On Saturday 15 March the journey to Australia began. A taxi to the train station, a rail replacement bus to the next train station, a train to St Pancras, underground train to Paddington, Heathrow Express to Terminal 4 and the Qantas plane to Melbourne via Singapore.
The total flying time was 19 hours and 45 minutes, approximately 12 hours from London to Singapore. Having never flown before I wasn't expecting to enjoy the flight. However the time passed fairly quickly with the TV screen, my MP3 player, video interviews on my mobile phone and the frequent food that was brought round.
We had about half an hour to have a quick walk round Changi Airport and have a look at a souvenir shop. Then it was off to Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport.
At Glen Iris we crossed the road and got the tram to Flinders Street Station.
When we finally arrived we had a brief walk round the city and then jumped on the free tourist tram.
Soon the heat and the jet lag caught up with my sister and the kids and we had to return to the hotel. While they slept I headed off to St Kilda beach.
We arrived at Melbourne Airport at 6.25am on Monday 17 March. After stopping for breakfast at Hungry Jacks we started looking for a taxi. After dragging our cases up and down the front of the airport for 10 minutes looking for the area where taxis picked up we asked and found we'd emerged on the wrong level after going upstairs for breakfast. Taxis only dropped people off on this level they didn't pick up.
A lovely hotel, the owners were very helpful and friendly. If I am ever in Melbourne again I would definitely stay at the Albert Park Manor. Trams and buses stop just outside to take you to the city and St Kilda beach. Next door to the hotel is a McDonalds and most of our meals on the first couple of days came from there.
The total flying time was 19 hours and 45 minutes, approximately 12 hours from London to Singapore. Having never flown before I wasn't expecting to enjoy the flight. However the time passed fairly quickly with the TV screen, my MP3 player, video interviews on my mobile phone and the frequent food that was brought round.
