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Welcome to the world's most liveable city. That’s Melbournes’ byline and in the 3 months that our seasoned travellers lived there they certainly found it a true one.
“Our task, which was to check out all that this cosmopolitan city has to offer, was tough... but someone had to do it! We soon realised doing what the locals do is the way to get the best from any stay. There is a unique culture and way of life that seems to have eluded other Australian cities: possibly it’s the wealth from its earliest settlement or the European influence through most of the 20th century. Whatever it was, the result is a pleasing mix of elegance, charm and a youthfulness that belies its 170 years of existence.
One of the great things about Melbourne from a visitor viewpoint is it works! The accommodation options, the sightseeing companies, the transport network and, most times, even the cabs, all have a professionalism that makes a holiday a pleasurable experience. And when touring the regions, some truly wonderful experiences await within only an hour or two of the city.
Victoria offers a compact yet diverse and unique Australian experience, appealing to travellers needs in every possible way.
Float over vineyards in a Hot Air Balloon, visit Museums and Galleries, soak up culture at the Arts Precinct, enjoy a show at one of the unique theatres. Indulge in Food & Wine including specialities of the region, immerse yourself in markets, shop and shop again. Sleep at a Zoo, cruise down the river, and oh so much more.
Then there's Events!
Melbourne is the 'Events' capital of Australia, Melbourne Cup, Australian Tennis open, Grand Prix and on it goes.
Oh so stylish, Melbourne has a passionate soul and intellectual fervor that makes it a truly international city.
Café Culture & Eat Streets
Melbourne has more than 3000 restaurants embracing more than 70 cuisines! Visit Acland St in St Kilda for the mouth-watering cake displays; Lygon St for Italian food; Asian eateries in Chinatown; Southgate for modern cuisine and Vietnamese in Victoria Street. Tucked away in the unassuming city lanes and alleys are hip bars and clubs.
We recommend that you purchase ‘The Age Good Food Guide’ and ‘The Age Cheap Eats in Melbourne.’
A Shopper’s Paradise
The Melbourne fashion experience is almost overwhelming! The CBD around Bourke St Mall has many interconnected arcades and major stores. The top end of Collins Street, Little Collins Street, Flinders Lane and South Yarra have exclusive boutiques and designer names. The factory outlets on Bridge Road and Queen Victoria Market are popular for bargain hunters.
Immerse Yourself In Culture
View art in the galleries of Federation Square and Flinders Lane. Take a guided tour or watch a performance at the Victorian Arts Centre. Watch the latest show or visit a comedy show. Explore the Immigration Museum or new Melbourne Museum.
Year-Round Spectacular Action
If you like your entertainment big and breathtaking, then you’ve come to the right place! Melbourne is Australia’s top festival and events city with so much on throughout the year
The Great Ocean Road is one of the world's great motoring experiences....
There are road trips and trips by road and this is definitely one of the former and one of the great motoring experiences in Australia, if not the world.
Why?
Well it’s probably a combination of wild coastal scenery, magnificent vistas of the Otway Ranges as they reach the sea, an intriguing history of shipwrecks and pioneers and some great hospitality. This is combined with a relatively small mileage (for Australia) to cover to see a big contrast in scenery and geography.
There are numerous itineraries possible from Melbourne. And while we are recommending a 4 night routing combining the coast and the Grampians with stops in Lorne, Port fairy, Halls Gap and Ballarat, if you have more time you could easily spend a week touring this area.
A trip to Melbourne without going to the Yarra Valley seems somehow incomplete. Especially if you’re into food and wine of course!
This wine growing region is so close to Melbourne, it is just like another suburb, albeit a delightfully rural one.
Yarra Valley
There are around 37 vineyards with cellar doors, and another ten available by private appointment. Approximately 17 of the 47 have restaurants. Just enough we think. There are small family run wineries and big business concerns with hundreds of hectares under vines and a large infrastructure to match.
Not many of the winery restaurants are open for dinner (some open Friday or Saturday nights), so you’ll need to explore the towns as well. If you like the idea of combining wine tasting with a spa experience then that’s on offer here as well. Impulse Spa promises indulgence at its best.
Hot Air Ballooning
It's one of those things you will always do “one day” and its probable you will only do it once.
So do it here! Global Ballooning operates here as well as in the city. Early morning above the Valley is quite beautiful and it’s a trip you will always remember. We were amazed at how far and fast you actually travel in these things.
Dandenong Ranges
If you do plan a couple of nights in the Yarra, then an obvious extension is to visit the Dandenong Ranges which fringe the valley. We suggest you include a day of exploration on your return trip to Melbourne. You’ll like the ranges if you are interested in gardens, arts and crafts or happen to be a railway buff.
The gardens in the Ranges are rightly famous. Make sure you visit the William Ricketts Sanctuary and the National Rhododendron Gardens - both are superb.
Then of course there’s Puffing Billy, the narrow gauge steam train that operates, through the ranges. The society that operates it was started by volunteers who wished to save an historic narrow gauge railway. Today they have an award winning venture with many miles of track, steam locomotives and lots of carriages. There are daily scheduled departures and luncheon and dinner trips as well. This is the ultimate in family fun.
