Hello folks,
I’m going to Melbourne for 4 weeks in March/April. I’ve never been to Australia before and I was just looking for any tips of things to do and see while I’m over there as I know there are a lot of Australians/well-travelled people on this site.
Thanks!
What activities are you into?
[quote]Teledin wrote:
What activities are you into?[/quote]
I’m into outdoors stuff, I’m really into hiking and I’m getting into climbing and I used to do a lot of sailing and kayaking. Don’t want to be eaten by a shark though haha.
But for the most part I really just want to get a good feel for what Melbourne and the surrounding area and life there is like.
I studied in Melbourne for 4 years. I now live on the other side in Perth.
Melbourne is known as the cultural capital of Australia. Heaps of great places to eat and drink, massive music scene, lots of sports and arts to see and a great place to shop. Sexy women as well, that seem to walk around with a confidence and charisma I have yet seen replicated. Its a very multicultural city and everyone seems to get along fine.
If you are more the outside kind of person , you may want to hire a car and travel around the coast to such places as the mornington peninsula on the east side, and maybe even check out the west side. My uncle has a house in Port Arlington which I often liked to visit for a weekend away in a cruisy coastal town.
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Agreed get yourself a hire care. Melbourne is central in the state so you will have easy reach to great beaches, forests/bushland, desert and mountain ranges to do all your outdoor activities. If you’re a fisherman hit up the mornington peninsula or head out on a charter on the bellarine peninsula. Plenty of great rivers, creeks, lakes and streams all over the state for trout and perch fishing. Wouldn’t be too concerned about sharks it would be rare you find anything other than the smaller less harmful species down here. The odd great white sighting but nothing to the more tropical regions.
Nightlife is good, just make sure to keep yourself out of trouble. A lot of bros out on a Friday and Saturday night who are more than willing to stir up trouble for no reason. So try not to draw too much attention to yourself and stay within the CBD area. Make sure you hit up crown casino at least once, there’s a whole lot to do right there other than gambling.
Cultural influence is hard top top, as Bird said great music scene, restaurants and there are plenty of markets and shit to see as well. If you plan to gym it, either Doherty’s or Derrimut.
Thanks a lot for the advice guys.
Hiring a car definitely sounds like a good idea, I’ll look into that. I haven’t ever fished, but it sounds like it would be an awesome opportunity to have a go - I’d especially like to try deep sea fishing if there’s any of that?
I’m not really into nightlife stuff so that should be fine, but thanks for the heads up!
What sort of weather can I expect? It’ll be the last week of March and first 3 weeks of April.
Thanks again!
It’s autumn so perfect time of year. Clear sunny days, no wind and low 20’s (Celcius of course, the “real” temp scale, and while you are at it, get your mind around the metric system. The entire world is metric except for the US and Libya, maybe Burma as well).
Forget the night life. It’s like a shopping centre. You can be in a club or shopping mall anywhere in the world and it’s no different from home. Spend your time out and about.
North: head up to the Ovens Valley. Wineries, mountains, very picturesque. You can hire a bike. It’s driven in a trailer up Mt Buller and you ride down. Great fun and great views. While you are there you can try hang gliding or jumping off a cliff on a rope.
South: to the south west is the Great Ocean Road. Similar to the coast north of San Fran with winding roads on cliffs along the ocean. Great on a bike, motor or cycle. Keep going and you will get around the coast to the 12 apostles.
To the south east is Wilson’s Promontory, a national park with heaps of walks, short or overnight. You can divert to Philip Island where the moto gp is held each year. Go surfing or catch a lobster or three.
Due south of the city is the Mornington Peninsula. Great beaches, wineries down south, farmers markets etc.
West: wheat. Lots of it.
East: Mt Dandenong. A bit of swisse in the air. Views back to the city. Very pretty in autumn. Great on a bike.
North: Ballarat (old gold mining town) or Bendigo. About an hour and a bit on good roads.
Food and drink: Melbourne has the world’s best beer but only because they have the world’s best water supply. Less shit in the water means less shit put in to counter the crap. Prepare to taste coffee as good as Italy or New Zealand. That shit you drink over there is beyond comprehension. No wonder you guys charge a buck and all the refills you want. I would want to give it away as well.
