Melbourne
- ryanjem4
- Oct 5, 2016
- 4 min read
As much as I adore Brisbane, sometimes it’s nice to blow this Popsicle stand and check out somewhere new and exciting! This post is based on my wintery travels to Melbourne, with the top 7 things to do there!
Fab Melbourne thing to do number 1 -Walk the Laneways
Melbourne CBD has the most interesting and fantastic laneways with surprising food and art. It’s also surprising how much time you can save using the laneways to get from one part of the CBD to the other in an almost straight-ish line. New laneways and arcades appear to be popping up and street art is common. Some of the older laneways seem to be thriving as well with great bars and restaurants with seating out in the laneway. My favourite was Degraves Street which always seemed to be open and full of people relaxing and eating a drinking any time of day or night. I ate and drank at a number of the places there with burgers, sangria, pintxos, soup, sushi etc. etc. But each section has delights to discover!
Some of the art has a message
Melbourne tip 2
To see things you would never even know were even there check out the Melbourne Greeters free walking tours. There are so many amazing foyers in all sorts of buildings you wouldn't think to go into. They were all paid with by from all the money the gold rush of the 1800s brought in. Huge artworks, marbel, stained glass, you name it, it's there. The Greeters can take you to all these hidden secrets.
Clearly this artist and the purchaser have a sense of humour. This is in a finanical services organisation's foyer and shows bodies climbing up each other to get to the top whilst looking like a pile of excrement.
Melbourne tip 3 While we're on the topic of walking tours, I see that a number of the paid versions have received bad reviews. However the China Town Murder and Ghost tour was definitely worth flashing the cash. You will find yourself down twisting and turning alleys in the dark, hear about the horrible murders committed there; learn about the red lights and their ladies; the opium dens; and possibly bump into people whose family members were friends with notorious folks like Squizzy Taylor. http://www.twistedhistory.net.au/murder-tours
Melbourne tip 4
Coming from the third most expensive city in the world public transport wise (Brisbane), Melbourne's free CBD trams were lovely. This is one of the free vintage trams that do a huge sight-seeing loop, but we found that taking any tram to the end of its free zone it was only a short walk to many places such as historical Lygon Street with its beautiful architecture. Yes, yes I'm a cheapskate!
Free!!!
Melbourne tip 5
You can’t go all the way to Melbourne without checking out at least one of the wine regions! We did a Yarra Valley tour mainly because it was the shortest of all the tours at around 7 hours. It meant we could leisurely get up and wander to the pickup area and head off to the country without fuss. We started the day with bubbles at Chandon, and unlike other wineries, this one describes all the wines on offer to you and you then get to pick one to have a glass of. As with all the wineries that day the scenery was stunning even on an over cast day. With a mixture of small and large wineries and characters all around, a delicious lunch, fun people and delicious chocolate we went home stuffed, happy and wondering how to get all the wine into our bags home. Check out my first Viator review on this trip! https://www.viator.com/profile/17731451/Little-Miss-Brisbane
Melbourne tip 6
If you like your vintage and op shops take a tram ride down to Brunswick Street Fitzroy and stroll the streets and check out all the fun stores! Just be aware that many of the stores don’t open until 11am. Also the CBD has some great vintage stores like Retro Star Vintage. For some great secondhand shops check out Victoria Street in Richmond there's a particularly good Lifeline there, it's a great place to pick up jackets.
I spy ruby sippers!
How much is that doggy in the window?
Melbourne tip 7
Just wander the streets and get yourself lost! In winter the Victoria Markets turn into an eat street market where you can eat cava fries, drink mulled wine, sit by the fire and listen to music, all inside the markets.
Check out the art gallery and see the crushed VW car.
Pop into the Young and Jackson hotel for a drink and see Chloe, the nude painting that used to get all the men going!
Wander the beautiful gardens.
Eat, drink, walk and be merry!
A lovely day in Carlton Gardens
In the foyer of the art gallery. See it's VW!
Accommodation
I stayed at the Punthill in Flinders Lane (not the one near China Town). It was super close to everything including Flinders Station and was right next to what I believe was the best laneway food-wise. I got a great deal from one of those discount booking sites and the room was nice. No view but I wouldn't hesitate to go there again. Recently renovated, great facilities including a kitchenette. The concierge was very helpful. http://www.punthill.com.au/…/melbou…/punthill-flinders-lane/