Melbourne attractions

On Friday, March 8, we spent more time in Melbourne exploring the local attractions (mainly because we got the tickets for free with the two tours we booked).

We slept in a bit since the trip to Philip Island the day before got us home around midnight and the hostel we stayed at in Melbourne was noisy up until the wee hours of the night. 

Our first stop was the Old Melbourne Gaol (jail) where many of Australia's most infamous criminals were held. Before walking around the cell block, we went to the police watch house where one of the sergeants gave us a "real life" encounter of what it would feel like to be arrested and locked up. This police station was only closed in 1994. 

Have you seen this man?

Or this criminal?

Paul entering one of the holding cells in the police watch house

View of the gaol from the third floor

Let me out!

The scaffold - this is where prisoners were hanged - one of the most famous was Ned Kelly

Very ominous

After walking around the gaol for over an hour, we took the free City Circle tram to the Melbourne Aquarium to see king penguins, gentoo penguins, seahorses, different fish, a manta ray and sharks. 

Free tram!

King penguins feeding their young

King penguin protecting their little one

Gentoo penguin

Close up of the Gentoo penguin

Southern pot-belly seahorse

Alligator pipefish

Some loving green tree frogs

Potato cod - HUGE!

Manta Ray - even BIGGER!

A shark ate Paul!

Ok, this is a real one

The last free attraction was the Eureka Sky Deck, the highest public viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere. It took 38 seconds to reach the 88th floor. Amazing views of the entire city!

Approaching the Eureka Sky Deck

Looking southeast towards Port Philip Bay

Looking east  - in the distance is Mt. Dandenong

After a long day, we headed back to the hostel so we could rest for the Great Ocean Road Sunset tour the next day. 

Walking towards Flinders Street train station

Passing through one of the alleyways