Help us plan our vacation to Australia!

[whitby_2773]

actually, T-Gal, i think the lighting in yours is pretty similar to the last one i posted. the water ones also are full daylight shots. i smiled when i saw your photo - it has such australian light to it! it''s not a super-clear photo, but it gives you an idea of the huge expanse which can be seen even on a casual day trip. i suspect, tho, that a professional guided tour will do better. have you just been the once? did you see more than the three sisters? it must make you wonder why it''s a world heritage area if it''s underwhelming. i can only assure you that there''s a great deal there to see and do and it''s an amazing eco-system - but there''s always the possibility it''s not your cup of tea, as i said at the beginning. not all people will enjoy getting out of the city for a day, but lots will. did you go down the railroad and across the skyway? those things are accessible even on a day trip just to Echo Point (which is the name of the lookout where you were). they''re a lot of fun and give a very different perspective!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/15/2009 5:39:29 PM
Author: whitby_2773
actually, T-Gal, i think the lighting in yours is pretty similar to the last one i posted. the water ones also are full daylight shots. i smiled when i saw your photo - it has such australian light to it! it''s not a super-clear photo, but it gives you an idea of the huge expanse which can be seen even on a casual day trip. i suspect, tho, that a professional guided tour will do better. have you just been the once? did you see more than the three sisters? it must make you wonder why it''s a world heritage area if it''s underwhelming. i can only assure you that there''s a great deal there to see and do and it''s an amazing eco-system - but there''s always the possibility it''s not your cup of tea, as i said at the beginning. not all people will enjoy getting out of the city for a day, but lots will. did you go down the railroad and across the skyway? those things are accessible even on a day trip just to Echo Point (which is the name of the lookout where you were). they''re a lot of fun and give a very different perspective!

Yes, as a typical tourist, I was there once. I also agree that a professional guided tour would be great. We were lucky enough to have someone who was local and had done the trip many times but it''s not the same as someone who really knows the area, history, flora and fauna. And yes, I saw more than the three sisters HOWEVER not a ton more as I was a daytripper. Which is my point. You can''t see and do a whole lot in the blue mountains on a day trip. It''s shortchanging yourself and the mountains. If you like nature, it''s great to see. I''m not sure the skyway would have wowed me either (I did Kuranda on a skyrail and thought the same although the area is pretty.)

You seem put off by my opinion that I was underwhelmed. I didn''t say IT IS, I said *I* was underwhelmed by what I saw on a daytrip. I also don''t see that World Heritage sites have to be awe inspiring to be listed. They have to be of natural and cultural importance, which the blue mountains are to Australia. And yes, they are probably awe inspiring to some, but they weren''t to me.

It depends on what you''ve seen and your experience. I love all coastal drives, but since I''m from California, I don''t go crazy from them. We have Big Sur here which I love. I did the Road to Hana and while it was pretty, I thought it was overrated. The Great Ocean Road, I loved. So go figure.

As I said, I enjoy nature. A trip to the Daintree isn''t going to be flooring on first sight either, but I really liked it as I was on a cozy tour with the best up in Port Douglas. I think the Daintree is magnificent.

Ultimately, I was offering my opinion and a head''s up. If you like nature, you will enjoy it (I did). But especially when it comes to the three sisters hype, you *may* just think, "not awed."

 

[Blackpaw]

Hi Turtledazzle

very exciting trip you have planned!

Im from melbourne, well just out of, so thought id pitch in here with some ideas. Depending on what you''re into a few ideas are:

Yarra Valley, this is the winery area of victoria. Its beautiful and there are amazing restaurants out here. But be aware that the February fires did rip through the area and some places are well, gone. But its still beautiful and supporting it when they''re getting back on they''re feet would be great.

Dandenong Ranges (1. do not confuse with the suburb Dandenong, they''re miles apart 2.These arent mountains like the rockies!!). You could do this probably in conjunction with the yarra valley. Great food and tea houses and quaint little shops, not to mention rainforest in this area.

Phillip Island - a lovely way to spend a day, it''ll be chilly for swimming but there''s some fun beach pubs and the penguins really are just gorgeous, there''s also hundreds of seals to be seen at the Nobbies (dont ask me what that name is about!!)

Great Ocean Road - yes, it is that good!

Like Sharon said, Melbs is the foodie capital of Australia, so let us know what kind of food you like and we''ll have a heap of recommendations. Either way be prepared to eat (and drink) at a lot of pubs..its the aussie way after all

Oh and id be interested what your research turns up about diving in the barrier reef. I went to that area years ago but didnt dive then. Mossman Gorge id second as a great place to visit, its stunning.

So exciting!! I live overseas at the moment and it makes me miss home just thinking of it!

 

[packrat]

Nothing to add, other than I am so jealous! My grandparents used to winter there, and my mom went with them once. They rave about it and I hope one day to go!

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 7/15/2009 6:00:48 PM
Author: TravelingGal
Yes, as a typical tourist, I was there once. I also agree that a professional guided tour would be great. We were lucky enough to have someone who was local and had done the trip many times but it''s not the same as someone who really knows the area, history, flora and fauna. And yes, I saw more than the three sisters HOWEVER not a ton more as I was a daytripper. Which is my point. You can''t see and do a whole lot in the blue mountains on a day trip. It''s shortchanging yourself and the mountains. If you like nature, it''s great to see. I''m not sure the skyway would have wowed me either (I did Kuranda on a skyrail and thought the same although the area is pretty.)


You seem put off by my opinion that I was underwhelmed. I didn''t say IT IS, I said *I* was underwhelmed by what I saw on a daytrip. I also don''t see that World Heritage sites have to be awe inspiring to be listed. They have to be of natural and cultural importance, which the blue mountains are to Australia. And yes, they are probably awe inspiring to some, but they weren''t to me.


It depends on what you''ve seen and your experience. I love all coastal drives, but since I''m from California, I don''t go crazy from them. We have Big Sur here which I love. I did the Road to Hana and while it was pretty, I thought it was overrated. The Great Ocean Road, I loved. So go figure.


As I said, I enjoy nature. A trip to the Daintree isn''t going to be flooring on first sight either, but I really liked it as I was on a cozy tour with the best up in Port Douglas. I think the Daintree is magnificent.


Ultimately, I was offering my opinion and a head''s up. If you like nature, you will enjoy it (I did). But especially when it comes to the three sisters hype, you *may* just think, ''not awed.''

no no! not at all put off! try re-reading my posts imagining a different tone of voice in your head. my questions are sincere - i just know there''s so much there that you''d love if you knew where to look.

the knack with the Blue Mountains is to look in, rather than out. for instance, one might go to Echo Point and think ''meh''. but turn around, walk up the street you''re standing at the end of, and you''ll find a cafe with some amazing art deco architecture, waiters all in black tie, and the best soda spiders on the planet. ditto hand made chocolates. get stuck in towns like blaxand or lawson and you''ll think ''what''s the hype all about?'' - but eat at the Bon Ton restaurant in Leura, or go to the Leura woodwork gallery and you''ll eat better food and find more beautiful pieces of turned woodwork that you can fit in your luggage! it''s all about where you look. Windosr, for instance, is boring and plain. Richmond, its sister town is artsy, quaint, and atmospheric. and on and on it goes. it''s all about knowing where to look, which i''d hope a professional tour would.

having been born in the Blue Mountains, i know it well. having had my parents, my grandparents and my great grand parents born there gives me a deeper knowledge than most. even more than that, both my great grandparents and grandparents were big landowners there, and my maternal grandparents owned most of the suburb now known as Winmalee. there are still many streets named after that side of my family, and a large housing estate named after my aunt. my paternal grandfather owned a great deal of the northern side of what is now Valley Heights and died before he saw it subdivided by my father. i spent what would probably amount to years leading camps for kids in the area, taking them on hikes and doing orienteering. so i know the area very, very well.

a couple of years ago, tim and i took a business associate and his wife to Echo Point to see the view. it was misty and cold, and there was a flautist busking as the sun set. we were the only people there. it was magical and eerie and i''ll never forget it. a little later we took a couple from texas on the same trip. the husband looked at it and said "well this wouldnt fill up 10% of the Grand Canyon!" (to which we thought, frankly, "yes - and?") but before we were forced to be polite, his wife responded; "it''s different dear. i love it!" and she had a sparkle in her eye which just said to me that she ''got'' it.

it''s not for everyone. nothing is for everyone, i completely accept that and agree with you. and i heard you when you said that this was just your opinion - as i''d be the first to say that this is mine. but maybe one day you''ll be there again and, if you can see it through my eyes, will know to look, not necessarily closer, but...perhaps...differently. its beauty is subtle but profound, which is why so much of the great australian art comes from that area - and perhaps always will.

 

[turtledazzle]

Oh my goodness at all of the replies. You guys are great!!! I haven''t had a chance to read all of the responses yet, but just wanted to quickly reply so you all didn''t think I was ignoring you -- just haven''t been back at the computer until now. Thank you so much. All of your advice and suggestions are most appreciated!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/15/2009 8:29:30 PM
Author: whitby_2773


no no! not at all put off! try re-reading my posts imagining a different tone of voice in your head. my questions are sincere - i just know there''s so much there that you''d love if you knew where to look.

the knack with the Blue Mountains is to look in, rather than out. for instance, one might go to Echo Point and think ''meh''. but turn around, walk up the street you''re standing at the end of, and you''ll find a cafe with some amazing art deco architecture, waiters all in black tie, and the best soda spiders on the planet. ditto hand made chocolates. get stuck in towns like blaxand or lawson and you''ll think ''what''s the hype all about?'' - but eat at the Bon Ton restaurant in Leura, or go to the Leura woodwork gallery and you''ll eat better food and find more beautiful pieces of turned woodwork that you can fit in your luggage! it''s all about where you look. Windosr, for instance, is boring and plain. Richmond, its sister town is artsy, quaint, and atmospheric. and on and on it goes. it''s all about knowing where to look, which i''d hope a professional tour would.

having been born in the Blue Mountains, i know it well. having had my parents, my grandparents and my great grand parents born there gives me a deeper knowledge than most. even more than that, both my great grandparents and grandparents were big landowners there, and my maternal grandparents owned most of the suburb now known as Winmalee. there are still many streets named after that side of my family, and a large housing estate named after my aunt. my paternal grandfather owned a great deal of the northern side of what is now Valley Heights and died before he saw it subdivided by my father. i spent what would probably amount to years leading camps for kids in the area, taking them on hikes and doing orienteering. so i know the area very, very well.

a couple of years ago, tim and i took a business associate and his wife to Echo Point to see the view. it was misty and cold, and there was a flautist busking as the sun set. we were the only people there. it was magical and eerie and i''ll never forget it. a little later we took a couple from texas on the same trip. the husband looked at it and said ''well this wouldnt fill up 10% of the Grand Canyon!'' (to which we thought, frankly, ''yes - and?'') but before we were forced to be polite, his wife responded; ''it''s different dear. i love it!'' and she had a sparkle in her eye which just said to me that she ''got'' it.

it''s not for everyone. nothing is for everyone, i completely accept that and agree with you. and i heard you when you said that this was just your opinion - as i''d be the first to say that this is mine. but maybe one day you''ll be there again and, if you can see it through my eyes, will know to look, not necessarily closer, but...perhaps...differently. its beauty is subtle but profound, which is why so much of the great australian art comes from that area - and perhaps always will.

Thanks for sharing Whitby. It''s fascinating to hear about the history of your family and its ties to the blue mountains. I can see why you love them so much. I would too. And I can understand why you are so excited to share the beauty with others hoping they will love it too.

I think your ties to the area are exactly why I was trying to say the average tourist might not find its beauty. I was talking from a shallow, scratching the surface point of view, which sadly is all that many tourists can do. Since so much of the beauty is subtle, as you say, there''s a lot to be missed the first time around. Which is why a day trip doesn''t cut it, IMHO.

My friend did take us to some very cute towns (I guess since he''s somewhat in the know). Leura was one of them and the one I remember most. We did have a nice lunch there, and I preferred it over the crowded vantage point for the three sisters.

Re: your comment on GC vs BM and the couple you took. I get what you are saying. I actually had an acquaintance who lived in Seattle say to me after his visit to Sydney, "It''s a long way to travel to visit something that looks just like Vancouver." I was like, WHAT?? Really?

Sometimes I too, play tourist mode. Just see the sights in the traveling book and take photos in front of them. And I can say I''ve been there but never got to the center of the tootsie pop. And other times, I go into traveler mode, which really get in there and discover what makes a place a living, breathing magical wonder. But it takes time, effort, and a slower pace to do the latter, so unfortunately it doesn''t always happen.

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/14/2009 11:18:02 PM
Author: Sharon101
You are choosing all good places!!!


I can help on the Melbourne front. I know many amazing restuarants depending on what food you like. Being in the city gives you proximity to some spectacular resturants that are second to none and not too expensive. So tell me if you love Indian, Chinese, Italian etc and I will get back to you!!! Also there are also some really serious coffee places around because here in Melbourne we take our beans seriously. Night time in the city you will find lots of groovy bars where you can buy a really amazing cocktail thats ginormous!!!


Bling wise there are some of the big names like Cartier etc etc and also many other smaller independant jewellery stores to see for fun. You can see some pink diamonds and lots of pearls in some of the specialty stores. Also Pandora is very big in Australia!


Entertainmentwise, you dont have much time because there is so much to see and do. The art gallery is like visiting amother world and the shop there is tdf. Plus there are many out door places to see, day spas and other tourest attractions.


Wineries are a bit of a drive from the city but worth it if you like that sort of thing. Its always a very luxurious day when you go to a winery as you spend the day with really good food, wine and scenery!

Yea! Melbourne help. For restaurant suggestions, my husband likes everything and I''m a pescatarian (vegetarian that eats seafood). We are partial to Italian, though ... so suggestions on that type would be great but Chinese would be great, too!

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/15/2009 9:36:34 PM
Author: turtledazzle
Oh my goodness at all of the replies. You guys are great!!! I haven''t had a chance to read all of the responses yet, but just wanted to quickly reply so you all didn''t think I was ignoring you -- just haven''t been back at the computer until now. Thank you so much. All of your advice and suggestions are most appreciated!

TD, if you are interested in doing David''s tour, definitely contact him and and see if he will even be doing the tour during the time you are there. I emailed him yesterday after thinking about him as I posted here. It had been years. They are looking to retire and have Thylogale (their property) up for sale. It will be quite a loss to the area as the man is so passionate about animals and nature.

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/14/2009 10:49:31 PM
Author: AprilBaby
Driving the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne was the highlight of my 2003 trip to Australia. We also went to Healsville Sanctuary to see the animals, downtown Mel to see the sights, and out to see the little penguins at Phillip Island. You will not regret going to see this LOVELY country! Have fun!

Phillip Island is definitely on our possible list, and the Great Ocean Road looks fabulous as well. I just wish we had more time ... it''s going to be hard to choose what to do!

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/14/2009 11:10:11 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 7/14/2009 11:03:36 PM

Author: Magpie09

Hey turtledazzle


Can''t really give any advivce on the bridge climb because i''m a little scared of heights so me and the bridge climb don''t mix. In sydney you should definately check out Circular Quay (Train stops here) and from there you can walk to the Opera House, through the Botanical Gardens, and from here you can also get a few good pictures of the Harbour Bridge. Dalring Harbour is also worthwhile to check out as it has little boutiques and restuarants all along the sides (don''t know about prices though). Sydney aquarium is also there if that''s something you would be interested in seeing. If you want to go to the beach the i would suggest Bondi as it very popular and there are fish and chip shops and other stores along the main road. Nothing beats eating fish and chips whilst sitting on the grassed area near the beach and looking at the ocean Oh and the train system in Sydney is great- trains go to all the main tourist areas and it''s probable the easiest way to get around (well that''s what i found when i was there on holidays maybe PSers that live around there have better options).


Hope this helps you out a little

Ooh, and look up into the trees...you''ll see tons of BATS.


I might be the only one, but I HATE darling harbour. It''s like every tourist trap waterfront I''ve ever been to. At least the Rocks/Circular Quay (pronouced ''key'') has two of Sydney''s major icons within view.


And just a head''s up that the CBD in Sydney is pretty well dead on nights and weekends.

Ah, thanks for the pronunciation of Quay -- I had definitely been saying that wrong in my head.

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/14/2009 11:51:02 PM
Author: softly softly
Just thought I should mention that the weather will probably still be rather chilly in Melbourne when you get there (anywhere from low teens Celsius to high twenties). When in Melbourne check out Brunswick and Lygon Streets for cafes and great coffee (both are easily accessible from the CBD by tram) Lygon Street is famous for it''s Italian influence while Brunswick Street is a bit more bohemian.


My recommendation for a day trip from Melbourne is Daylesford it''s a great place for yummy food and wine, as well as for spa treatments.


Sounds like you have a great trip planned!


ETA as Tgal mentioned we have very different terms for our coffee here (as I learned when I visited the US in May). A flat white is similar to a latte (which we also have here) but with less milk and a long black is pretty much as it sounds, a tall cup of coffee with no milk.

Thanks for the head''s up on the cooler weather in Melbourne. We''re actually looking forward to it as August where we live can be very muggy and humid (with highs in the mid-to-upper 90''s Fahrenheit not uncommon) ... so by the time we leave we''ll be ready to appreciate the cooler weather (though hopefully not too cool). Thank you as well for the info on Brunswick and Lygon streets. We''re staying on Bourke Street which seems to be (hopefully) well located for traveling around by tram (our hotel is a short walk to the Melbourne Central Station).

I''ll have to look into Daylesford -- I haven''t heard about it yet in my research. Thank you!

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/15/2009 12:34:54 AM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 7/15/2009 12:02:44 AM

Author: honey22

How exciting!!!!!


I don''t have much to add, but I would skip Port Douglas, it''s totally overrated and not all that. My parents live up there so I go up there often.


I would recommend you staying in Palm Cove instead, it''s right on the beach and much much nicer. We are actually getting married in Palm Cove at Angsana Resort.


There isn''t heaps to do itself in Cairns, it''s just a city and the majority of the tourist attraction are north ie. Palm Cove is about 20kms north of Cairns city. You could always stay based in Palm Cove and visit the city for a day (that''s all you would need) and maybe do a day trip drive to Port Douglas to check it out. It''s very touristy though and a bit disappointing.


If you can get to Mossman Gorge, it''s beautiful. Paronella Park is about 2hrs drive from Cairns but totally worth it, it''s an old castle in the rainforest, with a romantic tale to go with it.


If you have any more questions about the far north, just ask! I would be happy to recommend accommodation too, some places look fabulous on the net and are not exactly great when you get there. Good luck with the planning!

Honey, I think PD is overrated to the person who may live there or visit often...it''s pretty great for a tourist. Lots of choices of dive ships and easy touring of the daintree. Don''t get me wrong, I love Palm Cove, but a couple of days there is enough. Especially since TD is wanting to dive.


Speaking of touristy stuff, I wasn''t a fan of Kuranda, but some people might like it.


TD, about the coral, you''d have to check the latest on it. I remember earlier this decade, there were quite a few stories about the water getting too warm, which was killing the coral. Just white/brown and dead. When I was in Cairns in 2005, TGuy''s family wanted to go snorkeling. We took a boat from Cairns, and honestly, it sucked. Fish are great and fun to see, but nothing in the way of coral. This was one of those big pontoon dealies. Yuck. I wish I could remember the dive operator in Port Douglas. There are some good operators that focus on snorkeling and others that focus on diving. Spots aren''t always great for both. Haba and Calypso come to mind, but I don''t remember the one I took that I was really pleased with. If you want, I will research it for you, but I''ll probably have to dig up some old trip reports that will take me a bit of time. I know the one I went on had a huge operation out of PD that docked on a pontoon, but it also had smaller dive boats. That is the one I went on.


Ah...just remember which one I did as well, Poseidon. http://www.poseidon-cruises.com.au/


Ah ha again...remembered the other one...it was QuickSilver tours, but NOT their big boat!

Thanks so much honey22. OK, so we''ll look into Palm Cove as well since our Cairns accomodations do not have a cancelation fee. The rationale behind staying in Cairns for a short time was mostly just for diving since Cairns would be a shorter boat trip to the reefs than Port Douglas (though we want to dive up there on one day as well). We''ve read reviews on a diving forum that aren''t too old (within the last 1-2 years) and people had positive things to say about the dives originating from both Cairns and Port Douglas, so hopefully it will all be good. TGal -- thanks for the dive operations recommendations!

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/15/2009 2:17:48 AM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 7/15/2009 1:59:57 AM

Author: whitby_2773

hi turtledazzle


i''m an australian who lives now in NY, but who has traveled extensively around all the places you mentioned. my husband and i used to spend our annual leave each year on the coast in Queensland, and i can tell you for certain, Cairns isn''t all that great. it''s very touristy, flat and plain as towns go, and overpriced. the area you want is the place where more australians go - which is the Whitsunday Islands. that''s a colletion of 73 islands, as i recall off hand, just off the coast between the towns of Townsville and Mackay:


take a look here.


you can fly right into the islands, landing on Hamilton Island, and the water is gorgeous, the reef and the diving are spectacular, the resorts cater to all price ranges and the view is unbelievable. *this* is the australian equivalent of the caribbean, so if you want a spectacular great barrier reef island experience, this is where you''d go.


i''ll write more later, as it''s getting late, but just wanted to get this info out to you straight away. to inspire you a trifle, take a look at

this. i hope it entices you.


and i chuckled to hear t-gal describe Balmain as ''off the beaten path''; 5 minutes from the city by hydrocat, Balmainers consider themselves to be rather cool and inner-city-ish; i know this because i used to live there - within walking distance to Tetsuyas, in fact, before it moved, and was there when it first opened. anyway, will make some more suggestions tomorrow when i have time, but SCRATCH Cairns, and slot in the Whitsundays instead. and re Port Douglas - i agree that it''s not particularly spectacular, altho the sheraton port douglas is gorgeous, being set within 5 acres of swimming pool. but neither cairns nor Port Douglas are as quaint, artsy or pretty as Airlie Beach, the mainland town which services the Whitsundays. i agree Mossman (and the Ferntree Rainforest Lodge) is gorgeous, but it''s not easy to access. Cape Tribulation is my pick of naturalist tourist heaven, the Cape Tribulation Resort and Spa being the top choice in that region. so if you MUST go to Cairns/Port Douglas, keep going, and try to get to Cape Trib; known as the area where ''the rainforest meets the reef'', this is the only place in the world where two national heritage areas meet. the resorts up there will meet you at the airport and transport you to the appropriate resort, or will point you in the direction of transportation which can be booked ahead of time. it''s about 100 miles north of Cairns but is a slow drive due to the winding roads. the scenery along the way, however is breathtaking!


given that your time is so limited, i''d skip Cairns, Cape Tribultion and Port Douglas, and have a few days in the Whitsundays - recharge the batteries. they''re much easier to access, much more beautiful, and you can fly directly from there to Sydney. easy peasy.


will come back tomorrow to give you a few suggestions for my home town, SYDNEY!

Whitby, trust me, Balmain is quite off the beaten path for first timers to Sydney, who in a week do Rocks , Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbour, Manly or Bondi, and Watsons Bay.

Although I haven''t been there, I would agree that the Whitsundays would be a great stop. I researched it to death but figured PD would be easier for various reasons, the pocketbook being one (PD was more reasonable at the time). However, I am under the impression that TD''s tickets are booked?


The thing about PD is that the really nice resorts are a bit of a hike into ''town'', and that includes the Sheraton. I liked the convenience of walking everywhere.


Also, if you take a dive boat from PD, the reef is about a 2 hour ride away, so just keep that in mind. It''s a fairly long day!

Gosh, whitby, the Whitsunday Islands look fabulous but, unfortunately, our flights have already been booked so we''ll have to suffer by staying in Cairns and Port Douglas (I jest, of course, since it will certainly not be a sufferable stay. We get to dive the Great Barrier Reef after all!) While we would have loved to be in Australia longer, two weeks was all we could spare and since we''ve never been before and don''t know if we''ll ever be back, we wanted to split our time up a bit.

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 7/15/2009 10:28:49 PM
Author: TravelingGal

I think your ties to the area are exactly why I was trying to say the average tourist might not find its beauty. I was talking from a shallow, scratching the surface point of view, which sadly is all that many tourists can do. Since so much of the beauty is subtle, as you say, there''s a lot to be missed the first time around. Which is why a day trip doesn''t cut it, IMHO.

ok T-Gal - i hear what you''re saying. just keep in mind that my point is that the average tourist DOES love the Blue Mountains, that it''s one of the four most popular tourist spots in all of Australia (and the ''only one day there'' comment can be made about any tourist destination of great expanse) and that it''s a world heritage area.

there are people who dislike the great barrier reef, think the opera house is dull and that Uluru is just a big rock. some people think the leaning tower of Pisa would be better if it fell down, the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground and that the Eiffel Tower looks like a convoluted coathanger. nothing is for everyone.

Most people love the Blue Mountains. love it. and love their time there. i do hope turtledazzle hears that message in the middle of everything else.

 

[MishB]

turtledazzle, I live in Melbourne, and I work in the CBD (Southbank). I''d be happy to weigh in with some dining and activity suggestions. Central Melbourne is very dynamic and interesting, Melbournites and tourists love to stroll around the exploring the little laneways, alleys and arcades that are packed with shops, cafes and restaurants. The best bars in Melbourne are often in a dingy laneway behind an unmarked door. We have 2 public art galleries in the inner city area, the NGVI and NGVA (International and Australian art) both worth checking out and free admission. The Melbourne Museum is also free and set in a beautiful park. Melbourne is famous for it''s parks and gardens.

If you like Italian food you are coming to the right city, Melbourne has a huge Italian population. Lygon Street is lined with Italian restaurants/cafes, but it''s very touristy. High end Italian restaurants - Grossi Florentino, Scusami are both excellent, for a bowl of pasta and the city''s best coffee take the tram up Bourke St to Pellegrini''s or the Waiter''s Club. Mario''s (Brunswick St) is a Melbourne institution, go there for eggs benedict at 3 o''clock in the afternoon served by a waiter in a waistcoat and tie. Melbourne is also home to a lot of people of asian background, so there are lots of great asian restaurants - there is a ''Chinatown'' area of the CBD where you can get great noodles and dumplings for an inexpensive meal.

Melbourne is surrounded by wine growing areas, I''d recommend the Mornington Peninsula (on the way to Phillip Island if you want to see the penguins), it''s very scenic and dotted with little wineries, cafes etc. However, if you are a serious wine drinker as opposed to a ''wine tourist'' let me know and I can recommend somewhere more specific.

Sydney is a great city too, but Sydney and Melbourne have very different cultures and ambiance. Sydney is the essential ''Aussie'' city, but Melbourne has a much more European flavour.

It will be quite cold in Melbourne at the end of August, but that''s a great time of year to visit the northern part of Australia.

 

[Blackpaw]

Italian: I luuuurrve italian food and you''ll be spoiled rotten in Melbs.

My faves, for a great lunch at the top of bourke st (the top is where parliament, or spring street is) try Pellegrini''s. Its a true ''bar'' in the italian sense (no alcohol!), they have amazing coffee, some of the best in the city. The apple strudel is locally famous, have it with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. And out the back nonnas are whipping up great, no nonsense food. The minestrone and the lasagne are amazing(minestrone for you being vegetarian!), and the most authentic ive found outside of italy. And its cheap!!

Tutto Bene is a fancier option but still reasonable if you dont order steak or lobster! Its speciality is risottos, the one with ages parmesan and balsamic is my fave. The chef is renowned for cooking risottos and has made them for the Italian president. Its at southbank which is the other side of the river from the CBD, 5 minutes from bourke street.

Lygon street of course - some places are better than others. I went to university just by here and had oh so many a long lunch there! For pasta i recommend Ti Amo, for pizza i recommend Papa Ginos. And you must must must go to Brunetti''s for dolce!!

Speaking of sweets, Brunswick street is a short tram ride from bourke street and is full of bohemian chic shops and groovy eateries. There''s also a chocolateria San Churro there - the churros rock! And my favourite restaurant in melbs is Afghan Gallery. I eat vege dishes there and they''re amazing! Oh and there''s also a great Ethiopian restaurant there called Nyala. And Bimbo''s pizza place does pizza for less then $10 and they''re quite tasty too. Back to sweets, in QV which is in the CBD (your hotel will direct you easily) there''s Max Brenners, a great chocolate cafe, try their hot chocolate in a hug!

Chinese: Strangely i dont eat that much chinese, but china town is a good place to go for it, its on little bourke street (one over from bourke st!). Oriental tea house is good for dim sum. I tend to eat more thai and vietnamese. From bourke street you can take a tram to victoria street which is choc a block with vietnamese restaurants. Tho Thos is a good one.

Oh my i could go on and on!!

Im so hungry

 

[MishB]

Date: 7/15/2009 11:58:58 PM
Author: Blackpaw

Tutto Bene is a fancier option but still reasonable if you dont order steak or lobster! Its speciality is risottos, the one with ages parmesan and balsamic is my fave. The chef is renowned for cooking risottos and has made them for the Italian president. Its at southbank which is the other side of the river from the CBD, 5 minutes from bourke street.

Good choice, and another place I like to eat midweek is L''Osteria - the bar area of Scusami, they have a pasta and glass of wine deal that''s good value, food comes from the same kitchen, you can hear the piano playing from the restaurant, good service, same wine list. Very good value.

Egusto downstairs is ok too, particularly for lunch if it''s warm enough to sit outside on the terrace.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 7/15/2009 11:42:40 PM
Author: whitby_2773

Date: 7/15/2009 10:28:49 PM
Author: TravelingGal

I think your ties to the area are exactly why I was trying to say the average tourist might not find its beauty. I was talking from a shallow, scratching the surface point of view, which sadly is all that many tourists can do. Since so much of the beauty is subtle, as you say, there''s a lot to be missed the first time around. Which is why a day trip doesn''t cut it, IMHO.

ok T-Gal - i hear what you''re saying. just keep in mind that my point is that the average tourist DOES love the Blue Mountains, that it''s one of the four most popular tourist spots in all of Australia (and the ''only one day there'' comment can be made about any tourist destination of great expanse) and that it''s a world heritage area.

there are people who dislike the great barrier reef, think the opera house is dull and that Uluru is just a big rock. some people think the leaning tower of Pisa would be better if it fell down, the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground and that the Eiffel Tower looks like a convoluted coathanger. nothing is for everyone.

Most people love the Blue Mountains. love it. and love their time there. i do hope turtledazzle hears that message in the middle of everything else.

That''s fine Whitby - since I think we''re just speaking on different wavelengths, I''ll just say you''re right. For someone like ME who has seen some other places I deem more awe inspiring, I found it underwhelming in my short time there, is all. I don''t think it''s ugly, dull, boring, unworthy or anything else. It is special in its own right. It was nice, it was neat, there''s more to explore, but nothing really clings to my memories.

 

[TravelingGal]

TD, if you're still interested in going to the Blue Mountains, check out this old fodors thread (I had to pull up the cached site). The new forum is horrific, but I just typed in "Are the blue mountains a must see" and got this thread. There were quite a few of these types of threads in the day. I think a couple of posters say very well what both Whitby and I were trying to say.

 

[cindygenit]

Turtle... why aren''t you coming to Perth????

We have lots of EXCELLENT touristy stuff to do here...no wait... we don''t

Sorry about the unneccesary comment above! Haha Enjoy your trip! Sounds fun

 

[Phoenix]

Ditto what everyone else has said about food and wine in Melbourne. I''m so jealous!![

We loved Melbourne so much the first time we went that we extended our holiday by another week and we also came back with a three-bedroom apartment in Docklands. Most people come back from their holiday with little knick-knacks and we came back with an aprt!!

We intend to make Melbourne our retirement home, at least during their summer.

Have fun there. Australia is an AMAZING country, so much to do, so many things to see.

 

[Sharon101]

Date: 7/15/2009 5:16:15 PM
Author: gwendolyn

Date: 7/14/2009 10:49:31 PM
Author: AprilBaby
Driving the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne was the highlight of my 2003 trip to Australia. We also went to Healsville Sanctuary to see the animals, downtown Mel to see the sights, and out to see the little penguins at Phillip Island. You will not regret going to see this LOVELY country! Have fun!

I also LOVED the Great Ocean Road! Definitely try to do some of it--you can spend a whole day (or longer) driving it, but it''s worth it--so gorgeous! St. Kilda is also one of my favourite areas of Melbourne, and Luna Park is fun if you like rides or just want to kill some time while at the beach.

Having lived in Tasmania for 6 months, I''d say you shouldn''t miss it, but sadly most people do when they visit Australia. But it''s the most beautiful, pristine place I''ve ever seen. It is a wonderful place; I still get homesick for it and haven''t been for 9 years.

Did you try the amazing home made gelato from Apples near Luna Park. Oh god that stuff is amazing. The green apple flavour really tastes like green apples! St Kilda is such a cool area. Such amazing food everywhere!

Another cool area for me is Gattica in Carlise St Balaclava. The coffee is superb and the food fresh and cheap. Its so homely too! You will find many famous jewish food shops in this street too. eg Glicks for bagels and challah all cooked on the premises!

 

[Blackpaw]

Date: 7/16/2009 12:09:15 AM
Author: MishB

Date: 7/15/2009 11:58:58 PM

Author: Blackpaw


Tutto Bene is a fancier option but still reasonable if you dont order steak or lobster! Its speciality is risottos, the one with ages parmesan and balsamic is my fave. The chef is renowned for cooking risottos and has made them for the Italian president. Its at southbank which is the other side of the river from the CBD, 5 minutes from bourke street.

Good choice, and another place I like to eat midweek is L''Osteria - the bar area of Scusami, they have a pasta and glass of wine deal that''s good value, food comes from the same kitchen, you can hear the piano playing from the restaurant, good service, same wine list. Very good value.


Egusto downstairs is ok too, particularly for lunch if it''s warm enough to sit outside on the terrace.

Yes I heard there''s a bit of a rivalry between tutto bene and scuasmi, on account of the chef having formerly worked at the latter! I like egusto too (well i did, now i always go to tutto bene so dont try the others), on a nice day - Turtledazzle hopefully you''ll get some nice sunny days in melbs - egusto is lovely to eat outside at.

Oh i just thought of another. In St Kilda, turtledazzle you should go to Soul Mama! Its a bit of a vegetarian landmark ;O) and reasonably priced. To be fair it can be a bit hit and miss but i always like going there, and its practically on top of the water!

Phoenix i wish i could pick up apartments as souvenirs - id have a few by now

that''s a great plan to retire there, city and water in one! speaking of docklands Mecca Bah does fantastic middle eastern food there!!

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/15/2009 10:36:32 PM
Author: TravelingGal

Date: 7/15/2009 9:36:34 PM

Author: turtledazzle

Oh my goodness at all of the replies. You guys are great!!! I haven''t had a chance to read all of the responses yet, but just wanted to quickly reply so you all didn''t think I was ignoring you -- just haven''t been back at the computer until now. Thank you so much. All of your advice and suggestions are most appreciated!

TD, if you are interested in doing David''s tour, definitely contact him and and see if he will even be doing the tour during the time you are there. I emailed him yesterday after thinking about him as I posted here. It had been years. They are looking to retire and have Thylogale (their property) up for sale. It will be quite a loss to the area as the man is so passionate about animals and nature.

TGal -- Thanks so much for the info. I have checked out his website and it definitely does seem that his retiring would be a huge loss to the area. It sounds like a wonderful tour!

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/15/2009 11:42:40 PM
Author: whitby_2773

Date: 7/15/2009 10:28:49 PM

Author: TravelingGal


I think your ties to the area are exactly why I was trying to say the average tourist might not find its beauty. I was talking from a shallow, scratching the surface point of view, which sadly is all that many tourists can do. Since so much of the beauty is subtle, as you say, there''s a lot to be missed the first time around. Which is why a day trip doesn''t cut it, IMHO.

ok T-Gal - i hear what you''re saying. just keep in mind that my point is that the average tourist DOES love the Blue Mountains, that it''s one of the four most popular tourist spots in all of Australia (and the ''only one day there'' comment can be made about any tourist destination of great expanse) and that it''s a world heritage area.


there are people who dislike the great barrier reef, think the opera house is dull and that Uluru is just a big rock. some people think the leaning tower of Pisa would be better if it fell down, the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground and that the Eiffel Tower looks like a convoluted coathanger. nothing is for everyone.


Most people love the Blue Mountains. love it. and love their time there. i do hope turtledazzle hears that message in the middle of everything else.

Whitby -- the Blue Mountains sound beautiful. Thank you for taking time to describe the area and your family history there. I''m sure we would love a trip there but just not sure if we''ll have enough time. As I''ve said before, figuring out what to do in our short time is going to be difficult!

 

[turtledazzle]

Date: 7/16/2009 10:44:19 AM
Author: Phoenix
Ditto what everyone else has said about food and wine in Melbourne. I''m so jealous!![

We loved Melbourne so much the first time we went that we extended our holiday by another week and we also came back with a three-bedroom apartment in Docklands. Most people come back from their holiday with little knick-knacks and we came back with an aprt!!

We intend to make Melbourne our retirement home, at least during their summer.


Have fun there. Australia is an AMAZING country, so much to do, so many things to see.

Wow -- now that''s a story. I can pretty much guarantee we won''t be coming back with an apartment, but I hope we love our time in Melbourne half as much as it seems you did.

 

[whitby_2773]

turtledazzle -

i''m not sure if this will make a difference for you, but...

i just had some friends in australia return after a trip to Port Douglas - and they both contracted swine flu while up there. i thought of you and thought you might want to know. i''m not sure which resort they stayed at, but it was definitely one of the well known ones.

the wife of the pair was able to throw it off, but the husband, who is a cardiologist, in fact, is still in Intensive Care in Sydney. he was extremely ill (is still very ill) but not close to death as he was originally. he is what i would have described as a very fit and robust man with excellent health, but this hit him very hard. his wife was very ill, but was under the care of her regular physician and didn''t need to be hospitalized.

so all that to say - swine flu is going around port douglas, so you might want to take that in to your considerations.

 

[LaraOnline]

Skip Melbourne

Come to Perth instead! Margaret River winery region (self drive) is gorgeous, and romantic!

If you are headed to Far North Queensland, I would definitely plan a little trip to Cooktown, a fabulous old gold rush town that is packed full of history. We used to live up there on a cattle station when I was a little girl, and I LOVED the museum!

 

[wolftress]

I think I''m a little bit late on this thread, but I just wanted to say when you''re in Melbourne you should definitely walk through all the laneways near Flinders Street train station. There are lots of hidden treasures, boutiques, cafes, etc. It''s like a slice of Europe.

There are also lots of antique jewellery stores in the city that you might like to explore. Here are a few:

http://www.helenbadge.com/about.html
http://www.klepners.com.au/

Australia is really beautiful... you''ll have a great time here!