Melbourne

Tuesday 3 May: Melbourne has two National Galleries of Victoria so first I visit the one which houses Australian artists. The collection includes Aboriginal works, early Tasmanian landscapes by John Glover and later Louis Buvelot scenes, an iconic Tom Robert's Shearing the Rams, another of Sydney Nolan's Ned Kelly series - I just love the burning eyes and Fred William's burning red outback landscape Rising smoke shows it as it is. There is also a Sydney Bridge by Grace Crossington-Smith, some op and pop art and a delightful work by John Olsen, Summer in you beaut country, enjoyable day.
Wednesday 4: On the south bank of the Yarra River is the international gallery with some interesting furniture and a nice Andy Warhol Self portrait. It's a pretty walk back along the river bank.

Thursday 5: Back in the city centre just north of the copper-domed Exhibition Hall is Melbourne Museum, stuffed animals galore.

Friday 6: Today I meet up with Louise in Ferntree Gully on the foot slopes of the Danedenong Range at the very eastern tip of Melbourne's suburbs. From Mount Dandenong there are views over the city and nearby is people-friendly bird life. Crimson Rosellas and a King Parrot flock around us for a free meal and following a jog up one-thousand steps I get a free meal too, at Chris and Louise's spacious suburbs-edge home. It's Kangaroo steak, like lean tender beef, washed down with a Pepper Tree shiraz. Thank you guys.

Saturday 7: A quick wander through the Royal Botanic Gardens then on to Old Melbourne Gaol to see where Ned Kelly, among others, was hanged. A somber experience.

Sunday 8: No visit to Melbourne is complete without seeing a game of Aussie rules football so Chris and Louise take me to see Melbourne v Adelaide at the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground. Great game if you're not from Adelaide, who lose by more than a hundred points.
Photos of Melbourne.