The Coast Road To Wilsons Promontory

Today we left Melbourne and took the coast road to Wilsons Promontory. We took the scenic route (well it would have been if it wasn't STILL raining!) through Bunurong Marine National Park. Not to be stopped by the weather we pulled on our waterproofs for some beach combing at the Dinosaur Dreaming site. We didn't find any fossils though.

We followed the road onto our 2nd camp site at Wilsons Promontory. We have only been here a few hours but we've already spotted echidnas, kangaroos, emus and wombats. A wombat is trying to get into our fridge as I type!

Shrine Of Remembrance

After our visit to the Botanic gardens we stopped at the nearby Shrine Of Remembrance. Here we saw how the shrine is lit up by a beam of light that falls through the ceiling on 11.11. The children picked some daises and placed them on one of the remembrance plaques. There was a great view across Melbourne from the top of the shrine.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Today we went to Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens. The children had a lovely time and the sun was shining at last! Especially popular was the children's garden featuring lots of places to hide, explore and dig.

Melbourne Gaol

Today we visited Old Melbourne Gaol. We looked around the prison and read about its inmates and life behind bars. Then we got to experience it for ourselves in the City Watch House where we were actually locked up! As it was Saturday we also enjoyed a live performance all about the life of Australia's most famous bush ranger Ned Kelly.

Later in the day we took the free City Circle Tram around the city to get a look at Melbourne. The tram gives commentary along the way. For the children it was their first tram ride. We liked the contrast in architecture from the old 1800's city buildings and tiny terrace houses to crazy modern offices and sculptures.

Scienceworks

Today we went along to Scienceworks for some hands-on experimenting.

Bed of nails

We took in the fabulous lightening and the planetarium shows. We also went on a guided tour around the old pump house which used to pump along Melbourne's sewage using steam power. We even got to see some sewage flowing along under the building!