An Australian-Indian-Cornish-Leed s born-London living dude with an axe to grind and a monkey on th...
An Australian-Indian-Cornish-Leed s born-London living dude with an axe to grind and a monkey on the back. Hoopla forever...
Member since:09.12.2003
Reviews:10
Members who trust:1
I must start by saying that i grew up in Melbourne and spent the best part of 20 years there. Now living in London I still pine for the unaffected, easy-going lifestyle that Melbourne engenders.
Where to begin... Get a hotel near the centre of town, anywhere with a 3000 postcode is good or aim for the food and drink centres of St Kilda, Fitzroy, Carlton or Prahran. The airport is only half an hour from the city and i would recommend getting a taxi (about $AUD25). Hotel prices are going to vary quite a lot depending on where you stay, but hostels are plentiful in the above areas and average around $AUD30 a night - they are without a doubt the cleanest and best looked after hostels in the world. At the higher end of the market the central business district is full of 3-5 star hotels, ranging in price from $150 - $400 a night). If you've got the cash i would highly recommend the Windsor Hotel on Spring St, a venerable institution in the colonial style opposite the Houses of Parliament and near the theatres. If you can't afford staying there then definetly book yourself in for High Tea on the weekend for a decaadent almost 'old-worldly' experience.
Getting Around... Melbourne has one of the best integrated transport systems in the world, which despite years of successive government budget cuts and privatisation can still get you from A to B efficiently. Trams The
tram network runs all over Melbourne and will get you most places. All trams leave from the centre of town - principally from Collins, Flinders, Elizabeth and Bourke Streets. All trams display their destination on front and their are maps at every stop. If in doubt ask the driver or other passengers for directions. There is a free city circle tram that runs around the CBD and can get you to most tourist attractions with the central area, this also has the benefit of an on-board guide/conductor who will delight you with funny stories and entertaining info. Trains These run all over Melbourne and into deep Surburbia. All trains run through Flinders St Station and all tickets are compatible with the tram and bus network. Buses Are less important in Melbourne and generally fill in the gaps where trains and trams don't go - mainly the outer suburbs. Night Rider Bus All the above systems close down at about 1am and the Night Rider takes over. This is a bus which leaves from Collins St and generally follows popular tram & train routes to different parts of town. It runs until 5am and is the best, cheapest way to get home after a big night. Taxis Are relatively expensive, but remain the easiest way to get around. Drivers are informative and will get you to where you are going by the quickest route. There are major cab ranks near Flinders St, Collins St & Burke St, but it is easy to hail one from the street. There are no mini-cabs in Melbourne so do not get into a unmarked car or van at any time. Walking Melbourne is a city laid out on gridlines so it is very eay to get around, there are few hills (except for the killer one in the middle of Collins St), so pick a direction and go walking.
Attractions... There is lots to see and do in Melbourne, and I recommend all of it. Here are some suggestions:
The Observation Deck @ Rialto Towers - from the tallest building in Melbourne you can see all the way to the Dandenong Hills and on a good day, beyond.
The Immigration Museum - next door to the CrownCasino, this museum chronicles the experiences of many Australian immigrants.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground - for any sport lover this ground is second only to Lords. Home of countless Ashes wins and triumphant Aussie Rules finals. Guided tours are available, but the best way to see it is to get tickets for a game.
Parliament House - The home of Australian Federation, again tours are available but witnessing a parliamentary debate is better.
Some i haven't been to recently or have changed.. The Museum Arts Centre Science Museum Old Melbourne Gaol Crown Casino Aquarium
Food & Drink... By far the best thing about Melbourne is the fantastic food and drink available. Because a large majority of Australians are immigrants, there are areas of the city where one cuisine rules. Roughly speaking: Lygon St - Carlton - Italian Food Victoria ST - Richmond - Vietmanese Food Russel St - City - Chinese Sydney Rd - Brunswick - Turkish Food Brunswick St - Fitzroy - Modern Fusion Chapel St - Prahran - Modern Fusion Acland St - St Kilda - Modern/Italian Smith St - Collingwood - African/ New Age
My favourite areas are Brunswick St and Lygon St. Where i grew up and attended uni. I have been eating out in Melbourne since the age of five and these are some of the places that i regularly visit:
Tiamo's - Lygon St - the best lasagne in the city in a tiny little Italian cafe.
