Melbourne, Australia: Adventure, Art, Food & Little Penguins

Melbourne, Australia:
Adventure, Art, Food, and Little Penguins

Today, we will honor the zen and relaxation of Melbourne. My prescription to heal sore muscles (and your back) after flying to Australia is a full day of spa. Need to justify the expense? It’s a health treatment. You may chuckle but you’ll thank me when you arrive at the spa.

Tomorrow, we will dive deep into what to eat. That’s going to be difficult because Melbourne can surprise and delight your palate for weeks on end. Much like choosing from a spa menu, we will suffer through in order to bring the best to you.
- Cris

Day 1: Spa day!

Aurora Spa & Bathhouse

The Aurora Spa & Bathhouse books out months in advance and so be kind to yourself and book an entire day at the same time as you book your flight. Personally, I arrive in Melbourne on day 0 (doesn’t count toward the itinerary) and book the spa for Day 1. Feeling a little paranoid about potential travel delays? Then book it for Day 2 but definitely book before you leave. Their 11-Step Bathhouse Ritual includes mineral pools and hot-cold-rest-repeat healing treatments. You may crawl into the Spa after being on a plane for 16 hours but you’ll walk upright when you reluctantly leave.

Royal Botanic Gardens

After a perfect spa treatment (if you declined the full day), you need to move your legs or everything will lock back up. A free guided walk at the Royal Botanic Gardens is the perfect choice. Get some fresh air and sunlight and banish jet lag while holding on to that beautiful spa feeling.

Day 2: Beach

St. Kilda Beach

Safe, sandy beaches, European patisserie shops, palm-lined boardwalks…it’s perfect. Do yourself a favor and spend the entire day here. Soak up some sun and local flavor while allowing the stress and drama in your life to float away.

Following WWII, St Kilda became Melbourne’s ‘red light’ district. During the 1960s, it became known for its bohemian style and attracted young artists and musicians taking advantage of cheap housing. The suburb still retains its alternative style today and yet is safe for individuals and families.

Were you looking for the iconic bathing boxes? Those are a 10-minute away drive at Brighton Beach. While the little huts are interesting, Brighton Beach lacks the food and shopping that is offered at St. Kilda Beach.

Day 3: Getting Into Hot Water (Springs and Tea)

Peninsula Hot Springs

Taking a ‘tour’ is really just a smart way to get out of driving while also being disciplined to leave after 4 hours. This beautiful natural spa contains hot springs, cold springs, and plenty of places to relax and enjoy the view. It’s family friendly and body positive. No cell phones. No meetings. No interruptions while you remember why life is beautiful.

Traditional High Tea Experience at The Hotel Windsor

The Windsor is the only place to hold the distinction of 140 years of Afternoon Tea service in Melbourne. Serving 11 kinds of tea, including a special blend that is unique to The Windsor, it’s helpful to know that ‘tea time’ is actually code for ‘cake time.’ Order the Buffett and you will find a nearly endless array of options to place yourself into a delightful sugar coma.

The Windsor hosts prominent weddings, celebrities, and events and so you really can’t predict who will be at the table beside you. I once (accidentally!) walked into a Bridal Show at The Windsor…and barely escaped with my wallet. Gold frosted wedding cakes with couture ribbon and sugar pearls frosted with real gold is expensive! (It did taste good, if you were wondering). Attire at these teas is a bit nicer than your beach attire but you can leave the satin gloves at home.

Day 4: Kangaroos, Koalas, and Little Penguins

This is my favorite, favorite, favorite experience in all of Australia (not only Melbourne). I recommend the Phillip Island Penguin Parade Day Trip with Koala Conservation Reserve Visit because they schedule the right amount of time in each location and have comfortable touring buses. You will get special access to places not covered under General Admission. Take lots of photos but please don’t touch the animals. The Koalas can get really sick from human interaction. The Little Penguins will literally walk past you along a path and you can almost hear them mumbling ‘move your big feet…just let me through.’

Special tips for readers of Espresso Boarding include

• Bring a phone charger AND CABLES with you. Taking so many pictures for nearly 10 hours will cause you to lose phone charge JUST as the Little Penguins leave the ocean and begin their parade to meet you. I once saw a guy charge $20 (US) to charge other people’s phones and he paid for his ticket before we even saw the penguins. They charged their phones between stops.

• Download the app: Penguin Parade, Phillip Island

• General admission at the Penguin Parade is for suckers. You didn’t travel all of that way to sit far behind the action. Make sure you have VIP Pass tickets (not Premium). The difference is heart wrenching for people who didn’t think ahead

  • General admission: freeze on metal bleachers, far from the penguins

  • Premium: Better because you are closer but still will get jostled and stepped on by other visitors

  • VIP: Ranger-led introduction and then you walk past all of the other people - who are giving the side eye to their spouse - into a special room (not freezing) that is all windows to see the penguins really, really close. Want to see the view from the Premium area? Sure, it’s included in the VIP. Be careful walking back to the main area because those Little Penguins can scoot in front of you really quickly.

Tomorrow, we will explore what to eat in order to fuel these wonderful days. We assume that you are on vacation, and so the menu will be a bit more delicious than a typical meal but we will make sure you can find healthy nutrition as well.

See you tomorrow.

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