Fine, I'll go to Palm Beach if I Must!

Spring is well on its way over in Sydney and every day that I'm able to wear my thongs (I'm not only learning the lingo over here but I'm also using it in day to day life) without my toes freezing off, I plan a trip to one of the many many beaches the New South Wales coastline has to offer.

I'm a sucker for a good beach day and I'm one of those crazy Brits that loves to run into the ocean as soon as the outside temperature gets past 20 degrees...which incidentally has been a regular occurrence throughout the "winter" here so I've already explored a lot of the coastline.

With this in mind, it was inevitable that at some point I would eventually swallow my pride and head on up to Palm Beach which is where The Other Soap is filmed. However, you'll be pleased to know that I dressed for the occasion and wore my Scott and Charlene for this outing as a very subtle protest.

Dancing on the beach in my Scott and Charlene t-shirt

Palm beach is actually a suburb about 40 km north of Sydney on a beautiful peninsular so I had to take a ferry (they are part of the public transport network here which is pretty damn cool) and then quite a lengthy bus journey up the coast afterwards to reach it but it was so worth it!

There are several different beaches dotted around the place and I made my way to all of them. As someone who hasn't watched Home and Away since it got axed from ITV (I know I know, I am the worst kind of hypocrite) I wasn't entirely sure what to look out for in terms of filming locations but I amused myself by being a rebel and writing rude things in the sand...

My dirty protest!

Beautiful views over looking one of the beaches

Because I'm such a huge fan of the show I originally thought the building pictured below might be Alf's Bait Shop...until I actually reached Alf's Bait Shop and realised how foolish I had been to think that!

I originally thought this might have been Alf's Bait Shop...

...until I found this sign further on...

...and then got to this television-ready building and felt like quite the fool!

After that I climbed up to the lighthouse which I assume must featured on the show. The panoramic views from up there are absolutely breathtaking and I really wish I had a better camera to do them justice.

One lighthouse

looking back onto the peninsula

So much ocean! 

After my decent I went to the beach on the eastern side of the peninsula which I think is where most of the beach scenes are filmed. The sand on that side is really red and sticky (it's an absolute bugger to wash off) as opposed to the western beaches where the sad is white and your feet sink ankle deep with every step you take.

This is the most Summer Bay shot I could possibly hope for

More filming locations...

...with more opportunities to take photos of me standing outside them wearing inappropriate clothing! 

All in all, despite the obvious massive flaw to this beautiful place, I utterly adored exploring Palm Beach (as a fan of beaches and ocean scenery, not as a fan of the rival soap) and I'm very glad I got over myself and made the effort to go.

The one thing that impressed me more than anything was the fact that you could actually buy quite an extensive range of Summer Bay related merchandise from inside Alf's Bait Shop, which then made me sad there is no Neighbours equivalent other than the very feeble attempt at merchandise Bunyip Tours has to offer...get onto it Erinsborough Council, we need official merchandise god damn it!

Shipping Container Exhibition (and other exciting things at the National Maritime Museum)

Darling Harbour is fast becoming one of my favourite places in Sydney. By far the most exciting part of the area is the Maritime Museum full of walk-on ships, submarines and I kid you not...a free shipping container exhibition comprised of six different themed shipping containers exploring the history of how containerisation changed the world...needless to say, I am now heavily clued up on the history of transporting goods on a global scale!

I can just picture Finn and Bea walking around here before they moved to Erinsborough with Finn coming up with his dastardly plan to get revenge on everybody on Ramsay Street and lock them all in that shipping container in the middle of the bush!

It turns out my Uncle Malcom is the founding father of the shipping container and is indirectly responsible for imprisoning of Susan, Elly and Bea!

Did someone say "pineapples"?

Not only are there shipping containers galore at the Maritime Museum, you can also have a guided tour around a replica of the Endeavour (the ship that Captain Cook sailed sailed away in on his Aussie adventures) AND far more excitingly...a cargo ship called the James Craig, which originally was called the Clan MacLeod.

I definitely think this would have been a much better boat for Hamish and Louise [McLeod] to steal than the broken piece of junk belonging to his ex lover's ex husband! Just think about it, there'd be no engine to restore, he wouldn't have had to come up with a ridiculous and convoluted plot to get his bastard son on side just for it to all backfire and ultimately piss him off so much that he decided to twat him over the head with a gnome AND Louise would have a bell WITH HER NAME ON!!! 

The James Craig, formerly the Clan MacLeod...moored up right next to the [Lou] Carpentaria!

Ding ding, all aboard the Nurse McLeod!

