Australia ABD fast approaching, need help planning

[pixiepirate]

Hi, my Australia ABD trip is six months away and I am starting to feel the planning crunch. I am sure I will have more tour related questions in the future but right now I am researching Melbourne as my friend and I plan to spend 2 or 3 days there after the tour has ended. I could really use some help on where to stay, what to see, etc, etc, etc. We will be there at the beginning of November. Will the gardens be in bloom by then? What will the weather be like? So far my friend has only expressed an interest in the penguins and the Tram Car Restaurant. I am interested in the architecture, gardens, history as well as doing one of the chocolate tours. Can't wait to hear all your suggestions to help with my itinerary.

 

[Luisa]

2 or 3 days isn't a lot of time to do everything you want to, especially seeing the penguins at Phillip Island as that's a day trip in itself really (it's about 1 1/2hrs out of Melbourne). As for the history and architecture etc you could try http://www.imfree.com.au/melbourne/ they do free walking tours of the city that are interesting, also try and get to the Exhibition Buildings and Customs House. Melbourne is a fairly spread out city so if you can base yourself in the CBD it will be easier for you to get around on public transport. The botanic gardens are lovely at any time of year and November should be nice and warm but not too hot. I've never done any of the chocolate tours but I've spent an awful lot of money in the stores they visit - I can highly recommend a visit to Haighs for their dark Shiraz truffles!

ETA just had a thought, if your friend really wants to see penguins you could go to Melbourne zoo. It's centrally located and has a great penguin display and you can get up pretty close to them, something you can't do at the penguin parade (you also can't take pictures there but can at the zoo).

 

[PrincessInOz]

Welcome to the ANZAC section of the boards, @pixiepirate. Congratulations on booking your Australian ABD trip and for making the trek down under.

I took the liberty of checking the ABD trip and I assume that you're on the one from October 21 to November 1. If I've made a mistake on your tour dates, please let me know.

Are you planning on being in Melbourne after November 1st for 2 or 3 days? If so, I highly recommend that you book your accommodation ASAP. Melbourne has a public holiday on the 3rd November. We literally stop for a 3.5 minute horse race, the Melbourne Cup. It is a major event on the Melbourne Horse Racing calendar and quite a few visitors do come in for that week. Do you have a budget in mind for accommodation?
In any case, for something in the CBD, you might want to check out the Oaks (I think there are 3 in the CBD) or the Adina or the Citadine if you're after an apartment hotel.
You could also look at the Marriott, Novotel, Langham, Sofitel or the Stamford Hotels.

If you're after something a bit further out of the CBD, let us know and I'm sure we can come up with alternatives.

I would avoid the hotels on King Street, between Flinders and Bourke street. That part of town has a few hotels that cater for the budget traveller; but there are quite a few nightclubs in that area and it can be a bit 'colourful' later at night.

November is springtime in Melbourne. The gardens will be in bloom. The weather is variable....Melbourne is known for having 4 seasons in the same day and you could strike a lovely blue sky day or a day pouring with rain. It could be super hot; or it could be cold. It doesn't snow in Melbourne...so you can definitely count that condition out.


I believe that there are a number of walking tours that the Melbourne Visitor Center offers. I think there is one that they run through the city and hitting the heritage buildings, which might fit within your desire to check out the architecture and history. There are also a number of gardens within the CBD area; or within a short tram ride. You may want to check out the Royal Botannical Gardens and Fitzroy Gardens to see if they are the sort of gardens you like to visit.

You will probably need a whole day to visit the penguins if you're planning on going to Philip Island. It will take about 90 - 120 minutes from the CBD to get to Philip island. The penguins come in at sunset; and it is Antarctic-ally cold down at the beach. There really isn't anything between that beach and the Antarctic winds except for a stray Emperor penguin. But it is pretty down at the island.
Your alternative could be to go to St Kilda Pier/Breakwater. I know they have penguins there but I believe that they are more likely to come in when it's dark.
The 3rd option is the Melbourne Zoo (which Luisa suggested).

The Tramcar restaurant? I haven't been on it in years! I can't comment on the food because its been so long since I was on it that I'd only be providing information that's so dated, it's not worth taking into account. It is an interesting experience, if that's what you're after.
Is your friend interested in the experience or to ride the tram? Trams are now free within the CBD of Melbourne. There is also a city circle tram (it takes about an hour or more to ride the full circle) that is a tourist attraction. The trams on that loop are the old fashioned W class trams. It's the same model tram that they use for the Tramcar restaurant.


