Tag Archives: Ned Kelly

New Year

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Left Melbourne reasonable early on Boxing Day and headed north for Albury with stops at Benalla and Glenrowan, the latter featuring a giant statue of Ned Kelly in full armour!

On to Canberra the next day in mid-afternoon so wandered down to the main shopping area for something to eat and to orientate myself.

The next day, after toast and coffee at a cafe near the centre, along the shore of Lake Burleigh Griffin, avoiding the occasional Lycra clad cyclist and dog walker, to cross over to the government district where the first stop was at the Old Parliament Building, now a museum.From there, along to the new parliament building where I broke my rule about queuing for entry and was glad I did as I spent a very interesting time there, which included admiring the views from the roof.

The next morning was spent in the National War Memorial and museum before driving to Sydney where, after some confusion when the GPS and map failed to agree, returned the car and checked in to the hotel.

The next day, New Years Eve 2013, booked myself onto a harbour cruise to watch  the fireworks on the bridge. This is quite a long and drawn out process extending over some 6 hours.

Beginning with a carefully  choreographed procession of boats to the quay to load up, the 21:00 fireworks display is then followed by the illuminated boats sailing around the harbour before the main event at midnight.

Back to the quay around 01:00.

Written on the morning of 1 January 2014 over coffee at Sydney Opera House.

Melbourne

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Victoria Market Melbourne
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Flower
Victoria Market Melbourne
Melbourne Old Gaol
Grampians
McKenzie Falls
Paddlewheeler Rothbury
Murray River

Collected a car in Adelaide for the drive to Melbourne and set off for the Murray River and Mildura, passing through the vineyards of the Barrossa region on the way. Very hot indeed with temperatures up around 47C with very few people out and about, including myself.

The next morning, much cooler, in the mid-30s, and decided to take a cruise along the Murray in the paddlewheeler Rothbury.

Next, south to Horsham for the night, and then along to the Grampian National Park and it’s views before heading on to Ballarat for the last night before getting to Melbourne.

Woke to find it positively chilly at 18C with a light drizzle so decided to go to a couple of museums before the drive to Melbourne where I negotiated the traffic without too much difficulty to get to the hotel mid-afternoon.

The next day, breakfast at Victoria Market before walking round the range of fascinating food stalls. From there, along to Melbourne Old Gaol where the bushranger Ned Kelly was executed. Then to the old police cells next door where I, along with about 30 other visitors, were locked up 13 to a cell.

Leaving the cells, down to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the tour, including the box to be used by Test Match Special, before going into the MCG museum and the  Australian Museum of Sport. One the way out, spent a little time watching England practicing in the outdoor nets, and can only hope that it can do them some good. They looked cheerful enough it must be said.

Christmas Day and a quiet time ready for the drive to Sydney via Canberra.