Day 25: AATKings, My Tour Guide for Magnificent Melbourne!

I am becoming somewhat of a tour guide aficionado! After numerous city tours on last year's 'Journey to Olympic Golf' and this year's 'Golf Journey to Australia,' my advice to anyone that asks is to go with the most reputable and trusted tour guide company that is available. It is well worth the money you pay to have safe, knowledgeable and courteous tour guides on well-planned itineraries with flexibility and  backup plans for the things you can't control such as weather and traffic. After my third tour with AATKings in Australia I wouldn't use anybody else! Here's another tip to take the AATKing's Magnificent Melbourne–Morning City Tour. Do it on Sunday morning. I did so simply because that is what fit in my schedule but there is one big advantage—minimal city traffic, with two huge favorable consequences—less expensive parking and more time with less traffic for your AATKings driver/tour guide to make more stops along the way. Paul, our driver did that and did it very well! Our first stop was the magnificent Royal Exhibition Building which must be where the name of the tour comes from. Stop No. 2 was at the impressive St. Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne. How beautiful it is inside, even more so than the one in New York City, now that that one is being renovated. Stop No. 3 was the Fitzroy Gardens which is a huge city park. I walked along the perimeter streets on two sides and then walked diagonally back through the park back to the coach buss. On the way I came across the Faires' Tree, a tree carved by Ola Cohn in the early 1930s for the children of Melbourne. "A place that is sacred and safe as a home should be for all living creatures," she states in the foreword to her book of the same name. I have to say I feel very safe in Melbourne and all of Australia. The next stop wasn't even a stop at all but a lap in the bus around the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix circuit in Albert Park. The final stop was quite inspirational—the Shrine of Remembrance, a proud memorial to the men and women of Australia who served in the First World War. Volunteer docent George Galanopoulus was emphatic and knowledgeable as he led us through the The Ray of Light ceremony. Per the Shrine's website, this ceremony is central to the experience of the Shrine of Remembrance. A ray of natural sunlight passes through an aperture in the ceiling of the Sanctuary and falls onto the Stone of Remembrance (Sunk into the centre of the Sanctuary floor with the biblical inscription GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN) over the word “love” at precisely 11.00 am on 11 November each year. This is the moment when the armistice was signed in 1918 marking the end of hostilities in the First World War. The ceremony is now reproduced every half hour using electric light to allow all visitors to the Shrine to experience it. What a way to see Melbourne in half a day and learn its history and understand the spirit of the entire state of Victoria. Enjoy AATKing's Magnificent Melbourne–Morning City Tour on a Sunday morning if you can!                   From the AATKing website, here is the itinerary: En Route This morning’s tour is packed with city sights and historical landmarks. Take a seat and enjoy the bustle of Melbourne’s city as your Driver Guide keeps you posted on what to look out for along the way. City Centre First you’ll tour through Melbourne’s city centre. Considered the shopping capital of Australia, the city and surrounding suburbs are home to modern shopping malls and boutique stores featuring world- class brands and products. Sporting Complexes While other states may disagree, Melbourne is the sporting capital of the country. Today you’ll see the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) which hosts Aussie Rules football and is the birthplace of Test Cricket. You’ll also drive past Rod Laver Arena, the venue for the Australian Open Tennis Tournament and into Albert Park to see the Formula 1 Grand Prix track. Parliament House Next you can take a look at the imposing Parliament House. Construction of this enormous building commenced in 1855 and continued in stages until 1929. It is the largest 19th century building in Australia and is considered to be one of the finest examples of architecture from that period anywhere in the world. Queen Victoria Market A treasured icon to the locals, this is a major landmark in Melbourne and is the only surviving 19th century market in the CBD. It is also the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Fitzroy Gardens Now it’s time to stretch your legs and take a look around the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens. Set on 26 hectares, these gardens were classified by the National Trust in 1974 and are highly valued for their historic and horticultural significance. Here you can visit the Conservatory for its incredible floral display, or the quaint Tudor Village. Captain Cook’s Cottage This lovely little cottage in the heart of Fitzroy Gardens was the original home of Captain James Cook’s parents. It has been carefully restored and maintained, filled with furniture of the period and surrounded by a garden of the 18th century. Take a wander into the cottage (own expense) and you’ll be transported back in time to the 1700s. Shrine of Remembrance You’ll be deeply moved by this proud memorial to the men and women of Australia who served in the First World War. It is one of the largest memorials in the country and is Melbourne’s most recognised landmark.