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First trip to Melbourne
Well now. For many years now I've read all these posts from people in Melbourne going on about the place and saying how superior it is to Sydney. Well I'm just back from my first trip to the place and I have to say, Melbourne people - you've been talking out of your arses.
Now obviously I've got no idea what it's like to live in the joint, but then I suspect most of you have no idea what it's like to live in Sydney, so hey ho. But if you're honestly trying to tell me that the port location of the city is in any way better than the natural harbour of Sydney then you need your head checking. The CBD was nice enough, but there are numerous parts of Sydney that beat it into a cocked hat. St Kilda was big, 'meh' - load of run-down hotels, kebab shops and some iffy bars. I especially liked the way the city planners stuck a siding over that bridge to the airport so you don't have to look at those four rank awful tower blocks. Sorry if Melbourne is the apple of your eye, but my own very personal opinion is that Sydney is far and away the superior city by just about any metric you care to choose. All that anti-Sydney guff that emanated from Victoria has now been clearly revealed to me as little more than tall poppy syndrome. I suspect that the only reason your population is growing so fast is that it's marginally cheaper to buy property there. You can keep that four-seasons-in-a-day shit too. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Don't beat about the bush, say what you really mean :rofl:
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Wendy
(Post 8860390)
Don't beat about the bush, say what you really mean :rofl:
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Personally, I wouldn't live in either place, nor any city come to that. Woop Woop is much better. :)
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by alistairboyle
(Post 8860458)
Personally, I wouldn't live in either place, nor any city come to that. Woop Woop is much better. :)
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Centurion
(Post 8860477)
Until you actually need to get something or go somewhere :D
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
I have just booked to stay in Sydney for the first time in November so any tips on things to do? or maybe the main thing to see and do while there?
Hutch your post made me laugh as it was very to the point i cannot comment on Melbourne as never been but after that i think i will leave it a while longer to visit :rofl: |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 8860365)
But if you're honestly trying to tell me that the port location of the city is in any way better than the natural harbour of Sydney then you need your head checking.
I'd happily live in either of them. Just don't send me back to Brisbane! |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 8860365)
Well now. For many years now I've read all these posts from people in Melbourne going on about the place and saying how superior it is to Sydney. Well I'm just back from my first trip to the place and I have to say, Melbourne people - you've been talking out of your arses.
Now obviously I've got no idea what it's like to live in the joint, but then I suspect most of you have no idea what it's like to live in Sydney, so hey ho. But if you're honestly trying to tell me that the port location of the city is in any way better than the natural harbour of Sydney then you need your head checking. The CBD was nice enough, but there are numerous parts of Sydney that beat it into a cocked hat. St Kilda was big, 'meh' - load of run-down hotels, kebab shops and some iffy bars. I especially liked the way the city planners stuck a siding over that bridge to the airport so you don't have to look at those four rank awful tower blocks. Sorry if Melbourne is the apple of your eye, but my own very personal opinion is that Sydney is far and away the superior city by just about any metric you care to choose. All that anti-Sydney guff that emanated from Victoria has now been clearly revealed to me as little more than tall poppy syndrome. I suspect that the only reason your population is growing so fast is that it's marginally cheaper to buy property there. You can keep that four-seasons-in-a-day shit too. Sydney harbour is nice, but sorta doubt most migrants would afford to live there anyway. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by bcworld
(Post 8860537)
I don't think it's something I've actually ever heard anyone claim...not even the most fervent Melbourne 'evangelists'! ;)
I'd happily live in either of them. Just don't send me back to Brisbane! I must admit I quite liked Melbourne city... but from what I had heard I was half expecting to see a statue of a large arse with the sun shining out of it. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Hutch
(Post 8860365)
Well now. For many years now I've read all these posts from people in Melbourne going on about the place and saying how superior it is to Sydney. Well I'm just back from my first trip to the place and I have to say, Melbourne people - you've been talking out of your arses.
