Melbourne (MEL) Stopover Tips

[justinn]

I will be in Australia next Feb for a 26 Day trip and I am currently planning to do 2 days in Melbourne. I am reading the travel guides and such and can't seem to find anything to do that jumps out at me. I am looking for some idea's of what to do in Melbourne.

 

[burmans]

I think you probably need to provide a bit more detail on your interests here!

This site may help

Play your own way - Play Melbourne

 

[JessicaTam]

A day trip to visit the penguins on Phillip Island.
Museum/art gallery. Coffee/food.

Or of course the most enticing MEL event of all, an AFF drinks/dinner.

 

[Revolio]

Really hot in Melbourne in February; factor that into your activities and buy a Myki card (public transport).

 

[justinn]

Phillips Island Sold me on it, still looking for more city center type things for the other day. Not really into bars and the food scene type thing, just stuff thats cool to see and do.

 

[JessicaTam]

Phillips Island Sold me on it, still looking for more city center type things for the other day. Not really into bars and the food scene type thing, just stuff thats cool to see and do.

Melbourne has a ferris wheel!

 

[JohnM]

Melbourne has a ferris wheel!

Nooooooooooooooooo!

 

[OzEire]

I am currently planning to do 2 days in Melbourne.... and can't seem to find anything to do that jumps out at me.

This must be funny for the Sydney crowd

Back on topic, OP what sort of thing do you like? Where are you staying? How far would you travel (do you have a car)? It is hard to suggest ideas without much to go on.

Ps. If you do get a hire car I can highly recommend the thrill of city driving with trams, and making a hook turn

 

[JessicaTam]

This must be funny for the Sydney crowd

Back on topic, OP what sort of thing do you like? Where are you staying? How far would you travel (do you have a car)? It is hard to suggest ideas without much to go on.

Ps. If you do get a hire car I can highly recommend the thrill of city driving with trams, and making a hook turn

Excellent idea. Before the AFF welcome dinner, I would be pleased to provide a one hour driving lesson to have you negotiating hook turns like a local.

 

[justinn]

Just read up on the hook turn, that sounds like a terrifying experience. I have not picked a hotel yet as I tend to pick them after I decide what I am going to do. I will get a car and I am definitely doing Phillips Island. We like to see cultural experiences, landmarks and things like that. We love to hike but have a lot of that planned out already for our trip.

 

[JessicaTam]

Just read up on the hook turn, that sounds like a terrifying experience. I have not picked a hotel yet as I tend to pick them after I decide what I am going to do. I will get a car and I am definitely doing Phillips Island. We like to see cultural experiences, landmarks and things like that. We love to hike but have a lot of that planned out already for our trip.

Nah, they're easy. Oh, and Phillip Island is singular.

 

[UP4014]

Tramcar Restaurant, one of my favourite things to do, book early for the later sitting. This is better if you are staying in the city or south wharf area, shorter distance to stagger.

Matt

 

[OzEire]

Drive 'round the bay.

Breakfast in St Kilda (sea baths), quick stop at Port Melb / Station pier, over the West Gate for views back over the city (spot the ferris wheel at Docklands) then down to Williamstown for coffee. Back on the road via Point Cook (RAAF museum?) then quick hike up the You Yangs. Scoot through Geelong stopping at Bellerine Estate or Oakdene vineyard for a tasting before lunch at Athelstene in Queenscliff. On the ferry and over to Sorrento stopping long enough for for world famous Vanilla Slice. Up toward Mornington with an afternoon snack and palette cleanser at T'Gallant, photos at Arthur's seat then continue to Brighton for another coffee and complete the circle at one of the organic restaurants in Lillydale or fancy dinner in the city (Movida).

And don't miss 'Captain Cook's' cottage in Treasury Gardens, savor the irony of how the city was swindled into buying and relocating an ordinary english house to Melbourne because Lt James Cook might have visited there once*

*facts in the Cook's Cottage recommendation are based on a very dim an likely flawed memory, but its a great story, true or otherwise.

 

[Demon_fan]

Phillips Island Sold me on it, still looking for more city center type things for the other day. Not really into bars and the food scene type thing, just stuff thats cool to see and do.

