Tags
australia, Edinburgh Tattoo, Etihad Stadium, Fed Square, florence, italy, Melbourne, Photography, Queen Victoria Markets, southbank, Tram, travel, Vic Markets
We have just enjoyed 3 wonderful days in Melbourne.
As I sit here at my computer, I wonder, Where will I start? We saw and experienced so much in a very short time.
The main reason for our trip to Melbourne was to see the Edinburgh Tattoo. For as long as I can remember I have wished to see this spectacular event and had promised myself that someday I would travel to Edinburgh in Scotland to do just that. Well, I did not need to travel half way around the world as this amazing event came to Australia. This was its first time to Melbourne and only its 4th time outside of Scotland in 65 years of performances.
The event was fabulous. It was held at the Etihad Stadium which it in itself is fantastic. There was a life size replica of the Edinburgh Castle within the stadium and there were about 1200 performers from around the world.
We had great seats with an uninterrupted view. It was one of the best shows I have ever seen, with amazing precision and uniforms and incredible atmosphere, and a grand finale firework display at the end of the performances.
Being the second largest Capital City in Australia, there is a lot to cover in just 3 days. On our first afternoon, we chose to get among the action of the city and headed to Fed Square, which is in the hub of the city. With Public Art Exhibitions as well as street artists and musicians we found plenty to see here.

Fed Square
From here we headed to Southbank which stretches along the Southside of the Yarra River. We wandered along the river front which is a must see while in Melbourne. Southbank is also home to Southgate Shopping Centre and the Melbourne Casino along with a host of bars and restaurants. We enjoyed cool refreshing Gelati while taking in the amazing views looking across the river back to the city. And of course, we enjoyed partaking in one of my favourite pastimes, People watching. You could spend hours…or days here!
The next morning we took the free tram to the Queen Victoria Markets ‘Vic Market’ for breakfast. These markets which boast a wonderful array of fresh produce as well as clothing and souvenirs have been a landmark in Melbourne for the last century. We wandered around the fresh food markets and the outdoor fresh fruit and vegetable markets taking in the wonderful atmosphere that can truly be compared to many of the wonderful markets that I have visited in Italy.
Actually, during my 3 days in Melbourne I often had the feeling of being in Italy. I called it, “To be in Italy, when I really was not in Italy”. There is such an Italian culture with numerous Italian restaurants and cafés.
Melbourne is the café capital of Australia with unique individual cafés and restaurants in every part of the city.
There is so much to see and do in this vibrant, exciting modern city.
I love Melbourne!
Thanks Deb, so do I
Let’s hurry on down there to experience cosmopolitan life at its best.Andiamo, andiamo!!!!!!!!!!
Si, andiamo Gail
Very cool. Interesting post. That Gondolier was very far from home :-)
Thanks Rae, Melbourne is such a European type city with great vibes.
I love a visit to Melbourne. The Scottish Tattoo will always be a wonderful memory to me. Daphne Douglas
Thanks DD. It was your stories of the tattoo that inspired me all those years ago x
I totally agree with everything you said in your blog. A wonderful,cosmopolitan city and so easy to get around on the free city trams. So much to see and do!
Thanks Mary, we had a great time hey
This must have been a terrific time in Melbourne – what fun!!
It was a super long weekend thanks Adri
What a wonderful blog. So informative and great photos. Paul and I are going to Melbourne in April for 4 days and having read your blog I am now very excited. I haven’t been there for quite a few years. The Tattoo sounds amazing. What a fabulous experience for you. Xx
Melbourne is a fun vibrant city. I have a great time every time I go down. Thanks Leah x
I also love Melbourne, so much to see and do and so easy to get around with the trams. Thanks for the reminder I will have to visit again soon. xxx
You and Stew will have a great time in Melbourne. It is your kinda place Donna xx
What a lovely city to visit!
Yes Linda, I would love for you guys to visit there
If I ever make it back to Australia I need to visit Melbourne!
Cristina, I have no doubt that you would love it. The culture down there is fabulous
Your seats at the tatto looked similar to those we had in Edinburgh with great view of the Castle! No-one can go to Melb & not visit the Vic Markets. Great place. So many Italians settled in Melb in the 1950’s – as they did in Perth & happily brought some of their great culture with them.
Yes Kay, they also settled in Sydney in the 50’s and made a great contribution to Australia and continue to. Wish that was the case with other immigrants. I always love Melbourne. Would love to have those markets or similar here in Bris.
Visited Melbourne about 20 years ago but didn’t see Nutella Andiamo!! 😂😂😂👏👏👍👍👍
I have never seen Andiamo nutella anywhere before. That was the name of the restaurant that we ate in so they obviously had them labelled especially. Thanks for dropping by Lyn
Even cooler!!👏👏👏I should say to my husband to do the same in his restaurant, could be very nice😉
if you can do it, you have nothing to lose. It is very novel
Looks like you had a fantastic time there. So much to see.
Melbourne is such a fun city, it is easy to have a good time there
We were there once on a brief visit as a cruise ship port stop and enjoyed what we saw, which is just a glimpse of what is there.
Melbourne is so very diverse, cosmopolitan and exciting. It is our social capital of Australia.