Now obviously I've got no idea what it's like to live in the joint, but then I suspect most of you have no idea what it's like to live in Sydney, so hey ho. But if you're honestly trying to tell me that the port location of the city is in any way better than the natural harbour of Sydney then you need your head checking. The CBD was nice enough, but there are numerous parts of Sydney that beat it into a cocked hat. St Kilda was big, 'meh' - load of run-down hotels, kebab shops and some iffy bars. I especially liked the way the city planners stuck a siding over that bridge to the airport so you don't have to look at those four rank awful tower blocks. Sorry if Melbourne is the apple of your eye, but my own very personal opinion is that Sydney is far and away the superior city by just about any metric you care to choose. All that anti-Sydney guff that emanated from Victoria has now been clearly revealed to me as little more than tall poppy syndrome. I suspect that the only reason your population is growing so fast is that it's marginally cheaper to buy property there. You can keep that four-seasons-in-a-day shit too. St Kilda is a dump - I'm not sure why people go there. As for 4 seasons - it's the effing coldest winter and now spring I can remember which surely could not have helped! |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by jad n rich
(Post 8860546)
Was it raining? always think melb looks like a run down UK city in rain, but catch it on a nice day and it looks OK.
Sydney harbour is nice, but sorta doubt most migrants would afford to live there anyway. That's it - it's all relative... |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack
(Post 8860632)
I agree until I saw a UK city in the rain and realised it looks alot dingier than Melbourne. I caught Cardiff on the box the other day and there was a sharp intake of breath.. It's all relative - I sometimes feel Melbourne can be grey - say Collingwood but then realise that Europe is, infact, (ha!) greyer....I've never seen a UK city with a water front which looks like Melbourne from the Bolte Bridge - with stadia and entertainment complexes - and I don't just mean some little bit of midlands development to make the city's denizens feel good. I was thinking the other day - getting my kids to the new stadium for the Super xx rugby next year - (I forget the number of teams now) that you can walk amongst the Melbourne sporting arenas - rugby union, league, AFL, tennis etc and get to them walking from the city, and I'm not even including Ethiad. London has Wembley which is nowhere near the CBD - it's in Wembley for crying out loud and even that was a close run thing. I actually thought it would never get built for a bit (joke) and everyone would just pretend it never existed.
That's it - it's all relative... |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by iamthecreaturefromuranus
(Post 8860653)
"Europe is greyer'.. what ALL of it? All 2000+ cities !!
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by LINDZI
(Post 8860524)
I have just booked to stay in Sydney for the first time in November so any tips on things to do? or maybe the main thing to see and do while there?
Hutch your post made me laugh as it was very to the point i cannot comment on Melbourne as never been but after that i think i will leave it a while longer to visit :rofl: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=677230 Have fun! We go next month, can't wait :thumbsup: |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by LouiseR
(Post 8860759)
Hutch and a few others gave me some valuable advice here
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=677230 Have fun! We go next month, can't wait :thumbsup: Have fun to i cannot wait to go :thumbup: |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Sydney harbour is one of the most beautiful City Vistas I've ever seen. However the rest of Sydney isnt up to scratch. St Kilda is just one of many 'burbs to go out in. No one has ever claimed it is beautiful, just a place where things happen. There are far more of these happening "burbs in Melbourne than Sydney.
