I’ve had the good fortune to travel to a good many Australian cities on a number of occasions, as well as to the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, and to Uluru, also known as Ayer’s Rock, the massive sandstone monolith in the heart of the Northern Territory. Australia is a very special place. Every nation is different with its culture, social norms, geography, food and climate, but there are some that have a truly unique status. Australia is one of them. Australia is also known as the “Land Down Under” because it was discovered when explorers were searching for the land under Asia in the Southern Hemisphere. Besides being the biggest continent country, and the natives’ unique accent, there are a host of elements for which Australia endears and attracts people from all over the world. The country is endowed with friendly folk, a myriad of natural wonders, plenty of wildlife, dazzling beaches, cosmopolitan cities and a large expanse of outback. So, it’s easy to see why this captivating country is such a much-see travel destination. I’ll never forget the wonder I experienced on my first visit to the country for business when I had the opportunity to see both Melbourne and Hobart.
That was also the first time I had the pleasure of flying Qantas, the nation’s flag carrier. After flying cross country on two American Airlines flights, I arrived in Los Angeles in the early evening, ready to spend some quality time in the Qantas First Lounge. It’s located after security on the fifth floor of the Tom Bradley International Terminal. The Qantas First Lounge at LAX is very large at roughly 17,500 square feet, with seating for over 220 people. The lounge consists of one large room, though it’s broken up into several zones, with the first half of the lounge featuring comfortable seating for relaxing and lounging, and the second half dedicated to dining. Qantas did a great job with interior design here with stylish and high-end furniture, unlike what one normally finds in other airport lounges. What really set the LAX Qantas First Lounge apart was the dining, which featured table service for breakfast and all-day dining, with impressive cocktail and wine offerings and a menu inspired by Neil Perry, the famous Australian chef, author and television personality. The staff in the Qantas First Lounge LAX were trained by Sofitel, and all wore stylish uniforms and Sofitel name tags. I found the service to be very friendly and well intentioned across the board. There was plenty to occupy my time here, but soon it was time to board QF12 bound for Sydney.
Boarding began about 45 minutes prior to departure and, those of us lucky enough to be in the forward cabin of this Boeing 747-400 aircraft, were welcomed in short order. I had selected seat 2A on the port side of the aircraft and had no sooner settled in, when a member of the cabin crew greeted me with a glass of Jacquart Cuvee Brut NV Champagne and the extensive menu for the evening’s fifteen-hour flight across the Pacific. At my seat were a pair of Martin Grant branded pajamas and amenity kit, along with noise-cancelling headphones. Cocktail orders were soon taken and canapés served initially after take off.
Soon, my extra large tray table was set for the main event. I selected the Seared Tuna with Moroccan Eggplant and Cumin Mayonnaise for an appetizer and for the entrée, I chose the Rockpool Bar & Grill-style Cape Grim Beef Filet with Macaroni and Cheese and Sugar Snap Peas. It was served with Barbecue Sauce and Red Gum Smoked Salt and either Seeded or Hot English Mustard. I asked for the hot mustard and had no regrets. A selection of cheeses with accompaniments followed the main course and I finished my meal with a Baked Vanilla Custard with Rhubarb, Honeyed Pears and Almonds. My “bed” was soon made up with a memory foam mattress, super-soft Sheridan sheeting and a very nice duvet cover, all of which made it easy to catch about five hours of uninterrupted sleep. The rest of the flight passed quickly and about an hour and a half after breakfast was served, we landed in Sydney at approximately 9:00 AM local, two days after our departure from the US. Following my Customs and Immigration clearance, I took a good long walk through the International and Domestic Terminals before boarding the connecting Qantas flight to Melbourne. After another hour and a half aloft, we touched down in Australia’s second-largest city.