I'm sure you've already found any number of websites that provide you with the highlights of Melbourne. If there is anything that you want more intel on, let us know.

Have a great time planning. And I'm usually interested in a DisMeet, if the dates/times allow.

 

[pixiepirate]

Wow! So much great information so quickly. Thanks to both of you for your replies. Yes, you are correct, Princess In Oz, we are on the Oct 21 - Nov 1 ABD tour. We will actually be arriving in Cairns on the 20th. The tour ends in Hobart on Nov 1st and we will be flying into Melbourne that day and most likely will fly home on the 4th. That end date is not set in stone yet but I don't think I can push my friend to stay longer.

The guide book I was reading mentioned several events taking place around the beginning of November in Melbourne and the need to book hotels early. Hence the sudden panic to get back into planning mode. I did not realize the 3rd was a holiday. If by CBD you mean Central Business District, that is exactly the area we would like to be located. This is a splurge trip for me but my girlfriend is more money conscious so I would say our budget is between $150 - $250 per night. I will definitely check out the hotels that were mentioned.

We are definitely more about the experience, which is why the Tramcar restaurant leapt out at us. If you know of any other unique eateries, please let me know. Also, I love science fiction and am a big Doctor Who fan, if you know of any science fiction bookstore or other fannish establishments, I'd love to check them out.

Sounds like Melbourne's weather is much like Chicago's, if you don't like it, wait 5 minutes. Is it windy at Philip Island, as well as cold? I may have to through a knit cap in my bag. I think I will be brining hand warmers as well. I appreciate the info on other options to see penguins but my girlfriend is really set on Philip Island. She has visited Australia previously and this is the one experience she talks about the most. In fact the penguins and the tramcar are the only 2 things we have definitely planned to do.

What would you recommend as the top 5 things to see/do in Melbourne?

 

[aussie shaz]

Regarding the bookstore, there is a shop in Elizabeth St called Minotaur. It is downstairs under ground level. It has all of those fan type books and collectibles. My son loves it.

 

[zanzibar138]

PIO has given you some great information and I'm not sure I can be much further use lol!

If you want to get involved in Melbourne Cup Day, you could probably watch the race on a big screen at Federation Square (PIO can probably confirm whether they do this). Could be fun to see what all the fuss is about. Either way, you definitely need to book your accommodation ASAP. We generally have a lower end budget and have been able to find places in the CBD that suit our requirements, although they are not the newest and fanciest hotels.

My parents did the tramcar restaurant a few years ago (more recently than PIO by the sounds of it!), actually when they came to Melbourne for our wedding. They really liked it and enjoyed the food as well as the novelty factor.

Phillip Island is brutally cold and super windy. I remember heading down there with my dad one December (summer for us) and we both needed sweaters and scarves. And that was just during the day! Definitely bring a scarf and beanie if you're staying for the penguins. What are your plans for getting there? Are you planning to rent a car or take a tour? If you're renting a car, it's probably worth heading down early-ish and making a day of it. There are plenty of great things to see down there and good walks you can do if you're into that.

If you're into gardens, I was going to recommend a day trip out to the Dandenong Ranges (where I live). There are some gorgeous gardens out there, as well as some quaint little towns and an iconic steam train ride through the bush called Puffing Billy. You could also visit Grant's Picnic Ground where you can feed the native birds (cockatoos mainly, but you could also see kookaburras and rosellas). You can take the train from the city to Belgrave, where Puffing Billy leaves from. To see anything else in the area, you'd really need a car. It would be a day trip though, so it might be too much to fit into your short stay.

I'm not overly familiar with the city, but starting to get a feel for it now I'm working there. As PIO has mentioned, there are some nice gardens around. Try the Royal Botanic Gardens or Carlton Gardens. You'll be too late for the first lot of spring flowers, but there will still be plenty of late spring/early summer flowers around, and all deciduous trees will be in full leaf.

The top things to do probably depend on what you're into. I think if you go to Phillip Island, do the tramcar restaurant, do a chocolate walking tour, and possibly a garden/architecture walking tour, you'll easily fill 2-3 days. For views over the city you could try Eureka Tower in Southbank or the big ferris wheel thing at Docklands, both a short walk or tram ride from the CBD.

FWIW, there are 'self-guided' walking tours available from the visitor centre at Federation Square. There are about half a dozen available depending on your interests (there are definitely ones focusing on both gardens and architecture). It's just a little brochure with a mudmap and information about the various things you'll see along the way. Most are only a couple of kms - you could probably do more than one.

