nelsonian

We are visiting Melbourne to see an Andre Rieu concert on Sat 15th November. We would like to see some other shows but have seen both Wicked and Billy Elliot which I think are on at the time we are there. Anyone know of any other shows, music venues etc. Enjoy jazz but not the way out stuff.

Would also like to visit Philip Island and do part of the Great Ocean Road, I see there are day coach trips but a rental car would probably be the better option I guess.

Any other suggestions on places to visit on our short trip. We have been to Melbourne before but mostly concentrated on the city, although we did do a day trip to Sorrento.

Bushranger

Posted elsewhere
" Other end of GOR, before getting to Geelong, take tourist drive (marked with brown signs, N0. 16 or 17 from memory) to Queenscliff (interesting stop) and ferry to Sorrento on other side of Port Phillip Bay and from there you could drive via Baxter and Pearcedale to Tooradin on the South Gippsland/Bass Highways to get to Phillip Island without the need to get yourself through Melbourne or be taking tours/one day trips out to GOR or Phillip Island - some nice good value B&Bs on Phillip Island to stay there too rather than a long day and late night arrival back in Melbourne.

Have a look at a map via google and google earth along with travelmate and it'll all fall into place."
And with www.travelmate.com.au you'll be able to do a Melbourne GOR - PI - Melbourne loop.

http://www.showbiz.com.au/melbourne.aspx should help re entertainment.

DownUnder

http://www.visitmelbourne.com/ is another good site. The GOR is an excellent idea, I would also reccommend the Yarra Valley only about 90mins. from CBD. Bennetts Lane is the best venue in town for jazz and there is usually something on at Crown Casino.
http://www.bennettslane.com/
http://www.crowncasino.com.au/Content.aspx?topicID=470

JohnFitz

I suggest that you look also at www.hiddensecretstours.com which does small guided walking tours of unusual things about Melbourne .It may appeal to you .They are meant to be really good .

You may also like a drive down to Flinders on the Mornington Peninsula especially if you like wine and food .Lots of wonderful wineries and some with excellent restaurants attached .Flinders is a charming little town but best on a weekend when everything is open eg cafes and antique shops etc .It is about 1.5 hours drive from the city .

DownUnder

If you decide on Flinders watch out for T'Gallant winery and trattoria. Excellent wine and a wonderful place as good as anything in Tuscany!
http://www.tgallant.com.au/brands/tgallant/index.asp

nelsonian

I think we are going to do a Phillip Island, GOR loop, but might be rushing it as we will only have three days.

This might seem a dumb question but what time is dusk when the penguins appear? We will be there probably 16th November.

DownUnder

You will see a fair bit in 3 days. I presume you will overnight at PI get the ferry at Sorrento for Queenscliff and then you could ovenight at Apollo Bay or Pt.Campbell. There are plenty of Kangaroos at Anglsea Golf Course, the view from the Airey's Inlet Lighthouse is sensational and there are Koalas in the wild at Kennett River. Dusk for the Penguins should be about 8.15pm according to this site.
http://www.phillipisland.net.au/penguinparade.html

nelsonian

Thanks everyone for your help. I have been researching all the web-sites they are all very informative.

Bushranger

Depending on when you arrive/leave on those dates nelsonian, you could find you're not going to be all that rushed for with the concert on 15th you have that day and any of the 14th to enjoy Melbourne -

free city circle tram there too (maroon burgundy older style ones) that helps you get about the city, great botanical gardens and South Bank Casino/commercial on south side of the Yarra and you can get a tram down to St. Kilda which takes you past Arts Centre gardens on fringe of Botanical Gardens, Government House and Shrine of Rememberance to mention a few highlights.
If you want something different for a lunch or dinner, try http://www.studleyparkboathouse.com.au/ and have a row (yes the two of you but rowing a boat!)and especially for dinner if you can get a booking - http://www.tramrestaurant.com.au/

Hiring a Car on 16th ( http://www.rentabomb.com.au/ good value despite the name) you could take your time heading out east of Melbourne into Yarra Valley wineries country, have a look at Healesville Sanctuary - http://www.zoo.org.au/HealesvilleSanctuary and then there is a very much southerly route via Woori Yallock, Cockatoo, Pakenham, and Kooweerup which is just about on South Gippsland Hwy., that with Bass Hwy takes you to Phillip Island and good idea to stay there overnight because it'll be about 10 pm when you get away from the penguin area and plenty of motels, caravan park cabins or B&Bs.

An early start ought to give you time to get around to Sorrento (couple of hours drive - maybe breke there seeing you know the town), take the ferry and then get to do most of if not all the GOR, but you're only on 17th and stopping along the coast somewhere still gives you plenty of time to drive back to Melbourne.

If you have an early departure on 19th, Rentabomb have a depot at the airport and may be easier for you to take the bus out to pick up car there on 16th and leave there [they have a hire and leave at same depot condition or did], and then arrange a motel/hotel at the airport.

afterall

Re other shows. The spiegtent is in town, so maybe you could check out:


http://www.theartscentre.com.au/

Cheers.

nelsonian

On the countdown to our Melbourne trip, still researching the GOR and deciding where we should stay. We will leave Phillip Island possibly around 9.30am -10am Monday morning 17th Nov, we want to see the gold mining town in Ballarat Tuesday afternoon before staying at a hotel near the airport that night.

That leaves us a day and a half to do the GOR via the ferry to Queenscliff, Can't decide whether to stay at Apollo Bay, or Port Campbell, or maybe even go as far as Port Fairy. We need time to do some of the sight-seeing stuff such as the Otoway treetop walk, the lighthouse, Twelve Apostles etc. Any suggestions. I think Apollo Bay may be too soon to stop and Port Fairy too far. Look at that I have virtually answered my own question.
Any input appreciated. Thanks so much

Bushranger

I'd only add that a 9.30 - 10.00 start seems a bit too much of a luxury given how much you want to cover - and it'll just mean that much more of a rush both Monday and Tuesday.

I'd get away a good two hours earlier at least and then re accommodation, just see how you go for there's plenty of it at Warrnambool and you'll have other options between Apollo Bay and Port Fairy not too heavily booked.

nelsonian

You are probably right Bushranger will aim for an earlier start on Monday.