hours there listening to the majesty of the acoustics whilst delighting in the ongoing
water ballet created by the incredible plethora of fountains.
We then wandered hand in hand along the southern bank of the Yarra River discussing how incredible the transformation of this area was in comparison to the crime infested, corrugated iron shanty town which used to reside here, not that long ago, until an exquisite Venetian style gondola berthed at a pre-arranged time and place to take us on a peacefully romantic hour and a half cruise along the river. Halfway through this tour our very friendly gondolier, Simon pulled into the bank where much to Helen's surprise our great friends from
Castlemaine hopped on board to help us drink what was now our third bottle of complimentary champagne whilst we laid back and watched the world float by.
After we had all disembarked and returned to the Windsor, which has an incredible sense grandeur about it, we adjourned to one of our favourite restaurants - 111 Spring Street, to enjoy some fine food, wine and company.
On the Saturday morning we returned home to the most wonderful greeting from our little girl and settled down around the open fire to watch the mighty Bulldogs run rings of fire around the Weagles. Of course we had explained to Helen that we had taken into account that she wouldn't be prepared to feed visitors that night so we'd booked a table for five of us at the local tavern which is housed in an ©1843 bluestone building. What we hadn't told her about was the fifty or so family and friends who'd travelled from all over Victoria to share the special day with her. Yes, it was a big Saturday night that somehow managed to still be going strong on Sunday afternoon.
Anyway, on reflection, I'm sure the other
population centres around Australia must have hidden secrets such as gondola cruises and carriage rides, or iconic establishments like The Windsor, and I was hoping (maybe for future reference, who knows where we'll be in ten years time) that the ExplorOz family could highlight to the world what they are.
The best parts of Australia aren't necessarily outside of the populated areas. What are your favourite bits?