 

[backinoz]

A good alternative location to stay is around St Kilda - a few more apartment style options there (or at least there used to be), a huge range of amazing places to eat, the beach and the pier; Ackland St - if you like your coffee & patisseries; and its a pretty short tram ride from the city. FYI Melbourne Cup Day is HUGE - check what will be open that day and plan around it - the Melbourne Cup is literally known as "The Race that Stops the Nation" and that's especially the case in Melbourne. If you're not interested in the race itself it may be worth planning your penguin trip that day (that is if they're running) - at least then you can be sure of other shops, sights, museums etc. being open on the other days.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Wow! So much great information so quickly. Thanks to both of you for your replies. Yes, you are correct, Princess In Oz, we are on the Oct 21 - Nov 1 ABD tour. We will actually be arriving in Cairns on the 20th. The tour ends in Hobart on Nov 1st and we will be flying into Melbourne that day and most likely will fly home on the 4th. That end date is not set in stone yet but I don't think I can push my friend to stay longer.

2 or 3 full days. Hmm.

For the Monday. I think the Parade of Champions is usually on the Monday before Melbourne Cup. This parade showcases the 24 or so horses and jockeys that will be running in the Melbourne Cup race. The parade is normally around lunchtime. If you decide to stay in the city on that day, just take note of where and when the parade is. There will be crowds on the streets along the route and I think the trams along that parade route stop running for a while.

The guide book I was reading mentioned several events taking place around the beginning of November in Melbourne and the need to book hotels early. Hence the sudden panic to get back into planning mode. I did not realize the 3rd was a holiday. If by CBD you mean Central Business District, that is exactly the area we would like to be located. This is a splurge trip for me but my girlfriend is more money conscious so I would say our budget is between $150 - $250 per night. I will definitely check out the hotels that were mentioned.

CBD is the Central Business District. It is effectively 'downtown'.

I would say that if you let your girlfriend know that accommodation may be at the upper end of your range, then you should find something that you like.

We are definitely more about the experience, which is why the Tramcar restaurant leapt out at us. If you know of any other unique eateries, please let me know.

What kind of cuisine do you and your friend like? There are quite a number of places to eat in Melbourne.

Also, I love science fiction and am a big Doctor Who fan, if you know of any science fiction bookstore or other fannish establishments, I'd love to check them out.

Aussie Shaz has pointed out Minotaur books in Elizabeth Street. If time is short, I would head here.

There are a few comic stores around Melbourne as well. Some specialise in Anime; and there are a few that specialise in comics. They might carry some Doctor Who stuff.
I think there is a small-ish store at the QV called Villain. They might have some of those bobble-like figurines and other merchandise from various TV/film pop culture.

Sounds like Melbourne's weather is much like Chicago's, if you don't like it, wait 5 minutes. Is it windy at Philip Island, as well as cold? I may have to through a knit cap in my bag. I think I will be brining hand warmers as well. I appreciate the info on other options to see penguins but my girlfriend is really set on Philip Island. She has visited Australia previously and this is the one experience she talks about the most. In fact the penguins and the tramcar are the only 2 things we have definitely planned to do.

It is windy at Philip Island and cold. The cap and the hand warmers are a great idea. I think they sell hand warmers at the Penguin reserve complex but if you bring them, that's one less thing you need to buy here.

What would you recommend as the top 5 things to see/do in Melbourne?

I've kept it to just within the CBD. There are heaps of things worth doing outside of the CBD; but I don't think you'll have time if you plan to go to Philip Island.

• The laneways and arcades of Melbourne: Link up and walk Degraves Street, Centre Way, Block Arcade, Royal Arcade, GPO Lane, Niagara Lane, Hardware Lane,
• Street art in Melbourne. Hosier and Rutledge Lane, Union Lane, Caledonian Lane
• Historic buildings: 333 Collins Street (walk into the foyer area), the ANZ Gothic Bank (make sure you check out both where the bank is as well as the hall at the back. I believe the hall used to be the original Stock Exchange. Aside from the gothic arches, the mosaic on the floor is also interesting.), St Paul's Cathedral, Manchester Unity building, Melbourne Town Hall, St Patrick's Cathedral, Scots Church, St Michael's Church, the Regent Theatre, the Princess Theatre, Windsor Hotel, Parliament building, Old Treasury Building, Old High Court, the old Magistrate Building, old Melbourne Gaol, Flinders Street Station, Old Exhibition Building, the Rialto (hotel area)....I'm sure I've missed something!
• The Gardens: Royal Botannical Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens, Birrarung Marr, Treasury Gardens, Carlton Gardens (where the Old Exhibition Building is)
• Mosaics: keep your eye out for mosaics around Melbourne. There are quite a few.
• Shopping - you could link up your walking through Melbourne by checking out the shopping along Bourke Street where the departmental stores of Myers and David Jones are; the Emporium, Melbourne Central.
• The various cultural precincts of Melbourne - Little Bourke Street/Chinatown, Lygon Street/Little Italy, Lonsdale Street between Russell and Swanston Street/Greek. A little further afield include Acland Street/European cakes (St Kilda area), Victoria Street/Vietnamese, Sydney Road (Brunswick/Coburg) for Middle Eastern food.

