First visit to Melbourne. Help needed.

Next Feburary I will go to Melbourne( in fact, Australia) for the
first time. The main purpose is to settle my daughter into Melbourne
University.

Please help with the following:

1. Should I rent a car ? or is public transport OK ?
(e.g. when in Auckland, I always rent a car as the traffic is light
and roads are easy to follow)

2. Should I book into a Hotel or Motel? I just need it to be clean and
easy to access. Luxury not required.

3. With only 3 or 4 days for sightseeing and touring, what are the
"must-do"s ?

ABC

"ABC" wrote in message
...
Next Feburary I will go to Melbourne( in fact, Australia) for the
first time. The main purpose is to settle my daughter into Melbourne
University.

Please help with the following:

1. Should I rent a car ? or is public transport OK ?
(e.g. when in Auckland, I always rent a car as the traffic is light
and roads are easy to follow)

If you're staying downtown, then a car is a bloody nuisance. If you have a
car, then you'll have to learn how to make a hook turn, avoid trams, contend
with electronic tolling and all sorts of complications. There are trams,
trains and buses galore to get you around the tourist areas.

2. Should I book into a Hotel or Motel? I just need it to be clean and
easy to access. Luxury not required.

Either, look up www.wotif.com for cheaper prices up to four weeks ahead.

3. With only 3 or 4 days for sightseeing and touring, what are the
"must-do"s ?

See the thread on the same subject started up two days ago, and/or visit
http://www.visitmelbourne.com/

ABC

XYZ

On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 14:00:42 +0800, ABC
wrote:

Next Feburary I will go to Melbourne( in fact, Australia) for the
first time. The main purpose is to settle my daughter into Melbourne
University.

Please help with the following:

1. Should I rent a car ? or is public transport OK ?
(e.g. when in Auckland, I always rent a car as the traffic is light
and roads are easy to follow)

If you're only there for a few days - I wouldn't bother with
a car. I drove a cab in Melbourne - traffic can get very
heavy, especially near the city centre. And you would need
to learn "hook turns" for the city centre - even
out-of-staters have fun with those:-)

The tram and train system in Melbourne is very good,
particularly in the Melbourne Uni district.

2. Should I book into a Hotel or Motel? I just need it to be clean and
easy to access. Luxury not required.

I'm booked into the Anston Apartments for a week at
Christmas. It sounds good - but I'll know better in a
month's time:-) It's a flat/apartment with a kitchen. Walk
to the Melbourne Uni or to the city, or tram in both
directions (prices are in AU$).
http://tinyurl.com/ajo8o or
http://www.dinglepartners.com.au/fra...pertyID=214604
Also, it may be worth checking whether the Uni or it's
colleges have special arrangements for student's parents.

3. With only 3 or 4 days for sightseeing and touring, what are the
"must-do"s ?

This is part of a message I sent to a friend recently - she
only had a day, but you may get some ideas from it:

"Melbourne. Just notes and choices.

Take the free "city circle" tram around the city centre,
just to see what it's like.
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info...a=1560&pg=1562
Some stops on the tram route, or near it - that map is
excellent:
Parliament House
Aquarium
Queen Victoria Market (check opening times and dates here
http://www.qvm.com.au/home.php)
Chinatown restaurants - Little Bourke Street, from Spring to
Swanston.
Museum
Over the bridge to SouthBank, or next door on St Kilda Rd
the State theatre, Concert Hall and the National Art
Gallery.

The main shops are in the centre - Myers, Grace brothers etc

A mile or so north, in Lygon Street Carlton, there are
probably more Italian restaurants in a three-block section
than in Rome. A mile or so East, in Victoria St Abbotsford,
the same for Vietnamese restaurants and Ho Chi Minh city
(Little Saigon).

If your on-board time allows, for a truly different dining
experience, try the restaurant tram; menu varies, but
usually includes things like crocodile, emu, buffalo etc.
http://www.tramrestaurant.com.au/ It trundles around the
streets as you dine, so make sure you have time as once on,
you can't really get off until it returns.

Alternatively, if you have time, check what's on at the
three main theatres - Her Majesty's, The Comedy, or The
Princess.

For shopping, take the number 8 Toorak tram along St Kilda
Rd (pleasant trip, 20-30 minutes) to Chapel Street South
Yarra, or take the tram (numbers forgotten) to the factory
outlets in Swan Street and Bridge Road in Richmond - that
also takes you past the Melbourne Cricket Ground, or,
depending on your route, the national Tennis Centre. Have
some coins ($2, $1) to use in the on-board ticket dispenser.

