Melbourne's accommodation?

[cygnus]

I'm planning to spend a week in Melbourne in the coming uni break with my gf,
anyone knows where to find cheap stays? :confused:

[Borgeman]

er, ill look around for you :)

meetup anyone? :p

George

[STL]

You can try a few of the backpacker hostels that have twin rooms. They're very cheaply priced and a lot of traffic of other tourists too. They're all located conveniently in the heart of Melbourne. $24-30 a night when last I stayed in one. (which was a few years ago)

If you're looking for some motels, there are a few in the Bundoora or Broadmeadows/Fawkner area not far from the Hume highway but they'll take longer to get to the city from. $60-80 a night

[cygnus]

thanks STL and Borgeman,
i did looking through some motels...(so far cheapest is $66 per night in the heart of the city)
since my gf can't share room with strangers.
How good/bad is the Melbourne transport?

so any recommendations about what to do in Mel?
I only know Crown Casino up to now.
And by the end of June/ Early July, how cold will Mel be?

I really can't do any meetup (as i m with gf) but i can bring along stuff anyone wants it to save postage.

:D

[Paulbot]

How good/bad is the Melbourne transport?

Melbourne public transport is excellent
(said with the disclaimer that I work at the state's Department of Transport :D )



And by the end of June/ Early July, how cold will Mel be?


I think it will likely be very cold around then.

[STL]

thanks STL and Borgeman,
i did looking through some motels...(so far cheapest is $66 per night in the heart of the city)
since my gf can't share room with strangers.


A "twin share" room is actually for 2 people only. A bit more expensive but nice in a hostel cos it gives couples or temporary friends a cheap accomodation alternative. ;)

I considered it very convenient when backpacking. :D




How good/bad is the Melbourne transport?


It depends really. If you want to stay around the city areas and inner east, it really is pretty good. Once you want to say head out to some of hte outer suburbs, it's not so desirable.




so any recommendations about what to do in Mel?
I only know Crown Casino up to now.
And by the end of June/ Early July, how cold will Mel be?


As Paulbot said, expect it to be pretty cold. We're already having a colder than usual April than I've remembered for a few years now. I know cos I'm wearing jeans whereas in the past, you'd find me walking around in shorts.

As for what to do outside of Crown Casino (which isn't that great any way)
- Royal Botanic Gardens/the Shrine
- Alexandra Gardens in Kew are very nice
- Dining in the little laneways in the city's is a definite must
- Doing a tour of the MCG
- Shopping along Chapel Street
- Rialto

[Demonac]

It will be freezing by the time july rolls around. Especially in the morning.
Public transport isn't too bad, so long as you avoid peak times!
Other items I suggest:
- Boat cruise on Melbourne River Cruises
- Bridge Road for shopping
- Brunswick Street for food
- If you can, take a drive east up to the Dandenong Ranges
- Instead of the Rialto, the Eureka tower is another option (it's taller)
- And for something indoors: Chadstone, Southland or Highpoint shopping centres

[roller]

take a fedora hat and trench coat if you want to fit in with the locals

[Saintly]

if I didn't have any relatives in Melb, I would use www.wotif.com (http://www.wotif.com), I'm a great believer in their service.

[cygnus]

As Paulbot said, expect it to be pretty cold. We're already having a colder than usual April than I've remembered for a few years now. I know cos I'm wearing jeans whereas in the past, you'd find me walking around in shorts.

As for what to do outside of Crown Casino (which isn't that great any way)
- Royal Botanic Gardens/the Shrine
- Alexandra Gardens in Kew are very nice
- Dining in the little laneways in the city's is a definite must
- Doing a tour of the MCG
- Shopping along Chapel Street
- Rialto




Other items I suggest:
- Boat cruise on Melbourne River Cruises
- Bridge Road for shopping
- Brunswick Street for food
- If you can, take a drive east up to the Dandenong Ranges
- Instead of the Rialto, the Eureka tower is another option (it's taller)
- And for something indoors: Chadstone, Southland or Highpoint shopping centres

about weather again, how big difference between morning/night and mid-day?
Since Brissy is abit warm in the mid-day while quite chilled in both morning/night. Eureka sounds good too!! Anyone been to both of them and could tell which is better?

And how much time it takes to finish all those area?
I just surfed through Rialto, is it better to go to the sightsee-ing level than the catering level? I've been to Sydney's AMP tower's restaurant and its great to have the view while dinning.