However the actual most exciting thing in the whole museum wasn't remotely Neighbours related at all* (it may come as a shock to you but I do also have other interests) in the form of a temporary exhibition all about James Cameron's love of the ocean which included many props from Titanic! It was very very difficult to walk out of that place without buying my very own Heart of the Ocean in the museum shop but somehow my will power did not let me down which is a relief because the decent quality ones (ie the non plastic ones) were extremely expensive for something I would have eventually felt an overwhelming urge to fling into the ocean at some point in my life.

* I say it has nothing to do with Neighbours but I do know Toadie is quite partial to a bit of Titanic 

Dessine moi comme une de tes filles Françaises! (excuse my terrible Google translation)

Yes, that is the real Heart of the Ocean and other items from Rose's dressing table

There are obviously lots of other exciting things at the museum, both inside the main building and all around the harbour (which is utterly stunning) and I highly recommend checking it out if you're ever in the area. Go to their website for more info.

Toad-ally Excited for this Little Find

I was browsing a few shops today in Melbourne when I stumbled across this little beauty of a greetings card in Mag Nation and then got really really excited and bought two of them!

This is the first whiff I've got of Neighboursness in the wilds of Melbourne since I arrived over three months ago...and believe me I have searched very hard (unless you count the minimalistic attempt at merchandise in the Bunyip Tours office that constitutes of just one postcard and one magnet). Needless to say I was over the moon at my small find and it has given me hope that I'll find more Neighbours related goodies elsewhere!

This card is also available to buy online from the AHD Paper Co website.

Werribee Mansion

At the weekend I went to Werribee Mansion. My family, who I'm currently staying with at the moment, were going to a three day horse event in the beautiful grounds of this beautiful house over the bank holiday weekend (Australian's have a bank holiday to celebrate the Queen's birthday!!!) so I tagged along for a wholesome family fun day out, not really knowing what to expect other than lots of horses.

However, as we walked up the drive through some amazing monkey puzzle trees towards the house, I realised instantly that I had seen this building before and started getting very excited because unbeknownst to me, I had unexpectedly ended up at the place where Toadie and Dee got married, just hours before they decided to launch their car off a cliff (don't pash and drive kids!) and Dee got washed away to into the ocean, never to been seen again...well maybe....nobody's sure at the time of writing this what craziness the writers have planned for the Fake Dee/Andrea storyline.

So this is now the second Neighbours wedding venue I've visited since being in Melbourne, the first being the iconic church Scott and Charlene tied the knot in. The mansion itself was locked up on the day I visited due to all the horse related things happening around it but the grounds on their own were absolutely stunning.

Oh and just incase you were worried...nobody died or got paralysed due to horse related injuries!

Suddenly, Will Ye Go Lassie Go...to the church that has hosted some of the most influential weddings of our time!

Whilst everyone else was gearing up for the Royal Wedding in Royal Windsor last week, I was getting ready to do my very own wedding related sightseeing by paying homage to some Neighbours Royalty instead.

The Holy Trinity Church in the suburb of Doncaster was the filming location where Libby and Drew, Lucas and Vanessa, Harold and Madge and most notoriously, Scott and Charlene all tied the knot. Seeing as I'm currently in the midst of my own spiritual pilgrimage, I felt it was only right to include this place of worship as part of it.

Not being one to do things by halves, I decided to actually sit in on one of their services instead of just having a nosy around the church and I'm very glad I did.

I went to the midweek afternoon service and it was filled with the most delightful elderly congregation. Around the other side of the church they have a modern extension which is where the service was held. Unlike more traditional churches this extension had one big glass wall to let in copious amounts of daylight. It also had lots of heat lamps dotted around the place which made it super toasty inside and it was probably the warmest I have ever been whilst sat inside a church.

It was one of the congregation's 99th birthday so we all sang Happy Birthday to her in the middle of the service which I thought was absolutely delightful. The service itself was very friendly, inclusive and upbeat and afterwards I was shown around the older part of the church by the lady who was sat next to me. She proudly told me that the original church was 170 years old!

This is the very same door that Kylie stepped through whilst Angry Anderson was singing his little heart out.

The aisle of dreams...only without Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce standing at the end of it!

After my little tour (I took loads more photos but due to the rubbish camera on my phone they were either too dark or too over exposed), it was insisted that I stay and have tea and birthday cake with everyone else. I got chatting to a lady who told me that she had gone over to Britain when she was young and it took six weeks to get there by boat. However the main topic of conversation was the royal wedding, which I assume was mainly for my benefit as the British guest. I really didn't have the heart to tell them that the only weddings I was interested in were the ones that have happened in their very own church.