For animals, the Melbourne Zoo is close to town -
http://www.zoo.org.au/visiting.cfm?zoo_id=1 ; you can get
there on a tram with a bit of a walk, but quicker and easier
to take a cab. If there are no cabs around when you leave,
allow time to walk to Royal Parade, about 3/4 mile to the
east, which has frequent trams back to the city.

The Healesville sanctuary
http://www.zoo.org.au/visiting.cfm?zoo_id=2 is great, but
it's a long way in a cab - in both time (1 1/2-2 hours each
way) and money and is a day trip in itself
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/location_hs.htm . But, if
you get the time, and like the animals, it is excellent.
There are tours to it - if you decided to take a tour -
that's the one I'd do.

In the short time you have I do not recommend the long trip
to Phillip island to see the penguins, or the similarly long
trip to Ballarat for the goldfields history; maybe next
time."

Cheers, Alan, Australia

"ABC" wrote in message
...
Next Feburary I will go to Melbourne( in fact, Australia) for the
first time. The main purpose is to settle my daughter into Melbourne
University.

Please help with the following:

1. Should I rent a car ? or is public transport OK ?
(e.g. when in Auckland, I always rent a car as the traffic is light
and roads are easy to follow)

2. Should I book into a Hotel or Motel? I just need it to be clean and
easy to access. Luxury not required.

3. With only 3 or 4 days for sightseeing and touring, what are the
"must-do"s ?

ABC

Don't forget a day out in the country aboard the Puffing Billy, This little
railway is one of the finest tourist attractions in the whole country.
http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/index.html

Also take number 16 tram from Spencer street to St Kilda. Get off at the end
of the line on Acland street. Have lunch and/or just eat cakes from the
great cake shops. Also take your swimsuit for a dip in Port Phillip Bay.
Take a walk along the beach - you'll need it after the cake shops!

Kerry
http://www.capebyron.com/railFAQ/

If looking for a clean place to stay which is reasonable price
try the Hotel Arden in North Melbourne.
http://www.lygonst.com/ardenmotel/location.htm
also look on the various sites for late bookings, like
www.wotif.com.au
and

http://www.needitnow.com.au/needitno...SearchBox=R117
and 14 days out from your requiired days , you can get some good bargains

Another is on Spencer st Melbourne which shows an example of bargaine like
above

http://hotels.escapetravel.com.au/se...0-%20Melbourne
Also
http://www.australianexplorer.com/hostels/melbourne.htm

regards
John H


"Alan S" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 06 Dec 2005 14:00:42 +0800, ABC
wrote:

Next Feburary I will go to Melbourne( in fact, Australia) for the
first time. The main purpose is to settle my daughter into Melbourne
University.

Please help with the following:

1. Should I rent a car ? or is public transport OK ?
(e.g. when in Auckland, I always rent a car as the traffic is light
and roads are easy to follow)

If you're only there for a few days - I wouldn't bother with
a car. I drove a cab in Melbourne - traffic can get very
heavy, especially near the city centre. And you would need
to learn "hook turns" for the city centre - even
out-of-staters have fun with those:-)

The tram and train system in Melbourne is very good,
particularly in the Melbourne Uni district.

2. Should I book into a Hotel or Motel? I just need it to be clean and
easy to access. Luxury not required.

I'm booked into the Anston Apartments for a week at
Christmas. It sounds good - but I'll know better in a
month's time:-) It's a flat/apartment with a kitchen. Walk
to the Melbourne Uni or to the city, or tram in both
directions (prices are in AU$).
http://tinyurl.com/ajo8o or

http://www.dinglepartners.com.au/fra...pertyID=214604
Also, it may be worth checking whether the Uni or it's
colleges have special arrangements for student's parents.

3. With only 3 or 4 days for sightseeing and touring, what are the
"must-do"s ?

This is part of a message I sent to a friend recently - she
only had a day, but you may get some ideas from it:

"Melbourne. Just notes and choices.

Take the free "city circle" tram around the city centre,
just to see what it's like.
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info...a=1560&pg=1562
Some stops on the tram route, or near it - that map is
excellent:
Parliament House
Aquarium
Queen Victoria Market (check opening times and dates here
http://www.qvm.com.au/home.php)
Chinatown restaurants - Little Bourke Street, from Spring to
Swanston.
Museum
Over the bridge to SouthBank, or next door on St Kilda Rd
the State theatre, Concert Hall and the National Art
Gallery.

The main shops are in the centre - Myers, Grace brothers etc

A mile or so north, in Lygon Street Carlton, there are
probably more Italian restaurants in a three-block section
than in Rome. A mile or so East, in Victoria St Abbotsford,
the same for Vietnamese restaurants and Ho Chi Minh city
(Little Saigon).

