Visiting Melbourne

[Pokkeljons]

HI Almal

Ek, my vrou en nog twee vriende kom bietjie in Melbourne kuier vir die lang naweek in Junie. Ons bly tans in Sydney en sien nou al lank uit na ons trippie na die "cultural city". EK wil net dalk by die van julle wat in Melbourne bly bietjie info kry en het die volgende paar vragies.

1. As mens net vir 3 dae kom van vrydag tot maandag waar is die beste plek om te bly wat naby alles is en nie te ver van al die aksie is nie.

2. As mens die Great ocean drive wil doen is dit beter om self te ry of om 'n bus te vat?

3. Watter wyn areas sal julle aanbeveel doen mesn as mens nou een sou wou besoek.

Enige advies of opinies sal baie waardeer word.

Thanks Julle

Pokkeljons.

[Mara]

Pokkeljons, I will write in English, it takes me too long to think in Afrikaans.

Staying in the city, gives you the buzz and plenty of places to eat, so that would be my suggestion. I usually arrange accommodation for all our overseas visitors, and we mostly book them into the Rendezvous Hotel, but quite frankly most of the city hotels are pretty good. I would check out the following site, about two weeks before, then you are sure to get a good price.

http://www.needitnow.com.au/needitnow/needitnow.asp?Type=SearchBox&pageNo=1&selectedDate=&SearchBox=R71

The great ocean road, yes, you can hire a car and drive it, but it is roughly a 500klm round trip, the passengers get to see it all, but the driver needs to concentrate on an unfamiliar road, which is pretty winding and slow going, mostly 60kph. So... for me it is not contest, I would rather pay the money, sit back and relax, and enoy the scenery! A lot of these bus companies will pick you up from your inner city hotel, so just check with them.

http://www.wildlifetours.com.au/tours/1-day-great-ocean-road-tour (we have had guests on this one, and they loved it)

http://www.melbournetours.com.au/great_ocean_road.html

http://www.gowest.com.au/great-ocean-road.html

Then, wine tours, I guess that has to be the Yarra Valley, beautiful scenery, great wines, and a spectacular part of Melbourne. Here again, with the limited time available to you, I would do it as a tour, much easier, and hey you can sample a lot of wine and not worry about a designated driver! Here are some choices, we have had people that went on the first one, and they thought it was great, but you decide!

http://www.chilloutwinetours.com.au/yarra-valley-wine-tours/yarra-valley-wine-tours-public/

http://www.austwinetourco.com.au/index.html

http://www.yarravalleywinerytours.com.au/daily_public_winery_tours_yarra_valley.htm

Hope you enjoy your weekend in Melbourne and that you have a spectacular time!

[Pokkeljons]

Hi Mara,

Thank you very much for your reply, it is very helpful.

It is great to have such a forum where you can go and ask just about anything and the members are so helpful

Hope you have a great weekend

Pokkeljons

[cristel]

Die EEN ding in Melbourne wat julle NIE mag mis nie, is die South Melbourne market - hulle het die BESTE dim sums !

[Mara]

Cristel, is that the South Melbourne market or are you referring to the Queen Victoria Market?

[cristel]

It's the South Melbourne Market Mara, that's where I had it. Not sure if there is any good ones at Victoria Market ?

[JacquesV]

Regarding the Great Ocean Road trip...we used Bunyip Tours for the day trip. It was money well spent as we stopped at a few places and the tour guide shared so much information with us! Well worth the cost in my opinion!! The plus side is they collected and dropped us off our our hotel.

We also did the Phillip Island day trip with them. What an experience!!!!!!!! Got to feed Wallabies and Kangaroo's plus see LOADS of other animals I've never seen before!

Edit: Forgot to add the bit about accommodation.

A forum member suggested we stay at the Travel Lodge - South Bank while on our trip last August. It was super central to everything!! Flinders Street station right across the Yarra river - 5 min walk.