Melbourne What to Expect

While waiting for a coach earlier in the trip, I struck up a conversation with a young woman by the name of Christine who warned me that I should expect to find a much more residential lifestyle in Melbourne. There would not be, I was told, anywhere near as much to do as in her beloved home town of Adelaide where she had been born and raised - and when she came to think about it, she didn't think there was any point in me going there at all. Melbourne people, she told me, were unfriendly city types who didn't have a smile for anyone - not like folks from Adelaide who were warm and welcoming and would have a freshly baked pie ready for me on arrival. On the whole, I got the impression that she may have been a little biased. I am staying in the oddest hotel of the trip so far. For a start, the Taxi driver claimed to have never heard of it - which is usually a good sign of what's to come - but I wasn't expecting much anyway as I've generally been prebooking hotels from my "Cheap hotel guide to Australia" and expect to get what I've paid for. From the outside, the place looked rather normal and homely, but it was all just a clever trick to get me inside. You know the sort of wacky stuff that used to happen in The Avengers, where somebody would go into a house and find that the garden was inside and all the furniture was arranged neatly outside in the street? Well, it's like that. Honestly. Beyond the reception desk, I went upstairs and found myself in the garden. I don't mean to suggest that the stairs led up to a roof terrace or anything normal like that - I simply came out into a corridor with a cobbled floor along the centre of which were brick flowerbeds and fountains, and right in the middle was a Spa Pool complete with a neat little picket fence around it. The rooms were arranged around an indoor courtyard with light pouring in from a roof light, and around the perimeter there seemed to be trees sprouting from the floor. In fact the whole building has been constructed inside-out, and I suspect that the architect must've been smoking something pretty heavy the day he designed it. I blinked a couple of times, went back down the stairs and out into the street to rub my eyes, and then returned to make sure I hadn't been dreaming - but nothing had changed. It's all just too bizarre for words! To be honest, it amazes me that after spending more than a month over here, I still find any of this surprising. After all, there are a number of reasons to conclude that the Aussies don't fully grasp some of the basic logic the rest of us apply to the world on a daily basis. Here, for example, we have a country which shows some of the most horrific drink-drive commercials on television, involving people bouncing off cars and being catapulted quite graphically through the air in small pieces as their horrified children look on (usually followed by such footage as the children being told by a social worker why daddy isn't coming home again, who then turns to point a finger at the screen and say "This could be your daughter".), but that finds nothing at all ironic about having invented the concept of the drive-thru Liquor Store!

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This is jus general guidence, so i would assume its already been added (but barnzy wants those cools maps for 2 tips).. Unlike Brisbane city that gives a weekend rate on public transport (half prices on sat and sun and certain times during the week), Melbournes system can sell you a SUNDAY SAVER for $2.90, this covers any1 to travel in both Melbournes 2 zones (thus no further discounts apply for for consession holders, children, etc). It even pays for your travel on those cool trams they have! Happy holidays, Barnzy xox

Hit up the city first if you are staying in a city hotel. You are paying top dollar so have a good look around, go to the Australian art gallery at Fed square, its free.

Melbourne is quite flat, so its easy to walk right round the city. There are also lots of bike paths so hire a bike and follow the river, ask the locals, head to Mountain Goat Brewery in Richmond, the Convent in Abbotsford and up to Studley Park in Kew.

Chill on the south bank of the Yarra and pick up some meat for a barbeque, then pick your way through the narrow alleyways between the wide streets that run East-West through the city.

Bars: St Jeromes, Workshop, Lounge, E55, Pony, Cherry.

This should not take up too much of your time though because most of the great places to eat, shop and party are just outside the city. Go to Fitzroy, Collingwood or Carlton first for a relaxed village atmosphere with great shops and bars.
Blue Tile Lounge, Night Cat, The Evelyn, Bimbos, Rochester Castle

Many places have cheap lunches, cheap drinks and half-price dinners. Check out The Carlton Club, Lounge and Rochester Castle. The little Japanese takeaway next to St Jeromes is cheap and good too.

Head to Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy to mix it with local artists, musicians, writers, skaters, activists, punks, and girls with dogs.

Hit up Bridge Road Richmond for some great cafes and sale outlets,

Maedaya Japanese Restaurant, Tofu shop

then maybe head south of the river to Chapel street and St Kilda for the nightclubs, high fashion and the beach.

Revolver, Bigmouth, Vineyard, Yellow Bird. Luna Park

If you really want to go to nice beaches, get a metcard and get on the Franston line, go past the popular spots like Brighton and Sandringham and get off at Edithvale or Aspendale, the better bay beaches are a few kilometres south of the city. Good ocean beaches are on Phillip Island, or just past Geelong, places like Torquay and Thirteenth Beach at Barwon Heads.


Melbourne has great day trips, to the snow, only three hours drive. There are three large ski resorts in Victoria, go to Buller for the day, its so big now its got a university, not sure how many bars and restaurants and so many lifts, but Hotham has better snow. Its also bigger and cheaper too. Better nightlife too probably.

Or go see the spectacular cliffs and rock formations, wildlife and the curves of the Great Ocean Road. Puffing Billy is a historic steam engine ｔｈrough the Gumtree forests of the Dandenong Ranges which is perfect for couples and kids of all ages.

Bring beer, wine, spirits from your local area to drink with your new friends or hosts. Or a local favourite food if they let ya. Or a musical instrument, local costume etc.

Trams and buses are generally good, they don't link up with the trains that well everywhere though so get ready to do some walking. Transport is cheap and quite simple too as there are now only two zones in Melbourne.

Watch out when you are on public transport, you will need to buy your ticket before you get on a tram unless you carry small change with you. No one will sell you one onboard if you haven't got the right money, you will get a huge fine.

The best city in the world.

use the public transport!!

The city of shopping, the famous cuckoo clock that plays Waltzing Matilda and Mt Dandenong which makes for a nice day trip. Don't drive unless you are very brave. The trams and traffic have an uneasy set of rules. The Melbourne Tennis Center is home to the Australian Open and of course this is the home of Aussie Rules. Lots of great Greek and Italian restaurants and a thriving metropolis of cultures.

Trams are the best way to get around Melbourne

If you're interested in film, make sure you get along to the australian film museum in Federation Square...there are great interactive pods where you can watch Australian short films for as long as you like, free of charge.

The best city in the world.

use the public transport!!

The city of shopping, the famous cuckoo clock that plays Waltzing Matilda and Mt Dandenong which makes for a nice day trip. Don't drive unless you are very brave. The trams and traffic have an uneasy set of rules. The Melbourne Tennis Center is home to the Australian Open and of course this is the home of Aussie Rules. Lots of great Greek and Italian restaurants and a thriving metropolis of cultures.

Trams are the best way to get around Melbourne

If you're interested in film, make sure you get along to the australian film museum in Federation Square...there are great interactive pods where you can watch Australian short films for as long as you like, free of charge.

There is lots of flys that land on your face when it gets really hot. A good way to combat this is spray fly repellant on your hands and rub it on your face.

they have a great hospital

oh man this city is sooooooo nice!!! but junk food all over the place :-(

La ville australienne la plus européenne, elle respire la culture et l'histoire. Chaque bar a une ambiance différente et il fait bon se retrouver entre amis autour d'une bonne bière dans l'un des pubs de la ville.