When gold was discovered in Melbourne in 1852, it prompted a gold rush that had far reaching effects – immigrants in Britain purchased more tickets to Melbourne in 1852 than to any other place worldwide. It also had far reaching effects on the city, and to get a taste of how the gold rush impacted Melbourne you’ll want to take the Golden Mile Herigate Trail.
The trail starts in Federation Square at the Melbourne Museum. Guided tours are available daily, but be sure to call ahead for bookings. You can also explore the trail on your own with a booklet purchased from the visitor’s centre, an option that provides a very flexible way to enjoy the city. The trail is an easy walk of about four kilometers, taking about two-and-a-half to three hours and explores the so-called ‘golden mile’ of outstanding architecture built when the city was flush with money from the gold rush. With thirty-three stops, there is really no better way to begin exploring the sights of Melbourne.
As you make your way along the route, your tour guide will share stories of colorful characters and historic places. The trail opens with the Immigration Museum, which was the old Customs House. Further along you’ll see the La Meridien Hotel, formerly the Rialto, which was created by its architect to look like a Venetian building. Enjoy Melbourne’s equivalent of England’s Chancery Lane, and in the financial district marvel at the gothic architecture of the ANZ Banking Museum. In the Parliament area you’ll notice several prominent statues, and you can explore the supposedly haunted Princess theater. The tour ends at the Royal Exhibition Buildings where visitors can head back to the museum or enjoy a stroll around Carlton Gardens.
Established in 1846 by Lieutenant Governor Charles La Trobe, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne are truly a remarkable example of botanical art. For visiting green thumbs, it is a sight and experience not to be missed. The gardens are home to thousands of different plant species from across Australia and the world. The first director of the gardens, Ferdinand von Mueller, helped to establish this collection, and also the scientific centre located on the property. His successor, William Guilfoyle, created the Gardens’ celebrated landscape style with its scenic lawns, lakes, and viewpoints.
The Gardens’ massive collection of plants is organized in multiple collections located around the property. Don’t miss the classic Australian Forest Walk, highlighting rainforest fauna from across Australia, or the Eucalypt Lawn where native Australian wildflowers can also be seen. Fern Gully recreates an Australian sub-tropical rainforest that visitors can explore. In addition to such innovative exhibits, the Gardens are also home to traditional collections such as the Rose Garden, the Perennial Border, and the Chinese Gardens.
No matter the season, there is always something to see in the Gardens. In winter visit the over three hundred Camellias that bloom every year. Spring and summer bring a riot of color to the Gardens, particularly in the Perennial Border, the Rose Garden, and the California Garden. Autumn is the perfect time of year to visit the massive oak trees as their leaves turn dramatic shades of red and gold.
A great place for families, the Gardens also feature an interactive children’s garden where younger visitors can explore various areas including an old ruin, a bamboo forest, and a wetland. Although there are two cafés available on-site, picnicking is also encouraged, although barbecues are not permitted. Visitors can join guided tours and take home souvenirs from the shop. The Gardens are wheelchair accessible.
As a way to get to know a new country, a road trip really can’t be beat. What other form of travel allows you to so intimately explore the little towns and get to know the people along your route? Among Australia’s many fantastic scenic drives is the Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive, a fourteen hour tour along Australia’s southern coast.
The first leg of the journey goes from Sydney to Jervis Bay. The road here follows high cliffs overlooking the ocean and provides stunning scenery. In Jervis Bay enjoy the pristine beaches and take advantage of the ample sea life by taking a dolphin-watching cruise. Next, travel to the town of Mallacoota. Along the way, you’ll want to stop in the village of Central Tilba to shop for wine, food, and local arts and crafts. In Narooma be sure to check out the Montague Island Nature Reserve, where fur seals, dolphins, turtles, and penguins are a common sight. If antique shops and art galleries are for you, then be sure to stop in Berry for some shopping. Eden was once Australia’s whaling capital, and killer whales can often still be seen here. Visit the Killer Whale Museum to discover more about these incredible creatures.
From Mallacoota, head to Wilson’s Promontory, the southernmost point of Australia’s mainland. On this part of the trip you’ll pass Ninety Mile Beach and the town of Lakes Entrance, where local restaurants serve up delicious seafood. Wilson’s Promontory is a beautiful national park that encompasses sandy beaches, eucalyptus forests, and granite mountains. The final portion of the trip will take you through the delightful Phillip Island where you can easily view fur seals, koalas, and the penguins that make a nightly trek up the beach. It is a short drive from Phillip Island to Melbourne, where the coastal drive ends and big city fun begins.
