Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne, Australia


Stay

Your transport mode for the trip will determine where you want to stay.
  • Self driving throughout the trip (pick up and return vehicle at airport):
    • Stay in accommodation that provides free parking. AirBnB may be a good choice. 
  • Partial driving (vehicle available only for part of the trip):
    •  Recommended to stay around Southern Cross Station as it is the airport SkyBus station. 
As you may be traveling from places to places, it will be advisable to book accommodation as you travel to save traveling time instead of staying in Melbourne CBD throughout.  Also, check for free luggage storage for the last day if your flight is going to be hours after check out.  Alternatively, there are paid luggage storage in Southern Cross Station or the shops nearby. 


Eat 

Dinner places around Philips island
  • Madcowes Café (06:00 to 16:00) – good views & serves breakfast / lunch
  • Cheeky Goose Café (08:00 to 20:00)
  • Nordic Kantine (closed after lunch) – Danish food and waffles all day
  • Pino’s Trattoria (Lunch and Dinner) – Italian
  • Bani’s Kitchen (Lunch and Dinner) – Mediterranean Food 

Melbourne city markets
  • Victoria Market (Seafood market.  Cheap and fresh oysters, lobsters, etc. Don't forget the donuts from the donut van)

 
  • South Melbourne Market (Street food and market) - don't miss the pastries!











Makan places in Melbourne city
  • Tipo00 (handmade pasta) - at least 2 weeks advance reservation needed.  
  • Higher Ground (One of the best cafes in town). Make reservation or gets rejected.

  • Must try Vietnamese food at Vietnamese community either in Richmond or Footscray. Pho Hung Vuong is one of the better pho in town.
  • Rockpool (Very good steaks). 
  • San Telmo (Good steak grilled in Parrilla)
  • Shandong mama (if you are craving for Chinese food)
  • Sol 38 (skip unless you are really craving for Thai, in my opinion, still far from Thai standard)
  • Agathé Pâtisserie at South Melbourne market.  The place where local goes to for croissant and pastry fix instead of Lune.
  • Coffee (ask for "Magic" instead of Latte/Cuppicino/Americano/etc)
  • Aqua S (sea salt ice cream with cotton candy and pop corns)
  • Many more, just find whichever food that you like



Transport


Within Melbourne city

If you are traveling within the free tram zone, just hop on and off the tram.  Use your google map to navigate between your destinations.  

image courtesy from PTV

If you need to get out of the free tram zone and into nearby zone 1 or 2.  You can either buy a physical myki card (which is like our ezlink card) or just install myki app in your android phone.  It will definitely be easier to use the app instead of finding where to buy the physical card.  Use your phone to tap on the bus reader (turn on NFC) and top up money into the myki wallet via your app. 



More info https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/fares/metropolitan-fares/


Out of Melbourne city

Driving is the best option though there are regional bus/ train.




Play


Grampians



Reeds Lookout and The Balconies

Drive to carpark at Reeds lookout (37°08'53.4"S 142°26'54.6"E). Walk 2km.

 

 

Reeds look out



McKenzie falls

The Pinnacle

Park at Sundial Car Park, it is easiest and the best route.  Just follow the sign to the Pinnacle.  Don't be deceived by the google indication of 51min, the walk up actually takes about 2 hours due to elevation and obstacles.  Rock path may be slippery, do get good sturdy shoes.  You may want to bring sandwiches or light lunch.

Distance: 2.1km

Start: Sundial Carpark

Safety: Wear sturdy shoes. Check for bushfire warnings before you leave.

 https://www.visitgrampians.com.au/products/thepinnacle









 Wine and cheese tasting at Grampians Pomonial Estate 





Great Ocean Road

Melbourne City to Apollo Bay (by highway M1).  Faster to travel via highway and enjoy the coastal road from Port Campbell side.  



Coastal Road

Lunch at Apollo Bay (Famous for Fresh Fish&chips and Seafood)







Apollo Bay, Cape Otway Lighthouse, Gibbsen steps, Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch, London bridge, The Grotto

Alternatively, skip Apollo Bay and go straight to Port Campbell starting from Gibbsen steps.  A lot easier and less time consuming and you don't miss much.



Phillip's Island 

Either you join a day tour or just self drive.  Tickets can be purchased in advance via KLOOK or other online platform. You will spend at least half a day here.

*Penguin Parade timing depends on the sunset.  Do check out BEFORE your trip.

Chocolate factory at Phillip's island





Yarra Valley (did not go)

 

Check opening hours before heading

Yarra Valley Farmer’s Market


38 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen VIC 3775

Yarra Valley Dairy


70-80 Mcmeikans Rd, Yering VIC 3770, Australia

Yarra Valley Chocolate & Ice Creamery


35 Old Healesville Rd, Yarra Glen VIC 3775, Australia

Omaru Alpaca Farm


190 Hildebrand Road, Cottles Bridge VIC 3099; close sharply at 3:00 PM

Domaine Chandon (Buy champagne)


727 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream, VIC 3770 +61 3 9738 9200; closes by 4:30 PM

Innocent Bystander (Meal at vineyard with wine tasting bar)


316-334 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia




Shopping
  • DFO South Wharf outlet
  • Spenser outlet at Southern Cross Station
  • Brouke Street mall and around
  • Chadstone mall (quite disappointing, can skip)
  • South Melbourne market for nuts, black truffles, seafood or beef



Free Walking tour




Places of interest
  • Hosier Ln (Street art)
  • State library
  
  •  Royal exhibition building and museum


  • St Paul's Cathedral, Flinder station and Yarra 

  • Brighton Beach Station (colourful bath houses)
 
  • Mornington peninsula (hotspring & bath house)
  • Sovereign Hill (Skip, just a theme park)


Catch a play or musical

Some online links that can get cheaper tickets.
  • https://halftixmelbourne.com/
  • https://www.todaytix.com/melbourne/category/all-shows
  




Itinerary if you only have 7 days and stay throughout in the city

Date

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Location

Great Ocean Road

Phillip Island

Yarra Valley

Melbourne CBD

Melbourne CBD

Melbourne CBD

Transport

Car/ Klook

Car/ Klook

Car/ Klook

Return car.

Free Tram Ride for all tram within Free tram zone

Free Tram Ride OR by foot

Free Tram Ride OR by foot

Eat

Lunch: Apollo Bay/ Port Campbell

Lunch: Late lunch at Brighton Soul (7am to 4pm)

Late Dinner

 

 

Lunch: @South Melbourne market

Dinner: Higher ground

Lunch: @Chinatown Red Emperor dim sum/ Shandong mama

Dinner: Rock pool OR San Telmo

Lunch:

Dinner: Tipo 00

Hotel

Accommodation in Melbourne CBD
Free luggage storage

Activities

*Apollo Bay
*Cape Otway Lighthouse
*Gibsen steps
*Twelve Apostles
*Loch Ard Gorge and *London Arch
*London bridge
*The Grotto

*Brighton Beach
*Go Kart
*Koala Conservation Centre
*Penguin Parade at 5.30pm.  About 1 hr.

* Yarra Valley Farmer’s Market

* Yarra Valley Dairy

* Yarra Valley Chocolate & Ice Creamery

* Domaine Chandon (Buy champagne)

 

*South Melbourne Market (Mon, Tue, Thu close)
*DFO South Wharf


*Join Melbourne walking tour (10:30am to 1:15pm)
* State Victoria library

* Shopping in city

* Museum
* Shopping and café hopping

*Queen Victoria Market (Mon, Wed close)


My 10D9N itinerary

Date

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Location

Singapore - Melbourne CBD

Great Ocean Road/ Warrnambool

Warrnambool - Halls Gap (Grampians)

Halls Gap (Grampians)

Halls Gap – Melbourne CBD

Transport

Arrive

Car

Car

Car

Car

Eat

 

Lunch: Apollo Bay Seafood Café/ Co-op

Dinner: Warrnamebool

Lunch: Along the way or packed lunch

Dinner: Halls gap

Lunch: Packed lunch

Dinner: Halls gap

Lunch: Vineyard/ Salingers @
98 Main St, Great Western, Victoria 3374

Dinner: Pho Hung Vuong Saigon Restaurant (close at 8.30pm)
128 Hopkins St, Footscray

Hotel

Accommodation in Melbourne CBD

Accommodation in Warrnambool

Accommodation in Halls Gap
(Grampians)

Accommodation in Melbourne CBD

Activities

 

*Apollo Bay
*Cape Otway Lighthouse
*Gibsen steps
*Twelve Apostles
*Loch Ard Gorge and *London Arch
*London bridge
*The Grotto

*Reeds lookout
*The Balconies
*MacKenzie Falls (260 steep steps)

The Pinnacles, Silent corridor, Bridal Veil Falls, Grand Canyon

*Red Rock Olives Farm
*James McMurtrie Glass Blowing
*Seppelt Cellar
*Montara Wines Vineyard



Date

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10

Location

Melbourne CBD - Phillip Island

Melbourne CBD

Melbourne CBD

Melbourne CBD

Melbourne - Singapore

Transport

Car

Return car.

Free Tram Ride OR by foot

Free Tram Ride OR by foot

Free Tram Ride OR by foot

Home sweet home

Eat

Lunch: Brighton Soul (7am to 4pm)

Dinner: early dinner before penguin parade at 8 pm

Lunch: @South Melbourne market


Early Dinner near theatre


 

Hotel

Accommodation in Melbourne CBD (Check for free/paid luggage storage)

 

Activities

*Brighton Beach

Phillip's island

*Chocolate Factory 

*Go Kart

*Penguin Parade

*South Melbourne Market (Mon, Tue, Thu close)

*DFO South Wharf

*Join Melbourne walking tour 

*Shopping in the city

*7pm Harry Porter Musical

*Queen Victoria Market (Mon, Wed close) 

*State Library

*Museum 

*Shopping and café hopping

 


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