andrewNZ: If you or your travel companion/s are looking to do some clothes shopping, Myer is worth a look. Our first trip we went to the city to look around without our hosts and found Myer at about 11am. We got out at about 7pm.
In really busy places, watch others and follow their lead. On busy escalators (especially at underground train stations) stand to one side only, left from memory, people walk up the other side and you might get a not so polite request to move.
Yeah the Myer store is HUGE. I also recommend signing up for their store card (its free) if you shop there as you get extra discounts on top of any other discounts.
There is also the Factory Outlet mall 'DFO ' which is down by the docks, its mostly underground and absolutely massive, and some decent bargains to be had.
+1 for the Aquarium, Eureka Tower (especially going out on The Edge!). We did a river cruise that was quite interesting, and were able to see an amazing Monet Exhibition at the Gallery but you will have to google whats on there at the moment. +1 Vic markets - OMG the food - we stocked up our hotel fridge with cheeses and meats and what not from the deli part of the markets. There is also a bus tour that takes you round the interesting landmarks, from St Kilda (the pastry shops!!!) to the sports stadiums.
Smith St is also a long street of outlet stores, picked up a Macpac jacket that retails for nearly $400NZD for about $159 AUD, and boy has that been a useful purchase thru these recent cold snaps!
If you like a bit of fine wining and dining I heartily recommend Il Solito Posto amazing food great atmosphere and our waiter, who looked like Hurley from 'Lost', had us in stitches all night. But you cant really go wrong for food there are so many restaurants of so many types/nationality's.
If you are into pop culture stuff (movies/comics/miniatures etc) have a look at Minotaur I only got to spend 30 mins in there could have been much more!
Keep an eye out at the tram stops, they usually say if they are part of the free CBD area or not on the signage at the stop - where we stayed recently at the Ibis just down the road from Vic markets, we had 2 options for tram stops, and wasnt till the 3rd or 4th day we realised one was a free ride all the way to Flinders Station whereas if we went the other way it wasn't (by one stop, it was just outside the zone, so you had to pay) On the subject of trams - look twice before crossing any tram lines on foot - in fact dont jay walk wait for the crossing signals - they are something we are not used to in NZ, and sometimes you dont hear them over other noise and if you step out in front of one - they cant turn obviously or stop very fast.
Enjoy your trip!
I've heard a lot of people say to look for an outlet mall, so now I have a name too look for ! thanks! I'll most deffo be visiting Vic Markets, that's first on the list, as well as the big ferris wheel thingy. Thanks for all the tips!
If you're planning to use the Skybus to get into the city, then I'd grab a Myki from the PTV Hub when the bus drops you off at Southern Cross Station. If you stay inside the station and walk from the bus platforms towards Collins St, it's on the left hand side next to platform 2. They'll also be able to point out where to get a tram up Collins St to the Sofitel... unless you want to chance it with a taxi.
The rules for using a Myki are easy... sort of. If you're catching a train or a bus, touch on when you board and touch off when you get off (Myki readers at the bus doors, or at the fare gates or on poles by the entry and exit to the railway station platforms.) If you're on a tram, touch on when you board, but don't bother touching off. If you're trip is completely inside the Free Tram Zone, DO NOT touch on, otherwise you'll be charged for the trip. In any case, the daily fare cap for zone 1+2 is $7.52 weekdays, and $6.00 weekends, which covers you for travel pretty much anywhere from the CBD to the outer suburbs.
If you're catching trains, remember that trains with Flinders St on the destination board will go the shortest way back to Flinders St Station. If the train says City Loop, it goes to Flinders St Station as well, but it goes around the City Loop on the way. Also bear in mind that some lines change the direction that they travel around the loop at lunchtime, and some lines that avoid the loop during the week route all trains around the loop over the weekend.
If you've got data and a smartphone, the Train Trapper and Tram Tracker apps can be handy.
As for things to do? There are loads of cool things to do in and around the CBD. If you want a view over the city, either the Melbourne Star observation wheel at Docklands, or the Eureka Tower at Southbank is worth a visit. If you're into markets, Queen Vic Market is crowded and bit of a tourist trap, either South Melbourne Market (from the city, take a number 96 tram towards St Kilda Beach) or Prahran Market (pronounced Pran if you want to sound like a local, number 72 tram towards Camberwell from Swanston St) are better.
The toy department at Myer in Bourke St is worth a visit for the Lego MCG on display, plus you can walk from Myer all the way to Melbourne Central Station without going outside - great if it's cold and raining. Hosier Lane is worth a look for the constantly changing street art, plus there are artworks and sculptures dotted all over the CBD. If you find yourself at the corner of Bourke and Swanston Sts, don't forget to look up - there are sculptures on poles about 10m off the ground on each corner.
I'd also recommend going into the State Library (opposite Melbourne Central on Swanston St) and having a look at the dome of the Latrobe Reading Room. It's an impressive space, and if you time it right, the library run guided tours of the dome and the galleries that surround it.
If you're into art and culture, there's ACMI and the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square, the National Gallery of Victoria a short walk over the river and along St Kilda Rd, and Melbourne Museum in Nicholson St (number 96 tram towards East Brunswick from the city).
If you want outlet shopping, there are a few shops in Smith St between Johnston St and Victoria Pde (number 86 tram towards Bundoora from the city) otherwise you've got DFO South Wharf, which is a bit of a walk along the river from Clarendon St. The bigger outlet malls are DFO at Essendon Fields or Moorabbin, neither of which are that easy to get to without a car.
The number 86 tram also runs along Gertrude St, where the Gertrude St Projection Festival is running until Sunday. Well worth heading along to in the early evening.
That should give you some ideas of what you can do while you're in Melbourne. Have a great time - Melbourne's a fantastic city.
The number 86 tram also runs along Gertrude St, where the Gertrude St Projection Festival is running until Sunday. Well worth heading along to in the early evening.
And on that note if you like craft beer then I can personally recommend The Gertrude Hotel which is participating in the Projection festival.
The amount of info you guys are giving is amazing, thank you so much. We'll be spoilt for choice for stuff to visit! I'm gonna have to sit down sometime this week and plan out what to see because half of this stuff I would never have even thought of looking for haha.
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