Showing posts with label sunbury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sunbury. Show all posts

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

Buses In And Around Melbourne


Buses In And Around Melbourne

        While residents and travelers prefer the trains in going to places in and around Melbourne, train services are limited to certain points. From the train stations, buses take over. Bus stations are strategically located adjacent to the train stations. From there, commuters are transported to their various destinations or to their residences or to their work places by buses. There are about 350 bus routes with schedules and frequencies synchronized with those of the trains.

        Melbourne's tourism in particular and Victoria's holiday packages in general utilize tourist buses in transporting visitors to the city itself and to other tourist spots in the suburbs, inland towns and coastal villages. The double decker buses and the Melbourne Shuttle offer sightseeing tours of the city. For $20, one can see the city on board a double decker bus. For $5, he may opt to ride the Melbourne Shuttle. Both rides have more than 20 tourist destinations within the city. The tourist may hop off at any particular stop and then hop on again to continue his city tour. Tickets are valid for 24 hours.

       Bus tours to faraway places like The 12 Apostles, Phillip Island, Geelong and Queenscliff may be arranged through the Visitor Information Center at Federation Square or at any other Visitor Information Center at any town or city. People manning these centers are more than willing to help. There are free brochures given for specific places that travelers intend to visit.

        Looking at it, Victoria's transport system, with Melbourne as the center piece, is one of the most efficient in the whole world. Schedules and movements of trams, trains and buses are synchronized so that commuters are transported in the safest, fastest and most comfortable way. They leave on time, they arrive on time. With no hassle, no inconvenience whatsoever. That is their commitment.

- Konted

Melbourne Double Decker Bus offers sightseeing tour of the city. The double decker bus makes brief stops at more than 20 tourist spots within the city.




Bus fare is $20 which is valid for 24 hours. A tourist may hop on or hop off at any of the designated bus stops.



The Melbourne Shuttle tours the city and makes about 20 stops at interesting places within the city. There is a voice over that serves as guide.


Bus fare is $5 which is good for 24 hours. Tour of the city is approximately 1 and 1/2 hours.


Comfortable ride


Listening to the voice over



Another double decker bus


Kingstons Tour Bus is parked at Lonsdale St. waiting for booked passengers who have gone shopping


Transporting passengers to the Rod Laver Arena during the 2015 Australian Open.



The AAT Kings Luxury Coach passing by Federation Square in Melbourne City.


Premium Coach Tour of Gippsland. Package includes accommodation and meals. Bus is airconditioned.


The typical passenger bus servicing the suburbs of Melbourne. Bus shown in picture services route 461 which is from Watergardens Bus Station to Caroline Springs. The bus station is near the Watergardens Train Station


Good and courteous drivers of buses servicing the suburbs of Melbourne.


Typical bus stop in the suburbs

 

Bus schedule

 

Bus station at Watergardens


Sunbury bus reaches places such as Moonee Pond, Melbourne Airport, Canterbury Hills, etc.


Bus station of Sunbury


Bus Stop at Frankston City which is adjacent to Frankston Train Station.


Bus Station at Cranbourne


Night Rider bus provides service after midnight. It is a special trip.


Tour the city and beyond on board a Gray Line coach.


Forster coach parked at The 12 Apostles in Port Campbell, Victoria



Visit the 12 Apostles at Port Campbell on board a double decker Gray Line.


Another luxury coach


Train station officer announces a train service disruption.


Replacement buses are provided when there is a train service disruption.


Bus bound for Belgrave


Courteous driver


Bus service from Belgrave to Blackburn


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Friday, 17 April 2015

The Tranquil Town Of Sunbury


The Tranquil Town Of Sunbury

         The officer-in-charge of the Court of Petty Sessions wanted me to wear a magistrate's robe and wig and sit on the raised bench. I was to act as judicial officer for the day. Of course, that was only for souvenir shots, for picture taking. The Court of Petty Sessions was created in the early days to hear minor disputes in Sunbury. Though no longer a part of the judicial system of the state of Victoria, the Court of Petty Sessions of Sunbury has been preserved, still complete with a bar table, witness stand, judge's bench and a gallery. It now functions as a Visitors Information Center.

         Sunbury is a quiet town that is about 45 kilometers away from Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD). Populated as early as 1836, which was many years before the gold rush and with George Evans as its first settler, Sunbury is northwest of Melbourne City proper. A laid back town with still a great part of its land planted to agricultural crops, Sunbury in recent years has been progressing with housing projects being carried out along its borders. It is now part of Greater Melbourne.

         At the town center are bars and restaurants, gift shops, supermarkets, hotels and other business establishments that cater to the needs of its growing population. Sunbury has a health center with complete facilities, library, museum, a customers service established by the council, memorial hall, schools and many more. Near the town reserve are two churches focused on the spiritual needs of Sunbury residents.

         Near the fountain at Greenland reserve, I had a brief talk with a Sunbury resident. He was with his young son. When I was asked about my impressions of Australia and Australians, I said that generally Australians are mild mannered, disciplined, courteous and very accommodating. Yes they are. 


         On my way back to the train station, I took a rest at one of the many benches along the sidewalk. I took out from my backpack a canister of Pringles and started munching. A few meters away was a woman in her 50s, humming a song. An Australian Raven was squawking as it perched on a tree branch. Several ladies were walking their dogs. Cars passed me by. It was delightfully quiet that precise moment at Sunbury. 

          After gulping a Berry apple juice, I continued my walk, somewhat limping. I wanted to walk faster, but I could not. I have lost that nimbleness or quickness I had many years back. Anyway, there were still many train trips back to the city. No problem at all.
- Konted

The old Court of Petty Sessions of Sunbury.  It was established in the 1800s.

Beautiful flowers of Sunbury

The old Court of Petty Sessions taken from the right flank. It now functions as a Visitors Information Center.

Though no longer functioning, the Court of Petty Sessions of Sunbury has been preserved.

The Aitken's Gap Gaol used in the 1800s. Gaol is a prison cell.

The water fountain near the  reserve.

Father and son gamely pose for a souvenir shot.

St. Andrews Uniting Church

St. Mary's Anglican Church

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Parish

Sunbury' s War Memorial

Joseph Starkie Fountain.  It is the first public memorial in Sunbury.

The Health Center of Sunbury

Sunbury's Public Library

Museum of Sunbury

Customer Service Center


Statue of George Evans who was the first settler of Sunbury.  He settled in Sunbury in August, 1836.

Offering spa services


Typical house in Sunbury

There are benches along the sidewalks at the town center of Sunbury.

The Royal Hotel on Evans Street

Olive Tree Hotel at the town center

Fresh fruits always available at the Sunbury Fruit Market

Delicious barbeque chickens and fish n chips

This store claims: We serve local grass-fed beef & lamb

Thai resto and a cheesecake store

More fruits and veggies at Sunbury

Sunbury's Post Office right on Evans Street

Revolving chairs and benches near an intersection.

An Australian Raven

Bus terminal of Sunbury

Bus services are on time.

Sunbury Train Station

Train takes commuters to Melbourne city proper in 40 minutes.
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