Tips for Travelers: Melbourne

When traveling through Australia it really isn’t a bad idea to stop by Melbourne. It is no problem to usefully spend a few or more days there no matter your taste and interests.

Sightseeing itself might not be too big here but there are a few interesting unique things to look at.

Concerning architecture checking out the State Library and Parliament House are worth a look. Federation Square and the Flinders Station on the opposite are a must see but their location is so central that they are especially hard to miss. Everything important can be reached from this spot including the very close Yarra River along which one can have lovely strolls or for more seclusion cross the bridge and have a picnic in the gorgeous Botanical Garden. Towards the North of Fed Square you will find the central shopping areas and China Town, though you will find that any restaurant and cafe usually is run by Chinese (Asians) anyway! Popular Street names are Bourke Street, Swanston and Elizabeth St. The rectangle they build with Flinders Street is packed with backpackers, clothing shops and restaurants. Close to the river you will find the Crown Hotel. Use the front entrance and be awed by the glam and take a few minutes to dream of luxury. Interesting activities in that area include the Sealife Aquarium (expensive but supposedly one of the best), the 88 lookout platform of the Eureka Tower (I personally didn’t find it worth the money), the Arts Centre with a few plays, free and charged exhibitions on and the acmi right on Fed Square which presents exhibits concerning film and video.

The Queen Victoria market on Elizabeth St had a great atmosphere and supplies fresh harvests and retail. We sadly had to miss the Night market there which is on every wednesday night, but if you can you should definitely go there and enjoy the life music while wandering along stalls and tasting the hottest sauce in the world.

If you are living in Melbourne and self supplying go to the Southern markets on a Sunday, as their produce tends to be cheaper towards the end of the week. Lots of hostels can be found along Flinders Street or in the area and of course in St Kilda.

Sights in Melbourne, however, are less things and more suburbs. Head north towards Melbourne Uni and walk along Lygon Street in Carlton for a distinctly Italian eating culture and walk a little further to the east to discover Fitzroy’s (expensive grunge). For this sort of attraction I advise you to take a train to Windsor station and discover my personal favorite: The lower end of Chapel Street. Second Hand shops cuddle cozily and affordable restaurants and cafes lure in hungry shoppers. A place worth anyones visit is the Bazaar. A big store crammed and packed with anything any original person could ask for. Authentic clothing, old furniture, records, jewelry, house hold items - anything! If I was movie making in Melbourne that would be my requisite base. I found those brushes and mirrors any real princess possesses. Beautiful clothes and dresses of any 1900s decade. No one will be left wishing for anything (unless they can obtain their object of desire at H&M). I am sure especially my sisters would have absolutely adored the place. Other places to check out are the Chocolateria San Churro (a dessert place you will find in every bigger Australian city if you know where to look), the seafood restaurant Hooked and my favorite food place: The Lord of the Fries. All of their sauces are worth trying. My personal favorites were Mango Chutney Sour Cream, the Vietnamese Sauce and London Special Mayonnaise. The Belgian Mayonnaise is pretty boring, instead I would just go with the Aussie tomato sauce, which is pretty decent and on top of that - free!

A little further out and to the West Williamstown is worth a trip with its location at the sea and the close by Science Works museum. Definitely go there if you are with kids or have a concession card (for both entry is free). Definitely take a tram to (or live) down in St Kilda, the domain of Backpackers. There you can walk through the tiny old Luna Park and decide wether it’s worth paying for a ride (if so do the scenic railway) and be disappointed by pre packed candy floss. When looking for an afternoon coffee or a nice lunch walk down Acland Street, where you are sure to find something. St Kilda beach is the most popular beach in Melbourne and at night you might be lucky to see some penguins returning to their nests at the pier (We also spotted a seal there). A beach I found much more attractive is Brighton Beach with its pretty little houses, which are the most expensive real estate in Melbourne - calculated per square square meter. This beach is not as easily accessible as St Kilda’s but catching a train you shouldn’t have a problem.

If you have been following my blog regularly you already now the aggravating situation with public transport. For all public transport a myki card is needed and charges are horrendously expensive. Technically a two hour fare is around $3,50 and a one day fare is $7 (if you are staying in Zone 1), yet, I am not absolutely sure this is true. Seven dollars a day is a lot! So you are better off just finding a cheap bike if you are staying for longer. Don’t let yourself be talked into the tourist myki. It is only valid one day and although you can get many discounts on attractions (such as Sealife) better just find the YHA and get yourself a quick backpacker card, which is valid in other cities as well.

Further attractions in Melbourne obviously depend on your taste and time to spend. For those who stay longer and want to enjoy a movie at some point most cinemas have cheaper days on Mondays or Tuesdays. An experience worth paying the full price is the Open Air cinema at the Botanical Gardens in summer. Usually the gates open about 90 minutes early and you are good to get there at least 60 minutes before it starts. Bring a pick nick blanket and some snacks and maybe a big pillow so you don’t have to sit upright the whole time. “Lawnchairs” can be rented against a charge, but I didn’t find that necessary. The seating area is placed on a slope and don’t worry about the screen, it’s huge! We were sitting in the middle and that was a pretty good position, you don’t want to be all the way front and hurt your neck, but too far in the back you might not have the greates sound anymore.

If museums are your thing there are many more than the acmi and the Arts Centre (Eiffeltower). Otherwise just walk around and discover the decorations all over the city. Lane ways are plastered in artistic graffiti and you can find statues and ornaments everywhere! Whenever I had a rest at Fed Square there was the same street comedian, whose show is pretty decent. He is bald and wears black and especially the first part up to his fire act is nice! So take your time, maybe have some ice cream and follow his jokes (if he will still be there at that point ;) ).

So far this is all I can think of in Melbourne, but if I remember some vital things I left out I will, of course, add them later ;)

Cheers,
Skipper

ps: For those who don’t know, I am in Tassie now, for at least two weeks.