floss

Help - I am trying to pursuade hubby to move back to Oz, to Melbourne. I've never been and he hasn't been there since he was small.... LONG time! He has quite reasonably said that he couldn't agree to move there without a visit, so that's what we're doing in July/August.

Except it's not quite as simple as that - due to various family commitments and me changing my mind about where I wanted to move AFTER we'd booked the flights, we are not going to have very long in Melbourne.

Please don't laugh - but we arrive Saturday lunchtime and leave Tuesday same time!!!! Yes, I know - but it was all the time we could squeeze in!!

Anyway, I really love all I have heard about Mount Eliza. We are staying in St Kilda's (thought he'd like that, and so chalk up some points in Melbourne's favour) so I thought - 1 day driving along coast trying to "get a feel" for areas down to & including Mt Eliza. Also, if the rain holds off, nice beachy day.

Other area which looks good for us is Glen Waverley/Ferntree Gully/Heathmont. So, I figured another day exploring around there.

Hubby wants to "see" central Melbourne and I'd like everyone to leave having decided they want to come back big time.... so does anyone have any suggestions for what we can see/do in the remaining (?) time. It's me, hubby (who loves cosmopolitan London and good eating) and 3 children aged 4, 10 & 12 who will all probably be getting quite crabby unless we can find something to entertain them!

No need to comment on how impossible it will be to get an idea of a place in such a ridiculously short time - I KNOW!!! But hey

Any & all suggestions welcomed!

Hunkyhenry

Over and under

Flying Banana

If you're staying in St Kilda first stop would be to have a drool over the cake shops in Acland Street, there's Luna Park which might keep the kids happy.

In the city head up to the QV http://www.qv.com.au (on swanston st, one block up from Bourke St/Nike Town, go to QV square and have a hot chocolate at Max Brenner www.maxbrenner.com.au

The kids would probably like the zoo if you have time.

For a cheap good family meal in the city go over to the Southbank and head towards the Exhibition Centre, one of the last places in the Crown Casino complex called Automatic Cafe http://www.automaticcafe.com.au/ does great pizza/pasta and other stuff and won't break the bank. At night the big stone pillars along that end of the waterfront spit out huge flames every half hour. Aquarium is just over the other side of the river from there too.

Head up to Carlton to Brunetti's http://www.brunetti.com.au/ go up Lygon Street, turn right at Faraday Street and you can't miss it, the display of cakes is just awesome.

I live out in Glen Waverley and can't think of masses to do or see. There's loads of stuff around 'The Glen' Shopping area, which is where the station is. There is a huge Village cinema multiplex and the road along the back of the cinema has loads of cafes, ice cream parlour and smaller shops too.

Going a bit further east from Glen Waverley there is Jells Park which is nice if you fancy a wander round and it's decent weather.

Hope your whistlestop tour goes OK

Juliecabs

Hi Floss,
How about the Puffing Billy through the Dandenongs. This old steam train trundles up through forests from a place called Belgrave (about an hours drive from the CBD) to a place called Lakeside where the kids can go out on the lake on one of those 3 wheeled pedalo thingys. It can get a bit chilly there in July/August but it's a nice day out. There is a train that leaves at 12 noon ish! (check times though!) where you can get lunch on board in 1st class.

Have fun.
Julie

floss

Flying Banana and Juliecabs - fantastic.... thanks!

Juliecab... where are you? i live in Langley Vale.... by the racecourse!!!! Small world?!?

Juliecabs

Hi Floss,
Sorry to take so long to get back to you. Been out with the girlies in Epsom.
I live in Ewell Village.(Born and bred!). My brother lives in Langley Vale though, so know it well.

hevs

If you do the puffing billy (its around $80 for four) let me know and i'll give you one of the routes for one of our favorite afternoons out from where we live, (goes through Belgrave, where you pick up the Puffing Billy) includes feeding rosellas and kig parrots, a journey through the dandenong national park and a fantastic view over Melbourne and the kids can bomb around madley). Pm me if you want the details etc

jas_uk

Im not sure if its the same street, but there is a restaurant called Deverolis which does AMAZING cake! Went there 3 times in a week once, steak, cake.. couldnt finish cake, take back to hotel in takeaway box... eat rest of the cake next day... then go and do it again

Opposite side of the road from this photo...


(p.s., sorry feel faintly hijacking here... but cake is gooood! )

floss

To heck with Australia and a new life..... my 4 year old is SOOOOOO excited about the cakes!

Hevs - thanks for Puffing Billy idea - we've so little time that I'm going to have to plan it like a military operation.... will definitely be in touch if it looks as if we could fit it in... sounds lovely.

AmandaJ

Hi

The Observation Deck (Collins Street) is excellent in the CBD for a panoramic view - only good on clear days.

Also the Zoo if you have time - my kids loved it, aged 11 & 13 and you can get around in half a day. Also the Aquarium is a good one for the kids.

I'm not sure about Lunar Park, when we visited in September it was closed as winter season.

Hope this helps.
AJ

Flying Banana

Yes Jas_UK thats Acland Street, and the cake shops look like this.....



There are about five near enough in a row, just the smell inside them is divine!
I'll try and get some photos if I'm down there over the next few weeks.

jas_uk

Awesome, this was like 3 years ago now *sob* and at the time I really didnt think enough about remembering where stuff was or road names or even getting away from the English/Italian people I was with (work related visit you see). Can't wait to get back there in about 18 months time!