Nyonya - Lygon St - the best Char Keuy Teow outside of Singapore.
Retro Cafe - Brunswick St - the best all day breakfast in town, great cafe with view on to the passing bohemians.
Don Vincenzo's - Brunswick St - perfect focaccia and a great name
Stalactites - Russell St - the best Greek restaurant in town - stays open very late for drunken kebabs
Patee Thai - Brunswick St - good thai food, not the best but consistently nice with great freindly service.
Others: Alyassya - Sydney Rd - Turkish Friends Kebabs - Northcote Plaza Alphabet City - High St Northcote Narai Thai - St Georges Rd Rainbow Hotel - off Brunswick St Tai Tai - Victoria St Joe's Garage - Acland St Melbourne Oyster Rooms - King St
There are hundreds of great restaurants in Melbourne, with some of them serving the same home made food for generations. If you stay in the areas outlined above you are sure to find something good.
Drink... There are a wealth of good drinking holes in and around the city. Generally they seperate into three main types: Pub, Bar & Club Pubs can be anything from a dodgy local type to a neon lit slot machinists heaven. Again all the streets mentioned above have great pubs on or around them. Pubs almost always offer live music as well, so the atmosphere is usually great and who knows you could be witnessing the birth of the next AC-DC. They generally stay open until about 1am.
Some great pubs:
Rainbow Hotel - off Brunswick St The Evelyn - Brunswick St Doulton Bar - Acland St The Esplanade - St Kilda Pug Mahoneys - Lonsdale St
Bars are slightly different but along the same theme as pubs, except they don't have one-armed bandits-bars usually stay open until about 3am. There has been an explosion in recent years of underground, hard to find cool bars in the middle of town, all of them are fantastic. Here are a few of the best:
Honky Tonk - very retro, ultra chic bar hidden between Russel & Collins St, the most amazing view across the river.
Sku Bar - fish tanks, leapord skins rugs, cigars and live music - need i say more. Lonsdale St
Lounge Bar - the original and still the best - all day/night food, kung fu movies on the wall and a terrace for summer drinking. Collins St
Cherry - used to be cool, but gone a bit downmarket now, still one fo the best bottled beer selections around. - Little Russell St
Revolver - pool tables, live music (my sister used to work there!) - Chapel St
Ruby Tuesday's - absolutely tiny, but great sandwhiches and beer.
Others: The International Oo Bar Phoenix
There are also a lot of clubs in Melbourne, unfortuanetly it's not really my scene - but according to friends the best to visit is:
Redheads
Other Business.... Melbourne is a great bustling city with lots to offer, and if you get tired of that there are plenty of attractions outside the city such as:
Port Phillip Island Great Ocean Rd Torquay Portsea Dandenong Hills Grampians Ranges
SOme facts about Melbourne....
The weather is a lot like the UK
The city contains about 4 million people
The suburbs spread over an area as big as LA
Beer is drunk in pots (halfs) not pints, unless specified
Melbourne hosted the 1956 Olympics and used to be bigger than Sydney
There is heaps of shopping, drinking, dancing, eating & looking to be done in Melbourne - it really is a fantastic city.
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Didn't know about the observation deck... planning a visit for a year... will need to give it a go... lucky you, growing up there :)
Jimigill 17.12.2003 10:55
i used to have to ride up that hill everyday on my way home from school, absolute killer. Will soon be doing a review on Amsterdam where i have also spent a considerable amount of time - lovely canals.
Keith7 16.12.2003 19:32
I was in Melbourne for two months in March / April and thoroughly enjoyed it. Your review brought all the memories flooding back (including the steep hill in Collins Street!!). The Crown Centre is an experience of its own and one can quite easily while away most of a day around the centre and hotel.
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Advantages: cosmopolitan; great dining, arts and sports scene; prettiest city in Oz Disadvantages: not very many at all - perhaps some unsafe areas at night, but only if you're alone
Dec 11th, 2003
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