The Perfect Backdrop

Upside Down, Inside Out by Monica McInerney

I found a battered copy of this book on the bookswap shelf in the waiting room at Southern Cross Station in Melbourne – we’d just collected our luggage and were on our way to pick up the airport bus. It was first published in 2002 and the book I found had been travelling the world since 2006. It was everything I wanted for the flight home – easy-to-read with the wonderful city of Melbourne as the perfect backdrop.

Travelling home, watching the dot on the screen in reverse, reflecting on a brilliant two weeks in Melbourne. Before the start of our holiday, Melbourne was already high on our list of favourite destinations to visit (and perhaps one day stay for a little bit longer ~ part of my six months by the sea dream). It’s still there – maybe even moving into top spot. We explored, relaxed, walked, investigated, embraced, ran, ate, drank, and dreamed about living in one of those quirky cottages.

Here are a few of my favourite things… more to come in the next few posts.

Favourite view – our first hotel set a very high bar, with a roof tub spa pool overlooking Fitzroy Gardens and the Docklands, which was a brilliant treat after 24 hours of travel. Looking along the Yarra from the Botanic Gardens is one of my favourites. But for Mr T, it has to be the view from the bridge over the Yarra, as you walk down from Federation Square and look east. The floodlight towers of the MCG stand out in the distance and for Mr T, that means everything is right with the world. The view inside the stadium is pretty spectacular too.

Favourite cafe – a cliche, as the guidebook sent us here, but Brunetti Oro in the centre of Melbourne was definitely worth the effort to find it, and find a table. It was bustling for Sunday brunch – the cakes looked delicious, the pastries were incredible and the atmosphere was perfect. Best cakes definitely came from The Cupcake Queens in Williamstown though. Best doughnuts were from Walkers by Flinders Street Station – we waited until our very last day to re-visit. Worth the wait.

Favourite street art – if you love street art, murals and quirkily painted buildings, then Melbourne is definitely the place for you. There are amazing designs everywhere. But before we left for our trip, I started following Lucas Kasper on Instagram and was really pleased to find one of his creations on our street art walking tour. Bert and Ernie down a side street and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the Docklands were great finds, but I think the The Very Hungry Caterpillar/Storybook Mural we found in a car park in Geelong just came out on top, especially as it involved a bit of jeopardy in getting to see it properly whilst avoiding the exiting cars!

Favourite drink – we started as we meant to go on, with cocktails at Birmingham Airport on the night before we flew, but then there was gin tasting in the Docklands, cocktails at a pop-up cocktail bar in Williamstown, and local gin to accompany our charcuterie board at a fantastic bar/restaurant we found by chance on our last night. But the winner is definitely Jukes Karoake – the drinks were great but the entertainment provided by Jam the Piano Man created the perfect end to an excellent day.

Favourite park – Melbourne is a city of parks, and each has something special about it, but the Royal Botanic Gardens win every time for me. Even on a really hot day, there are some lovely shady spots – especially fern gully – and some spectacular views across Melbourne too. We loved exploring the southern end of the gardens this time – especially the growing Australian drylands section – plants that can survive the heat – and Guilfoyle’s volcano.

Favourite meal – palma and a pot at the Hobson’s Bay Hotel wins the “eating with the locals” award, but honourable mentions for Sunday brunch at the food court at the truly wonderful South Melbourne Market, the cheese board we shared at a lovely riverside bar on a sunny Sunday evening, an Australia Day meal on Bridge Road in Richmond, a Japanese buffet in Williamstown and the roasted okra at Big Esso by Mabu Mabu in Federation Square – we weren’t that hungry until we started eating. Mr T would probably add the Four ‘n Twenty pies we had each evening at the MCG!