My Melbourne Itinerary

[grapefruitjuice]

u booked your accom?

very brave to do a long distance driving from the moment you touch down. are u sure you will get a good night's sleep on the flight? if this is your first time driving on australian roads (nth challenging, just looooong), i'd suggest doing your day tours first and then do the car rental, plus it's usually more expensive to get the car from the airport.

 

[kokchu]

u booked your accom?

very brave to do a long distance driving from the moment you touch down. are u sure you will get a good night's sleep on the flight? if this is your first time driving on australian roads (nth challenging, just looooong), i'd suggest doing your day tours first and then do the car rental, plus it's usually more expensive to get the car from the airport.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Yup, I have already booked my accommodations. I understand what you mean. I will try to get a good rest and I also have my Dad as a Co-driver. This is my second time driving on Australian roads.

 

[Cheepoozz]

any cheap or offer airtickets to the beautiful city of Melbourne?

 

[grapefruitjuice]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Yup, I have already booked my accommodations. I understand what you mean. I will try to get a good rest and I also have my Dad as a Co-driver. This is my second time driving on Australian roads.

ok get lots of rest on the flight

 

[jamstart]

Hi all,

This is my F&E travel itinerary after doing some research. This thread certainly helps in some of the decision making.

26th Feb
Overnight flight to Melbourne

27th Feb
Arrive Melbourne airport at 7.50am
Collect Hertz rental car at 9am
Travel towards Halls Gap.
Stop at Ballarat to sightsee (May not spend too much time here)
Lunch either in Ararat or Halls Gaps
Check into Grampians Motel
Drop by Halls Gap visitor info centre
Drive around The Grampians, visit outlook places, Mt William, Mt Arapiles
Dinner in Halls Gap

28th Feb
Check out of motel
Grab breakfast
Visit places in The Grampians we left out the previous day
Travel towards Portcampbell
Drop Warrnambool visitor info centre on places we can visit in Warrnambool
Lunch in Warrnambool
Travel towards Portcampell
Check into Portside Motel
Drop by PC visitor info centre
Dinner in PC

29th Feb
Quick breakfast after checking out of motel
Visit 12 Apostle (Expect to spend main bulk to time here)
Travel towards Melbourne CBD to return car by 1800hrs
Check into Mercure Welcome Melbourne hotel
Dinner in Chinatown

1st March
Quick hotel breakfast
Report to Feb Square for Day Trip to Yarra Valley Wineries & Puffing Billy
Return by 1730hrs, shop around and dinner in Chinatown

2nd March
Check out of hotel
Breakfast at Queen Victoria Market, shop around QVM.
Visit places of interest, Old Melbourne Gaol, Sky Deck@Eureka Tower, river cruise, casino
Take Skybus back to Airport by 11.05pm.
Overnight flight to Singapore, reach SG at 5.40am

As I'll be travelling with my Dad, I hope to keep this trip relaxing and easy. So during the driving trip, probably there will be lots of rest at scenic areas. The downside is that we will probably miss some of other attractions but that is ok. The main highlights for us in this trip is The Grampians, 12 Apostles and Wine Tour.

Appreciate if you can give me some comments and also suggest any must-go places of interests.

Cheers mate.

You can visit the Mel Zoo or some wildlife park there, something different.
Not to be missed is the Victoria Market, but they closed around 4pm.

 

[nashrul91]

have anyone heard of mt buller before? planning to go there this march. anything interesting down there? and what stop-over can i do along the way? hmmmm~

 

[genie47]

have anyone heard of mt buller before? planning to go there this march. anything interesting down there? and what stop-over can i do along the way? hmmmm~

Nope. Great place to be in Jul - Sep as it will be snowing there. But even if it is snowing, skiing won't be much to shout about in Australia.

 

[Shiny Things]

have anyone heard of mt buller before? planning to go there this march. anything interesting down there? and what stop-over can i do along the way? hmmmm~

Yeah - Buller's one of the minor mountains, and there's not quite as much to do there as there is up at Falls Creek or Mount Hotham.