If your on-board time allows, for a truly different dining
experience, try the restaurant tram; menu varies, but
usually includes things like crocodile, emu, buffalo etc.
http://www.tramrestaurant.com.au/ It trundles around the
streets as you dine, so make sure you have time as once on,
you can't really get off until it returns.

Alternatively, if you have time, check what's on at the
three main theatres - Her Majesty's, The Comedy, or The
Princess.

For shopping, take the number 8 Toorak tram along St Kilda
Rd (pleasant trip, 20-30 minutes) to Chapel Street South
Yarra, or take the tram (numbers forgotten) to the factory
outlets in Swan Street and Bridge Road in Richmond - that
also takes you past the Melbourne Cricket Ground, or,
depending on your route, the national Tennis Centre. Have
some coins ($2, $1) to use in the on-board ticket dispenser.

For animals, the Melbourne Zoo is close to town -
http://www.zoo.org.au/visiting.cfm?zoo_id=1 ; you can get
there on a tram with a bit of a walk, but quicker and easier
to take a cab. If there are no cabs around when you leave,
allow time to walk to Royal Parade, about 3/4 mile to the
east, which has frequent trams back to the city.

The Healesville sanctuary
http://www.zoo.org.au/visiting.cfm?zoo_id=2 is great, but
it's a long way in a cab - in both time (1 1/2-2 hours each
way) and money and is a day trip in itself
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/location_hs.htm . But, if
you get the time, and like the animals, it is excellent.
There are tours to it - if you decided to take a tour -
that's the one I'd do.

In the short time you have I do not recommend the long trip
to Phillip island to see the penguins, or the similarly long
trip to Ballarat for the goldfields history; maybe next
time."

Cheers, Alan, Australia

On Wed, 07 Dec 2005 11:33:27 +1100, Alan S wrotd:

And you would need
to learn "hook turns" for the city centre

What is a hook turn?

I'm booked into the Anston Apartments for a week at
Christmas. It sounds good - but I'll know better in a
month's time:-)

I will post again say in early Jan to find out how you like it. OK?

Thanks a lot people

ABC

Melbourne intersections with tram tracks, not allowed to block the tracks
when making a right turn,
to make a right turn, you pull off the road to the left, wait for the lights
to change green for the road you are trying to turn into
then try to get around before the traffic going the other way splats you
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--
If at first you dont succeed
try try try again
If at first you do succeed
try try try not to look surprised

_
"ABC" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 07 Dec 2005 11:33:27 +1100, Alan S wrotd:

And you would need
to learn "hook turns" for the city centre

What is a hook turn?

I'm booked into the Anston Apartments for a week at
Christmas. It sounds good - but I'll know better in a
month's time:-)

I will post again say in early Jan to find out how you like it. OK?

Thanks a lot people

ABC

On Wed, 07 Dec 2005 19:47:38 +0800, ABC
wrote:

On Wed, 07 Dec 2005 11:33:27 +1100, Alan S wrotd:

And you would need
to learn "hook turns" for the city centre

What is a hook turn?

I'm booked into the Anston Apartments for a week at
Christmas. It sounds good - but I'll know better in a
month's time:-)

I will post again say in early Jan to find out how you like it. OK?

Thanks a lot people

ABC

OK :-))

Almost Bob described hook turns nicely - although, instead
of "splats" I'd use the term "T-bones" :-)



Cheers, Alan, Australia

"AlmostBob" wrote in message
news:GiDlf.138477$y_1.40088@edtnps89...
Melbourne intersections with tram tracks, not allowed to block the tracks
when making a right turn,
to make a right turn, you pull off the road to the left, wait for the
lights
to change green for the road you are trying to turn into
then try to get around before the traffic going the other way splats you
-----------
|
|
|__
|


One little addition.
You actually have stand in front of the cars coming from the street on the
left. If there are more than one they just sort of line up as far forward on
the left hand side as possible and they turn to the right before the cars in
the road from the left start to move.
As you can imagine this can all cause havoc in peak hour.
I have gone one street further and done a left and gone around the block. A
case of three lefts make a right! :-)

Gerrit

I found it. It should be in the Guinness book of records.

http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~bern...html#animation

Just click "play"

ABC

On Wed, 07 Dec 2005 15:35:02 GMT, "AlmostBob"
wrotd:

Melbourne intersections with tram tracks, not allowed to block the tracks
when making a right turn,
to make a right turn, you pull off the road to the left, wait for the lights
to change green for the road you are trying to turn into
then try to get around before the traffic going the other way splats you
-----------
|
|
|__
|