r/travel • u/AutoModerator • Aug 17 '17
Advice r/travel City Destination of the Week: Melbourne
Weekly topic thread, this week featuring the city of Melbourne. Please contribute all and any questions / thoughts / suggestions / ideas / stories about this travel destination.
This post will be archived on our wiki destinations page and linked in the sidebar for future reference, so please direct any of the more repetitive questions there.
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Example: We really enjoyed the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. It was $35 each, but there's enough to keep you entertained for whole day. Bear in mind that parking on site is quite pricey, but if you go up the hill about 200m there are three $15/all day car parks. Monterey Aquarium
Unhelpful: Read my blog here!!!
Helpful: My favourite part of driving down the PCH was the wayside parks. I wrote a blog post about some of the best places to stop, including Battle Rock, Newport and the Tillamook Valley Cheese Factory (try the fudge and ice cream!).
Unhelpful: Eat all the curry! [picture of a curry].
Helpful: The best food we tried in Myanmar was at the Karawek Cafe in Mandalay, a street-side restaurant outside the City Hotel. The surprisingly young kids that run the place stew the pork curry[curry pic] for 8 hours before serving [menu pic]. They'll also do your laundry in 3 hours, and much cheaper than the hotel.
Undescriptive I went to Mandalay. Here's my photos/video.
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u/baba56 Australia Aug 19 '17 edited Aug 19 '17
Public transport is relatively simple once you purchase a "Myki" Getting to and from the airport as a tourist is probably not the easiest thing so make sure you do your research before hand. But there are ubers (and free wifi at the airport), cabs, private busses and public transport busses (www.ptv.vic.gov.au).
If you can, explore Victoria too, there are some absolutely phenomenal things to see just two-four hours drive out of the city (the great ocean road, the great alpine road (check seasonal closures), the Dandenong ranges, anywhere on the Yarra River or Murray River, the Grampians, Bendigo, Healesville Sanctuary, Wilson's prom is popular among tourists too)
And as another commenter said, if you can get to a footy match, do it, especially if it's at the MCG.
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u/littleredkiwi New Zealand Aug 21 '17
I purchased a myki card and a week pass which was awesome and made my week in Melbourne so easy. I was staying out in the suburbs so needed to catch the train everyday to get into town.
Also, I had planned my first day around using a locker at southern cross station but there were none available and was stuck with my suitcase for the day. So maybe don't completely rely on that idea.
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u/PrinceAlbert7 Aug 22 '17
There are definitely lockers available inside the station!
I've used them before.
http://www.southerncrossstation.net.au/luggage-services/
Sorry it's not helpful for you, but in case others are reading.
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u/littleredkiwi New Zealand Sep 02 '17
I know you can but when I was there they were all being used. I'm saying you can't guarantee you'll get one that's all.
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u/baba56 Australia Aug 21 '17
Good to hear that you found the public transport easy!
Good point about the lockers, I haven't a clue where you'd find some other than at your accommodation..
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u/starbombed Aug 18 '17
Coffee us so good in melbourne. No particular cafe suggestion, even 7/11 coffee is superior. Breakfast thieves has great brunch ~20/person
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u/Ka_Coffiney Aug 20 '17
Melbourne has great food and most places are up on Zomato. Great burgers can be had from places like 8bit, Grand Taverna Trailer Park, Ziggys or Lord of the Fries (mock meat 100% vegetarian, but no-one needs to know that) and loads more. Good pizza from Panned pizza, lucky coq or bimbos; don't get pepperonis, it's shit. Go get dumplings from Chinatown, they're cheap and tasty and BYO, so buy a bottle of booze from the bottle-o next door.
If you're a bit of a night owl Revolver is an after hours lounge on chapel st that is a Melbourne institution, open all weekend. Other well known gig venues are Billboards (or 170 Russell st), Max Watts (formerly hifi bar), cherry bar, Esplanade (known as the espy).
Popular areas to check out are St Kilda, Brunswick, Carlton, Richmond, South Yarra/Prahran/Windsor, Footscray, Melbourne CBD, Malvern, South Melbourne.
Melbourne likes a good opshop (or thrift store/charity shop) prices have been rising in them over the years but great bargains can still be found at places like savers, vinnies, sacred heart or salvos.
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u/kolarovmcfc straya cunt Aug 22 '17
I gotta say 8bit burger is hands down one of the best burgers I've ever had!
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u/Lufs10 Aug 18 '17
Dondon is a small Japanese restaurant near Melbourne Central. It serves the cheapest bento box in the city at about $9 I reckon and it tastes so good too. Fast, efficient, delicious, cheap. 👍🏽
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u/smiles_and_cries Airplane! Aug 19 '17
Is that the one near the state library? I went to that place 3 times in a week. remember they had a small menu and you got you food in a minute
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u/trendyhipsterboi Dec 14 '17
Melbourne is great - Australia's most vibrant city by a wide margin.
The coffee and food are great, public transport is good and there's a lot to do. Some of the must sees:
- An AFL game, on every weekend from late March until the end of September.
- Coffee and Food - Fitzroy just outside the CBD is a good area if you want to avoid the bigger chains / tourist areas
- NGV - one of the best art galleries in Australia, the Ian Potter centre is a great place for Australian art
- Hire a car and see the Great Ocean Road, Grampians or the smaller gold rush cities of Bendigo and Ballarat
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u/readyeager Feb 11 '23
Hi! I'm know this thread is old, but I'm considering being the Melbourne region for 6 days in March but BEFORE the AFL season starts, so I'm wondering if you know of any way to see something AFL-related (maybe a stadium tour or a practice) since I won't be able to watch a game.
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u/PoliSci_Texas_Aggie Aug 19 '17
Get a cheeseburger from Mr. Burger. The best I ever had. They also have a food truck they set up in Federation Square.
Bennetts Lane Jazz Club is pretty legit if you're into that sort of thing. Has almost a speakeasy vibe since it's so tucked away.
I would suggest staying at the YHA North Melbourne if you're on a budget. It's a great location. I've stayed there several times. It's close to the University of Melbourne, so there's some cool student hangouts. One is the Shaw Davey Slum, and the other is the Clyde Hotel.
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May 24 '23
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ThePietje Jan 27 '24
Does this hold true for February as well? That would be quite the temp drop but if there’s a chance, I’ll bring a jacket.
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Aug 21 '17
What are the best outdoor places accessible via public transport?
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u/Jez299 Aug 23 '17
Royal Botanical Gardens along the Yarra near the CBD is quite nice if that's your sort of thing or spend the day in St Kilda near the beach
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u/AfraidScheme433 Apr 12 '24
Hey guys, I'm starting to plan a trip to Melbourne in December with the kids (5 years old and 2 years old). Hotels don't seem very kid-friendly - what do you think about me booking an Airbnb instead? I'm wondering if that might be a better option with the little ones. Have any of you used Airbnb when traveling with young kids? I'd appreciate any advice or recommendations you might have.
- my kids love running around in shopping malls or parks, so a location near family-friendly shopping centers or parks would be ideal.
- They also love eating breakfast early, around 7am, so a location close to cafes or restaurants that serve an early breakfast would be convenient.
Thanks in advance!
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u/suggstobeyou Aug 18 '17
Get to a footy game (Australian rules football) at the MCG if possible, if not the stadium tour is still awesome. The entire city is sports mad, had a mate move there recently and "all anyone talks about here is footy, cricket and the weather!"