The Wheel World Claire's Travel Blog
Hello fellow travellers,
How much fun is Melbourne? I always have the best time when I visit Melbourne and granted that it’s only an hours flight from Hobart, I enjoy travelling there every chance I get.
Currently, poor Victoria is in another state of lockdown and it’s hard to envision holidaying there again for a while yet. With the state featuring heavily in the media lately; it has made me reminisce about all the fun times I’ve had there over the years.
Here are my recommendations of places to check out, once this covid nightmare is over…
The Melbourne Star
Ahhhh…. the Star of Melbourne, a cliche name for a reason – the star of Melbourne, boasts a rotating 120m high glass pods that rotate, showcasing views across Docklands and Melbourne’s CBD.
The Melbourne Star is an iconic landmark in Melbourne and is accessible for all disabilities. Available to ride both daytime and evenings, you can experience these amazing views all day long. Another great thing about the Star is that it allows you to take a break from Melbourne’s bustling streets and take in the view of the busy streets below in serenity.
Image from Google
Eureka Skydeck
Speaking of amazing heights, you can’t go past the thrilling adventure of the The Eureka Skydeck. It is so much fun! I recommend it to any thrill seeker… who isn’t quite ready for the daring thrills of bungee jumping or skydiving. This is the next best thing, in my opinion, plus it’s much safer (and there’s delicious snacks there as well. What’s better than that?).
The Skydeck building is located in Southbank and stands at an impressive 285m above Melbourne’s metropolis. But no one expects you to climb all the way to the 88th floor on your own; use the fastest lift in the Southern Hemisphere to get there. Taking just over 30 seconds to reach the top, it causes your ears to pop once you reach the top. Now that’s fast a fast lift! Once you reach the top, you’ll experience an unbelievable 360 degree view of Melbourne – views you’ll never forget.
Once you reach the top, you’ll want to find one of the many viewfinders and proceed to see if you can spot some of Melbourne’s most famous landmarks. From Albert Park, the MCG and Federation Square, as well as Port Phillip Bay, the Dandenong Ranges and far, far beyond. You could spend hours staring at that incredible view.
If you’re a little more daring, why not try The Edge! There really is nothing like the feeling of The Edge. It’s very cool. Basically the experience of The Edge happens like this: you stand inside a glass cube, glass walls, ceiling and floor, all of it. Once inside, the whole box shifts out from the wall of the building and suspends you roughly 300m outside of the building. It’s a freaky and incredible experience, to feel like you are floating above the ground.
Image from Google as I couldn’t find my personal photos.
Melbourne Zoo
The Melbourne Zoo has always been a fun experience every time I’ve visited. As a wheelchair user, I appreciate that it’s very wheelchair friendly as well. I also like the fact that the Zoo also accepts many forms of disability and pension cards, including: Child Disability Allowance Health Care Card, a Disability Pension Card or a Companion Card.
During covid, the zoo has launched virtual tours, which is super fun to be able to enjoy these beautiful animals, whilst we’re all stuck at home; unable to see them in person for a while. Click the lion image, to watch the Melbourne Zoo – Animals at Home website.
The zoo is full of all your favourite animals, ready to greet you and is always a pleasant day out while visiting Melbourne. Some of my personal favourite animals are lions, elephants, giraffes and meerkats. They all feature at the zoo and are big crowd pleasers, you can see shows and feedings at different times of the day. I’m looking forward to visiting again, once the Victorian boarders re-open.
Instagram photo taken by: @keiraw7
Crown Plaza - Southbank
Truth be told, I’m not much of a gambler, but I always have so much fun when I visit Crown Towers. I’ve been to their Gold Class cinemas more than I can count and they have some amazing places to eat as well. Located in the heart of Southbank, Crown Towers offers much more than just a place to gamble. Let’s not forget the fancy shopping, as well as relaxing spa, pool and gymnasium (who wants to exercise on holidays but apparently people do?!).
The atrium of the Crown has always been a personal favourite of mine, and I spent much of my childhood there after visiting specialist doctors. The waterfall down the staircase and the pool fountains, with water flying out, in a musical sequence, always made me so happy as a child. The staff at Crown also make the atrium spectacular at Christmas time and is probably one of the prettiest Christmas displays I’ve ever seen to date.
It’s always fun visiting Crown on Southbank when I’m in Melbourne. Don’t forget to see the Gas Bridges Fire Show out on Southbank, which occur on the hour from roughly 9pm most months of the year. See website for details.
Image by Google
Graffiti Alley
Some of the most famous and prominent features that make Melbourne so unique are the graffiti alleys in the city. It’s always fun and surprising to come across and each piece, and they’re always so beautiful and unique to each Melbourne suburb you find them. My personal favourite piece was an image that my cousin Sophie found of the late Stella Young (see image on the left), an Australia disability comedian and disability activist (who also had the same disability as me). I looked up to Stella and her very candid attitude towards disability issues and stigmas in Australia and I was so sad when she passed. I loved that she’d been memorialised in her hometown of Melbourne.
Instagram photo taken by: @soph_walker_
Thank you for reading my latest blog post.
Be sure to follow me over on my Facebook and Instagram for all the latest updates and images.
Claire
Discovery Holidays
Travel Team (Hobart)
See more here : https://discoveryholidays.com.au/claires-blog/
