[vijus_n_n]

I am in Sydney, some inputs.

1. Try 131500 Transport Infoline - Home You can plan / check feasibility of all modes of transport

2. YHA Australia Hostels - YHA Australia for accommodation. After travelling so much in India and abroad, I am a fan of AU YHA. ( Don't compare with our Indian YHAs ) Safe for family and flexible.

3. Majority of places ( Syd/Melborne) have 'Hop on Hop Off' buses with all flexibility. Costs around 55$ for 2 days

4. No worries, you can use Indian License.

Cheers,
Vijay

[abbey4u]

Originally Posted by amrisharm

Having lived in melbourne for 8 years (I left in 2008) I guess i could answer most questions you may have so feel free to ask any specific questions.

Thanks

Originally Posted by amrisharm

Go to Crown casino area on the yarra river at night. Its the centre of the city. They have a mini fire show on the hour every hour and the whole river side is lit up beautifully at night by surrounding buildings.

Looks interesting. I will surely make it.

Originally Posted by amrisharm

Rialto towers Observation deck

How about "The Eureka Skydeck 88 Experience, plus the Edge". Is it different?


Rest I am planning to do a free city trip with tourist shuttle or free tram rides. How are these?

Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle*-*that's*melbourne


For places to stay, I am thinking of staying somewhere near southbank flinders street station. Is it a good choice? Is it different than CBD?

Originally Posted by vijus_n_n

I am in Sydney, some inputs.

1. Try 131500 Transport Infoline - Home You can plan / check feasibility of all modes of transport

2. YHA Australia Hostels - YHA Australia for accommodation. After travelling so much in India and abroad, I am a fan of AU YHA. ( Don't compare with our Indian YHAs ) Safe for family and flexible.

3. Majority of places ( Syd/Melborne) have 'Hop on Hop Off' buses with all flexibility. Costs around 55$ for 2 days

4. No worries, you can use Indian License.

Cheers,
Vijay

Thanks Vijay, could you suggest me which location i should stay, so that public transport etc are nearby. Sydney harbour is on my list of places to visit. Any other places?

I am yet to book a flight from melbourne to sydney and i am not sure if should make a morning flight from mel or an evening. A morning flight gives me extended time in sydney whereas evening gives more time in mel

[amrisharm]

Originally Posted by abbey4u

Thanks


Looks interesting. I will surely make it.


How about "The Eureka Skydeck 88 Experience, plus the Edge". Is it different?


Rest I am planning to do a free city trip with tourist shuttle or free tram rides. How are these?

Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle*-*that's*melbourne


For places to stay, I am thinking of staying somewhere near southbank flinders street station. Is it a good choice? Is it different than CBD?

The Eureka skydeck sounds interesting, it was opened up after i left australia so i cant comment on that. Since this is the newer of the two, u might as well do this one instead of Rialto.

And South bank Flinders st is part of the CBD and is quite central, so this is perfect for you. Also it will probably fall close to the Melbourne Tourist shuttle bus route as well so another added convenience .

[arun_kun]

Hi Amigos,

I have been staying in Singapore for almost 2 years. And all my trips from last 2 yrs have been mostly to the hot sunny exotic beaches around Singapore(not that i am complaining ). So for a change I want to visit some Wild Wild East.. The Down Under. The thing is Aug 2nd week is bumper week for me as my life's 3 important dates fall in that one week.

1) My B'day
2) My wife B'day
3) My Mrg Anniversary( this is my 1st anniversary)

So to mark the first greatest landmark achieved i.e completing 1yr of my marriage, I am planning for a trip to Melbourne,Australia from 7th Aug- 18th Aug. I will be staying with my friends in Melbourne.

My travel dates:
I will travelling by Malaysian Airlines via KL.

SGP to MEL on 7th Aug evening. Will reach by Mid nite.
MEL to SGP on 19th Aug early morning.

What I want from you guyz is some suggestions on what places to visit and the best way to enjoy and make most out of this trip. And optimizing my trip such that i cover most of the must see and must do's( I know i can't cover all)

Please suggest me a two days trip which i can plan for my anniversary in around Mel or Sydney.

