Melbourne Solo Trip Day 2 | Yarra Valley Hot Air Balloon Experience, State Library Victoria, and a Stroll Around the Royal Exhibition Building

Set off from Melbourne in the early morning for a dreamy Yarra Valley hot air balloon journey, experiencing a magnificent sunrise and a champagne breakfast. In the afternoon, return to the city for a leisurely stroll, visiting the State Library of Victoria, the Royal Exhibition Building, and St Paul's Cathedral. In the evening, enjoy an Italian dinner and finish up some shopping — a relaxing yet fulfilling day.

Early Morning Departure: Off to a Hot Air Balloon Adventure At 4:15 in the early morning, we woke up to the sound of the alarm, grabbed the luggage we had packed the night before, and got ready to set off on the long-awaited itinerary — the Yarra Valley hot air balloon experience. Since Kun-ge is afraid of heights, he chose to stay behind and rest at the hotel for this trip. The rest of us took an Uber from the hotel to the Pullman Hotel to gather, and from there we were shuttled by the balloon company. We had worried it might be hard to get a car at such an early hour, but it turned out that hailing a ride was just as quick as during the day, and we set off smoothly. The entire hot air balloon trip costs 9,500 TWD (about 450 AUD), plus another 20 AUD for city pickup and drop-off. It takes about an hour to drive from the Pullman to Balgownie Estate in the Yarra Valley, so you can take a short nap on the way. Yarra Valley: A Magnificent Journey from Ground to Sky Balgownie Estate is a four-star hotel nestled in the scenic Yarra Valley, renowned for its vineyards and natural beauty.We'll first take a short rest at the hotel, fill out our personal information and the disclaimer form, and then switch to a larger vehicle to head to the takeoff point.

Around 6:30 in the early morning, as the sky gradually brightened with a faint yellow glow on the horizon, the staff began unloading the hot air balloons from the vehicles.

One of the most special parts of this experience is that passengers are invited to take part throughout the whole process — from laying out the balloon, inflating it, taking off, and even deflating and packing it up after landing. Everyone was a bit nervous at first because of the language barrier, but once things got going, everyone really enjoyed themselves and quickly joined right in.

At the moment of liftoff, the flames above our heads drove away the early-morning chill of the valley, bringing warmth and excitement. We rose slowly into the sky — we thought we'd only be flying at low altitude, but we ended up climbing all the way to 3,200 feet (about 975 meters)! Looking down from the air, the vehicles on the ground looked as tiny as grains of rice — the view was truly magnificent.

As the sun climbs over the mountains, we experience sunrise above the clouds, with light and shadow sweeping across the valleys and vineyards, illuminating the breathtaking morning beauty of the Yarra Valley. Layers of mountains stretch into the distance, and every so often our balloon's reflection appears on the ground below — a sight so beautiful it takes your breath away.

The entire flight was very smooth, with no noticeable shaking, which was very reassuring. The only thing to watch out for is your phone's safety — we recommend preparing a phone strap in advance to avoid accidentally dropping it while taking photos. Landing + Champagne Breakfast: A Perfect Ending After the hot air balloon landed smoothly, with the help of the ground crew, we worked together to pack up the balloon. Afterwards, we returned to Balgownie Estate to enjoy the champagne breakfast exclusive to the hot air balloon experience, bringing this wonderful morning to a perfect close.

Right before leaving, I unexpectedly found a bottle of 2016 red wine for just 25 AUD — of course I had to take it!

Afternoon itinerary: Free wandering around Melbourne city center After returning to the hotel for a short nap, we continued exploring Melbourne city center freely in the afternoon. A reminder again: the Melbourne CBD has a Free Tram Zone, which is very convenient for independent travelers.

The coverage area runs north-south from Victoria Market to Flinders Street Station, and east-west from the waterfront stadium to Parliament House. Used together with Google Maps, you can move around easily as long as you stay within the zone. Melbourne Sightseeing Tour: Eastern Route St Patrick's Cathedral Our first stop is one of Melbourne's most important churches, built in the Gothic Revival architectural style. Its features include spires, slender windows, and flying buttresses, making it one of Australia's largest and most historically significant Catholic cathedrals.

Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens Listed as a World Heritage Site, the Royal Exhibition Building is Australia's earliest international exhibition building. Paired with the lush green gardens and fountains around it, it's a popular spot for locals to relax and for wedding photo shoots — we even ran into several newlywed couples there today.

State Library Victoria One of Melbourne's most iconic libraries, not only does it have a solemn and grand exterior, but its domed reading room inside is truly spectacular. Visitors are free to walk in and take a look around, and you may also spot students studying hard.

Hosier Lane A laneway famous for its street graffiti. It's not a must-visit on the itinerary, but if you enjoy photography or street art, it's worth a stop.

St Paul's Cathedral I walked past it yesterday but didn't get to look closely, so I made a special trip back today to see it properly. This Gothic-style church stands beside a major traffic junction in the city centre and is one of Melbourne's landmarks.

Dinner and Shopping: A Night of City Food and Purchases We chose the Italian restaurant Max on Hardware on Little Bourke Street for dinner. We ordered two pizzas and one pasta, totaling 74 AUD. The taste was great and the price was affordable — a solid budget recommendation in the city center.

After the meal, I continued on with the shopping tasks. Unfortunately, many popular drugstore and cosmetic items were out of stock — even the city mugs were sold out at several Starbucks branches in both Sydney and Melbourne. Luckily, my friend Woody came through in the end and got me one at the branch next to Flinders Station, so it finally ended without any regrets! More Australia self-guided travel guides: Trip Planning Australia Self-Guided Travel Guide: 7 Must-Know Things + 10-Day Itinerary Overview ▍Sydney Australia Self-Guided Travel Day 1-2: Flying from Vietnam to Sydney & City Walking Guide Sydney Opal Card One-Day Tour: Explore Sydney's Classic Attractions and Transit Experience Blue Mountains Day Trip Journal | Scenic World Railway, Cableway & Three Sisters Complete Guide ▍Melbourne Melbourne Independent Travel Day 1 | Jetstar Arrival, War Memorial & Yarra River Sunset Stroll | Special ANZAC Day Itinerary Australia Independent Travel Recommendation: Yarra Valley Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Experience & Melbourne Sightseeing Walk Puffing Billy Steam Train + Phillip Island Penguin Parade One-Day Tour Grampians National Park, Australia | Experience Wild Kangaroos & Victoria's Most Spectacular Waterfalls Great Ocean Road One-Day Tour | The Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge — Melbourne's Most Beautiful Coastline Mornington Peninsula Trip Review | Are These Attractions Worth Visiting? A Full Breakdown of Hot Springs, Wineries & the Lighthouse