Hello my bloglings, I need your help.
Next month I will be in Melbourne for a long weekend. We were supposed to be going to Raymond Island for a wedding but that has been cancelled. The Spouse hates travelling, loathes big cities with a passion and with his grumpy hat firmly on his head has decided to stay home with the dog.
I have given The Spouse’s plane ticket to David’s girlfriend, Bubbles and I am really looking forward to spending four days in Melbourne with the kids.
The last time David and I were in Melbourne was five years ago with Mum.David was 11 and we did all the normal kid focused touristy things. The zoo, Vic market, the aquarium etc.
This time I will have two teenagers with me who are interested in street art,food,clothes,good coffee and music. We will be using public transport and I wouldn’t mind checking out some markets on the Sunday.
I was thinking of exploring the laneways and visiting Chinatown.We will be having a look at Lygon street as well as going to the National Gallery and the Museum.
So this is where you come in. What do you suggest that we see and do on our four day trip? What hidden gems are there for some Tassie country kids to see that will blow their minds?
And for those of you not from Victoria here are some photos I took this morning on my walk.
Here is one of my finished sculptures in the garden, I have filled this with water and once some algae starts to grow inside the pot I will put some tadpoles into it.
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I would recommend a visit to Docklands for a meal, preferably an evening meal as the lights on the river are pretty magnificent. There are a lot of fantastic restaurants there but I personally love Mecca Bah.
I would also put aside some time to wander through Melbourne’s laneways and arcades. A lot of the best street art / street life is there. You can download a walking tour map of the lanes, I’m pretty sure – I’ll look it up for you and post link if I find it.
Thanks heaps Kathy. I have just been googling hosiers lane and I think the kids, (and I ) will love the street art there.
Not sure iwhen you are coming, but YOU might like (and it is very popular with the younger types) Abbotsford Convent
http://www.abbotsfordconvent.com.au/
A tram does pass relatively nearby (I am pretty sure, it’s been a year since I’ve been in the area), and there is usually something on. Lentil as Anything should still be there and is a very popular (and affordable) eatery.
If I think of anything else I will let you know 🙂
Love the ACMI in Fed Square, but not sure what they will have on in November. They generally have very interesting things, plus there’s the Potter gallery there (free entry from memory).
The Werribee zoo might interest them, as it’s a little bit like an African safari, as opposed to your regular zoo. And in summer they sometimes have music in the evenings, you could check their website for more info on that. It’s a take a picnic type thing.
I like the two suggestions above of the Abbotsford Convent and the Docklands.
Will ask hubby and see if he has more ideas.
Melbourne is my hometown, but after twenty years living north of the border, I’m getting out of touch, even with visits home a few times a year. I still love Melbourne. I consider the Victoria Markets one of the best in the world and Sudnay is the best day. There’s also markets along the St. Kilda Esplanade. If the rain holds off, it’s a nice variation and used to have a lot of handmade crafts.
Have a ball. Wish I could trip about with you.
we have been to the Werribee zoo and it was nice, Much nicer than seeing all those animals in cages. I am thinking of dropping the kids off at the Melbourne zoo on the Sunday as I am not interested in the zoo (well except for the butterfly house oh and the reptiles and frogs) and then meeting up with bloggy friends for coffee somewhere.
I am off to click on the links to abbortsford convent now and will google ACMI 🙂
Squee I have just had a look at ACMI and we are definitely going there for a look.
My big ticks go to:
1. City: laneways (and bars if you have child-free nights to explore the city!)
Plus walks along the river, Fed Square and for something different the boat trip down to Williamstown
2. Brunswick Street, Fitzroy – shopping/browsing/eating – but the best/less touristy bit of Fitzroy now is Gertrude Street (bisects Brunswick Street at the city end, running past the dodgy looking housing commission high rises). Artisan Bookshop is a must (but closed on Mondays) for art book and a cosy atmosphere, Industria for interesting second hand stuff, Books for Cooks, the amazing Preston Zly shoes (at The Bureau) and a whole heap more plus great food.
3. The 96 Tram to St Kilda (or if you want to do the whole shaboodle – the East Brunswick end of the line – walk 3 blocks to Ceres environmental park for a child-friendly, hippyesque experience, then spend almost an hour whizzing through the city to the St Kilda end of the 96 route – cake shop heaven (Monarch Cake shop has barely changed in decades, does the best poppyseed cake), or wander down to the beach and eat fish and chips.
4. I second the suggestion to go to the Convent in Abbotsford. There’s a bus that drives down Johnston street (from the Lygon Street end – Lygon St isn’t all that exciting these days imho but Readings bookshop is still lovely). Plus a walk by the river past the Childrens Farm while you are there.
5. Picnic in the Botanical Gardens.
…that should keep you busy…let me know if you need any more ideas. Have a great trip.
If you have time & want to meet for coffee while you’re here, let me know … I would be keen!
