I love wandering around Melbourne, and a cool winter day is an excellent time to do so ( even with occasional showers). I set off from North Melbourne, first stop the Queen Victoria Markets. The selection of food here is amazing. You can buy anything. The fruit and vegetable section is huge and the deli and meat and seafood sections are vast. The markets cover 2 blocks. I wish I lived nearby.
fresh produce at the markets
the markets are enormous
salami anyone?
From the markets I headed towards Gertrude St, passing through the Carlton gardens on the way. Melbourne has beautiful parks and this one is no exception. In a way the gardens are similar to those in Europe. There are grand old trees and lovely fountains. The flowers in the garden beds remind you that you are in the southern hemisphere.
Carlton Gardens
the Exhibition Building in the gardens
strelizia flower
Gertrude St has a great selection of interesting shops, restaurants and cafes. There are also some wonderful old buildings – it is a good mix of old and new.
an interesting old building in Gertrude St
Aesop is an excellent range of skin care made in Australia and available all over the world – I’ve seen it everywhere. I love their shop display in Gertrude St. The entire shop floor is covered in leaves. You have to rustle your way through them to enter the shop – what fun!
Aesop window
inside the shop
I then headed towards the city to visit some of my favourite places there. I love the tiny laneways filled with shops and cafes. It would be easy to spend hours wandering around the dozens of alleys and arcades in the city centre.
Melbourne city skyline
Perhaps he has been standing on a street corner for too long
a great roof top
The Forum theatre with Federation Square in the background
Flinders Street Station
The man it was named after - Captain Matthew Flinders, who circumnavigated Australia in a small boat