Melbourne recommendations / mini trip report
Apr 10th, 2007, 04:20 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Melbourne recommendations / mini trip report
I got back from Australia a few months ago and kept meaning to write a trip report, but never got around to it. I relied heavily on this board when planning the trip and hope that our experience might help someone else.
To help put the following into perspective, my friend and I are two women in our late 20s. I'm from Southern California and she's from the New York area.
Because it runs kind of long, I'm breaking it down by city - Sydney, Cairns, Ayers Rock, Perth/Western Australia, Adelaide and Melbourne.
** MELBOURNE **
Melbourne is an amazing city that has an almost European feel. It's beautiful, the people are friendly, the shopping is phenomenal and it's definitely worth a trip. Do not even attempt to drive there - in addition to a surcharge imposed on city traffic, there's a funky thing called a hook turn, where drivers must get into left lanes to turn right. The city center is very small, but public transport is excellent so considering staying in a less central neighborhood such as St. Kilda.
HOTEL IBIS
www.ibishotel.com - We stayed with people my friend knew, but i spent a night here before she arrived in country. It was extremely clean and relatively inexpensive. It was about a 15 min walk to the main central business district, but i'd consider staying there again if i needed to save money.
CROWN CASINO
Anyone who's been to Vegas won't be that impressed, but it is still worth a trip. It's located right along the Yarra River and there are many good restaurants/shops in the Crown Complex. They also have these cool towers that shoot fire every hour or so.
AUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL
See a game of "footie" at either Telstra Dome or better yet, the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. It's kind of across between US football, soccer and volleyball and is very exciting. It also fun to hear the insults and praise yelled out by the crowd ("You're a legend!) because they're so polite compared to American audiences.
FEDERATION SQUARE
http://www.federationsquare.com.au/ - a very modern gathering place for the city. A great place to grab a bite to eat, visit a museum or just sit for a few hours killing time.
OLD MELBOURNE GAOL
The notorious Ned Kelly was imprisoned and, ultimately, hanged here. It's interesting, but i found it kind of disturbing and probably wouldn't go back.
MELBOURNE ZOO
http://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/ - The oldest zoo in the world. They're updating it and have some very good exhibits. The monkey display is particularly good.
RESTAURANTS
Oh, where to begin? So many choices.... My favorite was a little Italian place in an alley between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street across from the train station. In fact, those alleys are the perfect places to find hidden treasures. There's an unbelievable crepe place - a real hole-in-the-wall an alley between Flinders Lane and Collins Street.
You should also try Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man (http://www.maxbrenner.com/home.aspx). He's just opened a shop in NYC, but he's all over Melbourne. So so good. Trampoline Gelato is also good for a sweet tooth.
SHOPPING
Melbourne is the shopping capital of Australia. The Central Business District from Flinders Street to Latrobe Street has many good stores. And that's also where the Burke Street Mall, GPO and Melbourne Central malls are located. But don't overlook Chapel Street in South Yarra as they have some great stores as well.
To help put the following into perspective, my friend and I are two women in our late 20s. I'm from Southern California and she's from the New York area.
Because it runs kind of long, I'm breaking it down by city - Sydney, Cairns, Ayers Rock, Perth/Western Australia, Adelaide and Melbourne.
** MELBOURNE **
Melbourne is an amazing city that has an almost European feel. It's beautiful, the people are friendly, the shopping is phenomenal and it's definitely worth a trip. Do not even attempt to drive there - in addition to a surcharge imposed on city traffic, there's a funky thing called a hook turn, where drivers must get into left lanes to turn right. The city center is very small, but public transport is excellent so considering staying in a less central neighborhood such as St. Kilda.
HOTEL IBIS
www.ibishotel.com - We stayed with people my friend knew, but i spent a night here before she arrived in country. It was extremely clean and relatively inexpensive. It was about a 15 min walk to the main central business district, but i'd consider staying there again if i needed to save money.
CROWN CASINO
Anyone who's been to Vegas won't be that impressed, but it is still worth a trip. It's located right along the Yarra River and there are many good restaurants/shops in the Crown Complex. They also have these cool towers that shoot fire every hour or so.
AUSSIE RULES FOOTBALL
See a game of "footie" at either Telstra Dome or better yet, the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. It's kind of across between US football, soccer and volleyball and is very exciting. It also fun to hear the insults and praise yelled out by the crowd ("You're a legend!) because they're so polite compared to American audiences.
FEDERATION SQUARE
http://www.federationsquare.com.au/ - a very modern gathering place for the city. A great place to grab a bite to eat, visit a museum or just sit for a few hours killing time.
OLD MELBOURNE GAOL
The notorious Ned Kelly was imprisoned and, ultimately, hanged here. It's interesting, but i found it kind of disturbing and probably wouldn't go back.
MELBOURNE ZOO
http://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/ - The oldest zoo in the world. They're updating it and have some very good exhibits. The monkey display is particularly good.
RESTAURANTS
Oh, where to begin? So many choices.... My favorite was a little Italian place in an alley between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street across from the train station. In fact, those alleys are the perfect places to find hidden treasures. There's an unbelievable crepe place - a real hole-in-the-wall an alley between Flinders Lane and Collins Street.
You should also try Max Brenner: Chocolate by the Bald Man (http://www.maxbrenner.com/home.aspx). He's just opened a shop in NYC, but he's all over Melbourne. So so good. Trampoline Gelato is also good for a sweet tooth.
