[JamieD]

There is a chance I might be in Melbourne for 2 weeks in early/mid December.
It will be my first visit to Melbourne so looking forward to it. Now just have to work out what do do with the free weekend I'll have in the middle of the trip

Any suggestions of things to see and do in Melbourne would be appreciated

[Ken Gracey]

Casino, the zoo , museum, the niche offices , the apple store in Doncaster or chadstome, the city, or if you want to go for a drive, go to Philip island and see the penguin parade, or dinner in Lyon street carlton, there is heaps of stuff to do here, hey it is the worlds most livable city after all.

[klytia]

Fly up to Queensland, give Melbourne a miss...

[JamieD]

When (if?) I am over there I believe I will be in South Melbourne (Eastern Road) during the day but unsure yet as to where my accommodation will be

[Ken Gracey]

Hey will be almost just across the road from the niche offices, you can go and have a coffee with Dave Bullard, and then walk up to the casino, and have a wonder around.

[JamieD]

I can now confirm that I will be in Melbourne for 2 weeks, most likely in early December.

I have signed the contract for a new job today and this requires a trip to Melbourne for initial training in their computer systems. Really looking forward to the visit as I hear Melbourne is a lovely place, and obviously I hope to be able to visit an Apple store while I am there! During the week I will be working but will have a free weekend in the middle of the visit which I can hopefully use to have a bit of a look around (assuming I can work out how to get to and from places on public transport)

[gracer]

First tip: Ignore Mick's advice. Second: Laneways. Melbourne is famed for its cafes and wine bars in hidden nooks where you'll never find two of the same. They're the gems of the state.

I also recommend catching any tram headed in whichever direction, if you appreciate the value in people-watching. We are a city of all kinds and Metlink is the best form of transportation to have a gawk at the weird and wonderful. Kind of like a metropolitan-themed safari.

I've only been in Melbourne just over a year myself, but here is a list of some of my fav places to visit:

Lindt Cafe - Collins St, in the city
Chapel St - if you're on the hunt to buy ANYTHING
St Kilda Beach and Esplanade
St Kilda Botanical Gardens
Movida - in the city (best tapas on earth)
Hire bicycles - quickest and cheapest way to see the city
Borsche Vodka & Tears - enough said

Plus the immigration museum will soak up a good hour or two.

You'll also notice that good gelato is on most street corners. Scoop some up - literally.

And if you get bored, we're in South Melbourne so drop by and say hello!

Hope it's a great trip Jamie.

G

[Jim]

Congratulations Jamie.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ken Gracey]

OMG Grace !!! you go to Movida .... I love that place

[JZ]

Hey try Proud Mary's. It's got Jamie Oliver's stamp of approval. Has amazing food and some if the best coffee ive tasted.


jz

[klytia]

gracer, on 04 November 2011 - 02:08 PM, said:

1320379728[/url]' post='74092']
First tip: Ignore Mick's advice.

I am just devastated Grace......I was about to sing you platitudes for all the work you have done on the interview as far as I am concerned if its south of Sarina, its not worth looking at!
Jamie, we' ll get Ken to drive you around on the weekend, give him something to do and keep him from annoying us....

[Ken Gracey]

Hey grace you left out:

Liquid at docklands (great tapas) and a nice cool sea breeze on hot night.

The Atlantic at crown casino (if you have deep pockets, and don't mind the 3 month wait to get in ) best seafood in town

Also the waterfront at port Melbourne, if you have slightly less deeper pockets, for more great seafood.

[gracer]

Oh you're right about Port Melbounre Ken – I used to live right by the beach and it's a great location for food and atmosphere.

Mick, you know I only joke. Your boating photos back up your argument. But you've got to give credit where it's due: Melbourne is a super city. Basically, don't hold back on the platitudes and praise

TCLAUS - how wonderful is Movida? Life-changing tapas. I recommend it whenever I get the chance. The last time I went for dinner, it was to Movida Acqui which is a little more rustic in its style of food and I actually preferred it. The paella wins me over. Every time.

[Ken Gracey]

Hmm now you have me going grace, do you know the name of the resturant in Melbourne, that gives you thier menu on an iPad ?

[klytia]

The one with the big "M" out the front Ken, you should know it, it's your favorite!
I love your style,

[JamieD]

Thanks for all of the advice on places to see. Unfortunately my days will be spent working but will have the evenings and a weekend so hopefully should be able to get out and about at some stage.

One definite for me will be a visit to an Apple store (since we don't have them here in NZ) so have to work out the logistics of this yet. The Australian office of the company that I will be working for is in Eastern Road (right around the corner from Niche I believe) and I suspect that I will be staying in a hotel within walking distance of there (I assume that there are some reasonable hotels in the area!). So anywhere that I do want to visit will need to be either walking distance or an easy public transport ride from there as the last thing I want to do is get totally lost in a city that I have never been in before.

I have other things to think of too - do I roam with my NZ mobile phone or is there a cheaper way that I can get a pre-pay micro-SIM while over there to use in my iPhone? I know nothing about this kind of thing so any guidance on how to do mobile data on the cheap would be appreciated.

[JamieD]

Looks like I will fly in to Melbourne Monday Dec 5, and leave Friday Dec 16. Now that the dates are more or less confirmed I'm really starting to look forward to the trip! I love visiting new places, it's kind of like an adventure.

I'm considering splashing out and buying an iPad 2 to take on the trip as I can't see me surviving a 4 hour flight there without something to do, and it gives me a good excuse for a new toy. On the subject of iPads what are some "must have" applications? Also tossing up Wifi only vs. Wifi/3G, the main thing putting me off Wifi/3G is the cost of mobile data!I suspect that a lot of the places I will be should have Wifi access.

[gracer]

Are you flying via Jetstar Jamie? As you may have seen on the site this morning, Jetstar have rolled out iPads for in-flight entertainment on Australia and New Zealand flights, at a hire cost of $10-$15.

Probably doesn't rival having personalised content, like all your favourite apps installed. But there's a good range of movie, TV shows and music to access.

If, of course, you are not flying with the airline this reply has been entirely irrelevant. In which case, ignore me.

G

[klytia]

Jamie, there are threads on both cool apps for ipad and the debate WiFi vs sim card iPads.
if you have a iPhone, you can use the hotspot feature to tether the iPad, have fun...
mick
Grace, no more 3:00 am posts, you should be sleeping, not posting on the forum....

[JamieD]

gracer, on 09 November 2011 - 01:08 PM, said:

Are you flying via Jetstar Jamie? As you may have seen on the site this morning, Jetstar have rolled out iPads for in-flight entertainment on Australia and New Zealand flights, at a hire cost of $10-$15.

Probably doesn't rival having personalised content, like all your favourite apps installed. But there's a good range of movie, TV shows and music to access.

If, of course, you are not flying with the airline this reply has been entirely irrelevant. In which case, ignore me.

G

Flying Air New Zealand rather than JetStar but think that what JetStar are offering is very cool.

Your post is still relevant (just not to my situation) so I won't ignore you :-)