Friday 27 April 2012

Yarra Valley Wine Tour

Last weekend we were fortunate enough to be invited to a birthday party. But this wasn't just any old birthday party. Oh no. This one was a Yarra Valley Wine Tour!!
We got up at an ungodly hour and made our way to the birthday girl's house to catch a bus. I may have fallen asleep in the bus on the way out of town. 

We went to 4 vineyards where they let us try a splash of their wines and then had glasses and bottles to purchase. The first place had the best cheese plate. I mean look at this thing!!!




So many barrels of wine!


The next vineyard had 13 different wines for us to try! Their tasting room was located in an old hayshed and while is smelled rustic, it was also perfect, friendly and delicious!


This vineyard is actually owned by a pair of brothers. One does the wine thing while the other runs the organic orchard! 


The view was perfect, the weather was perfect. What is better than sipping wines on a sunny day with some fabulous people?




The last one we went to was a bit pretentious. They had 3 sparkling wines but instead of letting us taste them all we were given a lecture on them and then asked to choose one. This is why I like family-owned things rather than big corporations. 


They did have a lovely lawn that looked out onto the grape vines where we could sit and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.








Monday 23 April 2012

Easter Sunday

With both TJ and I working like mad we don't get to see a lot of each other. We both had Easter Sunday off and went on an adventure. 
First we made Huevos Rancheros - Aussie style (corn tortillas are hard to come by!)


Then we walked to the city where TJ looked like the perfect misty-do tourist


Arts Precinct 


Our destination was the Eureka Tower


Look! Bees!


The Eureka Tower has a skydeck on level 88. You can see the whole city. There is a glass box that slides out from the building. That seemed unnecessarily expensive and scary. 


Arts Precinct from above and the MCG in the background


Federation Square


Fed Square and Flinders St Station





Yarra River and Melbourne Aquarium


We went back to earth on the fastest, ear-popping-est elevator of all time. We wandered around Southbank, had a delicious taco, got lost in the Crown Casino complex and ate thai and indian food before heading back up the tower for a night time view. 

Fed Square



Flinders St Station. I love all the lit up platforms!


The colours on the AAMI stadium (we watched a rugby game there) changed and were beautiful!



A pretty perfect way to spend Easter Sunday. We even had a couple of chocolate eggs!