SHOPPING
Melbourne is the shopping capital of Australia. The Central Business District from Flinders Street to Latrobe Street has many good stores. And that's also where the Burke Street Mall, GPO and Melbourne Central malls are located. But don't overlook Chapel Street in South Yarra as they have some great stores as well.
Apr 10th, 2007, 04:42 PM
#3
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm glad you enjoyed our great city(I live here). With a pop. of 3.6 million and the redevlopement of Docklands, Southbank and the addition of Fed.Square, it is a city that has changed very much for the better over the last few years. I think many tourists understandably get locked into the Sydney,Cairns,Uluru triangle and don't realise that Australia has other fantastic experiences to offer. Although over Easter Melbourne seemed to be the tourist capital of Australia!. Anyway thanks for the report and visit again soon.
Apr 11th, 2007, 09:01 AM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for your mini-report(s), Pomme. We'll be doing 4 of your 6 destinations in June, and we are really looking forward to it.
If you had to pick one single "must-do" experience each for Sydney, Cairns, Ayers Rock and Melbourne...what would they be?
If you had to pick one single "must-do" experience each for Sydney, Cairns, Ayers Rock and Melbourne...what would they be?
Apr 11th, 2007, 02:39 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the feedback!
I loved my time in Australia and cannot wait to go back.
As one thing to do in each cite... wow it's so tough to just pick one.
SYDNEY - Harbour Bridge Climb followed by just spending time along the water by the Opera House. (forgot to mention it in my other post, but the walk from Bondi to Manly was lovely too)
CAIRNS - Great Barrier Reef is a must see and is in danger due to global warming. But if you have time, also do the Skyrail.
AYERS ROCK - go to the rock. I had no idea how large it truly was until i was there.
MELBOURNE - I loved Melbourne, but it's hard to choose a "tourist experience" there. Perhaps seeing a game at the MCG?? But i think you could get a better feel for the city by just wandering around - have breakfast in a little alley, then walk for a bit, maybe get some coffee in Fed Square and head over to the south side of the Yarra and walk to the Crown Casino
I loved my time in Australia and cannot wait to go back.
As one thing to do in each cite... wow it's so tough to just pick one.
SYDNEY - Harbour Bridge Climb followed by just spending time along the water by the Opera House. (forgot to mention it in my other post, but the walk from Bondi to Manly was lovely too)
CAIRNS - Great Barrier Reef is a must see and is in danger due to global warming. But if you have time, also do the Skyrail.
AYERS ROCK - go to the rock. I had no idea how large it truly was until i was there.
MELBOURNE - I loved Melbourne, but it's hard to choose a "tourist experience" there. Perhaps seeing a game at the MCG?? But i think you could get a better feel for the city by just wandering around - have breakfast in a little alley, then walk for a bit, maybe get some coffee in Fed Square and head over to the south side of the Yarra and walk to the Crown Casino
Apr 11th, 2007, 06:21 PM
#6
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 784
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am so pleased you liked Melbourne and picked up on what it has to offer . It has no major drawcard " must see " building or place and you are quite right in saying that it is a city to walk in and explore .Unfortunately our politicians are obsessed with wanting to create iconic monuments that define the city internationally .What they all forgot / forget is that this was once and still is in relative terms the best preserved 19th century city in the Southern Hemisphere and its attraction lies in the sum total of the city - its lanes , grand public buildings , parks , bars , shops etc - not in one monument . And if only silly rivalry between cities and those who live in them would stop as they are all unique and offer different things .I was glad to read that you liked Adelaide which is another city to scratch below the surface to enjoy .
I am intrigued that you think our football crowds are polite in comparison to those in the USA .You must have been lucky that day !
I hope you can come back very soon .
I am intrigued that you think our football crowds are polite in comparison to those in the USA .You must have been lucky that day !
I hope you can come back very soon .
Apr 19th, 2007, 04:46 AM
#8
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Pomme949
So you fell in love with Melbourne too!! I have lived here my entire life, and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. We have an ongoing rivalry with Sydney, but on my own trips to Sydney, especially while using the public transport system, find the people to be very unhelpful and borderline rude. Still this is not a slanging match! For those of you wanting to come and visit Melbourne, don't forget to take a drive to Lygon Street Carlton for dinner. Papa Gino's is my favourite, but some of the best multicultural restaurants you'll find in the country are here.
So you fell in love with Melbourne too!! I have lived here my entire life, and couldn't imagine living anywhere else. We have an ongoing rivalry with Sydney, but on my own trips to Sydney, especially while using the public transport system, find the people to be very unhelpful and borderline rude. Still this is not a slanging match! For those of you wanting to come and visit Melbourne, don't forget to take a drive to Lygon Street Carlton for dinner. Papa Gino's is my favourite, but some of the best multicultural restaurants you'll find in the country are here.
Apr 19th, 2007, 02:27 PM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good call! The one thing I noticed from talking to fellow tourists is that they tended to only stay in the central business district and had no clue how wonderful - and accessable -the "suburbs" were.
And as for Italian food in Carlton... I lived in NYC for a while and I think that Lygon Street can give Little Italy a run for its money.
And as for Italian food in Carlton... I lived in NYC for a while and I think that Lygon Street can give Little Italy a run for its money.
Apr 19th, 2007, 11:19 PM
#11
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While on the subject of Lygon St. for any intending visitors don't miss "Brunettis" on the corner of Faraday and Lygon Streets. Coffee and cakes as good if not better than any in Milan, Florence or Rome. Yum!
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MYP
Australia & the Pacific
8
Oct 24th, 2010 10:45 AM
hobbes
Australia & the Pacific
5
Dec 8th, 2004 05:46 AM