I don't get the whole Phillip Island thing, I wouldn't go down there if you only have a few days.

Do you like sport? At the end of the day Melbourne is known for sport, food and coffee. Being February their will be sport on, just depends if you're here over a weekend or not.

Plenty of museums, alley ways to check out, the dandenongs, stkilda, mcg tour, eureka tower for a view, also shopping if that's you're thing.

 

[Spongbob]

Or maybe a cruse on the river (if the weather is OK).

 

[Duffa]

New question
Have lived in Victoria for 25 years
Have overseas friends family visiting Melbourne pre Christmas - first time in Oz
What should I do to keep them interested apart from get on the Dom pre midday (a la Cruiser Elite!!)..... MCG tour, the old gaol, parliament house?
Nights aren't a problem as we have booked 3 fabulous places for dinner - Melbourne does NOT come up short there. But what to do in daytime???
Harbour bridge climb? Opera House? Captain Cook harbour cruise? Red bus? We don't have those here!

Please help.

D

 

[docjames]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Yarra Valley Wine tour based on the early Dom suggestion.....

New question
Have lived in Victoria for 25 years
Have overseas friends family visiting Melbourne pre Christmas - first time in Oz
What should I do to keep them interested apart from get on the Dom pre midday (a la Cruiser Elite!!)..... MCG tour, the old gaol, parliament house?
Nights aren't a problem as we have booked 3 fabulous places for dinner - Melbourne does NOT come up short there. But what to do in daytime???
Harbour bridge climb? Opera House? Captain Cook harbour cruise? Red bus? We don't have those here!

Please help.

D

 

[Duffa]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Yarra Valley Wine tour based on the early Dom suggestion.....

Excellent idea! Thanks DocJ
Will check it out. Thanks

Duffa

 

[Julesmac]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Yarra Valley - MY first choice would be a tasting session at Domaine Chandon (actually I think you may be able to dine there) Sitting in the restaurant with the vines sloping away and the Warburton Ranges in the distance.....absolutely superb - you would not want to live anywhere else but Melbourne! A little down the road is Bella Verdura which is a fabulous Italian restaurant .In Healesville - the Healesville Hotel has super food. Also try Innocent Bystander - a really buzzy spot - wine tasting, lovely food, cheese/deli/bread/pizza, all terrific. If they are older/more conservative, maybe the RACV Country Club for lunch. Seeing native animals at the Sanctuary is always fun.Try the Mornington Peninsula - so many wineries and fab places to eat - Port Phillip Estate, Montalto, Dromana Estate. Flinders Hotel or the Portsea pub both have good food, and the scenery is always lovely. Go stgrawberry or cherry picking at Red Hill. Call in at Heronswood at Dromana, stunning gardens. Point Nepean national park, you can hire bicycles to ride out to the point. Catch the ferry to Queenscliff. In Melbourne, the NGA or Ian Potter, a boat ride up the Yarra, the Museum, the Aquarium, the Zoo - Werribee Park is super fun, do the open plains zoo or the Mansion, lovely rose garden, and you can eat there too. The Botanical Gardens, Williamstown, Lygon Street. It';s always interesting to look at the food available in other cities/countries so I recommend South Melbourne or Prahran market.Try some of the bayside eateries - Donovan's would always be my personal favourite.

Does this help??

 

[themaiz]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

New question
Have overseas friends family visiting Melbourne pre Christmas - first time in Oz
...
Please help.
D

Julesmac covered a lot of excellent ground. Add to that:

* Walk through town in early evening (or late evening) and check Myer chrissie windows (um... do they still do that?). Also check the library, and maybe the Gallery.
* Science Museum (or whatever they call it these days).
* Lygon Street at the Faraday end at night.
* Drive through the Dandenongs and stop for at least one Devonshire Tea. Lookout at One Tree Hill.
* Tram to St Kilda beach and back. Eat cake. Do Luna Park.
* Vic Market and especially the food hall and donut van
* If going to Yarra Valley then Healesville, the Sanctuary and a picnic lunch at Badgers Creek. Maybe even a drive up to Mt Toolangi
* Puffing Billy

Some of the things that I seriously miss about Melbourne.

Maiz