Holiday day in Melbourne.

Today proved to be a walking day, helped by some great scenery and restaurant stops.

Our late breakfast started with a free chocolate ice cream from our friends at McDonald’s on Southbank Promenade.

Whenever we return to Melbourne, our first stop is always to visit the Botanical Gardens, with so much on offer and ever changing.

When the sun came out, the flowers and gardens are so enchanting.

The scale of the gardens is immense and you are transported to a landscape that looks so beautiful and ever changing.

After an enjoyable lunch at The Terrace looking over the lake, we left the Botanical Gardens and headed across to the Shrine of Remembrance.

The monument to those Australians who lost their lives fighting in World War I & II is immense and very awe inspiring.

We walked up the monument to take in the views back over the city and enjoyed the linear roads that lead off from this central point.

The shrine within the monument was very thought provoking and makes you appreciate what past generations gave to enable us to have the life we have today.

Leaving the monument we headed across the Yarra River to the sports stadium central, where within less than a mile sits the soccer, aussie rules, tennis and cricket venues.

Next to the soccer stadium sits the Collingwood AFL ground. Opposite that is the Rod Laver and the MCG.

Quick stop at the cricketers bar to view the memorabilia.

Our walk around the city included the parliament building as well as China town, plus the infamous AC/DC street.

After all that walking we visited a speak easy bar, the Apollo Inn and shared a gin and vermouth cocktail and a classy rose wine as we relaxed on Flinders Lane.

With the alcohol quickly taking effect, we headed to Fed Square via Hosier Lane, the graffiti centre, to watch the men’s semifinal between Sinner and Djokovic. In glorious sunshine we watched the young Italian’s victory.

Another fab day in Melbourne. Off to Fitzroy tomorrow and the Rose Streets Artists market.