If you're going for hiking, it's probably not bad, but earlier in the year would be better. It's a surprisingly cold year this year (the higher mountains are getting snow right now - in January!), so you need to be careful and make sure you're carrying cold-weather gear.

For anything other than hiking, there's not going to be a lot to do up there in March. It's after the summer season, and the winter ski season doesn't pick up until June.

If you're still gonna go, the town of Mansfield is on the road up to Buller, and it's apparently a nice little stopover.

 

[coaxialcable]

Is there hotair balloon rides in Melbourne?
My wife wants it so much for our honeymoon.

 

[jamstart]

Is there hotair balloon rides in Melbourne?
My wife wants it so much for our honeymoon.

I think there is. If you check into a hotel, there are many brochures at the lobby, all kind of activities. You can try your luck.

 

[staythisday]

The file is 150MB size, I would suggest you google 'pirateb*y' and download it from the first search result

May I ask you something? I managed to download the files..but I have issues getting my POIs..that directory is empty? Care to help? Thanks

 

[Diveraz]

Good pointers by TS.

Planning to go mid June, can't seem to get good deals on airtickets now. Most of the special fare has a travel by 30 April 2012 cutoff. Other special fares has blackout dates during the June holidays.

 

[staythisday]

Hi all,

I am back from Melbourne. Thanks to the good tips from this forum, the trip has been rather good. Feel free to view pictures here..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wynx/sets/72157629263014728/

 

[seahmj]

Hi everyone,

I know this is melbourne thread, but i know there should be experience travllers who have been to sydney and melbourne. However, my question would be mainly on melbourne.

I read through the reviews and remarks but i am not very sure of certain things. So i hope i can be advised. Pardon me if i repeat a question someone had already asked.

I am planning my trip from 25 August 2012 to probably 2nd to 4th sept for return. I will be going to melbourne on 27 August to probably 29th or 30th august via domestic flight.

Flight question:
1) when will it be the best period to get the best discount to book my 2 way flight to sydney? And the best time to book my 2 way domestic flight to melbourne?

Land travelling:
I understand that many hwz travellers rented a vehicle for drive in melbourne. However i may be a solo traveller or perhaps with any companion who can drive as well.

2) will itbe recommended for me to rent a small car to travel up from sydney to melbourne and and back to sydney, or just around melbourne and back to sydney?

3) what is the budget for it?

4) for solo travel, will you recommend public transport over rental car?

5) any cheap and safe place to stay near melbourne city or in melbourne city? I prefer single room rather than a dorm.

6) any must go places in melbourne? Please recommend.

Thats all for now. Thanks in advance.

 

[Machim]

May I ask you something? I managed to download the files..but I have issues getting my POIs..that directory is empty? Care to help? Thanks

Sorry for the late reply but my POI also empty, that's why I not sure where is the speed camera in melbourne and have to drive within the limit to be safe...

 

[Machim]

Hi everyone,

I know this is melbourne thread, but i know there should be experience travllers who have been to sydney and melbourne. However, my question would be mainly on melbourne.

I read through the reviews and remarks but i am not very sure of certain things. So i hope i can be advised. Pardon me if i repeat a question someone had already asked.

I am planning my trip from 25 August 2012 to probably 2nd to 4th sept for return. I will be going to melbourne on 27 August to probably 29th or 30th august via domestic flight.

Flight question:
1) when will it be the best period to get the best discount to book my 2 way flight to sydney? And the best time to book my 2 way domestic flight to melbourne?

Land travelling:
I understand that many hwz travellers rented a vehicle for drive in melbourne. However i may be a solo traveller or perhaps with any companion who can drive as well.

2) will itbe recommended for me to rent a small car to travel up from sydney to melbourne and and back to sydney, or just around melbourne and back to sydney?

3) what is the budget for it?

4) for solo travel, will you recommend public transport over rental car?

5) any cheap and safe place to stay near melbourne city or in melbourne city? I prefer single room rather than a dorm.