What kind of food in Brunswick St. ? (Brissy is chinese food as ITs located in china town)



Whats up with Dandenong Ranges? (I don't drive...)
Any local tours good for us?
Anyone been to see penguin?
Any place good to go at night?


I still have a whole month, so I m trying to plan as much as possible.:D
Please help me out ...:cool:

[cygnus]

take a fedora hat and trench coat if you want to fit in with the locals

m...... thats not really my style..:p



if I didn't have any relatives in Melb, I would use www.wotif.com (http://www.wotif.com), I'm a great believer in their service.

Hey thanks~!! So far i m still comparing rates and will make up my mind this week.

[STL]

Phillip Island is great for penguins and sightseeing but yeah u need a tour bus for that. There's also the Great Ocean Rd and more specifically the 12 Apostles (orwhat's left of them)

The days and nights are very cold and the days themselves can be quite frosty despite the sunlight being out. There's always a chilly wind and as I've noted this year is particularly colder (or I'm just getting older)

If by night activities you mean nightlife, plenty of it Melbourne or Fitzroy street in St Kilda. If you mean nice sites, my favourites are

- a walk along w/ the Yarra (w/ the missus of course),
- sitting down at Docklands pier looking towards the bridge I can't quite remember but it's pretty obvious since there's only 1
- in Richmond there's the Scenic drive which is quite nice for a view at night

As for time, the tours mentioned will at the very least be day trips. To get around to most places you'll need a week and a half. I'm not so sure about the shopping aspect of it though. It's pretty much the same anywhere

[iceburn]

to get cheap tours, there's a shop on swanston st, after collins and before little colins (on the side of the theatre). the only thing is that you have to get tickets the day before the trip...i'll try to find the name of the shop again...

[cygnus]

STL: I would like to get prepare for both night life and night site~ though is impossible to enjoy that much (i m those who need lots of sleep....)

Iceburn: um...can i have a quote of day trips? Mainly to Philip island. Just want to prepare the budgets. And thanks for the advice of having discounted trips :D

keep trying minimize the budget therefore won't huge impact on my tf list :cool:

[iceburn]

Iceburn: um...can i have a quote of day trips? Mainly to Philip island. Just want to prepare the budgets. And thanks for the advice of having discounted trips :D


I'll go check it out later tonight, do hope they are still open late as i have a LAN gaming appt after working hours.
Price is definitely cheaper than most agency provides.

[cygnus]

I'll go check it out later tonight, do hope they are still open late as i have a LAN gaming appt after working hours.
Price is definitely cheaper than most agency provides.

um...thanks, i'll be waiting for the price:D

[iceburn]

oopsy..forgot totally about it.
will pop down Swanston street soon for you.

cheers...

[cygnus]

no worries, i still have few weeeeeks to plan. :D

[autobreadticon]

Whats up with Dandenong Ranges?
You could go to Belgrave station which is a public station and then wait for the 'puffing billy' ride shich is a small train that goes around the Dandeong ranges

Anyone been to see penguin
It is quite expensive , but you can go in the day and watch sleeping penguins.

Any place good to go at night?
CBD is great, Carlton is a good place to eat

[i_amtrunks]

I highly recommend seeing the penguins, but at this time of year you'll want to be wearing thermal ebverything and about 18 other layers of clothing. I drove myself down to Melbourne, so I cant say much for the buses or tours. If you do manage to get a car or whatever, Philip Island has a great Putt Putt place in Cowes...

[iceburn]

to get cheap tours, there's a shop on swanston st, after collins and before little colins (on the side of the theatre). the only thing is that you have to get tickets the day before the trip...i'll try to find the name of the shop again...


Okay...made the effort to go today after work...
the shop is called

Half-Tix (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/www.halftixmelbourne.com)
Melbourne Town Hall
Entrance off Swanston Street

Opening Hours:
Mon 10am-2pm
Tue-Thur 11am-6pm
Fri 11am-6.30pm
Sat 10am-4pm
Sun Closed

As mentioned, tickets for trips have to be bought the day before in order for the price to be 50% off!

