Walking around our hometown

I love walking around this beautiful city we live in.  There are so many incredible things right under our noses and often we just walk right past without even noticing.  Sometimes, the things around us are not all beautiful, but that doesn't make them any less interesting and worth noticing.

 

On Saturday, Lynda and I caught up to do a No Fixed Address - City by the Yarra 3 hour walking tour.  Appropriate seeing as we met walking through Nepal!  No Fixed Address aims to show and tell a different story, delivered by Melbourne's experts of the streets who are either homeless or have experienced homelessness.  Not your usual Postcards, style tour, they aim to show a part of the real heart of Melbourne .

 

Our guide  Peter was the first guide to join No Fixed Address so we were in good hands! Extremely passionate about advocating for homeless and marginalised groups, he is involved in counselling and coaching youth football.  His relaxed commentary was interesting and enlightening and he was happy to answer any questions we had. However, we also enjoyed just being able to walk along chatting and enjoying the day without having to stop and listen every few minutes, so for us a perfect combination. 

 

Our tour commenced in Abbotsford which was once very much a working class industrial suburb and is now a melting pot with a bit of everything including many new and expensive inner city apartments springing up everywhere.  First stop, Victoria Park, the original home of the Collingwood Football Club.  Whilst not a fan (of any team really), it was an interesting walk around and great to see the facilities open to the community and being used. 

 

After a walk around Abbotsford streets with bits of the new and the old, we came to Dights Falls where salt water meets the fresh water of the Yarra River. Dight's flour mill, Melbourne's oldest industrial site is also located here.

 

We then followed the river along the Main Yarra Trail, past the Collingwood Children's Farm and into the Abbotsford Convent grounds.  Stopped at Lentil as Anything and had a chat with one of the volunteers there who told us a bit about their "Food Without Borders" philosophy .  Vegetarian and Vegan food without borders of "cash value, race or socioeconomic status". Guests contribute what they feel their meal is worth, and although we didn't have time to stop and eat here this time, having eaten here before can definitely recommend.

Continuing along at times it really feels like you are in the country and not just a few kilometres from the CBD.  There is also some great street art along the way.  Eventually walked along Victoria St (Little Saigon) and ended up at the funky Moon Dog Craft Brewery where Sam gave us a rundown on the brewery and several free tastings. Of course, had to stay on and do a proper taste testing of a couple of their offering.

A great way to spend a few hours enjoying the sunshine and some parts of Melbourne that I haven't seen before!