If you have time, it may be worth heading to the Queen Victoria Market. You'll find the market sells meats, poultry, deli goods, fruit and veg as well as souvenirs and clothes. If you head to the Vic Market, I'd recommend that you head to Peel Street, at the end of D shed, and get some churros. Otherwise, the doughnut van at Queen Street, near I shed is also worth checking out for jam filled doughnuts. I don't know if the market will be opened when you are here. It's normally opened on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. As it is a public holiday on the Tuesday, it may be closed. Might be worth googling to check if it is opened or not.

Museums? Are you interested in museums at all?

 

[Luisa]

Minotaur is great, the ABC store sells lots of Doctor Who stuff and for the last two years in November there's been a Doctor Who pop up shop in Melbourne, fingers crossed it comes back! It's been a while since I've been in to look but there has always been lots of fab anime stores in Chinatown if you like that too.

 

[pixiepirate]

I knew I could count on fellow Dissers to get me on the right planning path. I do thank you for all the Melbourne Cup Day information and tips, otherwise we would have had a rude awakening on Nov 3rd. And I hadn't even considered the possibility of places being closed for the holiday. That might be a good day for gardens and penguins.

Regarding the bookstore, there is a shop in Elizabeth St called Minotaur. It is downstairs under ground level. It has all of those fan type books and collectibles. My son loves it.

OK, this is definitely going on the list.

Phillip Island is brutally cold and super windy. I remember heading down there with my dad one December (summer for us) and we both needed sweaters and scarves. And that was just during the day! Definitely bring a scarf and beanie if you're staying for the penguins. What are your plans for getting there? Are you planning to rent a car or take a tour? If you're renting a car, it's probably worth heading down early-ish and making a day of it. There are plenty of great things to see down there and good walks you can do if you're into that.

If you're into gardens, I was going to recommend a day trip out to the Dandenong Ranges (where I live). There are some gorgeous gardens out there, as well as some quaint little towns and an iconic steam train ride through the bush called Puffing Billy. You could also visit Grant's Picnic Ground where you can feed the native birds (cockatoos mainly, but you could also see kookaburras and rosellas). You can take the train from the city to Belgrave, where Puffing Billy leaves from. To see anything else in the area, you'd really need a car. It would be a day trip though, so it might be too much to fit into your short stay..

We won't be renting a car. The Philips Island excursion will be a tour, though we haven't decided which one just yet. The Dandenong Ranges sound fabulous and I would love to ride Puffing Billy but I just don't think we will have the time. Of course, that's just an excuse to make another trip. Though I would have to work a little harder on that since it's taken me 20 years to get the first one in the works.

The top things to do probably depend on what you're into. I think if you go to Phillip Island, do the tramcar restaurant, do a chocolate walking tour, and possibly a garden/architecture walking tour, you'll easily fill 2-3 days. For views over the city you could try Eureka Tower in Southbank or the big ferris wheel thing at Docklands, both a short walk or tram ride from the CBD.

FWIW, there are 'self-guided' walking tours available from the visitor centre at Federation Square. There are about half a dozen available depending on your interests (there are definitely ones focusing on both gardens and architecture). It's just a little brochure with a mudmap and information about the various things you'll see along the way. Most are only a couple of kms - you could probably do more than one.

Actually, that sounds like a pretty good plan. And the self-guided tours might be a good backup plan if other options are closed for the holiday.

Lunch is over and I have got to get back to work. I haven't even had a chance to take in all this marvelous info.

What about ghost tours?

 

[PrincessInOz]

What about ghost tours?

The ghost tours are great. I have a feeling that most run on Thursdays - Sundays. If you do find one that runs on the days you're here, and it is something you want to do, I would book it in.