As of now these are the places I have in my mind:

Places planning to visit:
1) Obviously Melbourne city
2) Day or two for visiting Syndey( I have fnds in Sydney too)
3) Want to visit some snowy mountains near to Mel.. any pointers/suggestions?
4) 12 Apostles

Things to do:

5) Great Ocean Drive

MayBe:
6) Tasmania(2 days trip)



As of now, except my travel dates nothing is fixed. Every thing is flexible. So I am completely open to suggestions.

Thanks in Advance,
Kun

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by arun_kun

Hi Amigos,


I will travelling by Malaysian Airlines via KL.

s I have in my mind:

Places planning to visit:
1) Obviously Melbourne city
2) Day or two for visiting Syndey( I have fnds in Sydney too)
3) Want to visit some snowy mountains near to Mel.. any pointers/suggestions?
4) 12 Apostles

Things to do:

5) Great Ocean Drive

MayBe:
6) Tasmania(2 days trip)

As of now, except my travel dates nothing is fixed. Every thing is flexible. So I am completely open to suggestions.

Thanks in Advance,
Kun

Hi
We went on holiday to Oz last year and it was a memorable experience.
You can fly direct from Singapore which may be better really instead if going to KL and then to Mel.

Some stuff to do around Melbourne
1. Great Ocean Road definitely. ( rent a car through Europcar, they are quite reasonable). The twelve apostles are on the Great Ocean Road. A fair step away though.
2. Mornington Peninsula
3. Yarra Valley
4. Kangaroo Island may be a nice idea
5. Trip back towards Canberra to see the place.
6. Snowy mountains will take you quite some time to reach.
7. Shop at RM Williams discount store in Spencer Street Station
8. Visit Fed Square and eat at Movida
9. Eat desserts on Lygon Street.
10. Visit Queen Victoria Market
11. Visit Albert Park, MCG and St. Kilda beach
12. Spend some time on South Wharf and go to the Crown Casino complex.
13. Near Flinders Street Station there is a beautiful little scale model shop located just off Elizabeth Street.


Some Stuff to do around Sydney
1. Bondi beach!
2. Blue Mountains - a lovely drive
3. Hunter Valley - a lovely drive
4. Circular Quay
5. Opera House and the gardens nearby
6. Queen Victorias Basement
7. Definitely take a ferry across Manly
8. Taronga Zoo is lovely.
9. Walk to the Rocks...
10. Eat along the quayside wharf at Darling Harbour
11. Maybe drive along the road to the Gold Coast.
12. Take a hot air balloon ride or a seaplane ride.


Enjoy....

[arun_kun]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Hi
We went on holiday to Oz last year and it was a memorable experience.
You can fly direct from Singapore which may be better really instead if going to KL and then to Mel.

Some stuff to do around Melbourne
1. Great Ocean Road definitely. ( rent a car through Europcar, they are quite reasonable). The twelve apostles are on the Great Ocean Road. A fair step away though.
2. Mornington Peninsula
3. Yarra Valley
4. Kangaroo Island may be a nice idea
5. Trip back towards Canberra to see the place.
6. Snowy mountains will take you quite some time to reach.
7. Shop at RM Williams discount store in Spencer Street Station
8. Visit Fed Square and eat at Movida
9. Eat desserts on Lygon Street.
10. Visit Queen Victoria Market
11. Visit Albert Park, MCG and St. Kilda beach
12. Spend some time on South Wharf and go to the Crown Casino complex.
13. Near Flinders Street Station there is a beautiful little scale model shop located just off Elizabeth Street.


Some Stuff to do around Sydney
1. Bondi beach!
2. Blue Mountains - a lovely drive
3. Hunter Valley - a lovely drive
4. Circular Quay
5. Opera House and the gardens nearby
6. Queen Victorias Basement
7. Definitely take a ferry across Manly
8. Taronga Zoo is lovely.
9. Walk to the Rocks...
10. Eat along the quayside wharf at Darling Harbour
11. Maybe drive along the road to the Gold Coast.
12. Take a hot air balloon ride or a seaplane ride.


