Irish Software Engineer / Web Developer ( http://www.zephyr-ireland.com ) with over 10 years IT / In...
Irish Software Engineer / Web Developer ( http://www.zephyr-ireland.com ) with over 10 years IT / Internet Experience. You can visit my personal websites at www.shanemcdonald.com and www.shanemcdonald.org if you wish to know more about me.
Member since:20.02.2004
Reviews:11
Members who trust:3
I have one tip if you are intending on visiting Australia and that is "Come to Melbourne before you visit Sydney".
We visited Melbourne in July (the middle of winter in Oz) having flown from Sydney which we had been living in for the past 7 months.
Our first day in Melbourne, we froze and ended up in shops buying gloves and scarves. It is so much further south than Sydney, that it gets very cold in Winter with winds which cut through you, so be prepared if you are going between June and September.
Accommodation in Melbourne is not great for the budget traveller. We found a place called 'The Lords Lodge' in the Rough Guide, it got 4 stars and they said it was very nice with clean facilities - they were very wrong. We ended up staying one night and found a really nice place called 'Toad Hall Hotel' {441 Elizabeth St., Melbourne (03) 9600 9010 } in the city. It was so clean and warm that we ended up staying there for about 11 weeks.
Melbourne is described as being a very European City, and
this is very true. the city is laid out in a grid, with long straight streets. The city's transport is dominated by trams and busses and is efficient as well as being quite cheap.
Melbourne is ideal for a short stay and there are many day trips, museums and attractions for you to keep busy and keep your camera happy.
Below I have listed the Top 10 things we did in Melbourne while we were there.
01) Great Ocean Road Tour A Full 12 hour Tour from Melbourne to the 12 Apostles and London Bridge. An amazing day out however it is a long time on a bus and if you suffer from travel sickness remember to bring some pills. This tour is run by Great Sights Tours, 180 Swanston St., Melbourne 1300 850 850 Approximate cost is $80
02) Dandenong Tour This is an all day tour to the Dandenong mountains which includes the Puffing Bully railroad, the Healesville wildlife sanctuary and lunch at a vineyard. Lunch is at your own expense and again the winding and twisting roads in the mountains can be a bit much for those suffering from travel sickness. This tour is run by Great Sights Tours, 180 Swanston St., Melbourne 1300 850 850 Approximate cost is $60
03) CrownCasino A visit to this amazing complex is a must in Melbourne. There are a variety of gaming levels here and the complex includes dozens of restaurants, cinemas and video games / recreation areas. Crown Plaza is located at Clarendon Street, Southbank, Melbourne
04) Shrine of Remembrance This amazing structure was built to remember those lost in conflicts which Australia was involved in. Not really something you will see in other travel guides but we spent about 2 hours looking at the exhibits here. It is located on St. Kilda Road (03) 9658 9975
05) Old Melbourne Gaol You must have heard of Ned Kelly, well this Jail (spelled Gaol from the old Irish name) is where he was hanged. There are many other villains listed here and their stories are documented in the cells. Night tours are also available. Russell St., Melbourne (03) 9663 7228
06) City River Cruise Take a 1 hour cruise down the river Yarra, passing the Botanical Gardens and the famous Olympic staida. Very reasonable and a nice way to pass an hour. Berth C, Southbank (Near Princes Bridge), Melbourne (03) 9650 2214
07) Melbourne Aquarium A very well laid out Aquarium, but a bit more expensive than the Sydney Aquarium. It was only opened in 2000 and is very modern. Corner of Queenswharf Road & King Street. (Opposite Crown Casino), Melbourne (03) 9620 0999
08) Melbourne Observation Deck View Melbourne from the tallest building in the city. You can see as far as the coast from this building and the cost is $12. You can stay as long as you wish and there is a café where you can relax and watch the city go by below you. The best time to go up is about 45 minutes before sunset. 525 Collins St., Melbourne (03) 96298222
09) Melbourne Planetarium This is a bit out of the city and the best way to get there (if you don't have a car) is by river taxi. They can drop you off at an isolated berth and you can make your way across the road to the Planetarium. Once you get there you are amazed by the most spectacular 3D experience in the southern hemisphere. The show lasts about 50 minutes with Q&A also allowed at the end. The Planetarium is part of Scienceworks and is located at 2 Booker St., Spotswood (03) 9392 4800
10) The Free City Tram Watch out for the Free City Tram in Melbourne, just hop on and hop off with no fee. The Free City Circle Tram travels in a wide square around the city from LaTrobe to Spencer to Flinders to Exhibition Street. It is available from 10am - 6pm and passes all the major tourist sights such as the Melbourne Museum, Fitzroy Gardens, The Old Melbourne Goal, Flinders St Station and the Casino. It has some interesting commentary on what is to be found at each stop and is a great way for tourists to get acquainted with Melbourne.
Other recommended things to do include a trip to Phillip Islandto see the Fairy Penguins, The Melbourne Ghost Tour as run from the Haunted Bookshop and a visit to the very modern Federation Square with its unusual architecture.
The problems we found with Melbourne are: 1) It can be difficult to find restaurants with your type of food. The city has an excellent selection of Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants. Indian and Italian are also well represented. But plainer simpler food is more difficult to find.
2) in winter, as soon as it hits 5:30 or 6pm , most shops shut and that includes the cafes. Therefore all that is left is bars and pubs. There is also a bit less to do in the winter and I think a summer visit to Melbourne would be recommended.
3) We found it a small bit more expensive than Sydney although the Melbourne people begged to differ.
Overall Melbourne is a nice place, however the cold in Winter and the non-stop comparisons on how for us, it does not match up to Sydney, may take from it somewhat. But I think it is a place which should be visited and it has a lot to offer for a 1-2 week stay. Every person we met had a different opinion on Melbourne - I don't think any review will convey it adequately as there is a lot to do with personal taste. Some people like a quieter city, some don't. Hopefully if you are going my tips and Top 10 will help you get the most from your trip ... Happy Travels !
I would really like to visit Australia one day and will bear your advice in mind. i found this a really readable travel review, concise yet full of interesting information. Sharron xxx
petitesquirt 27.02.2004 08:02
I like Melbourne. Sydney has a bigger city atmosphere and the food's nicer too.
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
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
Feb 23rd, 2004
very helpful by (100%):
