We have just booked flights to Melbourne for next February, for 2 weeks, in order to validate our visas. ( Not a cheap exercise!)

We are, obviously, going to have a good look around Melbourne as a potential place to live but as we are also taking our two girls (6 and 4) we would also like to make the trip as much of a family holiday as possible as well.

Any suggestions on places to stay / visit would be much appreciated as we had intended on moving to Sydney originally but would now like to explore other options and so do not know much, at all, about Melbourne or its surrounding areas.

Cheers

Healsville Sanctuary 1.5 hrs from CBD. All the iconic Aussie animals plus a few you've probably not heard of.

Penguin Parade 1.5-2 hrs from CBD. Bring warm clothes (and blankets) even in February. If you go to Phillip Island you may want to see the Pelicans being fed in San Remo (11:30 I think), the Koala Park and possibly Maze 'n' Things (which I've not been to).

Puffing Billy 1 hr from CBD. One of the best steam trains I've been on. Don't go on a code red day (Extreme Fire Danger Day).

The Dandenongs themselves. Probably more interesting for mum and dad.

Albert Park. Pretend you're on the Grand Prix circuit and then stop at the excellent children's playground.

Botanical Park. Excellent for a stroll. Also there is a chidren's park but check if it's open.

Fitzroy Gradens. Captain Cook's Cottage. Fairy Tree (not as good as the one in Hyde Park) and a model village donated by Lewisham?

Rialto Tower (skydeck) or Eureka Tower. I've not been up Eureka but Rialto was really great. Great view over city and bay.

Scienceworks. Although it might be better with slightly older kids.

Melbourne Aquarium and Museum. Standard features of most big cities.

Walk along the Yarra. Start in the city on the southbank and walk till the kids can't take anymore.

James Squire Brewhouse. Tell the kids they'll really enjoy it

Plenty of things to do in Melbourne, especially in the summer time, Feb/March are the hottest months so the weather is normally anywhere between 24 and 42degrees. There is somthing for everyone so I would just get here and see what takes your fancy, get a feel for the place. Planty to do for families!
Enjoy your trip, you will love Melbourne once you get to discover all the different suburbs and communities, I am still finding new things after nearly 3 years here.

Boat Trip on the Yarra. Not actually done this but have heard good reports.

Water Taxi.

City Circle Tram (free) or other Tram.

Trip to Aldi (to remind you of the UK shopping experience )

Wander around the city (e.g. follow the Golden Mile).

Trip to the Beach (so many to choose from).

Take your choice of nearly 150 differnt nationality food restaurants there are in Melbourne from Etheopian to Estonian, I kid you not. That is one big thing I noticed here is the amazing choice of restaurants and the quality they deliver is always good and not too expensive prices! You cannot go wrong

Certainly sounds like we wont be stuck for things to do then!

Many thanks for spending the time to reply in such detail.

Which area / hotel or holiday let (3 star) would you suggest to stay if any?

You're welcome.

I think I'll have to let others answer that one. We spent 2 days in the Backpacker's Hotel on Swanston St (which I was happy with) before we moved out to the 'burbs.

Take the kids to the Moonlit Sanctuary in Tooradin, about 45 mins from the city for a nighttime walk through the bush, it's wonderful, kangaroos, wallabies appear from everywhere, gliders and possums leaping through the trees, plus kids get to hold snakes. www.moonlit-sanctuary.com

Also William Ricketts Sanctuary in the Dandenongs, very thought provoking!

The tourist board in Federation Square in the city is excellant for helping with transport, accomodation, everything really.

We stayed at a great place on the Mornington Peninsula if you want a few days out of the city called Sartains at Mt Eliza, a self catering cottage, you can have meals cooked if you want, 5 mins from beaches, you should find details via tourist board.

Have pm'd you.

Enjoy your trip!

We stayed in Arklow Breaks apartment in Morninging (about 2 miles from the brilliant High St). I had an email from them the other day saying that there was availability at discounted prices. I've cut and pasted across the email she sent to me so you can contact them direct:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Winters almost over and the Mornington Breaks Apartments and Arklow cottage, beaches, wineries, restaurants and cafes are waiting for you with old fashioned friendliness and hospitality.

December, January and February is beach weather and it is also traditionally the time to pick the soft fruits from our local farms.