6) any must go places in melbourne? Please recommend.

Thats all for now. Thanks in advance.

In terms of driving, I think you should drive all by urself as I nearly fall asleep and the car hit a sandy patch along the roadside. Aussie roads are long and straight, very tempting to sleep when driving. FYI, I have driven quite a number of times to malaysia, to places further than KL and yet I find aussie roads are more challenging than malaysia ones.

For staying, try to stay at the more crowded part of melbourne city, such as nearer to chinatown or near to the central interchange at the southern part of city

 

[Aleck]

dear all.. i am planning my first self drive trip next mth... plane will touch down on 9/6 and my trip will last till 14/6. planning to stay in melbourne cdb area for the first day, collect car on the second day den proceed to drive along GOR. will b returning the car at melbourne airport during my departure date.

for now.. i only included a night each at apollo bay n philip island.. can someone kindly filled me up with where to go? will b gg with my 4mth pregnant wife.. but we would love to see waterfalls n stuff... appreciate if anyone can share some insight

 

[genie47]

dear all.. i am planning my first self drive trip next mth... plane will touch down on 9/6 and my trip will last till 14/6. planning to stay in melbourne cdb area for the first day, collect car on the second day den proceed to drive along GOR. will b returning the car at melbourne airport during my departure date.

for now.. i only included a night each at apollo bay n philip island.. can someone kindly filled me up with where to go? will b gg with my 4mth pregnant wife.. but we would love to see waterfalls n stuff... appreciate if anyone can share some insight

For waterfalls and stuff check out this map.

Great Ocean Road Waterfalls - Google Maps

I would say to get to walking distance to waterfalls, Lorne is better if you are staying at Allenvale. Dunno if it is too late to have accommodations there now. The main attraction here is Erskine Falls.

As for a drive direct to a waterfall, Hopetoun Falls is better. The walk down is easy but the walk up can be more tiring for your wife.

There is nothing much around Apollo Bay except it has more tourists there however, if you are staying here, then Hopetoun Falls will be better. The drive through the scenic Beech Forest Road to the falls is very nice. Take it very slow as I have found out. No need to speed. The forest is full of ancient looking plants you have never seen before.

As for Phillip Island, check out the my first post. The San Remo pelican feeding should not be missed if you like to see these HUGE birds.

The Koala Sanctuary is another place on PI. Go online so that you can get a combined parks ticket to the Penguins and Koala sanctuary.

 

[Aleck]

For waterfalls and stuff check out this map.

Great Ocean Road Waterfalls - Google Maps

I would say to get to walking distance to waterfalls, Lorne is better if you are staying at Allenvale. Dunno if it is too late to have accommodations there now. The main attraction here is Erskine Falls.

As for a drive direct to a waterfall, Hopetoun Falls is better. The walk down is easy but the walk up can be more tiring for your wife.

There is nothing much around Apollo Bay except it has more tourists there however, if you are staying here, then Hopetoun Falls will be better. The drive through the scenic Beech Forest Road to the falls is very nice. Take it very slow as I have found out. No need to speed. The forest is full of ancient looking plants you have never seen before.

As for Phillip Island, check out the my first post. The San Remo pelican feeding should not be missed if you like to see these HUGE birds.

The Koala Sanctuary is another place on PI. Go online so that you can get a combined parks ticket to the Penguins and Koala sanctuary.

thanks for ur reply.. i have not book any hotel yet but already checked out allenvale when i read up this thread.. their houses are too big for u i think.. each of them comes with min. of 2 rooms n it can b quite creepy... do u have recommendation for other hotel

 

[genie47]

thanks for ur reply.. i have not book any hotel yet but already checked out allenvale when i read up this thread.. their houses are too big for u i think.. each of them comes with min. of 2 rooms n it can b quite creepy... do u have recommendation for other hotel

Creepy? I like it. When darkness comes, look out the window can only see black.

Hotel ah? Check out Roamfree.com.au or wotif.com.au