The shops will be opened on Melbourne Cup Day in the city; so it shouldn't be an issue if you want to stay in town that day. The only thing I'm not sure about is the Queen Victoria Market.

 

[pixiepirate]

I see that the Langham is on the Southbank. I haven't been able to find a decent map. Is there a pedestrian bridge that goes to the CBD? How long would it take to walk to the tram?

 

[zanzibar138]

I see that the Langham is on the Southbank. I haven't been able to find a decent map. Is there a pedestrian bridge that goes to the CBD? How long would it take to walk to the tram?

Have a look on google maps. That bridge directly in front of it is a pedestrian bridge which pretty much goes straight to Flinders Street Station (a major city station where you can catch a train to anywhere on the metro train line). To the right you'll see St Kilda Road and the Arts Centre, less than a 5 minute walk away. That would be your nearest tram stop. You may also notice across the road from Flinders Street Station is Federation Square. This is where the major tourist information centre is and there are lots of tours that leave from there (perhaps your walking tours). You'll also have the Botanic Gardens and Birrarung Mar just a short walk away, and the Eureka Tower is right behind the hotel. I think it's a great location!

 

[Princess Jes]

The langbam would definitely be out of your budget of $150-$200 per night.
One thing I got a shock with when planning my trip to the USA was that the hotels aren't that expensive. Melbourne hotels are so expensive!
We got married at the Rydges on Swanston (not in the CBD, but very close to the Queen Vic market and Lygon street) and that was the Friday before Australia Day last year, and the cheapest rooms were $240 per night. So be prepared for a bit of sticker shock for the chain hotels and the Langham/Crown casino.

And on that note, absolutely spend a night at the Crown Casino. I recommend Number 8 for dinner, or the Rockpool. Both on the pricey side but worth it, and eat outside if its a nice night, lots of great people watching and a lovely view of the river/CBD. Then look around the shops and casino.

 

[pixiepirate]

Have a look on google maps. That bridge directly in front of it is a pedestrian bridge which pretty much goes straight to Flinders Street Station (a major city station where you can catch a train to anywhere on the metro train line). To the right you'll see St Kilda Road and the Arts Centre, less than a 5 minute walk away. That would be your nearest tram stop. You may also notice across the road from Flinders Street Station is Federation Square. This is where the major tourist information centre is and there are lots of tours that leave from there (perhaps your walking tours). You'll also have the Botanic Gardens and Birrarung Mar just a short walk away, and the Eureka Tower is right behind the hotel. I think it's a great location!

Very good information to know. I could see the bridge on the map but could not tell if it was a pedestrian bridge. That area seems to be surrounded by some major roadways and I did not want to get trapped in an area where it would be difficult to get around. It will certainly help while we are considering our hotel choices. I have looked at so many hotels in the past few days I cant remember which is which any more.

The langbam would definitely be out of your budget of $150-$200 per night.
One thing I got a shock with when planning my trip to the USA was that the hotels aren't that expensive. Melbourne hotels are so expensive!
We got married at the Rydges on Swanston (not in the CBD, but very close to the Queen Vic market and Lygon street) and that was the Friday before Australia Day last year, and the cheapest rooms were $240 per night. So be prepared for a bit of sticker shock for the chain hotels and the Langham/Crown casino.

And on that note, absolutely spend a night at the Crown Casino. I recommend Number 8 for dinner, or the Rockpool. Both on the pricey side but worth it, and eat outside if its a nice night, lots of great people watching and a lovely view of the river/CBD. Then look around the shops and casino.

Actually, hotels is some of the metropolitan areas can run that high. And we may be increasing our budget a bit. After staying top of the line with ABD we may want to continue that trend. My girlfriend and I will be getting together this weekend to go over all the information I have. I hope we will be able to make a decision and book by next week.

Any tips on transport to and from the airport?

 

[PrincessInOz]

The Langham is a great hotel to stay in and see Melbourne. Hope you can swing it!

Melbourne Airport isn't well serviced at all by public transport. There is an airport shuttle Skybus that you could catch into the city. I think it drops you off at Southern Cross station and I think the skybus runs a service from there to the various hotels. The Skybus might be the cheapest option.
Your alternative is to catch a cab.

 

[zanzibar138]

I hope you can do your increased budget. It would be kind of a downer to go from all the beautiful hotels on the ABD itinerary to a bit of an outdated budget option.

