Go to the Crown Casino. The...
by nutt03z
Go to the Crown Casino. The are that faces the Yarra River. Every hour, the tall beams that protrude upwards release huge flames. The show roughly lasts 5 minuts. I was told that hen it was first started, there were seagulls that flew past during the show. Well, i shall not elaborate further on the fate of the seagulls. :) One of the fondest memory i had of Melbourne was walking by the Flinders Street Train Station at around 4.30pm in July. It was getting dark and the building was lit up very beautifully. Then suddenly i hear and notice a lone bagpiper playing his bagpipe. It just gave a very facinating and almost magical feel to the whole thing.
The ride
by iandsmith
I felt wretched. For half an hour I wrestled with the prospect of facing a Melbourne morning beneath overcast skies. My partially blocked nasal passaged added to my wretchedness, but eventually I convinced myself, utilizing the deep and meaningful argument “Don’t be a woos” and found myself early morning, in a lift in my lycra bike attire being stared at by fellow liftees.
Relief came at the ground floor (I suspect for all of us) and I mounted by trusty steed, free at last in the madness of Flinders Street commuter traffic. Bikes, motorbikes, cars, cabs, trams, vans, buses and, worst of all, those bloody pedestrians!
I knew there was a bike trail on the other side of the river but I had no idea how you got there on a bike so I basically followed the pedestrian route, not wishing to disappear in tram line groove and never be heard of again.
Once across I was lost in the mid-chess game maze of those who walk and those who ride which offered ample scope for the advancement of my steering skills.
Whilst everybody was on a mission to arrive at work on time, I was heading on the opposite tack and trying to do a bit of sightseeing and act as a mobile chicane for the speedier two wheelers, an activity I succeeded admirably in achieving.
Once free of the morning surge and now adjacent to Melbourne’s outstanding Botanical Gardens I was able to relax a little more, though a steady trickle of traffic made sure I didn’t get too complacent. One thing that was apparent, Melburnians do congregate on and around the Yarra at this time of the morning. I was amazed at the number of scullers gracing the surface and how many joggers, walkers and cyclists the were in total.
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EAT
by sirgaw
If you watch a local at sometime they'll be heading off to a park with a pick-nic basket, hamper and almost certainly an Esky (cooler). There will be meat and sangers (sausages) packed away along with cutlery, plates and tongs - but they won'tneed to pack a BBQ as most of the parks in and around Melbourne have electrically operated and FREE (yes I did say free) BBQ's
The kids will be in tow, there will be a cricket set or a footy and maybe even a frisby. The dog will almost certainly be coming along and no doubt will get his fair share of sausages.
OK that's the locals - what about visitors. Stock up at a local supermarket and head for the local parks for an el fresco meal - enjoy.
BBQ photographed is at Ruffey Creek park in Doncaster with a nearby bridge that spans the creek and part of the walking trails within the park.
Web site below is for Albert Park, however check with local councils for parks in the area, or check the Melway Street Directory.
Packing List
by stewballs
Pack nothing, buy it all when you get there. Melbourne is renowned for its great shoping.
Chapel St is a must for yuppies, while Brunswick St is ok for something a little more down market
Otway Rainforest
by mvtouring
Being part of the Great Ocean road, I could not include it there as it needs a mention of its own. A must stop if you are doing this route with easy walks where you can admire the fauna & flaura of this region
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Countryside from the train
Federer - 2009 final
Melbourne Chinatown
StickyDatePudding