There are 3 different Philip Island trips:
1. Penguins Direct
Discounted Price A$47.50+ per person
Departs 3.15pm or 5.30pm (Seasonal) Returns 9.00pm - 11.30pm (Seasonal)
Admission to Penguin Parade only

2. Penguin Parade
Discounted Price A$55.50+ per person
Departs 1.30pm Returns 9.00pm - 11.30pm (Seasonal)
Admission includes Penguin Parade and Koala Conservation Centre

3. Penguin Deluxe
Discounted Price A$77.50+ per person
Departs 8.30am Returns 9.00pm - 11.30pm (Seasonal)
Admission to Puffing Billy Steam Train, National Park fees, Admission to Warrook Farm, Koala Conservation Centre, Penguin Parade

Note: There is also an additional A$7-A$8 charge per person I think (can't really remember). Do give them a call if you have any doubts.


Also, if you want pricing for anything else, let me know...the brochure is here

[cygnus]

Whats up with Dandenong Ranges?
You could go to Belgrave station which is a public station and then wait for the 'puffing billy' ride shich is a small train that goes around the Dandeong ranges

Anyone been to see penguin
It is quite expensive , but you can go in the day and watch sleeping penguins.

Any place good to go at night?
CBD is great, Carlton is a good place to eat

i've just read through some details about dandendong....should i join tours or just go there by myself???


Iceburn, if possible, i would like to know the price for tours to ...see penguin, morington, great ocean road together with gold mine place. :cool:

thanks

[Paulbot]

Dandenongs, Mt Dandenong

If you want a tour of Dandenong I can show you the highlight (note the lack of a pural there :) )

[iceburn]

Great Ocean Road
1. Road Explorer
Discounted Price A$66.00+
Departs 8.00am Returns 7.30pm approx
Includes morning tea, national park fees and on-board movie

2. Small Group
Discounted Price A$65.00+
Departs 8.00am Returns 7.00pm approx
Includes only national park fees and light lunch

Mornington Peninsula
Discounted Price A$64.00+
Departs 8.00am Returns 5.00pm
Includes morning tea, strawberry picking, Admission to Ashcombe Maze and Lavendar Gardens as well as 2 Course Lunch!

The Gold Trail
Discounted Price A$62.50+
Departs 8.30am Returns 5.30pm
Admission to Sovereign Hill and Gold Museum

[edit]
I feel as if I'm a tour agent....*hehehehe*
might as well include

Grampians
Discounted Price A$54.00+
Departs 8.00am Returns 8.30pm
Includes Kangaroo Feeding and afternoon tea

Good luck mate

[Demonac]

There is a highlight in Dandenong?

[STL]

There is a highlight in Dandenong?

Yeah... it's called the sticks. :p

[iceburn]

highlight????

[cygnus]

Great Ocean Road
1. Road Explorer
Discounted Price A$66.00+
Departs 8.00am Returns 7.30pm approx
Includes morning tea, national park fees and on-board movie

2. Small Group
Discounted Price A$65.00+
Departs 8.00am Returns 7.00pm approx
Includes only national park fees and light lunch

Mornington Peninsula
Discounted Price A$64.00+
Departs 8.00am Returns 5.00pm
Includes morning tea, strawberry picking, Admission to Ashcombe Maze and Lavendar Gardens as well as 2 Course Lunch!

The Gold Trail
Discounted Price A$62.50+
Departs 8.30am Returns 5.30pm
Admission to Sovereign Hill and Gold Museum

[edit]
I feel as if I'm a tour agent....*hehehehe*
might as well include

Grampians
Discounted Price A$54.00+
Departs 8.00am Returns 8.30pm
Includes Kangaroo Feeding and afternoon tea

Good luck mate

many thanks for the information from agent iceburn :cool:
wondering " strawberry picking, Admission to Ashcombe Maze and Lavendar Gardens " is valid by that time? (winter?)

anything about Yarra?

sadly that all these gonna take one day each, is it possible to have some combined tour ?:p




highlights??? sticks???:confused::confused:

[iceburn]

i don't think you can combine tours as you said, each will take roughly a day.
the penguin island direct is a half day tour so you can choose to do shopping in the day/afternoon and head off to see the penguins at night

ermmm not very sure about strawberry picking but yeah, prob not the good season to be heading down to do that. give Half-tix a call or check out other websites

i'll try to get the Yarra information up for you tonight.
highlights?? what are you looking for? most of the guys here have suggested quite abit and there's so much to do for a week's trip excluding shopping and others