At the start in Belgrave there’s lots of whistles and bells and smoke and steam which makes for a great atmosphere. Then its off through the forest and over wooden bridges and around tight bends (lots of views of the locomotive), over level crossings where motorists have stopped to take your picture! Or maybe it’s a picture of the train?! Anyway everyone joins in the fun and waves. The open carriages can be a little cool so take a sweater and sit back and enjoy the experience…that’s if you’re not hanging out the side taking 1 or 2 or 10 pictures.
Holidaying in the city is such hard work that you will need a break! We know just the place: Mt. Macedon and Daylesford – Spa Country.
Mind you that’s just part of what’s on offer. Add in some really beautiful countryside, excellent wineries, history, neat little eateries (and one of the best restaurants in Victoria), short travelling times from Melbourne (and between towns), and you have a recipe for a memorable 2 or 3 days.
Staying in a B&B is ideal; the area suits this type of accommodation admirably. Our host recommended dinner at the local pub, the Mountain Inn. No normal pub food though, this place was excellent and good value.
A big breakfast at your B&B sets you up for the day and instructions on where to go and how to get there along with your map and guide will assist you along the way.
The top of Mt Macedon is only a few winding kilometres away. And what a view…the word panoramic is apt.
On a good day you’ll see the skyline of Melbourne in the far distance.
Down the other side and back into farming country with the land pierced by lots of huge rock outcrops, one of which is now almost a place of pilgrimage. Hanging Rock, made famous worldwide by a movie, but well known by generations of Victorians for the novel the movie inspired, is definitely a local beauty spot.
Even on a clear morning there is a sense of history and maybe even mystery about the place. You have to pay to get into the car park here but don’t let that put you off; a walk around the outcrop is a very enjoyable experience – just don’t yell Mirrraaaanda! at every turn.
A lovely drive of around 40 minutes will bring you from Woodend to Daylesford. The area is historically affluent with many fine houses dating from early 20th Century to the present day, set in large estates with manicured grounds. Daylesford is the hub of this bouyant region, providing accommodation and a distinctly refined atmosphere that shows in its upmarket retreats and fine retail outlets. Of course there are some junk shops as well as antique boutiques, and some cheerful motels as well; thus catering for everyone.
But what sets this place apart, along with its sister town of Hepburn Springs is the spas that have grown up around the mineral springs. Unlike The Geo-thermal springs of New Zealand, these are cool water springs forced to the surface by underground rivers, and full of minerals from the depths of the earth. You will see signs advertising Day Spas throughout both towns.
The biggest facility is Hepburn Spa Resort, located in the reserve in the centre of town. Here an imposing building, is the location of the Hepburn Spa Resort. This is the biggest of the Day Spas, and is classic European spa and modern pamper palace. It houses a mineral pool and spa bath and offers all sorts of water therapies: heavy mineral pool, Steam Infusion Therapy (sounds painful!), Vichy massage, Flotation Tanks, Beauty Therapy, Aromatherapy, etc, etc. Costs vary enormously and comprehensive treatments can last a decent part of a day. So indulge away.
We had some fun in the reserve: there are a series of springs that have been plumbed and spout a continuous supply of free mineral water that is reputedly therapeutic. Hopefully we didn’t disturb anyone when we tried each tap, only to spit most of the water out – definitely an acquired taste – very earthy.
Eating in Daylesford is just about as therapeutic as a spa. The Good Food Guide lists seven restaurants, which is a very high number considering the town’s size. Included is The Lake House, whose dining room received Victoria’s Country Restaurant of the Year Award for 2004. We thoroughly enjoyed Frangos Frangos and Koukla, right in the centre of town, and thought Cliffy’s a wonderful experience, and not just for the food. Don’t miss it.
Another ‘don’t miss’ is the Convent Gallery. Yes it’s a converted (interesting thought) convent that now houses some fine art as well as a bar, the Alter Bar no less. A magnificent old edifice, some magnificent views and fine art make this a popular spot for locals and visitors.
Getting there
Leaving the city by car make your way to the Calder Highway, via the Western Ring Road. Avoid the Tollway – this is an electronic toll only, no booths, and it’s a hassle if you have to find how and where to pay. Stick to the Freeways and roads, it’s much simpler.
Tip is to try and avoid rush hour; we have done it in rush hour and while it moves along (slowly), it is a hassle you don’t need when on holiday. Once on the Calder Freeway traffic decreases and its plain sailing towards Gisborne, only 50 km from the city, where you exit to Macedon township and onto Mt Macedon.
The trip so far is through farming country until at the very end the road climbs up through thickening forest to the mountain. The forests all look the same; Gum Trees! No these are Mountain Ash and while they are another type of Eucalyptus Tree they are very imposing. There’s a lot of expensive housing nestled discreetly in the bush, as well as some award winning gardens which makes for an appealing drive combining sightseeing with a real estate tour! |
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Anderson Vacations
Northern Alberta Office
PO Box 82117
Yellowbird RPO
Edmonton, AB
T6J 7E6
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Anderson Vacations
Southern Alberta Office
301, 1117, 1 Street SW
Calgary, AB, Canada T2R 0T9
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