Just to add to PIO's advice re: the Skybus. I've only ever caught the Skybus to and from Southern Cross, so not sure what the shuttle is like that goes to the hotels. If it's a nice day, you could also take the train from Southern Cross to Flinders Street Station (only one stop) and then take the short walk over the pedestrian bridge to the Langham (if that's where you end up).

 

[Aussie Wendy]

The Skybus is super easy and the way to go. It only goes direct no stops, to Southern Cross Station. Currently $18 one way, $36 return and you can pre-buy and download the voucher from home beforehand or buy when you arrive at the airport. From the station right by where the bus stops, small shuttle buses run to clusters of hotels in the varying areas for free but the shuttles to the hotels run stricter hours whereas the Skybus is 24 hours. At the moment the hotel transfers run Mon-Fri 6am to 10.30pm and Sat and Sun 7.30am to 5.30pm. We have found sometimes, it can be up to a 20 min wait for your shuttle depending on I guess the number of passengers and traffic as each services 5 - 6 hotels. Other times we walk straight on within 5 mins. If it is a long wait you can bail and just catch a cab from Southern Cross to your hotel - still cheaper than a cab all the way from the airport I suspect. As Zanzibar says depending on where you stay you may also find it is a short walk from Southern Cross to your hotel but depends on how much luggage and bags you have!

Very short (walking) distance from Southern Cross is the Alto Hotel which is very lovely, 2 night minimum, but might be just out of your price range. The only disadvantage we find at this end of town is it seems pretty "dead" and a bit of a walk along the road towards Fed Square and Southbank for restaurants etc (seems very quiet though safe at night e.g.) or quite a walk along Spencer St to either Flinders St or La Trobe to pick up a free tram stop. We like staying up the "top" end of town near Chinatown and Carlton Gardens which also tends to have a few more cheaper but quality hotels. Always lively and lots of places to eat. Southbank of course is even more lively and good atmosphere day or night. The Oaks (several locations such as Williams St) often have specials on Expedia or wotif.com eg Aus$184 at the moment and the free tram stop e.g. is right outside the Williams one and I have heard they are quite good. Citidanes often have special too (they are a mini apartment style with a kitchenette)-again look for one in the middle of the city (bounded by Flinders and La Trobe). There is now a Doubletree by Hilton in Flinders St close the centre of everything. Seems to be picking up good reviews but seems ridiculously dear at the moment unless they have a special. We have never managed to find a hotel with a vacancy in our price range in Southbank but we tend to book our trips down to Melbourne at short notice. Other than the Langham at Southbank, Mantra is there - pretty typical Mantra I think so if you know the chain you know what you are getting. The Travelodge is typical basic and would be quite a comedown after ABD! There don't seem to be many hotels at all in Southbank if you were particularly keen on that area.

I can second everyone else that waiting for the penguins on Phillip Isd is freezing and the penguin parade is dusk activity so you get back to Melbourne quite late (eg 11pm) but there is lots to see and do on the peninsula during the day and I presume the tour includes an assortment. We saw penguins hiding under the broadwalk during the afternoon when we were there which we thought was pretty cool. Otherwise Melbourne is a great city for just wandering, exploring the laneways, little eateries, shops, and popping into a gallery or museum. Have a great trip!

 

[pixiepirate]

Thank you Aussie Wendy for the recommendation of the Doubletree by Hilton. I had not researched that one but it is now on the list. We have narrowed our choices to three - Doubletree, Marriott Melbourne and Hotel Windsor. The Langham is out, I'm afraid, so I'm hoping for the Windsor. I would like something more uniquely Australian than the standard hotel chain but it will all come down to the bang for the buck. We have not booked airfare yet, hope to do that this week, but we will be leaving on Nov 5th. That will give us just over 3 days in Melbourne, depending on when our flight arrives from Hobart.

Thanks to all for the info on the Skybus. I think that will be the way we will go. The shuttle bus hours should work for our arrival. We may have to cab it back to the bus, depending on when we will need to be at the airport for our flight back.

 

[pixiepirate]

What kind of cuisine do you and your friend like? There are quite a number of places to eat in Melbourne.

I like Italian, Mexican, Chinese. And chocolate. Is that a cuisine? I stay away from seafood due to allergies. I'd like to try more authentic Australia cuisine. Any suggestions? Does anyone have recommendations for a moderately priced breakfast other than the hotel?

Museums? Are you interested in museums at all?

Definitely interested in museums. History, science, fashion, art, though I'm not a huge fan of contemporary. The Australia Museum of Film and the Moving Image sounded intriguing.