Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen

Aaaannndddd finally… the final chapter in The Grand Adventure series. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get around to sharing my photos from Melbourne with you. With the most recent recipe post – Baby Bok Choy – I was immediately taken back to this summer of travels, and I couldn’t hold out on this post any longer!

After traveling around Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and New Zealand, we returned back to Melbourne. My friend went back to work, which meant I spent the days wandering around the city, going on a Great Ocean Road tour, and eating as much food as I could.

Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen

I was in Melbourne for about 10 days, and since arriving back in Minnesota, it’s been go, go, go. Two full days to recover from jet-lag, then back to work, students the following week, and it’s been nonstop since. Hence the delayed post. Alas, let’s get to it!

IN THE CITY

Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

Hoiser Lane – a graffiti covered alley; an amazing collection of local street art!

Winter Night Market – a foodie paradise

Melbourne Cricket Grounds – didn’t watch cricket, but watched my first Footy game!

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen

THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

Entrance sign to the great ocean road.
The Great Ocean Road | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
The Great Ocean Road | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
The Great Ocean Road | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
The Great Ocean Road | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
The Great Ocean Road | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
The Great Ocean Road | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
The Great Ocean Road | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
The Great Ocean Road | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
The Great Ocean Road | Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen

^ that’s a koala bear up there!

Just as our bus was pulling into the driveway to see the Twelve Apostles, it began down pouring, and I mean down pouring, with high winds. On top of that, we had to walk out onto a boardwalk over the coastline (maybe that was obvious ;)). Needless to say, it was cold, and quite miserable, but even through the wind, rain, and frozen fingers, it was beautiful.

We continued on to see some koala’s in trees, hike through a tropical rainforest, visit the London Bridge, and Loch Ard Gorge.

WHAT WE ATE

AMAZING BRUNCHES

Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen
Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen

CHIN-CHIN: WORTH THE 3 HOUR WAIT

Melbourne, Australia | Fork in the Kitchen

– – –

Melbourne was the final stop in this Grand Adventure. I’m so beyond grateful for the ability to travel this summer – to eat at every Melbourne hipster cafe I could, to drink one too many lattes as I walked through the Botanic Gardens, and see live koalas SLEEPING IN TREES !!! Oh, and watch all the little penguins return to shore at sunset – but unfortunately there are no pictures of that (cameras, lights, etc., can scare the little guys). Thanks for coming along the journey with me! <3

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” -Pat Conroy