The poster will have a brilliant time in MEL.

and Winter is a great time to visit.

It's cold, but not snowing, there's no sleet and of late we have had no rain. You will be perfect in a jumper or jacket, polo neck for style, a scarf flung around the neck for colour. MEL is the rare destination you could hire a car in, yet the coaches would take you to very interesting day tours. Do try to see the inland cities of the 1850 gold boom Bendigo, the latter day spa and foodie haven of Macedon Daylesford Kyneton. For a real treat stay if you can at Robe on the Southern Ocean, eat a freshly caught lobster, or try for Port Fairy a little closer to the capital. If too cold, head north to the Murray River and the old paddle steamer ports of Echuca and Mildura. Up thar in the hills are beautiful little villages like Hall's Gap, Bright and Beechworth, so old and quant and so colourful you would swear they are paintings. Back to MEL, Carlton is where the Italians settled, so the evenings are pasta and the days are coffee. St Kilda is young trendy and edgy, chocolate shops and the girls mix well, Collins and Bourke streets are the city center's borders of mazes of arcades full of such interesting shops. The much maligned Yarra River now is bookcased between the large sporting arenas at one end and the Casino and a thousand eateries along the boardwalk. The all new docklands is absolutely wonderful but with all new projects the locals haven't given it a soul yet. The trams are a joy to ride, they are cheap, fun and safe and the streets are so wide and grand. In the Arts precinct, expect to spend some time if that is your cup of tea. Food Arts Sports Clothes and wine I should mention. Pop out to the Yarra Valley for the greatest wines and the best look, whilst if Oils are your thing, we do go on, but MEL is like that, I have entertained guests for years who have loved Melbourne because they just felt so confortable sitting in a streetside cafe sipping coffee and watching the world go by. Hotels like the Hyatts IC Hiltons Sofitels, always have high occupancy, says something about the calibre of tourist this grand old city attracts. You will enjoy your holiday, feel free to PM me if I can be of help, regards bkkrop