Oh, I agree about Brunswick St, and if you like seafood then Claypots is a must for dinner. Don’t freak out about prices – it is all about communal eating. The $60 shellfish stir fry is going to feed 3-4 (sadly I haven’t tried it 🙁 ) and a $40 fish will definitely feed at least 2. The tapas plates that come out first are fantastic 🙂
Saw the St Kilda Sunday market for the first time a few weeks ago and it is worth a see, then you could head to Luna
Park (do teenagers think that is as cool as 4yo’s?), go eat cake on Acland St or head down the pier for ice cream and see if ou can find penguins in the rocks (we did!)
I love that sculpture in the garden, the verdigris color is wonderful.
Your tadpoles will have a lovely home. Sorry I know nothing about Melbourne, but it sounds like a fun weekend.
I am getting more and more excited about this trip now. Does anyone know where can we get some good sushi?
I would love to meet you for Coffee Kathy 🙂
I don’t know how good it is, but tucked away in Crown there is one of those sushi train places. I’ve had take-away from there which was okay, but I just love the idea of those sushi trains! 🙂
oooh I have never had sushi from a sushi train. Veronica has when she was in Adelaide with Mum a few years ago. I will quiz her as to how it works. I have to be careful though as David is capable of eating his own body weight in Sushi 😉
Sushi: Other than lunchtime nori rolls kinda sushi (Sushi Monger in the Causeway off Bourke St mall is one of the best, hence the long queue), going out for dinner often has uninspiring ambience or high prices. Kuni’s in Little Bourke St, pricy and restrained but a seat at the sushi bar and order a la carte is a nice way to do it. Slightly out of the way in North Melbourne, one of my old school fav Japanese restaurants in Akita http://www.eatability.com.au/au/melbourne/akita/. Not strictly a sushi place but small dish style Japanese for an amazing experience see if you can get a booking at Yu-u http://confessionsofafoodnazi.blogspot.com/2007/03/yu-u-and-me.html
No additional suggestions for Melbourne as I’ve only been there once for one of the big Paperific events last year and spent almost all of my time in various stamping and papercrafting shops lol! However Federation Square is full of assorted wonders – and photo opportunities 😉 Bet you all have a great time.
The pot in the garden is stunning, can’t wait to see it all verdigris-ed and full of tadpoles.
Sounds like lots of fun. I’m no help with the itinerary, just here to wish you a good trip. xx
Never been. But whatever you do take lots of pics!
– and I like the tadpole pond 🙂
Yep, all those suggestions are what I immediately thought of, can’t think of much else to add lol.
Don’t forget the Immigration Museum, in the heart of Melb, Flinders Lane and people watching 😉
Hope you have a ball 🙂
Sounds like you all are going to have a fab weekend 🙂
You know where i am if you want a chat 🙂
Love that sculpture, it’s amazing! Hope you all have a wonderful time in Melbourne BG Xx
I’ve always wanted to see Lygon Street. Can you believe I lived in Melbourne twice and never got there? Because we lived in the suburbs near the Army base, first time in Watsonia, second time in McLeod, both times I was busy with 4 kids.
I’d like to see photos if you get there.
The tadpole pot sculpture is beautiful. It looks so…….you!
Just read above about the St. Kilda esplanade! I bought a painting there once, of a cottage, done on a slate. I still have it somewhere, must look for it.
I’ve been twice and both times I didn’t have a lot of time to see much.
I’d go back to the Victoria Markets, love it but it’s not open on MONDAY, which of course was the day I was there the first time. Even just for a quick browse, or some junk food. (Teenagers like junk food, right?)
I wouldn’t bother with Melbourne Central, it’s just a mall of overpriced shops, nothing interesting.
I can’t remember much of Melbourne square but I went to the Pixar animation exhibition (with all of the character drawings and such) so there is a gallery in there somewhere. Actually, I think there are a few arty places in the big ugly building.
WARNING:
Do NOT use the public loos that are on the street. I still have images in my head of the most disgusting public toilet I’ve ever seen, the walls smothered in faeces. I refused to use it and I was busting.
Just got back from Melb and the highlight for me was the John Davis exhibition at the NGV absolutely blew me away and you are allowed to take photos!!!!!!!!!!! Also if you are in Fitzroy drop into Incube8r near the corner of Smith and Johnson, I have a small space there.
Kim, our trips to Melbourne always revolve around food -Melbourne favs:
Restaurants:
Movida
Richmond Hill Cafe & Larder (just to smell the cheese room and for a cheese plate)
Brioche bakery (208 Commercial Rd, Prahran)
Shark Fin House for yum cha (in chinatown)
Other stuff:
A drink in Chloe’s bar in Young & Jackson’s overlooking Flinders station.
Prahran market (smaller than Vic but has Essential ingredient attached)
A night time walk along the river outside Crown just to feel the heat of the flame towers.
Hope you have a great time.
I’ve been to Akita in North Melbourne and can strongly second the recommendation. It was divine.