The Park Hyatt Melbourne was to be my home for the next few days. This 5-star hotel overlooks St. Patrick’s Cathedral and is close to Parliament House as well as the central business and shopping districts. Its 245 guest rooms and suites are among the largest in the city. In fact, my King Deluxe Room measured a whopping 646 square feet with a double vanity in the bathroom equipped with Le Labo toiletries, a separate walk-in shower and deep soaking tub. The walk-in closet, free Wi-Fi, Bose bluetooth speaker, Nespresso coffee machine and well-stocked minibar were much appreciated thoughtful touches which enhanced my stay. Radii was the hotel's award-winning restaurant known for its creative contemporary cuisine, while The Tea Lounge and Garden offered light-lunch fare and afternoon high tea.
In between business meetings, I managed to visit the Melbourne Museum. This natural and cultural history museum is located in the Carlton Gardens and was opened in 2000, designed by the international Melbourne architectural firm of Denton Corker Marshall. I was very impressed by its Forest Gallery, which is really the living heart of the museum, giving visitors a view of Victoria’s mountainous landscape complete with tall eucalyptus trees and rainforest ferns, rare plants and even some wildlife - all behind glass of course. Of particular interest to me was the Melbourne Gallery at the east end, which presented a snapshot of the city’s history from early contact between Caucasian settlers and local Indigenous peoples.The historical stories, artifacts, soundscapes, images and interactive components that made up this gallery helped me to see the “Melbourne story” through the eyes of its citizens: rich and poor; Indigenous peoples, settlers, immigrants and refugees; young and old; those who found “the good life”, and those who struggled to survive. Other exhibits shared treasures from the Pacific Islands. The Cultural Center was imbued with living traditions and knowledge of Koorie People and other cultures which settled around Australia. The museum was a fascinating place and I would highly recommend a visit if ever you find yourself in Melbourne.
Since I’m an avowed AvGeek, it should come as no surprise that my favorite activity was a visit to the Melbourne Skydeck. It’s located in the Eureka Tower on the Riverside Quay. The Eureka Tower is primarily a residential one, however, level 88 is known as the Skydeck (a name often used to refer to the tower itself). It provides a viewing platform for visitors, tourists, residents and guests. At a height of over 935 feet, the Skydeck is the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere and offered a view like no other in the city. From the top, I was able to gaze out across the stunning cityscape and, with 360 degree floor-to-ceiling windows along with thirty viewfinders,I didn’t miss a thing!
I mentioned Carlton Gardens earlier. It’s a popular picnic and barbecue area for residents and home to an array of wildlife, including brush tail possums. These late Nineteenth Century gardens include dramatic tree-lined avenues, as well as a stately fountain, formal flowerbeds and miniature lakes. The gardens are also home to the majestic World-Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building. This beautiful structure was constructed in 1880 to host the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1888, and the formal opening of the first Parliament of Australia in 1901. Joseph Reed, a prolific and influential Victorian-era architect, designed the grounds and the building, which is constructed of brick and timber, steel and slate. Throughout the Twentieth Century, smaller sections and wings of the original building were subject to demolition and fire; however, the main building, known as the Great Hall, survived. We enjoyed a guided tour that showcased the Melbourne skyline and exhibits detailing the building's distinctive history.
My host made sure I visited the Queen Victoria Market before I left town. It’s an authentic, bustling, inner-city market that has been the heart and soul of Melbourne for 140 years. Home to over 600 small businesses, it was here I discovered fresh and specialty produce, hand-made and unique products, great coffee as well as food, souvenirs and clothing. The Queen Victoria Market is much more than a market place. The site has been and continues to be of significance to many different people for many different reasons. It’s one of the great Nineteenth Century markets in Victoria and the only one surviving from a group of important central markets built in Melbourne during that era. It was quite the experience browsing and shopping amidst the live music and over the din of the fishmongers and fruit vendors yelling out their bargain prices. That’s because you can barter for most items (if buying more than one), but there's no bargaining for food.
Before too long, it was time to say goodbye to Melbourne for my onward journey to Hobart. I’ll tell you all about it in a future post.
Until next time..safe travels.
Brought back some fond memories of Melbourne but I never got to Tasmania so I will look forward to the next episode ...