Melbourne what a blast, we had incredible flights over with Qantas, window seats, and the kids were fantastic, the air hostess had a job keeping up with Immie the chatterbox....hehahahah. When we landed we were invited to the cockpit to meet the pilots and Immie and Kods got to sit in their chairs with their hats on. By this time it was 11.30 pm, and the kids were still pumped and running around the airport. Then to the bag stop, where we met our driver, Louie, who had been patiently waiting for us after quite a few delays prior to leaving Perth. We were driven to the Regents in a beautiful Holden Statesman, we arrived in our room, at about midnight, with lots of giggles and Immie telling everyone to be quiet after she was doing fake snores, we finally got to sleep at 12.30pm.
The next morning was an early start nothing unusual, with our jumping jellybean around. We stood on the side of the road for a while observing the trams, finally acknowledging that yes they did want us to go stand in the middle of the road to catch one (what the???). On our first trip on the tram, we were surprised by the ticket inspector, after we had spent several stops on the tram wondering where you buy tickets...no not from the tram driving but a box at the back of the tram. After many conversations with the inspector, and showing Jas’s WA drivers license, he finally agreed that we really weren’t trying to get a free ride from the Melbourne transport, though this also meant we had missed our stop, and had to walk around in circles to discover Camp Quality’s offices and the fabulous Queen Victoria markets. We went and said a quick Hello to the great Camp Quality Melbourne and then hit the markets. WOW...incredible wonderful..the food...amazing...I want that market around the corner from me. Then into the city, another fantastic buzz, then the back to the hotel to drop the kids and hubbie of for a rest. Then I returned to the city to shop and back on the tram at peak hour, another culture shock, felt like a real country bumpkin. Then Maccas for dinner, and sleep time.
Day Two was begun with Pancakes in the restaurant, then the Melbourne Zoo. We arrived a little early as the animals were still sleeping, finally we saw the fabulous elephants and beautiful butterflies, and then stopped for a snack break. Then we got a call from the zoo people, who organised for us to feed the giraffes behind the scenes. That was something we will all remember for our whole lives, their big long tongues and love of carrots. After that we saw the rest of zoo - bears, snakes, and incredibly small frogs. After that we went back to the hotel, and walked down to the Queen Victoria markets again (told you we loved it). We went into the city for dinner at the food hall. Home again.
Day three, we awoke to the beautiful Melbourne, the boys were organised to go the Footy at the G, so in the morning we went to the Melbourne Aquarium, amazing fish, lots of fun, and smiles. Then the boys went to the footy and the girls went to the Queen Victoria Markets for American doughnuts then Chadstone shopping centre, via train, were Immie went on the teacup ride inside the shopping centre and mum shopped for a new bag and purse. Back on the train, room service, sweet dreams.
Next morning...you guessed it back to the Queen Victoria Markets, and then into the city, back on the tram, time to pack up for home. Then Louie, our driver (organised by camp quality) was there to pick us back up. We had a fabulous trip home with Qantas and a gorgeous air hostess who doted Immie, and talked nonstop to her about cats. A viewing of the cock pit, involving chocolate and then back to our car and home to a cloudy Perth by 6.30pm.
We can’t thank everyone enough, especially Camp Quality Perth for taking on the organising; they helped make our trip to Melbourne into a dream break.
These are memories that will never be able to forgotten regardless of the years that past or any cloudy day.
Alot of gorgeous photos of our holiday can be found on the below link xx
