melbourne
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k aa exec plat
Posts: 1,837
melbourne
have a week in melbourne over new years with kids(13,11,7)-any advice on what would be good to do? also keen on doing a few days on the ocean road-
any tips appreciated!
thanks
any tips appreciated!
thanks
#2
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SYD, Australia
Programs: VA Silver, QF FF, Priority Club
Posts: 916
Mornington Peninsula is great but New Year's period will be very, very crowded.
Great Ocean Road is very crowded at that time of the year too, accommodation won't be cheap either.
Plenty of beaches and things to enjoy for your kids. I'd avoid the crowded ones at Sorrento, Portsea, Rye and Dromana though. Westernport (eastern side of the Peninsula) is quieter.
Great Ocean Road is very crowded at that time of the year too, accommodation won't be cheap either.
Plenty of beaches and things to enjoy for your kids. I'd avoid the crowded ones at Sorrento, Portsea, Rye and Dromana though. Westernport (eastern side of the Peninsula) is quieter.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite, QF Platinum (LTS), VA Platinum
Posts: 1,671
Tripadvisor might have a lot of suggestions on their "things to do" section for melbourne.
Have to admit I've learned about a few more thing via FT that I wouldn't even have known to look up on tripadvisor.
Have to admit I've learned about a few more thing via FT that I wouldn't even have known to look up on tripadvisor.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,053
Accommodation in Melbourne itself isn't bad over New Year and there's generally a good fireworks display , best viewed from South Bank or the Yarra bridges.
GOR will be crowded and expensive, even campsites but you can stay inland and take day trips to the beach
GOR will be crowded and expensive, even campsites but you can stay inland and take day trips to the beach
#5
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28
MrsMSP and I just returned from a Great Ocean Road bus tour booked via viator dot com that I can only describe as a "can't miss" ^^^ - the tour company was called AATKings. Great information, history etc was provided and I'm sure you're kids will marvel at the scenery. Both my wife and I concluded it was one of our top 5 travel experiences ever, and we've have traveled extensively.
You could look into staying at Port Campbell. Its torward the "end" of the great ocean road near the London Bridge - very cute little town that has everything you need for a relaxing holiday. I do imagine they book up well in advance.
Cheers!
You could look into staying at Port Campbell. Its torward the "end" of the great ocean road near the London Bridge - very cute little town that has everything you need for a relaxing holiday. I do imagine they book up well in advance.
Cheers!
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k aa exec plat
Posts: 1,837
MrsMSP and I just returned from a Great Ocean Road bus tour booked via viator dot com that I can only describe as a "can't miss" ^^^ - the tour company was called AATKings. Great information, history etc was provided and I'm sure you're kids will marvel at the scenery. Both my wife and I concluded it was one of our top 5 travel experiences ever, and we've have traveled extensively.
You could look into staying at Port Campbell. Its torward the "end" of the great ocean road near the London Bridge - very cute little town that has everything you need for a relaxing holiday. I do imagine they book up well in advance.
Cheers!
You could look into staying at Port Campbell. Its torward the "end" of the great ocean road near the London Bridge - very cute little town that has everything you need for a relaxing holiday. I do imagine they book up well in advance.
Cheers!
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: United 1k aa exec plat
Posts: 1,837
you mentioned the yarra bridge viewing-would the crowne plaza be a better place to stay than the intercontinental to view fireworks etc?(we have free ihg nights)
#9
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, IHG Platinum, Accor Gold
Posts: 1,019
If your kids like animals, Healesville Sanctuary is a great place to visit:
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville
Seeing the penguin parade at Phillip Island is also great:
http://www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/
Great Ocean Road day trips are LONG days....usually setting off from Melbourne CBD around 7-7.30am and not getting back until 9pm. Doing it over 2-3 days would be better if you can afford the accommodation costs and self-drive.
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville
Seeing the penguin parade at Phillip Island is also great:
http://www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/
Great Ocean Road day trips are LONG days....usually setting off from Melbourne CBD around 7-7.30am and not getting back until 9pm. Doing it over 2-3 days would be better if you can afford the accommodation costs and self-drive.
#10
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28
Ours last week was a little under 12 hours door-to-door. If you happen to book through Viator or AATKings as we did, you can ask which day "Richard" is driving as he was an outstanding, very interesting guide and driver. I would never have wanted to rent a car and drive as I would have missed all the great scenery. Yes I suppose its a longer day, but it certainly went by quickly for us. On the return drive from Port Cambell to Melbourne its roughly a 3-3.5 hour drive depending on traffic. They showed a movie on the bus, some people slept and they had free wifi so many like myself were online catching up on email, etc. It was a terrific experience! LOTS of kids too!
#12
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MEL
Programs: AccorAll - Diamond Qantas - Platinum
Posts: 124
confirmed... all of australia is on holiday then, so the GOR & peninsula will be very busy. Planning and bookings are required for any movements in these areas.
When family visited last xmas, I discouraged travel during this period, unless they had firm ideas/to dos - penguins & healesville sanctuary. Instead we enjoyed the city as it was relatively empty (but alot of restaurants closed during this period).
We jetted off to a resort in queensland instead of travelling around. Still had to fight the crowds, and it was expensive, but at least i was able to enjoy the holiday will my family as i was not driving!
When family visited last xmas, I discouraged travel during this period, unless they had firm ideas/to dos - penguins & healesville sanctuary. Instead we enjoyed the city as it was relatively empty (but alot of restaurants closed during this period).
We jetted off to a resort in queensland instead of travelling around. Still had to fight the crowds, and it was expensive, but at least i was able to enjoy the holiday will my family as i was not driving!
#13
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: IND
Programs: Avianca Brazil Diamond, Etihad Gold, Southwest CC Pass, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 315
If your kids like animals, Healesville Sanctuary is a great place to visit:
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville
Seeing the penguin parade at Phillip Island is also great:
http://www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/
Great Ocean Road day trips are LONG days....usually setting off from Melbourne CBD around 7-7.30am and not getting back until 9pm. Doing it over 2-3 days would be better if you can afford the accommodation costs and self-drive.
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville
Seeing the penguin parade at Phillip Island is also great:
http://www.penguins.org.au/attractions/penguin-parade/
Great Ocean Road day trips are LONG days....usually setting off from Melbourne CBD around 7-7.30am and not getting back until 9pm. Doing it over 2-3 days would be better if you can afford the accommodation costs and self-drive.
Another suggestion is a day trip to Wilson's Promontory.
I am hoping to make to Melbourne next year as well.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: HH Gold, CC Gold
Posts: 292
I would suggest if you guys do the penguin parade that you upgrade at least to the penguin plus ticket as the platform is much closer to where the come in and you can see them as they go up/under the dunes to their nests from the walkways.
For in the city things, I really like the National Sport Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. It's fairly small considering they cover a lot of Olympic sports and of course Aussie sports. What I like is they have fully interactive exhibits so you and the kids can attempt to play some of the sports or measure your skill against Olympic athletes.
I also liked the Melbourne Museum - it has dinosaur bones and an indoor rainforest (not as good as the one at SF's Academy of Sciences but still pretty cool) amongst a bunch of other things.
For in the city things, I really like the National Sport Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds. It's fairly small considering they cover a lot of Olympic sports and of course Aussie sports. What I like is they have fully interactive exhibits so you and the kids can attempt to play some of the sports or measure your skill against Olympic athletes.
I also liked the Melbourne Museum - it has dinosaur bones and an indoor rainforest (not as good as the one at SF's Academy of Sciences but still pretty cool) amongst a bunch of other things.