In Melbourne there is a large immigrant population (well, we, like America, are all immigrants, even the aboriginals walked here from Asia) with a big Italian, Greek, Vietnamese and Chinese population so lots and lots of great food.
Go with an open mind, try everything and you will have a great time.
Thanks a lot for all the information Triceptaurus! I’m really looking forward to exploring it, it sounds awesome.
I’m actually Scottish lol, so I’m good with celsius and the metric system.
Thanks again!
I am actually considering going to Australia for my vacation in late July/early August, so I’ll be following this thread. Problem is I don’t know anyone there, and also I don’t think anyone would be willing to go with me from the States, lol.
Depending on your age you may have trouble renting a car. When I went to Australia I found most places required you to be 20 something (can’t remember what the limit was but want to say something like 22-25) for insurance purposes or some other reason. I was under the age limit so wasn’t going to be able to rent a car until one place eventually allowed us to get a station wagon. But I would definitely recommend doing it. Having a car in aus is really amazing, so much to see and do. I think it was called travellers auto barn the place that eventually allowed us to rent.
Just go with what Triceratops said - great advice.
Only 2 things I’d add are:
(1) be sure to take in a game of AFL footy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (or simply “the G”). Prices are $20+ so very reasonable, and it’s a spectacle not to be missed. Practically a religion over here during the autumn/winter.
Try get to a game with Essendon, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Geelong and/or Richmond (at least one of these teams - but preferably 2 of them playing each other).
There are also games held at Etihad Stadium - but they have barely half the atmosphere (or the history) of the G.
(2) spend a day or 2 just exploring the city (Melbourne CBD) on foot. Tons of alleyways, cafes, shops to get lost in - I’ve been here 20 years and I still find new places all the time. Or just do a walking tour - well worth it.
And the quality and variety of restaurants are about as good as you’re gonna get anywhere in the world.
As previously mentioned, you must train at Doherty’s gym in Brunswick.
You will shed a tear at the chrome ivanko plates and eleiko bars and bumpers.
As you’re a Scott, I feel I must mention that it is a pricey destination.
Hi guys,
Thanks again for all the advice.
Just another couple of questions:
How good is the public transport in general? I’ll be based in Heidelberg, how easy/cheap is it to get into the city centre from there?
What are the laws on hiring cars? I read on a gapyear site I googled that you have to have a credit card? I only have a debit
What will the weather be like? I’ll be there in March/April
Thanks again!
Visit travelers auto barn Australia and look up what you need to rent a car.
[quote]furo wrote:
Hi guys,
Thanks again for all the advice.
Just another couple of questions:
Easy and cheap. There’s a train line direct from Heidelberg into the CBD. About 5 bucks each way.
Don’t see why you necessarily need to have a CC. Never hired a car here myself obviously.
[quote]
3) What will the weather be like? I’ll be there in March/April
Thanks again![/quote]
It’s Melbourne dude, you’ll get a mix of everything - all in the one day. Autumn is generally pretty fine however. Seize every warm/sunny day however, if you want to hit the beach etc.
[quote]furo wrote:
Hello folks,
I’m going to Melbourne for 4 weeks in March/April. I’ve never been to Australia before and I was just looking for any tips of things to do and see while I’m over there as I know there are a lot of Australians/well-travelled people on this site.
Thanks![/quote]
Go to the Dandanongs and the Black Spur. The city is a maze, full of good restaurants but riddled with leftist. BTW it’s an 8 and a half hour straight drive from Sydney along the Hume Highway if you don’t stop anywhere and drive at minimum of 110km. Personally I hate the place. But seriously don’t miss the black spur. It’s a fucking amazing piece of scenery - nothing like it in the world. Google pics won’t give you any idea of what it’s like. You’ll think you’re on hallucinogens or somethings.
Thanks a lot for all of the advice!
SexMachine - Black Spur looks incredible on a quick google search, I’ll definitely check it out!
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
Have fun.[/quote]
There’s something extremely unsettling to me when certain beaches are known to have not shark populations but crocodile.
[quote]RATTLEHEAD wrote:
[quote]super saiyan wrote:
Have fun.[/quote]
There’s something extremely unsettling to me when certain beaches are known to have not shark populations but crocodile.
Dude you couldn’t pay me in blow jobs to swim in Australia.
