March 1st & 2nd , 2025

Arriving early, the plan, to stay at the same hotel while traveling with the Road Scholar group, worked great. Most of our fellow travelers were just arriving from the States. But several, like us, arrived from other locations to adjust our circadian rhythms to meet Melbourne time. At the check-in meeting we introduced ourselves, how many RS trips we had been on, (most this would be our first) and there is always that one couple that had 10! Mostly everyone had planned to fly somewhere close to Melbourne in an effort to adjust; New Zealand, Hawaii, Bali, Fiji and there were a pair of couples that flew into Melbourne a couple days early. That said we were all ready to start touring! It was a group of like-minded individuals. Striking, was how many of us talked about our spreadsheets of future travel plans aligned with our resource restrictions, time of money. This was definitely our crowd.

In typical Australian fashion for when visiting guests, or official events, we need to start with a tribute to the original inhabitants of the land we visited. Each place we visited of a touristy nature started with:

We pay our respects to the past, present and emerging leaders of the people who originally occupied these lands. We appreciate the whatever people (fill in the correct tribe) who lived here, and upon whose lands we now dwell.

Shrine of Remembrance - 01 March 25

First stop with the group, The Shrine of Remembrance. It was built to provide a place to grieve and remember Victorians killed in the First World War (1914-18). It now provides a place of remembrance for Australian service and sacrifice in all wars since Australia’s Federation in 1901. And boy howdy, there are lots of them. The Aussies seem to be very brave, and generous.

Of the 400,000 or so Australians who served in WWI, 114,000 were Victorians. Over 16% of them would not make it home. Many were buried in graves far from home. The Shrine provided a place where families could remember loved ones. It also represented the courage of the men, women and children who remained at home and labored in support of national defense in wartime.

The design for the Shrine was selected by competition among Australian artists and architects. 83 designs were submitted, and the winning design was by two Melbourne returned-soldier architects, Philip Hudson and James Wardrop.

Karen’s input: The Road Scholar “Cat Herder” Guide got their first exposure to Randy. They are busy trying to tell you a story, or explain what you are looking at, and Randy is roaming far and wide to get that next photo. I had to advise the Guide repeatedly that he was listening since he had his headset “whisperer” on, even though I clearly knew he was not paying attention. He knows I’ll fill him in on the most interesting tidbits later.

The last image was taken while touring the Melbourne Sky Tower the following day.

While standing at the Shrine of Remembrance our guide had us turn around and asked if we could see it? Most said what? Then when you do…ahhhh…the Beruk on the side of the building.
Up close, this 31-story apartment tower looks like any other skyscraper. Viewed from a distance, the facade of the building reveals a portrait of an influential Aboriginal artist and activist, William Barak (1824–1903). Known as 'Beruk' in the Woiwurrang language of his people. At age 11 he witnessed the signing of John Batman's treaty with leaders of the Kulin nation, for the land that would ultimately become Melbourne. He went on to become a respected leader of the Wurundjeri people and protector of traditional culture and land rights.

The portrait is a photograph of a sculpture of Barak by artist Peter Schipperheyn. Barak's image can be viewed at ground-level, along Swanston Street or from the Shrine of Remembrance for a picture-perfect view of the tower.

Botanical Gardens - 01 March 25

After our stop at the Shrine of Remembrance, we were bussed to the very busy Melbourne Botanical Gardens, where nature's beauty unfolded around us. As we wandered through some of the pathways, there was one path closed to visitors. Our guide shared intriguing facts about the local bats, which were residing in the trees of the Garden. Famously known as the flying foxes, they added an eerie charm to the area. It quickly became clear that the beautiful day and gardens were a sought-after wedding destination on this lovely Saturday. There were no less than six different weddings taking place simultaneously! Some brides made grand entrances, arriving by boat or in sleek limousines, adding a touch of glamour to the picturesque setting. A confirmation that we picked the right time of year for our visit.

City Walking Tour - 02 March 25

Located in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD), the Block Arcade stands as a testament to the city’s rich heritage and vibrant shopping culture. As a pivotal part of the Golden Mile heritage walk, the arcade includes a variety of boutiques and shops showing Melbourne's unique style. We strolled through its beautifully tiled floors and marveled at the Victorian architecture while discovering an array of boutique fashion, artistic treasures, and charming gift shops. Vintage jewelry stores beckon with unique finds, while inviting restaurants and cafes provide the perfect spots to relax and enjoy a bite (which we later took advantage of).

Sky Tower - 02 March 25

Standing on the 88th floor of Melbourne's Sky Deck feels like touching the sky itself (especially as the helicopter flys beneath you somewhere around the 75th floor). The panoramic views stretch endlessly, with the cityscape beneath us. As you gaze out, the iconic Yarra River winds through the heart of the city. Each angle reveals a new adventure (there goes another helicopter)—bustling markets, historic architecture, and lush green spaces blend and the stadium where the Australian Open is played. Not a bad way to appreciate the city, even for a guy who doesn’t like heights, while enjoying a local brew.

Phillip Island Penguin Parade - 02 March 25

Phillip Island is home to the largest Little Blue Penguin colony in the world, offering a magical experience as you watch these adorable seabirds waddle home from the ocean to their burrows each night of the year. Arriving early to secure good seats, we were amazed by the number of fellow spectators eager to witness this event. The viewing area is divided into two sections: one slightly further from the main path to the penguin landing, and our chosen section, where about 75% of the penguins make their arrival. Road Scholar opted for the better seats, and it was well worth it as we settled in to enjoy the adorable penguins’ nightly parade. We would highly recommend you follow suit if you head to see the Penguin Parade. You will notice no images of the little guys as no cameras were allowed out (to be used even with no flash) after the sun sets. Their paths were lit by special lighting allowing us to watch them leave the water and track them as they found their way to their nests.

It was both funny and sad. The adults can only feed in the sea, and spend the day gorging on fish for 1) themselves overnight, 2) to feed their chicks waiting for them back in each of their individual nests, or 3) to survive for the period it takes to moult (Australian spelling) and get a new set of feathers to protect them in the water. Each penguin makes its way from the sea to their nests, some hiking up to a mile. Chicks who have not eaten since the night before are hungrily trying to get any returning adult to feed them. They busily scurry from one adult to another (who are barely bigger than these chicks) harassing them for food. But each penguin only has enough to feed their own offspring, so they waddle past them to only feed their own. It looked funny, until you realized the desperation of the chicks. If their parent does not make it back, because they have become dinner for some other sea creature, then the chick is also doomed to not survive. Particularly funny were the penguins that had gorged themselves to survive the moulting period. The Blue Penguin sheds its feathers and needs about 3 weeks for the new layer of feathers to grow so they will stay dry and warm in the water. These little guys were almost as round as they were tall because they have to eat enough to survive the entire mounting period without another meal. As they struggled up the path, they frequently had to sit down and catch their breath. Oddly, several of their companions would sit with them, and not walk past until the tired little guy got up to take a few steps. That is until an impatient penguin came along and walked around the whole group. Then the others who had waited looked they had been granted permission to move on. And before you know it, a couple thousand penguins are home in their burrows hunkered down to watch the telly and get ready for work the next day, and us tourists wander out to an empty parking lot to drive the hour back to our hotel. Eco-tourism at it’s finest.