Melbourne

First Trip To Australia

Reply
  Tools
albab2k7 +

Junior Member

albab2k7's Avatar
Joined
May 2012
Times thanked
0
Posts
11
Default First Trip To Australia
Hi,

I'm planning a short weekend trip to Australia in November this year and it would be my first time in Australia. I have decided to come to Melbourne and not Sydney. I have nothing against Sydney though. Frankly speaking, I don't know much about the city but when I browsed the net recently it gave some rough ideas what to do in Melbourne.

But, I would love to get to know some locals, gay and straight alike. I'm not really into gay scene whatsoever but I did my research on that. However, I ended up with gay escort services (I don't think I could afford them).

I'm open to any suggestion.

Cheers.
longhornie +

Senior Member

Joined
Dec 2011
Times thanked
73
Posts
393
Default
Melbourne Cup Horse Racing is the big November event and there is a real manic party atmosphere in the city at that time.

The races can be fun to go to as well - a real institution!

Most of the active Gay Venues are in the inner north, but unfortunately few are directly on train or tram lines, but many are not too far from them if you know where youre going.

The places also tend to be rather far from one-another, not much of a section of street with several options to check out unfortunately
albab2k7 +

Junior Member

albab2k7's Avatar
Joined
May 2012
Times thanked
0
Posts
11
Default
I'll keep that in my mind then. I don't mind if I don't get a chance to experience the gay scene in Melbourne. And I don't expect much from the first trip.

Cheers
Wonderland +

Senior Member

Wonderland's Avatar
Joined
Jan 2012
Times thanked
1,984
Posts
2,173
Default
Who plans a 'short weekend trip' from Malaysia to Australia?
albab2k7 +

Junior Member

albab2k7's Avatar
Joined
May 2012
Times thanked
0
Posts
11
Default

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wonderland View Post

Who plans a 'short weekend trip' from Malaysia to Australia?

Me.....why?
danw +

embarrassed at having not dropped by for ages

danw's Avatar
Joined
Aug 2007
Times thanked
2
Posts
34
Default
What you need is a good feed and an old fashioned bar hop. There's a million places to have a nice lunch then work your way around a drink or two. It should be warm enough for Riverland, Section 8, pop by Cookie, whiz upstairs to the roof top bar, run across the road to The Order of Melbourne, work off lunch making your way down to the Woolshed and then a short tram ride down for a long dinner at Republica to watch the sun set.

Well that's what I'd do anyway :/
longhornie +

Senior Member

Joined
Dec 2011
Times thanked
73
Posts
393
Default
Dan makes a good point

Having a wander and an explore without a particular destination in mind is probably the best way to get a feel for Melbourne.

Maybe choose a different area of the city for a each day you're here. Maybe CBD/laneways on one day; Inner-north [Lygon-Brunswick-Smith Streets] on another; half a day each for St Kilda and Chapel Street surrounds; then maybe save an evening for a particular event - AFL or Arts Centre performance perhaps - and have dinner on South Bank and an explore of the Casino precinct.

Melbourne's Gay venues are scattered throughout the city, so theres not one particular place where you will find a concentration of them together, but - on the other hand - any neighbourhood you visit is likely to have a place or two.

We're well into winter, and especially since you're coming from the tropics, you might be really feeling the cold, wind, damp, and dark which settles in over our fair city. So be sure you bring jumpers and jackets.
danw +

embarrassed at having not dropped by for ages

danw's Avatar
Joined
Aug 2007
Times thanked
2
Posts
34
Default

Quote:

Originally Posted by longhornie View Post

We're well into winter, and especially since you're coming from the tropics, you might be really feeling the cold, wind, damp, and dark which settles in over our fair city. So be sure you bring jumpers and jackets.

He's safe - His trip is planned for November!
longhornie +

Senior Member

Joined
Dec 2011
Times thanked
73
Posts
393
Default
Oops - shoulda re-read the details before writing that line.
albab2k7 +

Junior Member

albab2k7's Avatar
Joined
May 2012
Times thanked
0
Posts
11
Default

Quote:

Originally Posted by danw View Post

He's safe - His trip is planned for November!

Thank you for the advice. I have just bought insight guide book - Melbourne today. A good guide indeed for someone like me.

That is why I chose November and in fact I have just bought the tickets today. It is a short trip but I might return for the second trip and so forth. For the time being, I need to apply for the visa and for that I have to go the Australian Consulate in my city.

I guess it will be springtime when I'm there.

Cheers mates.
JennyChavez +

Junior Member

JennyChavez's Avatar
Joined
Jun 2012
Times thanked
1
Posts
22
Default
Hello albab2k7,

I am from Carlton North, Vic. Melbourne, You should concentrate on AUS, get your rental car or accommodation in Melbourne like Princesspark Motor Inn and explore after a city stay!

You will definitely love the destination and the people! Australians are great folks - pleasant, easy going - hang loose....

Don't make it a rushy thing. Dedicate time to each destination and absorb the landscape people and nature!