I only know of 4 of these vibrant Burbs in Sydney, Melbourne has at least 10.... I'd put them in this Order.... Carlton, Fitzroy, Brunswick, Richmond, St Kilda, Prahran, Northcote, Hawthorn, Toorak, North Melbourne, South Melbourne, South Yarra, Collingwood..... Preston is on it's way. I'm talking Venues/Things to do/Architecture (Street scape for urban lovers) When people go on about Melbourne, they are talking about the whole of the inner area, not just the CBD. Sydney is way behind this now. Last Two times I visited Sydney I was amazed how quiet the CBD was at Night time. Still I would live in Sydney as my 2nd choice in Aus quite happily. I'm really stuck for a 3rd choice I will admit.... I think it would be Hobart V Adelaide. I just cant hack humidty.... Sydney is as humid as I can handle. One thing about St Kilda, is its probably the least attractive of the Burbs I've mentioned above, you have to go to the Side Streets to see the decent buildings. It's 5th on my list Hutch.... I'd love to see a list of happening burbs in Sydney, so I can try them out next time I visit. I only know of Manly, Paddington, Parramatta and Darlinghurst. There's stuff all at Bondi Beach... which in my view is the most overrated place in Aus. Maybe Bondi Junction has more going for it, rather than just another Ho Hum highly overrated beach, amongst the 1,000's we have around Aus. . |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Dang! We've been rumbled. :lol:
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by ozzieeagle
(Post 8860815)
When people go on about Melbourne, they are talking about the whole of the inner area, not just the CBD.
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by iamthecreaturefromuranus
(Post 8860653)
"Europe is greyer'.. what ALL of it? All 2000+ cities !!
I often look at the established suburbs of the inner East in Melbourne and think of North London, SW London until I see SW London and North London on the box and then again - I think - actually Melbourne is not that grey. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack
(Post 8860865)
I don't mean every single city... there's a bit of artistic license there Sir..What I've noticed is that the relative age of European cities make them look greyer too - sort of darker. The whole sorry lot, Melbourne included is less attractive under grey skies.
I often look at the established suburbs of the inner East in Melbourne and think of North London, SW London until I see SW London and North London on the box and then again - I think - actually Melbourne is not that grey. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Amazulu
(Post 8860876)
Have a look at a great recent movie called Harry Brown if you want to see depressing inner city vistas.
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Officer Dibble
(Post 8860884)
Its compulsory for Brit kitchen sink dramas to have a drab grey backdrop.
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack
(Post 8860865)
I don't mean every single city... there's a bit of artistic license there Sir..What I've noticed is that the relative age of European cities make them look greyer too - sort of darker. The whole sorry lot, Melbourne included is less attractive under grey skies.
Well if you will insist on going to eastern Poland for your holidays:rolleyes:. But try Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, Nice. In no way can they be described as 'grey'. I think 'stunning' is the more appropriate word. And while I'm here, I'll share my theory.... which Mrs JTL thinks is bollox:o. New buildings in australian CBDs are all built of reflective glass so that the sunlight bounces down to street level. Thats how they get planning permission for tall buildings. They make them reflective, therefore the streets aren't so dark, sunlight bounces around. Or else, why are all new tall builings reflective these days? They're not attractive, but they are reflective. JTL |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by JackTheLad
(Post 8860916)
Well if you will insist on going to eastern Poland for your holidays:rolleyes:. But try Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, Nice. In no way can they be described as 'grey'. I think 'stunning' is the more appropriate word.
And while I'm here, I'll share my theory.... which Mrs JTL thinks is bollox:o. New buildings in australian CBDs are all built of reflective glass so that the sunlight bounces down to street level. Thats how they get planning permission for tall buildings. They make them reflective, therefore the streets aren't so dark, sunlight bounces around. Or else, why are all new tall builings reflective these days? They're not attractive, but they are reflective. JTL I like your theory. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Never been to Melbourne, want to but want to go to loads of places. Hutch you made me laugh out loud. No idea if your views would match mine or not but you made me laugh :lol:
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by moneypenny20
(Post 8861229)
Never been to Melbourne, want to but want to go to loads of places. Hutch you made me laugh out loud. No idea if your views would match mine or not but you made me laugh :lol:
And just hope to hell you don't need to go Little Bourkes Street. JTL |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Most of the charm of Melbourne's CBD is hidden beneath the skyscrapers.
There is basically an old city hiding behind the new one, to use an analogy, it is like a garden that has been overgrown by the forest over the years and you have to walk in amongst the forest to see it, you won't see it from afar. I am referring to the fantastic 19th century (mostly Victorian period) architecture that is to be found within the CBD of Melbourne as well as in most of the inner suburbs. You have to walk in amongst all the streets and lane ways to really see it. The 'street scapes' of Melbourne are also far superior than Sydney's IMO, I have been to both cities and Melbourne just has that 'old world' sophisticated and civilised feel about it. There are many types of beauty. Sydney has the 'in your face' natural beauty and much more of the glitzy spectacle type of beauty but tends to be brash and soulless, kind of selling its soul for the tourist dollar and the socialites. Many people get the feeling in Sydney that you can't really relate to the place or feel a part of it, even if you were to live there. The suburbs of Sydney don't impress me. Pardon me for generalising a bit, but they tend to be either glitzy playgrounds of the ultra wealthy, or just faceless suburbia. Melbourne has a lot of faceless suburbia as well but not to the same extent. Melbourne oozes character, culture and a community feel. A place to live rather than a place for tourists to be impressed and spend their money or the elite of society to gain further status. Melbourne is the event capital and there always seems to be something going on. Melbourne has it all over Sydney when it comes to sporting events. Melbourne has the four seasons, more interesting weather and far more tolerable to be honest than Sydney's muggy and oppressive weather where it often pisses down for days, especially in summer and Autumn. Sydney is as bad as anywhere in summer when it comes to humidity. You won't get anywhere near the quality of Autumn colour in Sydney that Melbourne gets or the classic northern European cool climate gardens because Sydney actually has a borderline subtropical climate with poorly defined seasons. Melbourne certainly comes out on top in terms of the parkland and leafy streets reminiscent of northern Europe. Of course, not everyone likes this and many would prefer the Sydney environment to the Melbourne one and the Sydney CBD suburbs to the Melbourne version. One thing about Sydney is that it has very interesting geography with the sandstone cliffs, harbour, and surrounded by national parks with classic Australian wilderness, quite rough and secluded close to the city. But then again Melbourne has it's fantastic bushland areas as well, mostly on the outskirts and it has the Dandenong ranges with the mountain ash forest and rainforests there. Each to their own I guess but obviously I much prefer Melbourne. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by ProudVIC
(Post 8861522)
Most of the charm of Melbourne's CBD is hidden beneath the skyscrapers.
There is basically an old city hiding behind the new one, to use an analogy, it is like a garden that has been overgrown by the forest over the years and you have to walk in amongst the forest to see it, you won't see it from afar. I am referring to the fantastic 19th century (mostly Victorian period) architecture that is to be found within the CBD of Melbourne as well as in most of the inner suburbs. You have to walk in amongst all the streets and lane ways to really see it. The 'street scapes' of Melbourne are also far superior than Sydney's IMO, I have been to both cities and Melbourne just has that 'old world' sophisticated and civilised feel about it. There are many types of beauty. Sydney has the 'in your face' natural beauty and much more of the glitzy spectacle type of beauty but tends to be brash and soulless, kind of selling its soul for the tourist dollar and the socialites. Many people get the feeling in Sydney that you can't really relate to the place or feel a part of it, even if you were to live there. The suburbs of Sydney don't impress me. Pardon me for generalising a bit, but they tend to be either glitzy playgrounds of the ultra wealthy, or just faceless suburbia. Melbourne has a lot of faceless suburbia as well but not to the same extent. Melbourne oozes character, culture and a community feel. A place to live rather than a place for tourists to be impressed and spend their money or the elite of society to gain further status. Melbourne is the event capital and there always seems to be something going on. Melbourne has it all over Sydney when it comes to sporting events. Melbourne has the four seasons, more interesting weather and far more tolerable to be honest than Sydney's muggy and oppressive weather where it often pisses down for days, especially in summer and Autumn. Sydney is as bad as anywhere in summer when it comes to humidity. You won't get anywhere near the quality of Autumn colour in Sydney that Melbourne gets or the classic northern European cool climate gardens because Sydney actually has a borderline subtropical climate with poorly defined seasons. Melbourne certainly comes out on top in terms of the parkland and leafy streets reminiscent of northern Europe. Of course, not everyone likes this and many would prefer the Sydney environment to the Melbourne one and the Sydney CBD suburbs to the Melbourne version. One thing about Sydney is that it has very interesting geography with the sandstone cliffs, harbour, and surrounded by national parks with classic Australian wilderness, quite rough and secluded close to the city. But then again Melbourne has it's fantastic bushland areas as well, mostly on the outskirts and it has the Dandenong ranges with the mountain ash forest and rainforests there. Each to their own I guess but obviously I much prefer Melbourne. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by JackTheLad
(Post 8861519)
Beware the taxi drivers in Melbourne....