If you would like to get in touch or have any suggestions as to where I should visit, please email me at dagsontour@gmail.com or find me on Twitter @fiona_mclean. Equally if you would like to see some of my non Neighbours related travel pics or have a nosy at some photos of the things I sell on Etsy (I knit and sew crazy things) feel free to follow me on Instagram too @mcpoodleshop.

Lost in the Bush

Last week Susan Kennedy and Kirsha Rebecchi got lost in the bush at school camp...this time it's my turn!

Pilgrimage to Pin Oak Court

Yesterday marked the first monthiversary since the day I landed in Melbourne. I've been putting off going to Pin Oak Court (the real residential cul-de-sac where they film all the external Ramsay Street footage) for a special day as I didn't want to peak too soon but it was such a lovely day and I just happened to be in a place earlier on in the afternoon where I could then get a direct tram to this most sacred part of Melbourne. So that my friends, is exactly what I did.

I had to walk for around 20 minutes after getting off the tram due to the driver not stopping at the stop I'd pressed the bell for, but that meant I got to go on a lovely scenic walk through the delightful suburb of Vermont South where every house looked like it should be situated on Ramsay Street. As I came round the last bend in the road before the turning, my heart rate definitely quickened and I could feel my eyes welling up with emotion and then before I could prepare myself fully...there it was! The junction to mythical street of hopes, dreams and aneurysms (RIP Stingray) with the street sign  towering above me like some majestic arrow pointing the way to the Promised Land.

As I walked up the street I was greeted by the loveliest security guard I've ever met. His name was Rocky and he has been the guardian of that little residential street for the last seven years. We had a lovely long chat and he told me that there had been around 120 people casually walking up the no through road that day which shocked me because I still have yet to find any Ramsay Street merchandise in Melbourne and therefore thought that nobody cared any more! He even offered to take some photos with me in them which was very nice of him. He asked me where I came from and I told him I've been living in Manchester in the UK for the last six years, at which point he informed me that the family who live at the Sharma Rebecchi house originally come from Manchester too.

Despite his assurance that he doesn't watch Neighbours, Rocky knew a hell of a lot about the show and tried to quiz me with questions like; "this used to be Paul Robinson's house, do you know who lives there now?" and was impressed that I knew my stuff. I told him that my boyfriend regularly tries to catch me out by quizzing me with the Perfect Blend website open (the holy bible of Neighbours trivia) and it's an extremely difficult thing to do.

My photos aren't the best as I got there in the late afternoon when the sun was low and shinning directly above Harold Bishop's old house so the exposure is slightly all over the place.

The Current Willis House

This house is currently where Terese and Piper Willis live (after the rest of their family either died, moved away or got divorced and moved to Queensland). Before Brad and Terese moved in it mainly belonged to Paul Robinson and the various families that have been linked to him. It was also the home of the Starks and Lou Carpenter.

The Brennan House

The Brennan house aka the original Ramsay/Harold Bishop house, complete with a brand new fence which apparently will be written into the show soon (no doubt installed by Amy Williams). As you can see from the picture below, Harold must have popped in for a visit because there's a caravan in the driveway.

The Canning House

This is the original Robinson household and currently the home of Sheila and the rest of the Canning family. This is probably the most iconic of all houses where Jim Robinson spilled that bowl of oranges all those years ago and also was also the home of the Martins, The Wilkinsons, The Scullys and The Timmins'.

The Kennedy House

Despite this being an unplanned visit and I had no intention of going to Pin Oak Court when I left the house that morning, I still managed to dress accordingly for this beauty of a photo. I will forever be a Dr K groupie...ever since he signed my breast at a student night in Chester about 10 years ago (I was young and crazy back then). What an absolute legend of a man!

The House of Trouser

I know Toadie is all grown up and is a sensible lawyer with a wife and family now but this will always and forever be the house that he, Lance, Stu and Joel used to sit around in their underpants drinking beer and eating pizza.

The Sharma-Rebecchi House

This is where Toadie's brother, Shane and his family live at the moment. Once the home of the Mangles, The Turners, The Hancocks (who I liked very much despite popular opinion) and the highly sexy Michael Williams.

Final Thoughts

I don't think I could have mentally prepared myself for just how magical the experience of going to Pin Oak Court was going to be. Don't get me wrong, I knew it was going to be a very special moment but nothing could have warned me about how peaceful, reflective and life affirming it actually was. I know I've been joking about when I finally get to Ramsay Street it will be my equivalent of going to Mecca but when faced with the reality of it, it actually was a pretty deep and meaningful pilgrimage.

Despite one tour bus, the odd 100 other people that had set foot on this hallowed street before me on that day alone and one guy who was very sheepishly trying to wander around nonchalantly whilst I was in full on conversation mode with Rocky, I found Pin Oak Court to be a very quiet and peaceful little suburban cul-de-sac.

