Go onto Wotif and check out the rates for the Hotel Windsor for the nights you want - definitely not the cheapest but there isn't another hotel like it anywhere in Australia as far as I know. Definitely an experience worth trying, and you can get room deals for around $200 a night.

From the Information office in Federation Square you can book a walking tour with a guide to take you round and explain the history of the buildings.

Thats as good a clip as I've ever seen. I Forgot to mention Victoria St in Richmond, which the video mentions., Which probably offers the most authentic Asian dining I've seen in Aus.

You could always do some live theatre as well.

Have fun MP.... I'd offer to buy you a drink, we are bussy this weekend setting up our Daughters 18th Birthday, which we are having at our house complete with 60 to 70 young adults attending on Saturday.

To be honest parts of Chapel St are looking a little sad these days - like a lot of other Melbourne shopping precincts there are a lot of empty shops and plenty of $2 type / 'variety' shops. But it goes like this:

If you got off the train at South Yarra and walked down to Chapel St:

Turn right - first suburb you go through is South Yarra - looking pretty good, lots of higher end boutique shopping, good cafes, some bars...and Topshop which may interest junior!

Keep walking and you come to Prahran...worth stopping into the market if its open. About that point (Commercial Rd) the shopping becomes a bit more mixed but there are more funky eating places. I'd recommend 'Thai food to go' .

Keep going further and you come to Chapel St, Windsor...this is actually the best part for casual eating and boozing. The groovers hang out at Yellowbird which has decent food and a 'Melbourne vibe'. You could probably walk along until you hit the train station at Windsor and back into the city form there.

Alternatively if it's the right time of day (which isn't often!) you can get the 79 tram down into St Kilda.

hi bcworld, which saunas do you recommend?

I'm sure you will find plenty to keep you entertained!

subway or wow?

Hi, I have stopped at The Windsor Hotel, The Oaks on Collins, Mercure on Spring Street and the Rialto on Collins and can recommend them all, got good deals from Wotif also they are near trams stops which makes getting round really easy.

My personal favourites were The Windsor and Rialto both certainly something to experience.

Can recommend Mamasita Restaurant, 11 Collins St best Mexican I have ever been to, if you are going to eat there you need to be ready to queue if you arrive after 5pm as they dont take bookings.

Enjoy

wow?is that a reference to the tattoo?

Bit concerned re my advice to visit Williamstown and the Train trip back... If I recall that train station isn't that easy to find ? Plus I wouldn't advise a two way boat trip in a Melbourne Winter.

Do you think those concerns are valid... or is a trip to Willi worthwhile... doing at least one leg by Train ? Probably going to Williamstown by train and ferry back would be a better idea ...... then the ferry may not be running in the winter ?

So check that MP... and wait for UKC's further advice. I still reckon Williamstown is worth a visit for an insterate visitor though.

A boat trip in winter doesn't sound favourable to me. I am a soft QLDer after all.

My list:

- Go to the Reading Room in the State Library...stunning.

- Loved the laneway tour I did - found twice as many arcades and laneways as I would have by myself - was really worth it as you find all the hole in wall cafe's, cool indie shops, galleries, historic arcades etc and then you can go back to them afterwards.

- Vic markets - try to go to the food bit as I think that is better than the part selling tat.

- Inner suburbs - shops, nice architecture, parks etc to see. Easy to jump a tram out to the various streets.

- Botanic gardens is nice - few different attractions so check website first for times - combine with war memorial.

- Google attractions that are in federation square - more than first obvious so pays to plan ahead - I didn't

- Free melbourne greeter was good - he took us around and showed us all the stuff he loves. Leaves from tourist office in fed square.

- Stay closer to Swanston St end - as others have said Docklands is a work in progress and wouldn't be so good to wander around in winter.

- Guess you've heard of the tram restaurant - didn't try it but might be fun.

- If running out of time I would skip St Kilda and buy a treat in the Chinatown area instead.

- Upstairs in the CBD Koko Black in the Royal Arcade is nice for coffee and chocolate indulgence stop (opposite the Babushka doll store):




- The historic arcades in Melbourne are really nice. While you're in the Royal Arcade check out Gog and Magog. Check out the Block arcade and others.

- Check out the Shot Tower in Melbourne Central shopping centre:



(Time your visit to be on the hour and watch the huge clock nearby)

- Check out the Melbourne post office for it's historically sensitive shopping fitout. Was a nice pizza place in the lane beside it.

- Check out the Princess Theatre:



And possible see something at the Regent:

Help! We only have a weekend, we need a month! Or three. This is all great, we should have as much fun working out what we will do, as we will doing it.

Weekend's far too long in Melbourne...........................you'll catch chill blanes

All great suggestions Fish!

Tram restaurant is great for lunch as it is cheaper and you can see parts of Melbourne you might not have time to go visit. The food is excellent and so is the wine

Unfortunately, they've got scaffolding all over the GPO building at the moment so the outside doesn't look great, but inside is still pretty awesome. Have a coffee at the small café in the middle there, and a macaron. They were voted the best in Melbourne a couple of years ago and they truly are. The place is called Cacao, run by a Frenchman who makes deliciously scrumptious chocolates and desserts out of the main outlet in St Kilda on Fitzroy St.

I fell asleep watching The Phantom of the Opera in Broadway