Week 5 was the week of Melbourne and New Years Eve. We heard in advance that the weather could be strange in Melbourne, and it was. The last two days in the old year, the temperature rose to 39 degrees and dropped the next day to comfortable 26. For us, 39 degrees was hot, and we were spending one day on the campground with a lot of cold water, special cold blanket and two extra neck-cooler (a genius invention). In the evening of the same day, we went to the city to celebrate the new year. There were a lot of public areas from where you could see the beautiful fireworks. Those spaces were very crowded (not surprised), and alcohol was forbidden. So wasn’t possible to drink a glass of champagne. This practice of prevention was an initial point of endless discussion about the balance of booth values prevention (of violence, alcoholism) and freedom of the individuum. We didn’t reach a conclusion yet.

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Route

Day 32: Balnarring – Melbourne

Day 33: Stay in Melbourne (exploring day)

Day 34: Stay in Melbourne (immigration museum)

Day 35: Stay in Melbourne (New Years Eve)

Day 36: Stay in Melbourne

Day 37: Stay in Melbourne (busy day with extremely expensive haircut, hippie dinner, and stunning outlook)

Day 38: Melbourne – Great Otway National Park

special recommendations

Museum of Immigration

With any doubts, Melbourne is a melting pot! I saw a diversity of people I’ve never seen in Europe. Along this topic, we visited the immigration museum, which explained the history of immigration (the different politics since the first invasion) and the various travel routes from Europe to Australia. The exhibition spotted on special proceedings to limit the immigration, for example, a dictation test that could be held in every European language. If an unwanted immigrant was able to pass the first try, he had to do a second try in another language (for instant gaellisch). The test was only introduced to exclude non-British immigrants, but in a way with more political correctness.

New Years Eve Dinner at VaPiano, Melbourne

I think two days before New Years Eve, Maggi and I were searching for some activity for the great day in Australia. It’s definitely something special to pass this event in a unique environment like a foreign and famous city. So, we did a search request at Google and TripAdvisor and got some results for parties, boat trips and restaurants dinners. There were still some offers, but to pay more than 150 Dollars per person for only one evening was a bit high-priced. At the end of an expanded discussion, we decided to do something normal, perhaps something boring. We had dinner in our favorite restaurant in Australia (VaPiano). Afterwards, we went to the river and watched the two fireworks while we were drinking some water (Alcohol-free area, see the introduction).

Lentil as Anything – Alternatively vegetarian restaurant

This restaurant was a tip from our Australian Friend from Melbourne. This restaurant is more than a place where you can order some food and drinks. Lentil as Anything is a social project that supports the idea of a sustainable world. The food is vegetarian and is organised as a buffet. Every day the chefs prepare another variety of several dishes like Italian the one day, Japanese the other day. The restaurant runs by volunteers, refugees and two paid chefs (likewise refugees). But the most extraordinary thing is the method of payment. As in the museum (Geld – Jenseits von gut und böse), you could choose how much you want to pay for the meal. For me, that’s a real culture of trust – and it must be working. The restaurants exist already several years.

Eureka Tower in Melbourne

This tower is just amazing. With a ticket (it’s highly recommended to buy the ticket online in advance – otherwise you have to stay in a long queue) you can visit the level 88 (about 270 meters above sea-level) and delight in watching over the entire city of Melbourne. We took the trip one hour before sunset and enjoyed the breath-taking view by drinking a glass of wine. Of course, I did some photographs that you can discover shortly in the Photogallery.

Camping at Great Otway National Park

We only spend one night at this Campground, because this campsite was the only one we were able to book this one night. The other campsites around were booked out or had a minimum stay of two, three or seven nights. The national park is located along the great ocean road and contains the most southern point in Australia. There weren’t a lot of facilities (only one bush toilet), but you could feel the nature. We watched a stunning sunset over a little lake and some lovely white parrots which were flying from tree to tree. In the morning – together with the first coffee – we could observe a feeding wallaby (little kangaroo) next to our campervan. We enjoyed this nature-touched stay.

Great Ocean Road

A long time ago as I went out of the travel agency last March, I thought that the great ocean road was the name for the whole road between Brisbane and Adelaide. I was sure about that till Maggi told me the truth shortly before our big adventure. Last week, we did the famous drive – and yes this trip is a superbly thing to do. Unfortunately, the road was partly closed (bush fire) and we had to turn a little detour. But event then, to drive along the coast, high cliffs and some remote stones in the ocean (twelve apostles) was a quite remarkable experience.

Schwiizerdütschi Zämefassig

Melbourne isch e wunderbari Stadt, Silvester cha me ou guet und wunderbar ohni grossi Party fiire und d Great Ocean Road isch wunderwunderschön!