DESCRIPTION
Our driver/guide will meet you at the port to begin our tour at 0830 or as soon as the ships arrival in port allows. Our guides are Melbournian’s and they love providing a fun and informed commentary.
Our highlight today is the Puffing Billy steam train which runs through the Dandenong Ranges, just under an hours drive from the port.
Your journey is a step back in time as you board the train at the quaint Belgrave Sation for a 30 minute ride to the little town of Menzies Creek. Departing the station, Puffing Billy steams along its original track that meanders through the scenic Australian bush of the Blue Dandenong Ranges. From open-sided carriages, passengers sit with legs dangling enjoying the sun and fresh mountain air, the clicking of wheels and sound of Billy’s cheerful whistle.
Arriving at Menzies Creek, we leave the train and continue to a national park reserve to see colourful birds flock in from the nearby forest to feed from trays of seed that are available to be hand-held by visitors.
Nearby is the Sherbrooke forest, home of the Mountain Ash [ the world’s tallest tree species, 100 m or 330 ft]. You can take a guided 30 minute walk into the forest to enjoy the fragrances and sounds of the Aussie bush.
Lunch is provided at a local cafe overlooking the forest where you may see many of the local birds close by.
After lunch we head back into Melbourne for an afternoon of sightseeing, a city of parks and colourful life-style precincts, from the historic Victorian architecture to modern day contemporary buildings such as those in the Sporting Precincts and Federation Square.
You will see historic and modern icons, city buildings, private mansions, domestic cottages and gardens. We aim to keep off the main tourist tracks, using our local knowledge to give you an insight of what makes this such a great city to live in, such as the Melbourne CBD, Parliament House, Fitzroy Gardens, Captain Cook’s Cottage, Melbourne Cricket Ground [MCG], Royal Botanic Gardens, St Kilda Beach, Federation Square etc, time permitting.
We then return you to the ship or your hotel if you are staying in Melbourne.
