Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is our first of 7 stops in Australia.  Melbourne, with a population of 4 million, has been voted the world's most livable city!  The city center has sky scrapers, botanic gardens, several domed sports stadiums, and art galleries. The tallest building is the Eureka tower with 91 floors.  The indigenous aborigines, part of the Kulin nation, have lived in the area for over 40,000 years.

We visited the Healesville wildlife sanctuary, located near the Dandenong range and Yarra Valley. Got to see koalas, emus, kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils, possums and some birds.  They also have platypus and echidnas, funny-looking mammals that lays eggs, but we didn't get a good look at them. You are NOT allowed to hold koalas in the state of Victoria, where Melbourne is located, but can hold them in some other states in Australia.

After visiting the animals, we rode a narrow gauge train through a temperate rain forest that had beautiful ferns and tall mountain ash trees.  The steam engine train was called the Puffing Billy.  Next, we visited the Rochford winery to sample their wine and have lunch.  This area of Australia is known for their pinot noir wines.  Melbourne is a cosmopolitan city with a laid-back attitude and beautiful surrounding hills.

Eureka building, 91 floors,
covered in gold at the top

Emu, a smaller version of an ostrich 

Koala at Healesville sanctuary near Melbourne

large Kangaroo at the sanctuary

wombat, a marsupial mammal; closest relative to koalas

a tree kangaroo with bushy tail

a Tasmanian devil, the largest carnivorous marsupial

The Puffing Billy train in the Yarra Valley near Melbourne

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Temperate rain forest with tall mountain ash trees and large ferns;
our train ride was throough this gorgeous area