Enjoy....

Thanks Shankar for the pointers. Will look into the suggestions given by you. Yup, I will book car from EuroCar/Budget for 4-5 days and remaining days I will be accompanied by my friends. Do they accept Indian DL for renting a car? One of my friend is of the opinion that they might not accept Indian DL.

I have already booked my flight. I have booked Malaysian Airlines via KL as this was the only flight which I can catch immediately after my office on 7th. And KL is just 45 min from Singapore and I just have 1hr stop at KL. So this was the best option available. And other option I had was tiger airways.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by arun_kun

Thanks Shankar for the pointers. Will look into the suggestions given by you. Yup, I will book car from EuroCar/Budget for 4-5 days and remaining days I will be accompanied by my friends. Do they accept Indian DL for renting a car? One of my friend is of the opinion that they might not accept Indian DL.

I have already booked my flight. I have booked Malaysian Airlines via KL as this was the only flight which I can catch immediately after my office on 7th. And KL is just 45 min from Singapore and I just have 1hr stop at KL. So this was the best option available. And other option I had was tiger airways.

The Indian DL is fine in Oz. It is always nice to have an International Drivers Permit. You can get one very easily here through the Automobile Associaton OR through the RTO directly. However, since you live in Singapore there may be different procedures to follow. Either way, it is always worth getting an International Permit in case you plan to drive abroad.

Incidentally, in Oz they drive, like us, on the 'correct' side of the road which means they drive right hand drive cars and drive on the left side. Be very very careful if speed limits especially in Melbourne, Victoria because even if you are just 2kmph past the prescribed speed limit, you are liable for a hefty fine. Hence it helps to have a TomTom or other device which identifies speed limits as you drive along and warns you in advance of speed cameras.

You can consider getting a car with cruise control which is arguably the best way of electronically adhering to prescribed speed limits. However, you will need to frequently re- set the control depending on the actual speed limit in the area you are passing through at the time. The Sydney/ NSW Police are a little more lenient that they are in the State of Victoria where Melbourne is.

Inside Melbourne, especially in the town areas or city streets there is an odd maneuver called a 'hook turn'. Remember that Trams always get right of way. You would do well to study the 'hook turn' a little more, in case you intend driving inside the city of Melbourne. However, they have such wonderful public transport, trams, buses and trains as well as a completely 'Free' tram to get around, that you do not really need a car within the city at all.

Sydney does not have these odd maneuvers like 'hook turns' etc, but again they have such lovely public transport including a 'Free' City Shuttle' bus, that you really dont need a car inside the town.

Other great places to visit are Cairns up in the North and Adelaide on Western Side and Ayers Rock or Uluru in the centre of Oz. However, you need time for all this!

We need to go back for at least 2 or 3 trips more to Oz before we can get to see some more. All we have done so far is scratch the surface...

Cheers and have fun...

[Maverick5490]

@ Arun, was thinking of Oz around the same time, but could spare max 7 days which is less as travelling to and fro from India make you lose 2 days! Shankar has provided the must do's in Oz, in addition the Great Barrier reef and Tasmania is a must, which I was very keen on, but then some other time!

P.S: Make sure you plan your Wife's b'day or your anniversary for lunch/dinner at Darling harbour, it would be worth it!

[murugaveln]

If you are interested in trekking, you can go to Grampians. A 2-day trip would be good.
There is Ballarat, where they preserve the environment of those gold rush days and you can go on a guided tour into a gold mine.
You can also go to Philip Islands to watch the little fairy penguins returning to their burrows in the evening.

There is a visitor center in Swanston street. There you can pick up brouchures and maps, and the staff there can assist you.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by murugaveln

If you are interested in trekking, you can go to Grampians. A 2-day trip would be good.
There is Ballarat, where they preserve the environment of those gold rush days and you can go on a guided tour into a gold mine.
You can also go to Philip Islands to watch the little fairy penguins returning to their burrows in the evening.

Originally Posted by Maverick5490

@ in addition the Great Barrier reef and Tasmania is a must, which I was very keen on, but then some other time!
Make sure you plan your Wife's b'day or your anniversary for lunch/dinner at Darling harbour, it would be worth it!

Lovely ideas both Murugavel and Maverick have put forward.
Yes the Grampians are wonderful as a trekking destination - though I am not sure how much time you have. Ballarat is absolutely fantastic in terms of History.

And yes you should eat at Darling Harbour - there are some brilliant restaurants along the Waterfront.

Also, if you're looking for the Europcar office there is one right in Spencer Street Station in Melbourne.

One website which may help you plan some excellent activities for your holiday is "Go Do Australia"...you can google it. I can vouch for their quality.

The options on offer are fun, some are affordable, some are expensive but overall it is a great starting point. Unlike us poor Indian Rupee users, you should not have too much trouble since your SGP Dollar is more or less equal to the NZ Dollar and only a little less than the Oz Dollar!

The Great Barrier Reef is actually quite near Cairns, which you should certainly see if you have time. I have that on my list along with Tasmania and Uluru and the Barossa Valley near Adelaide.

To shop for bargain price Top Brands of Apparel, Accessories etc, go to DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) which is on South Wharf in Melbourne. Check out that Spencer Street RM Williams Store - they have superb jeans, shirts and their world famous boots - all for a much more reasonable price than in their main full price boutiques.

Singapore prices are quite high except at the Airport shops so you will find DFO in Oz to be reasonable.For example I found these lovely TM Lewin Shirts which I like a lot, in their Orchard Road store priced at SGD 100+ and the same things in their Airport Store were at 1/3rd the price because their Airport Shop was on sale!

[Maverick5490]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

The Great Barrier Reef is actually quite near Cairns, which you should certainly see if you have time. I have that on my list along with Tasmania and Uluru and the Barossa Valley near Adelaide.

Thank Shankar! I was planning for a trip where I could land at Cairns via Singapore, spend two days there, another two days in Sydney,Melbourne and the final two days at Tasmania, then fly back to India. This way you enter at North, then travel South wards, ensuring you get more time in Oz and dont loose much time in time difference.

[shankar.balan]

Originally Posted by Maverick5490

Thank Shankar! I was planning for a trip where I could land at Cairns via Singapore, spend two days there, another two days in Sydney,Melbourne and the final two days at Tasmania, then fly back to India. This way you enter at North, then travel South wards, ensuring you get more time in Oz and dont loose much time in time difference.

An excellent idea indeed. A smart way to optimize time certainly.

However, just check if you get a flight out of Tassie direct to India - my guess is that you would need to pop back to Melbourne and out OR Adelaide and out, whichever suits you better. And why not? Perhaps you might be tempted with a day or two in Adelaide so you can visit the lovely Barossa valley as well...just a thought really...

[Bomi]

Do take a day trip from Melbourne to Phillip island (140 kms) and wantch the Little Penguin Parade at sunset. Its awesome. I recomend going in a guided tour, rather than driving don on your own, as the commentary is what makes it interesting. Rest is covered by previous posts.

[Maverick5490]

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

An excellent idea indeed. A smart way to optimize time certainly.

However, just check if you get a flight out of Tassie direct to India - my guess is that you would need to pop back to Melbourne and out OR Adelaide and out, whichever suits you better. And why not? Perhaps you might be tempted with a day or two in Adelaide so you can visit the lovely Barossa valley as well...just a thought really...

I guess there was an option for a flight out to Singapore, but anyways, Oz is on hold as of now, might be heading for Europe!

[JassiBhpaji]

Hi there,

If you have time then you should also try to visit Dandenong Hills at sunset. You can see a lovely view of melbourne from there. But then thats it for that place. So plan for it only if you have spare time. Also don't forget to climb the Eureka Towers in Melbourne near Crown Cassino. Its quite reasonable and the the view from 85th story is fabulous. Gamble a little in Crown and have fun.

Rest is already covered previously. DFO and Docklands are good for shopping.