Going to Melbourne for short holiday - Good places?

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  arislan on 06/07/2015 - 14:59

  +1

  Umm hiring a car with baby seat is standard… most car hire companys can provide australian certified baby seats.. for a small extra fee… but still up to you. I do agree though having a car is a must. Drive through the great ocean road, there's some very nice touristy spots such as the 12 apostles.

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  [Deactivated] on 06/07/2015 - 19:58

  Lane ways, lane ways, lane ways and more lane ways.

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  paaj on 06/07/2015 - 20:38

  We did Great Ocean road last year over 3 days 2 nights (basically to Port Fairy and back). Has to be the best drive I've done in a long time. Highly recommend. I can look up the places we stayed at (very nice and cheap) if you're keen.

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  frostman on 07/07/2015 - 08:09

  I'de love to do the GOR, but after driving south for 10 hours, I doubt the wife and/or kid will be up for another 250KMs of driving =(
  Is Collins St the 'main road' as George St is to Sydney?
  Where's that place they say that looks like Rome with the cafes, etc?

  • 

    zappy32 on 07/07/2015 - 08:55

    Melbourne doesn't really have one long major street. Swanston and Elizabeth are probably the major ones as well as Bourke st mall.

    I'm not sure how it all compares to Sydney as I probably spent 5 days there in the last 5 years but here are some things assuming you're going to be staying in the CBD:

    general stroll, walkabouts - Along the river starting from MCG or Fitzroy Gardens(Cook's cottage)through Fed Square area, you and across numerous bridges and either head south down St Kilda road in to the park with the Shrine of remembrance and botanical garden or further along the river past south bank to Crown casino. I have no idea if they're any good but you can take cheap sight seeing ferries down the river as well.

    shopping/retail/etc - Bourke St Mall for the CBD for all your big name stores, check out the new Myer Emporium mall for lots of big brand stores in the CBD too.

    coffee!!, and food, dining etc - Honestly there's decent cafes everywhere, check out Degraves St for a coffee shop orientated laneway or Lygon st in the North for Italian(as well as other food).

    If you look on a map of Melbourne CBD, essentially the grid between Flinders st to Victoria St to La Trobe st and Elizabeth to Exhibition will be 75% retail and food on street level.

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  pjetson on 07/07/2015 - 08:37

  Collins Street is far from the "main road". I'd actually try to avoid driving around the CBD at all if I was you. If nothing else, you won't understand our CBD "right turn from the left lane" custom, and as a driver, you'll "love" our trams.

  Public transport around the city is good, but our ticketing system isn't visitor-friendly.

  The main CBD shopping area is approximately bounded by Collins St, Russell St, Lonsdale St, and Elizabeth St, with most of it between Elizabeth and Swanston Sts. However, there's lots outside of that, and some areas inside that aren't too flash.

  There's also Docklands, which is basically the area to the west of Spencer St.

  I'm not sure where Melbourne's "Rome" is, perhaps around the Casino?

  Ten hours to drive from Sydney to Melbourne may be a bit on the optimistic side, I think. Please take care.

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    zappy32 on 07/07/2015 - 09:01

    I'd agree with pjetson, I've lived here for 6 years now and still do my best to avoid driving in the CBD. It's slow and won't make a lot of sense with one way street and hook turns and very little parking.

    https://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/Images/maps/Network-maps/PTV_F…

    Here's the free tram zone in Melbourne which also doubles as a guide for where you don't want to be stuck driving.

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  adn on 10/07/2015 - 01:48

  if you going to stay in the city. Free tram in CBD.

  You can fly on jetstar, get them to price match jetstar and beat it by 10 percent, no CC fees. Skybus from airport to city is 28 bucks return per person. About 60 via taxi one way.

  Shopping : DFO at convention centre, Spencer outlet at southern cross, Queen Victoria Market, DOCKLANDS, Melbourne Central, QV and Emporium. Also Bourke St for Myers and DJ.

  Food. Just open urbanspoon and try everything in the top 10 list versus budget. Melbourne mid tier is very good however alot of waiting. Alot of places don't take bookings. Eg, brunch at Hardware Society is 40 min wait on a Sunday.

  They have Luna park in St kilda. An aquarium in the city (sea life), Melbourne gallery, Eye at Dockland (crap), Eureka Tower (crap). Just remember to grab a tourist book for discounts, found at Bourke st info centre or Fed Square.

  Crown Casino and South Bank is a good place.

  Bonus tip: If you go to St Kilda, you can see penguins at the water breaks after sunset. Bring a torch with red cellophane taped over the lens. To not scare them away.