I’ve just got back from a five day trip to Melbourne to see my son and his girlfriend once again!  As they live just outside of St. Kilda I had the opportunity to see different places in Melbourne. It was a gastronomic gourmet getaway, eating and drinking our way around many different cuisines.

I had the first day to myself so thought I would walk to St. Kilda.  Sounds simple enough but those who know me well also know I have no sense of direction.  But armed with my google maps I managed to get there with a stop on the way to St Kilda Botanical Gardens.  Of course with a few little detours!

St Kilda Botanical Gardens

St. Kilda Botanical Gardens

St. Kilda Botanical Gardens

Cute little duck!

St. Kilda Beach

Some shots of the art deco buildings along the beachfront.  

Painted van

Apartment block with art deco features

Palace Theatre

The entrance to Luna Park, spewing out visitors!

From the beach

St Kilda Lighthouse

We also tried to catch the penguins on parade at sunset but not much luck.  The fairy penguins are a nightly event and come up on the rocks down by the pier just after sunset.  There are hundreds of people trying to get photos and all standing on one tiny wooden walkway, it was a bit worrying that the whole thing would collapse. 

Yarra Valley

We drove to the Yarra Valley one day to celebrate Maddy’s forthcoming 21st birthday,  with so many wineries to choose from it was difficult to make the right choice. Soumah Winery won the prize!  On the way we stopped at Oakridge Winery for a quick tasting.  It was a really nice place and they didn’t charge for the tasting!  The day we went was a very smokey day due to bushfires very close by, at first not a single cloud or blue sky could be seen, which is why some of then photos look very overcast. 

Winetasting at Oakridge

Very generous measures for a tasting

Our Lunch

Fig Rocket and Pancetta Salad

Seafood Pasta

Sweet potato Feta and Basil Bruschetta

No matter which vineyard you visit anywhere in Australia there is always the rusty old farm machinery, the rustier the better!

Brighton Beach Bathing Huts

The last day we drove to Brighton Beach to have a look at all the amazingly colourful bathing beach boxes.  There are 82 in all and they date back to the late nineteenth century.  They are all painted different colours and sit on the beach.  I took so many photos and here are some of my favourites.

Brighton Beach

My favourites below:

Some of the beach

Black swans with a view of the skyline

Paddling in the rock pools

Beautiful clear water

Dazzling colours of the seashells

Some of the places we had dinner

Tulum Turkish in Carlisle Road, Balaclava.  Excellent Turkish tapas and would highly recommend if you are in the area.
Vamos Spanish in the city.  Great for tapas and live music.  We had a fantastic night here eating, drinking and dancing the night away.
Soumah in the Yarra Valley.  An hour’s drive from Melbourne.
St. Moritz, St. Kilda.  Delicious steaks and burgers with live music.

Until next time!