The Melbourne Reprise and Surprise (Part 1): Melbourne CBD Memory Lane

- April 13-15, 2025, Tuesday to Thursday.

- WHAT'S GOOD MELBOURNE!!!! I can't believe I'm back after 3 years; I stayed for 4 months in Melbourne in 2022, so Melbourne feels like home to me. This time I was about to attend an event so I had to go to Melbourne with family. 

- We left on the 13th and arrived early morning on the 14th. After the arriving at Southern Cross Station via airport bus, we rode the tram to our hotel. We stayed at YTI Garden Hotel, which was good because of its very central location and price. However, please do note that this is a very simple hotel with basic amenities, so do consider staying elsewhere if you're the type that wants all the fancy stuff. I didn't like the other hotels mainly because of their location, and possibly the price. My dad and sister weren't fond of the hotel because they expected more, but to me it was perfect for what I needed: safe location, close to the main Bourke Street intersection (the most central of the CBD!), close to many tram stops, and very near shops, restaurants, and tourist spots.

HELLO I AM BACK.

I missed the coldness of Melbourne; it's incredible warm in the Philippines and I hate the heat. I thrive in the cold always.

Our hotel (it was a bit dated, but it was clean, spacious, reasonably-priced given the location, and most importantly, centrally located!)

- Since we were allowed to check in early, I wasted no time in showing them around the places I loved in Melbourne. We walked around Elizabeth Street for a bit before riding the 86 Tram to the District Docklands where we had a seafood boil lunch at Krabby's Crab Boil. After which we hurried back to the center (86 Tram to Bourke Street Mall) for dessert at the Tea Rooms 1892 at the Block Arcade.

Saw his mural at Rankins Lane, just outside our hotel!

I'm not a cat person but I like how this cat looks!

Sushi Hub is honestly comfort food in Melbourne!

This borek place is a colleague's favorite!

They're made fresh everyday!

What used to be the General Post Office from 1907 until the 1990s, it now houses Australia's very first H&M branch. It has been a tenant for more than a decade now!

Lunch at Krabby's Crab Boil.

Back to the center for tea and cake!

The Tea Rooms 1892 is a must for me in Melbourne!

The cakes taste as good as they look!

The Block Arcade.

- We walked a block south to see Flinders Station and Federation Square. Of course, what is a trip to Melbourne without seeing some of the city's most iconic landmarks? 

Flinders Station, Melbourne's most recognizable landmark. It was built in 1854.

 

Federation Square, just across Flinders Station. This is one of the most important public spaces of Melbourne, used for celebrations, protests, you name it.

- We ended the day by having dinner at Hardware Lane, convenient located a few steps from our hotel. Hardward Lane is known today for its restaurants and occasional live performances. We ate at an Italian restaurant called Max, where among other things, we had a taste of kangaroo steak. (It tastes just like beef and you wouldn't feel it's any different if no one told you it was kangaroo.)

A piece of kangaroo steak,

View of the city from our hotel.

- Our second day in Melbourne was a continuation of seeing the basics of Melbourne and visiting more places that aren't only interesting but are also memorable for me. I had an early morning photo session at Bourke Street, which I wasn't able to do during my stay years back, as well as taking photos of Hosier Lane along Flinders Street.

Designed in 1994, "The Public Purse" is an art installation in Bourke Street Mall that also functions as a seat. If only I had this much money!

Bourke Street Mall icons: the old General Post Office and the Melbourne tram.

Finally, a decent photo with the old General Post Office.

This just screams "Melbourne".

Hosier Lane. I think I wore the perfect shirt.

The last time I had a photo here, it was raining. I'm glad the weather cooperated this time!

I can stand in front of a wall and you wouldn't see me ever again.

More of Hosier Lane.

- I went back to accompany my family to Queen Victoria Market (19, 57, or 59 Tram, Queen Victoria Market stop). We had breakfast at the deli section, and shopped for some souvenirs at the main market. It wasn't crowded when we went, I wasn't sure why. Vic Market is often crowded with tourists!

Deli section.

One of my favorite stalls.

This is what I normally buy in that Polish stall. This is poppy seed bread! The black part is very chewy! However, this bread is so heavy to the tummy! 

Vic Market doesn't feel like Vic Market without the crowd!

- Since we had a really late breakfast, we couldn't eat a proper lunch anymore. That afternoon, we had to burn some calories by walking along Smith Street (86 Tram to Smith Street, I often get off at Gertrude Street Stop, but there are several stops along Smith Street). Smith Street is where I often find good deals from OpShops ("opportunity shops", the Aussie term for thrift shops). 

Smith Street!

Formerly the Collingwood Post Office, now a restaurant.

- That dinner, my sister chose to have dinner at Mountain Goat Brewery, a beer brewery near the CBD which also serves some good food. My sister was interested in their brewing process so she wanted to pay them a visit.

Mountain Goat Brewery.

- Our first two full days in Melbourne reminded me and allowed me to relive so many things that I loved and missed in Melbourne. However, this trip to Melbourne holds many surprises and new adventures - and boy was I looking forward to experience them all!

** Check out my other adventures in Melbourne/Victoria here!

Part 2: La Trobe University Graduation - here

Part 3: Werribee - here

Part 4: Geelong - here 

Part 5: Melbourne Central and Titanic VR - here

Part 6: Bendigo - here

Part 7:  The Lume and Dax Centre - here

Part 8: Hot Air Balloon, NGV, UniMelb, State Library, and Hello Kitty Cafe - here