My boyfriend is interning in Melbourne this summer, so I visited from him over the weekend. I had an amazing time and can’t to go back over New Year’s Eve – with better walking shoes. He is staying in a great apartment off Collins Street, but in a big city like Melbourne even basing yourself in the city centre still involves a lot of pounding the pavement.

FRIDAY

6:45 am Cab to airport

7:00 am $63 hard-earned dollars later, arrive at airport and begrudgingly buy an over-priced bottle of water and a muffin. Should have had breakfast.

8:15 am JetStar flight. On time, comfortable and cheap. Perfect. Apart from the nausea induced by the woman across the aisle picking her nose for half the flight. Stared in horror at my surrounding surfaces and wondered what other grotty fingers had been there before me.

11:25am Two sudokus later, I landed in Melbourne. Before I had the chance to become too unnerved by the germs, the plane landed and I was distracted by the crush of people trying to disembark.

1:30pm Finally in the apartment. Got the Skybus ($17 one way or $28 return) to Southern Cross Station and then their free hotel transfer service to the hotel closest to my boyfriend’s work so I could pick up the apartment key. This all took quite a while. Mostly because I am really bad with following Google Maps and instead of turning left when I got out of the van and walking 20 metres, I turned right and walked around the block.

I could have got a bus and a train, but as I didn’t have Melbourne’s public transport card (a Mykki) which would have cost about $12 to set up, including loading the initial balance, I got the transfer instead.

1:45pm Shit! Long-awaited Trophy Wife Nail Art appointment in 15 minutes. Google Maps tells me its a 15 minute drive to Richmond. Cab driver tells me it will take 40 minutes in the “Friday traffic” and drops me at a random street after $6. A little disoriented, I can’t find a tram stop and just before 2pm I call to reschedule for Monday.

2:10pm Nandos for lunch, because it’s close and I’m hungry.

2:30-5:30pm Unsure where this time went, I believe it involved a nap and a shower. I was feeling uncharacteristically uninterested in exploring the street around me. Suspect this had something to do with being in transit from 6:45am-1:45pm and crappy shoes. I also didn’t take any photos today. Really unlike me, I’m an amateur photo fiend!

6:00pm Meet my uncles at Bar Lourinha on Little Collins. Delicious Portuguese tapas and super-knowledgeable waiters. Wish Brisbane waiters were like this. We chose 5 dishes and the kitchen sends them out in the most gastronomically pleasing order. Catch up over a glass of Cava, pork belly, garfish and a tonne of indulgent raciones, finished with a glass of Pedro X sherry. Yum.

9:00pm After taking a stroll along Gertrude Street & Smith Street, we arrive at The Panama. The cavernous, New York loft-style bar was buzzing. Definitely returning for longer next time I visit. After a huge dinner and a walk, everyone’s getting a little sleepy so we have a drink and then head home.

Genevieve Lauren

Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived & worked in New York City and now live in Melbourne, Australia.

I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.

My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!

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