I spent what must have been half an hour there and at no point was I made to feel that I had over stayed my welcome. Rocky was the perfect host and was very encouraging towards my crazy fandom. He really made the experience special for me and I could have chatted away to him for hours.

I used to think having round the clock security on the street was a bit extreme and felt sorry for the residents who live there but it really felt like he was part of the street. He is the living, breathing friendly wave each morning that helps to make a better day and he bridges the gap between pilgrims like myself and the people that have to put up with us.

Thanks Rocky!

An Afternoon in Frankston

It was my birthday a couple of days ago and I decided to spend it at the beach. It was a lovely sunny day and I wanted to experience Frankston for the day to pay homage to the hometown of the great and wondrous Canning family of modern day Ramsay Street fame...despite the warnings from both my friends and my cousin who all tried to persuade me to go to literally any other beach! Do they not know I have important Neighbours related research to do???

Frankston City Centre 

Frankston has a bit of a negative reputation and is allegedly "full of bogans" which, I assume is why the slightly rough and ready Cannings originate from there. So I set out on the train to discover bogan central for myself and was slightly disappointed when I discovered it was full of average normal people. In fact, it strongly reminded me of my hometown of Gloucester but with an added beach. The only difference was the fact that where I'm from, there are more seagulls (despite being an inland city) and we call bogans; chavs. Other than that, the city centre was just like any small city centre consisting of a few closed shops, a couple of nice looking coffee shops, an H&M, a Nandos, a cinema and a well maintained shopping centre. It was a bit run down but most town and small city centres are.

Enjoying every moment

I discovered a great bookshop called Robinson's and it made me very happy knowing that Paul is expanding his empire outside of the hotel and housing industry. It was full of exciting and educational books, DVDs and plushies of various ABC Kids characters (because not only am I a massive Neighbours nerd but also a children's TV one) and I had to drag myself away before I bought the whole set of Wiggles, Giggle and Hoot, Bananas in Pyjamas and Playschool toys.

Later on I found out that Robinson's is a small Victoria based family run chain of bookshops with stores all over the state but the one I stumbled across in Frankston was the founding store.

Robinson's bookshop on Station Street Mall

I was very restrained and didn't buy any of these toys. Somebody really should remind me that I'm in my mid 30's now.

There were a few cheap clothes shops on my way to the beach so I set about searching for the most Xanthe Canning looking clothing item I could find. There were a few dresses that fit the bill but were way too small for me to try on. I did however find this crop top with Brooke Butler's classic seductive phrase written on it (she's Xanthe's mum, the one who sold fake jewellery to Dr K and she's not from Frankston but she is an extended member of the Canning family so ). Unfortunately I'm terrible at posing for the camera and can't even look in the right direction so I feel I didn't do this top enough justice.

This is what real women look like...because who needs to do their hair and put on makeup when they're on the way to the beach! 

Frankston Beach

The beach itself was really lovely. Obviously I went on a weekday in autumn (but it was still 26 degrees celsius) so couldn't tell you what it's like in peak weekend summer mode but the main beach area was clean, fairly quiet and mainly consisted of families enjoying themselves. There were also some pretty cool statues next to the promenade.

Seagulls being buffeted around by the wind

Reading the Neighbours chapter in the book I got for my birthday, Small Screens: Essays on Contemporary Australian Television

Crabs at sunset 

Seagulls and chips

I'm not even sure what this one is meant to be but it's pretty cool regardless

A bit further down the beach there were some lovely sand dunes and hardly any other people except for a couple of kite surfers and dog walkers.

Kananook Creek

There's a gorgeous looking river running parallel to the shore. If I had left myself more time I would have definitely followed the trail upstream because being near water makes me happy.

There is also an interesting sand sculpture installation near the beach that I didn't go to but looked pretty impressive from afar. You can find out more about it here.

All in all, I very much enjoyed my birthday afternoon in Frankston. I'm not going to lie and say it's now my preferred beach of choice because there are many many beautiful beeches around Melbourne. The city centre, as I said previously, was perfectly ok but nothing special. It was however a good day out overall and the sand dunes and the gorgeous views down Cananook Creek really made the experience stand out from the other beach days I've had so far.


If you would like to get in touch or have any suggestions as to where I should visit, please email me at dagsontour@gmail.com or find me on Twitter @fiona_mclean. Equally if you would like to see some of my non Neighbours related travel pics or have a nosy at some photos of the things I sell on Etsy (I knit and sew crazy things) then feel free to follow me on Instagram too @mcpoodleshop.