Hello, Down Under

A whirlwind trip to Melbourne.

Have you ever wondered why Australia is called ‘Down Under’? The reason is as uninspiring as it being located in the Southern Hemisphere, “below” most other countries on the map. It is also known as ‘the Sunburnt Country,’ though (thankfully) I found myself in Melbourne when it was raining and rather pleasant. As has become customary in recent times, I was there on a work trip and stayed back a few days to explore the city. It was my first time in Australia and I had three days on hand. I spent a day in Melbourne (mostly eating and shopping), a day in Phillip Island, and a day in Yarra Valley. I tried to make the most of the limited time I had, so I booked day tours via Klook. This turned out to be a good decision as I was exhausted by the end of my work commitments and had no brainspace to plan the logistics myself.

Just Melbourne things © Ila Reddy

A Date with Koalas, Kangaroos, and Penguins

On my first Sunday in Melbourne, I set off on a day trip to Phillip Island. The Klook tour included pit stops at Brighton beach, Moonlight Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Nobbies, before proceeding to the Summerland Beach to catch the Penguin Parade.

Our first stop - Brighton Beach - contains 93 colourful vintage bathing boxes or beach huts with Victorian features that date back to the 1860s. They’re located on Dendy Street Beach in Brighton, Victoria and each hut has a unique design as per the owner’s taste. They don’t have electricity or water but are considered prime property as they are tightly-held, passed down through generations and seldom up for sale. Fun fact: the last reported sale was for a whopping $340,000 in 2019!  The boxes were built as a shelter from the strong sun and wind, for storing personal belongings, and as a changing room before and after a swim. A ten-minute stroll is sufficient to admire all the boxes, click postcard-worthy photos, and enjoy the speck of colour on an otherwise dull beach.

Brighton Bathing Boxes © Ila Reddy

The next stop - Moonlight Wildlife Sanctuary - makes for a perfect one-stop destination to see Aussie animals if you have limited time. The bushland is home to over 70 Australian species, including some endangered animals, and is located 50 minutes southeast of Melbourne’s CBD. I met koalas, kangaroos, owls, wombats, wallabies, snakes, and a host of birds. Spending time with Sophie, a 12-year old Koala, and feeding her Eucalyptus leaves was the most fun thing I did on my trip, and at times it was hard to tell if the animals were real or stuffed toys!

Meet my friend, Sophie © Ila Reddy

The Nobbies Centre, located at Point Grant on the western tip of Phillip Island, offers majestic views of rock formations and the sea. If you’re lucky, you might find penguins resting in their small burrows while walking up and down the boardwalk. It is also home to one of the largest breeding colonies of crested terns (2800 pairs) in Victoria. 

Crested Terns © Ila Reddy

Last up was witnessing the enchanting Penguin Parade on Phillip Island. The island has the largest Little Penguin colony in the world and every evening, visitors can catch the adorable seabirds waddling home from the ocean to their burrows during sunset. There is tiered seating and a boardwalk from where they can be spotted, and photography is strictly prohibited as the camera flash can hamper the penguin’s eyesight. All proceeds from visitor ticket sales go to conservation efforts.

Penguin Parade © Phillip Island Nature Parks

A Taste of Yarra Valley

Yarra Valley is a world-renowned wine-growing region but there is more to the valley than wine. I signed up for a gourmet tour that included wine tasting, but also visits to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, a farmer’s market, and an artisanal cheese factory. The route from Melbourne’s CBD into the countryside was picturesque, driving past endless farms, and occasionally spotting wallabies by the roadside. It rained on and off through the day, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as a sunny day in the valley would have been very humid and tiring. 

The wine tasting at the Balgownie Estate and Rochford Wines was enlightening for a non-connoisseur like me. They taught me how and when to swirl my glass, smell the wine, and sip slowly so as to taste all the notes. 

Wine tasting tour at Yarra Valley © Ila Reddy

Lunch was at Rochford Wines itself, where we got to select a meal of our choice and get to know our fellow travelers while sipping fine wine. This was followed by a visit to a farmer’s market and the Coldstream Dairy, where the lovely hosts put together a delightful charcuterie board featuring a variety of fresh cheese, crackers, fruits, pickles, and jams. 

Finally, we went over to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, a chocolate factory and store, where we got to taste many different flavours of chocolate produced in the valley. I took back a bunch of honeycomb milk chocolate bars and everyone who tried it back home absolutely loved the rich, distinct taste.

Cloudy day at Yarra Valley © Ila Reddy

Melbourne is a fairly young and vibrant city. Australians will argue over which city is better: Melbourne or Sydney. Since I haven’t been to Sydney yet, I have no frame of reference. I enjoyed the sea and countryside as much as the Central Business District (CBD) during my brief stay in Melbourne. Although it’s considered a very cosmopolitan city, I was often the only person of colour in places (especially cafes and restaurants in the CBD). This was unexpected and I felt a bit odd at times, but people were generally friendly and helpful. I don’t know if I would’ve planned a trip to Melbourne if not for work – it’s not a destination that particularly excites me – but it made for a pleasant trip. I was exposed to Australian society for the first time and it was interesting to understand the nuances of why they are the way they are. 

St. Kilda Marina © Ila Reddy

I left Melbourne with many souvenirs — chocolates, wine, postcards, a penguin stuffed toy, Bluey miniatures for my niece, and an interesting book about the aboriginals of Australia. I have so much left to see in this smallest continent of the world; if I find myself here again in the future, I would love to drive down the Great Ocean Road or hop over to the island of Tasmania.