Echuca to Melbourne – From Country Touring to the Big Smoke!
After thoroughly enjoying our adventures around Echuca and the touring that had brought us there, it was time to pack up, hit the road and point ourselves towards Melbourne for a few days.
We’d had a fantastic time exploring regional Victoria, ticking off silo art, cruising the Murray River and generally doing what The Thirsty Tourists do best. But the adventure wasn’t over yet! We were heading to the big smoke for more exploring, good food and, naturally, a few new pubs to investigate.
A Quick Catch-Up Before the City
Our first stop was nearby Goornong, where we caught up with some friends before continuing our journey towards Melbourne.
It’s always good to catch up with people along the way, especially when touring. A road trip isn’t just about the destinations; it’s also about the people you meet and the friends you manage to squeeze into the itinerary.
After our visit, it was time to get back on the road and tackle the drive into Melbourne.
Welcome to Melbourne – Where the Traffic Gets Serious!
The drive into Melbourne was reasonably straightforward, although, as you’d expect, things slowed down once we reached the CBD and Chinatown.
Country roads and open highways are one thing, but city traffic is a different beast altogether. Suddenly, you’re dealing with traffic lights, trams, busy intersections and enough activity to keep you wondering whether everyone in Melbourne has decided to drive down the same street at the same time!
Thankfully, we made our way through without too much drama and arrived at the Pullman Melbourne City Centre, our home for the next few days.
Once checked in, we could finally relax a little, unpack and get our bearings. Well, relax might be overstating things slightly. We had a city to explore, and there were pubs waiting!
First Stop – A Cold One at the Exford Hotel
After settling in, it was time to stretch the legs and explore the neighbourhood.
Our first stop was the Exford Hotel, where we enjoyed a cold beer. There’s something rather satisfying about arriving at your destination, putting the driving behind you and finally getting that first refreshing drink.
The Exford was a good place to kick off our Melbourne adventures before we wandered around the area to see what else caught our attention.
Of course, when you’re staying right in the city, there’s no shortage of places to explore. The trick is deciding where to go first without getting distracted by every pub sign along the way.
Not that we have that problem. Much!
Chinatown – Dinner at West Lake Restaurant
For dinner, we returned to a restaurant we’d visited on a previous trip: the West Lake Restaurant, tucked away in Melbourne’s Chinatown.
When you’ve found somewhere you enjoy, there’s no shame in going back for another helping. Why gamble on an unknown restaurant when you already know there’s something good on the menu?
West Lake offers a fantastic banquet for two, and we decided to order it again. It was a great way to enjoy a variety of dishes without having to make the difficult decision of choosing just one.
The banquet certainly hit the spot, and we were reminded why we’d returned in the first place.
There’s always something special about Chinatown, with its busy streets, restaurants and lively atmosphere. It’s a great place to wander around, especially when you’re staying nearby and don’t need to worry about travelling far for dinner.
One More Stop Before Bed
With dinner finished, we weren’t quite ready to call it a night. A quick tram ride took us to the Elephant and Wheelbarrow for another cold beverage.
Melbourne’s trams are a handy way to get around the city, although there’s always something to be said for being able to leave the car parked at the hotel and let public transport do the work.
After another drink and a chance to soak up a little more of the local atmosphere, it was finally time to head back to the hotel.
We’d made it from the relaxed touring roads of regional Victoria to the heart of Melbourne, caught up with friends, enjoyed a couple of pubs and tucked into another excellent Chinese banquet.
Not a bad way to kick off our Melbourne stay!
With a few more days of exploring ahead, there was plenty to look forward to. And knowing us, there’d be more pubs, more food and plenty of stories to share.
Stay tuned as The Thirsty Tourists take on Melbourne — because changing from country roads to city streets doesn’t mean the touring adventures have to stop!
The Thirsty Tourists — Touring is thirsty work!
