Melbourne Trip: Mornington Peninsula

The second day of my holiday, we started a bit further to the south of Australia. This day we had include in our itinerary the coastal road from the city to the Mornington Peninsula. I realise that it is not easy to travel by bus from the city to a place further away beside signing up for a tour package locally. Another way is to rent a car there. So, it is rather difficult if i bagpack and i wish to travel around. I should just get myself a car as in Australia, the places of attraction required long road trip or flight to be at the destination. Like Mornington Peninsula, if we didn drive, we will have to rent a car or get the local tour package. Another option is to cycle there. If u have the stamina. Along the highway, government of Australia already design a road with bicycle lane. So i guess it is rather safe to travel around using a bike. My fren share the story with me that her colleague stayed in the city and when weekend come, he will cycle to Mornington Peninsula as he owned a farm and a ranch there. It is kinda a life that i envy. Bz urself in the city on weekday for ur daily task and taking care of the ranch and farm during the weekend. I think that is a great life =) It kinda took us about 2.5 hours drive from the city to Mornington Peninsula. It is actually the southest part of Australia.

Date: 13.06.2011

Visited Place: Springvale

The only town we stop along the way to the Mornington Peninsula is Springvale. Every country will have a Chinatown and in Melbourne, they have a Vietnamtown. Springvale is full of Vietnamese. Friend told me that during the war era, the Vietnamese soldier stayed there and it continue until today. Thing there are cheaper too. They can actually get lots asian grocery there. They are willing to travel a little further for the grocery =)

Vietnamese meal : Pho

We drop by the town and try the Vietnamese food. Seriously it taste superb =) It is actually pronounce as "fur".. We walk a while in the supermarket and i found Thai durian in the supermarket =) After having the breakfast we continue our journey to the South. We head straight to Mornington Peninsula. That is where our 1st stop going to be =)

Date: 13.06.2011
Visited Place: Mornington Peninsula

my 1st view of the beach, the house is use to store boats and sails

Mr Sun come out and work =)

I do not feel the heat at all.. I love the beach but it is too COLD..

at the pier

view of the pier, the fish and chip restaurant and the parking

Well, when we go vacation at other people country, we will tend to do comparison. There is always a saying in chinese, " The moon oversea is always rounder" (i direct translate from chinese) Maybe i carry that point of view to visit melbourne as well. I really like the beach. It make me wonder why the westerner like to come Malaysia for the beach. I can understand if they go Bali lar, as Bali is an island design for water activities. Well, i dun deny Malaysia have beautiful beaches too. Just the level of maintainence is sucky wei =) We have a long walk along the beach and we did a lil climbing to up up the cliff. No words i would choose to describe the beauty of the beach with the mighty Mr Sun and with sky full of seagull. Probably this is the reason why they love sunbathing? I dunno.. haha..

me and the ice-cream man and the ice-cream truck

After a long walk, on the way walking back to the car, we bump into the above ice-cream truck. It remind me of my childhood where i sit in front of the TV watching Mickey Mouse. The truck is almost similar to those in the cartoon series. We stopped and bought one ourself. Ya, despite the winter, I have dipped choc with candy ice-cream. Yum Yum. The candy topping added to the Chocolate coating ice-cream is actually too sweet. But still I enjoy it. With the winter. Guess how much i paid for the ice-cream AUD 3.50 =.= (can have almost 5 ice cream back in Msia) After the ice-cream treat, we hop back in our car and move to the next destination =)

Date: 13.06.2011
Visited Place: Rye

2nd stop: Rye

We stop at Rye next. This is due to Eva's Dad recommendation. He say that if we are lucky enough, we can see something in the sea. I forget what is the creature that he mention. Saw the bridge behind me, that is where everone suppose to head to look at the outer sea and some people fish along the bridge as well. Although it is in the winter, today consider a great day. Lots people are out fishing and sailing. Impressive on how people spend their time here =) People there are friendly and polite too. They greeted me along the way knowing i am tourist and one of the local even speak to me with chinese. I am impress. Haha..

Dock for the motorboat to go down the sea and up to the land

how the travel with the boat

There is alot of picnic table around and we stop here for our lunch. Today we pack from home. Get up a lil early and make ourself 5 hotdog each to eat together with the bread. We had Pork sausage =) No wonder they like picnic-ing so much. Picnic tables and chairs are ready and it is well kept. Citizen are civilised too. No rubbish throwing around the picnic table. Do you know they even clean up their tray when the eat in restaurant and fast food restaurant. Kinda is their responsibility to do so =) Ok. After this stop, since we are running a little late, we head straight to the Portkey (we were suppose to go into maze gaming too, but i choose to let it go for i want to enjoy the nature in Melbourne city)

Date: 13.06.2011
Visited Place: Port Nepean Nature Park

I am called "Transporter"

Original planning in the Port Nepean National Park is to ride a bike. I really wanna ride one. The lady in the counter insists that we will not come back in time if we ride the bike and that she need to go back on time (She said it in a nicer way and more tactful). Therefore, she suggest us to hop on to one of the transporter. Per ride it cost you about AUD8.70. It is actually a truck pulling a few carriage behind to be seated by passengers. It does look a little like transformer right? Along the ride, scenery is magnificient. Totally agree that camera cannot capture the real beauty of what we saw with out eye. I bet, i would enjoyed it more if i am on the bike. It is just too bad i reached too late. Just to share, to rent a bike in the park is AUD20 per day. There is no hourly rental.

The final peak at PortKey

I really like the view

Final destination: Port Nepean

There are 4 stations around the park and Port Nepean is the last one. We did not stop at any of the stop due to the time constraint and the selling point of this place is the Port Nepean as it is the southest point of Australia. But I can summarize a little on the 4 others check point. I remember the 1st check point is the Quarantine Station. This stop shows all the dorms that was stayed by soldiers during their training last time and if i remember it correctly, it is a place they quarantine soldiers with illness there too. What happen after that, i really dunno. The 2nd check point is the Cheviot Hill. This stop for the australian to pay their respect to one of their prime minister. I am sorry but i forget the name of the Prime Minister. He went scuba diving at this area and no one seen him after that. They had the biggest search around the beach but no body is found. The 3rd check point is the Fort Pearce. I am sorry. I do not remember the stories at all beside i know the view around is breathtaking =) Of course, the Final pit stop is the Port Nepean. It is the port where they have gun emplacements where the first allied shots were fired in World War I and the first allied shots in World War II.

I am at the southest part of Australia

I am in love with mother nature

tunnel where soldiers travel around

The sun really like me

Breathtaking scenery

Goodbye southest part of Australia

Isn it nice to bring your family out here for cycling or jogging during the weekend? It is only about 2 hours drive from the city. Of course, i dare to say that if i stay there, i would never wake up so early every weekend just to go for a visit. And most important is, there is no entrance fee =) unless you wanna ride a bike or when u decide to board the transporter. This is because you can choose to walk. And it is free. Many people do that. Beside, you dont sweat at all in this kind of weather. It is just awesome. I told them i will be back for a bike session. I will miss this place honestly. It really captured my heart =)