And just hope to hell you don't need to go Little Bourkes Street. JTL After a 24 hour flight.....:rolleyes: Couldn't be arsed telling him. JTL |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
The old addage of Melbourne being like an Onion with a multitude of layers comes to mind. It's best summed up this way. Melbourne impresses it's own inhabitants first and foremost, as there really is so much to discover under the surface.
Wheres my 'happening 'burbs for Sydney' list ? or are the 4 I've put forward the sum of them ? |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by ozzieeagle
(Post 8861550)
The old addage of Melbourne being like an Onion with a multitude of layers comes to mind. It's best summed up this way. Melbourne impresses it's own inhabitants first and foremost, as there really is so much to discover under the surface.
Wheres my 'happening 'burbs for Sydney' list ? or are the 4 I've put forward the sum of them ? |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by JackTheLad
(Post 8861519)
Beware the taxi drivers in Melbourne....
And just hope to hell you don't need to go Little Bourkes Street. JTL |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
I just visited Monto. I got a sausage roll and the best ever caramel slice from the baker's, it was great. :thumbup: :D
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Officer Dibble
(Post 8860884)
Its compulsory for Brit kitchen sink dramas to have a drab grey backdrop.
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Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by JackTheLad
(Post 8860916)
Well if you will insist on going to eastern Poland for your holidays:rolleyes:. But try Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Brussels, Bruges, Amsterdam, Nice. In no way can they be described as 'grey'. I think 'stunning' is the more appropriate word.
Brussels IS a dump any which way you look at it. All the rest I'd agree with you. We were in Salzburg recently and thought is was stunningly beautiful. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
I've never been to Poland but from travel programmes there seems to be a lot of pretty towns and villages there. Czech Republic also seems to be blessed.
Although not grey and packed with interesting buildings, Paris, viewed from the top of the Eiffel Tower, is quite monochrome. |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
(Post 8863592)
, Paris, viewed from the top of the Eiffel Tower, is quite monochrome.
In a sort of yellow, green, blue way...:rolleyes: The buildings are mostly yellowish, the parks are mostly green, and the sky is mostly blue. So yeah, monochrome.:blink: Are you sure you weren't just staring at one of the struts of the Eiffel tower? JTL |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by JackTheLad
(Post 8863768)
In a sort of yellow, green, blue way...:rolleyes: The buildings are mostly yellowish, the parks are mostly green, and the sky is mostly blue.
So yeah, monochrome.:blink: Are you sure you weren't just staring at one of the struts of the Eiffel tower? JTL You know cockyness isn't a sign of rightness or smartness? http://shirishart.tripod.com/travel/...ffelTower4.jpg |
Re: First trip to Melbourne
Originally Posted by Amazulu
(Post 8863272)
I thought Berlin was pretty grey and drab - but that was part of its appeal considering it's history.
Brussels IS a dump any which way you look at it. All the rest I'd agree with you. We were in Salzburg recently and thought is was stunningly beautiful. |
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