Get in early and book your accommodation to receive a 20% discount on weekly bookings and a 10% discount on nightly bookings (minimum 2 nights), on our high season rates. Please visit www.morningtonbreaks.com.au for rate information or call us direct on +61 (0)3 5976 3654

Offer valid until November 30th 2008.

Upcoming Events at Mornington

Oct 10th
Mornington Food and Wine Expo

Nov 4th
Balnarring Annual Pony Club Show

Nov 30th
Pet and Pony Expo

Dec
Main Street Christmas Festival

Dec
Christmas Market

Dec 13th
Carols in the Park

Dec 27th to 31st
Beach Cricket Series

Jan 10th to 11th
Coolart Jazz Festival 2009

Jan 11th
Redhill Country Music Festival

Jan 10th
Dromana Strawberry Festival

Feb 1st
Mt Martha Beach Festival

Feb 22nd to 23rd
True Blue Art on Show


Conditions of Offer : Limited availability, Offer available for booking made direct with Mornington Breaks by phone or on our website.

www.morningtonbreak.com.au





Mornington Breaks

Call Patricia Gillespie
+61 (0)3 5976 3654
www.morningtonbreaks.com.au


I can recommend it especially as the owner was so nice. I needed a doctor when over there and she organised an appointment, along with a taxi from the airport (which was fab) and also some initial provisions (tea, milk, bread etc). It's a short walk down to Fishermans Beach too. She even decorated a Xmas tree and left some decorations for the kids to put up.

God it sounds like I'm trying to sell it, but recommendations from people are worth their weight in gold. ~Regardless of where you stay, I can definately recommend Mornington, as it has everything you need and is quite central to lots of toruisty places.
It's a bit of a trek, but if you venture over to the other side of the Penninsular (the Sorrento ferry is fab) then it's worth a trek up to Annaki to Fairy Park (www.fairypark.com) which is a wonderland and our kids (4 year boy and 6 year girl) really loved it. As I say though it is a trek and definately a day trip, so set off early.
Please can you mention Lorraine and Gary (from last Xmas) to Patricia and say 'hi' if you do book with her.
Lorraine

Just done a bit of research and Mornington and the peninsula looks really nice for the stay, thank you.

Quick question we stayed here and agree its great location and facilities. But with the weekly rate of $1300 it says additional children $30 per night - is that per child? or per night for x amount of children.

2 adults + 4 kids = either:

1300 + (4x30 x 7 ) = $2140 or
1300 + (30x7) = $1510

Such a long time ago can't remember myself

Have found alot of other places as well so worth shopping around but rates for a good place/location start from $700 per week.

Also try
http://www.moving-to-melbourne.co.uk...ommodation.htm

Mornington and the area is lovely, but if you're here for two weeks and you're doing the sights I would suggest staying in the CBD and fanning out from there.

By all means take a couple of days in Mornington or Sorrento and enjoy the coastal beaches, use it as a closer base to visit the pen-goo-ins on Phillip Island in the evening (a must for the girls), but the city would make a more logical base for the bulk of your two weeks.

You should also take a trip to Olinda and the Dandenongs, get some lunch at the Pig & Whistle and visit Grants Picnic Ground to feed the birds of paradise on the way back. You could even roll in a trip in the Puffing Billy at Belgrave as it's in the same area. An awesome day out, we do it all the time. Crows live out that was and can provide more info.

You might also be interested in a Google Map which a few of us in the Community have created to highlight some of our favourite places.

Hope this helps

Al

I would agree that staying in or near the CBD would be better for a 2 week trip.

Just a note on Puffing Billy. If you do take it then I think the best trip is from Belgrave to Lakeside. I would also recommend taking a picnic to have at lakeside but there is a greasy spoon type cafe up there.

Is Mornington too far to the South of Melbourne then to drive to these places for day trips?

I feel that by staying in the CBD then it wouldn't be a kids type of holiday that we were sort of hoping for.
I suppose we are hoping to stay somewhere that has a family holiday feel though situated within reasonable reach of 'the sights' of Melbourne.

Just looking at BigApe's map. A drive from St Kilda down Beach Rd to Ricketts Point Tea Room maybe with a couple of stops to walkabout would be a nice way to spend a few hours (even for the kids).

You'd also get to see a few areas that you might want to live in (or at least consider checking out).