You really don't need any TA! You can do it yourself!

Enjoy the anticipation!
albab2k7 +

Junior Member

albab2k7's Avatar
Joined
May 2012
Times thanked
0
Posts
11
Default
Current location is Melbourne but leaving soon.

I wish I could stay longer but it was my fault too to make it short.

I spent my alone wondering the CBD and I like it. It is just that it is very cold for me...lol

Definitely, I would come back very soon.
Proton69 +

Surfing the Net

Proton69's Avatar
Joined
Oct 2007
Times thanked
11
Posts
120
Default
Hope you enjoyed your trip, and come back soon. Also consider taking some trips outside Melbourne, if you have the time. There are some nice day trips. Some can be done by train, others (such as the Phillip Island penguins) are available as bus tours from the city.
albab2k7 +

Junior Member

albab2k7's Avatar
Joined
May 2012
Times thanked
0
Posts
11
Default Another trip

Quote:

Originally Posted by Proton69 View Post

Hope you enjoyed your trip, and come back soon. Also consider taking some trips outside Melbourne, if you have the time. There are some nice day trips. Some can be done by train, others (such as the Phillip Island penguins) are available as bus tours from the city.

I would definitely return. There are many things I want to do on the next trip. But I'm also planning a stopover at Sydney.

I know about Phillip Island. I planned to go there but I didn't bring thicker clothes. I also did not manage to meet my friend due to time constraint but I did go to St. Kilda. And I'll be shopping next time. lol

Cheers.
observer +

Single but emotionally unavailable.

observer's Avatar
Joined
Oct 2012
Times thanked
92
Posts
258
Default

Quote:

Originally Posted by albab2k7 View Post

I would definitely return. There are many things I want to do on the next trip. But I'm also planning a stopover at Sydney.

I know about Phillip Island. I planned to go there but I didn't bring thicker clothes.

Cheers.

If your main purpose of going to the Phillip Island is to see penguins, then i wouldn't bother going.
You can see them at St. Kilda beach every day after 7 pm when they come back from the ocean
You would have seen the pier and restaurant. Well, you can find them hiding amongst the rocks behind the restaurant.

Cheers
albab2k7 +

Junior Member

albab2k7's Avatar
Joined
May 2012
Times thanked
0
Posts
11
Default

Quote:

Originally Posted by observer View Post

If your main purpose of going to the Phillip Island is to see penguins, then i wouldn't bother going.
You can see them at St. Kilda beach every day after 7 pm when they come back from the ocean
You would have seen the pier and restaurant. Well, you can find them hiding amongst the rocks behind the restaurant.

Cheers

I did go to the pier and they did put some sort of info sign about the penguins...if I go there on the weekend it would only cost me $3.30 tram fare..with myki. in comparison of $99 full day trip to Phillip Island.
observer +

Single but emotionally unavailable.

observer's Avatar
Joined
Oct 2012
Times thanked
92
Posts
258
Default

Quote:

Originally Posted by albab2k7 View Post

I did go to the pier and they did put some sort of info sign about the penguins...if I go there on the weekend it would only cost me $3.30 tram fare..with myki. in comparison of $99 full day trip to Phillip Island.

Like i said it depends on what you want to see.

PS.
Shopping in Australia ? You must be kidding me.
I stopped shopping here years ago. Everything is so much more expensive over here than if you buy stuff overseas . I buy things on the internet in US, Europe etc.

Last edited by observer: 23rd November 2012 at 01:48 PM

albab2k7 +

Junior Member

albab2k7's Avatar
Joined
May 2012
Times thanked
0
Posts
11
Default

Quote:

Originally Posted by observer View Post

Like i said it depends on what you want to see.

PS.
Shopping in Australia ? You must be kidding me.
I stopped shopping here years ago. Everything is so much more expensive over here than if you buy stuff overseas . I buy things on the internet in US, Europe etc.

shopping doesn't mean i have to shop for expensive stuffs. some items sold are reasonable. i have to look for something that i would not find back home. do you think that i would go for gucci...or something. if i really care about the prices, why don't i just fly to China for cheaper stuffs. After all, when I went to Dick Smith and Officeworks, I found out that the cheapest are usually from China. It is not that I'm going to shop till you drop.
observer +

Single but emotionally unavailable.

observer's Avatar
Joined
Oct 2012
Times thanked
92
Posts
258
Default

Quote:

Originally Posted by albab2k7 View Post

shopping doesn't mean i have to shop for expensive stuffs. some items sold are reasonable. i have to look for something that i would not find back home. do you think that i would go for gucci...or something. if i really care about the prices, why don't i just fly to China for cheaper stuffs. After all, when I went to Dick Smith and Officeworks, I found out that the cheapest are usually from China. It is not that I'm going to shop till you drop.

Nothing to be about. It was just a general comment about cost of everything in OZ compared to other countries.
Reply

Previous Thread  |  Next Thread

Posting Rules

+
    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts