Australia Trip

[AustraliaTrip]

Were going to Melbourne and Tasmania soon to see extended family.

We aren't going for ages so haven't got as much time as we'd like to explore but wondering if anyone has hints and tips.

We're likely to visit Healseville in Melbourne

And bonorong in Tasmania (has anyone done the feeding experience? And know which time to go for? Reviews say night is good but morning seems a smaller group?)

We're so excited 😊

School dates.

Victoria: https://www.vic.gov.au/school-term-dates-and-holidays-victoria

Tassie: https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/learning/term-dates/

Private and religious schools have different dates, but not by much.

Good Friday is a public holiday when just about everything closes down.

Ah yes Melbourne are on holiday before Tasmania. So Melbourne same as me and Tasmania won't yet be on holiday. That works for us. Thankyou.

We arrive Easter Sunday. Will shops and things be open Monday? I kind of just assumed so (is it a bank Holiday there?)

I hadn't thought of coming back into Melbourne in between flights but it's a long time so might be a plan!

Thankyou all so much ☺️

The Tasmanian Devil Centre at Cradle Mountain is amazing. I'm not a huge animal lover, but really enjoyed it, especially the Quolls.

i wouldn't go to Hobart without going to MONA. Unless you really hate modern art, don't miss it. Having a drink out on the lawn overlooking the water with peacocks strutting around after doing the galleries is fab too.

Salamanca market is a pleasant way to spend an hour or so, but honestly it's not enormous or amazing if you're used to European markets.

Melbourne CBD has lots of cool street art and cafes in the laneways. You can google street art maps to see the main spots.

The Yarra Valley, close to Melbourne, had some lovely wineries if you like wine. Nice place to do a couple of tastings and have lunch somewhere with a beautiful view.

Thankyou. That all sounds fab. goes off to Google street art maps

Most things will be open Monday. And yes don't spend 12 hours at our rather dull airport. You could take an uber to a hip suburb like Fitzroy or Carlton or the Botanic Gardens for some greenery before your flight.

I feel I've got it the wrong way round. I could have spent ages at changi!! Never mind. I hadn't actually thought of coming back into Melbourne but I think that will be a plan.

I feel quite invested in your trip now! Let us know how it goes.

Thankyou - so excited now - its happening tomorrow!!

Singapore airlines wouldnt let us autocheck in. We Think its because we booked under my husbands british passport but he doesnt need a visa as he is australian.

I hope.

The Melbourne weather forecast isn't bad.

http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/melbourne.shtml

Hobart cooler and more rain, but meh, Tassie is lovely

http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts/hobart.shtml

Thanks that's fab! Tassies still warmer than here so will be good by our standards 😂. Thinking of even leaving "the big coat" behind and packing spring/autumn waterproofs.

I am so excited 😁

Spring/autumn waterproofs will be fine. Layers always good.

Love Tassie (and Melbourne), I'm so jealous! Actually I was there this time last year and had decent weather in Tassie (warm enough to sit outside in the sun drinking wine at MONA).

Bonorong is wonderful. I've been to quite a few animal/wildlife sanctuaries (including Healesville) in Aus and Bonorong is my favourite. I did the private evening tour so it was just me and one of the senior keepers for a few hours. It was just incredible! Stunning views at sunset as you're surrounded by kangaroos and then getting to hand feed echidnas and have a baby wombat sit on my knee....it was expensive but worth every penny.

I went to Devils (night tour) at Cradle Mountain a few years ago and that was good. We had snow when I was there but my log cabin had a woodburner thank goodness.

If you're into wildlife, it's worth taking a trip to Maria Island as there are so many wild wombats just wandering around there. Just incredible.

Also watch out for pademelons in Tassie. They're super-cute.

Gordon River is stunning. Definitely a trip worth doing.

The only things in Tassie that haven't really impressed me are Port Arthur (I found it dull and unimpressive - I much prefer Sarah Island for convict history where you stop on the Gordon River trip) and Sheffield - town of very uninspiring murals (but I live in Shoreditch so I'm spoiled for street art and hard to impress). I also didn't think much of MONA but enjoyed the boat there and back, and drinking wine outside.

The best restaurant we ate at in Tassie was Aloft on the waterfront in Hobart. Just incredible!

If you've got 12 hours at the airport in Melbourne, I'd get a taxi to St Kilda and spend some time by the beach and enjoy some great Aussie food.

Def do cradle mountain and the Tassie Devil sanctuary in Tasmania!

If you’re doing Healesville you are in the Yarra Valley which is a wine region and lots of the wineries do free tastings. Recommend Punt Road, Yarra Yering and if you like fizz Chandon. Kids also like the Yarra Valley Chocolate factory but it’s expensive!

If you aren’t getting beach time Melbourne has some decent city beaches. Go to Dukes or Vertue for coffee, brunch on the lane ways , dinner in Chinatown and eat lots of gelato…

Oh wow Hundred the after hours one sounds amazing. We've ended up going with the morning tour so there will be everyone else around but still looking forwards to it. Worked out v expensive as the family watching need to pay to as it's a tour!

Glitter baby we're staying right in the centre in a towerblock hotel with a kitchenette. But we've got a day trip to Healseville which looks fab! Im writing down dukes/lane ways to Google and Chinatown is alreadg on the list! Do I book? Do you tend to do take away or a sit down. Does it matter where? Do most restaurants in general have a veggie option (half our group!)

We're also planning a (half) day trip to St kilda to see where Little lunch is and to see the fairy penguins but it looks like we can't see them as their is pier work!

I don't know if we will get to cradle mountain. 😬. We're going hobart to strahan for a couple of nights to do the cruise and going to Mt field but it's a lot of driving. Husband wanted to see the big dam too but it might be too much of a detour. I want to see cradle mountain.

PHILLIP ISLAND PENGUIN PARADE

We loved seeing the penguins, when we took DS to Melbourne years ago

It happens at dusk and is a short drive out from the city BUT you need to get tickets

🙂🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧🙂

So.... We need to move some stuff between us to manage just 1 carry on bag each (one was over 7kg as it was a rolly one so we've taken bits out and redistributed)

Once we're through to the gate - can we rearrange these?

And anyone know if we can decant a bit so take 2 bags on the plane that we're inside each other?

And what if we buy things at Heathrow after check in do they get added? Can I take an extra plastic bag?

Sorry for the last minute wobbles!

I don't think I've ever seen the carryon examined at the gate.

Ah even better!!! Thank you :)

We really enjoy Scienceworks in Melbourne and then we go to Williamstown for a look back at Melbourne/food/beach and you can catch a boat back into the centre.
We have also kayaked doen the Yarra right through the centre of Melbourne which we loved.
Queen Victoria market is great and just wandering around the Southbank at night - the big flames outside Crown and the waterfountains inside set to music.
The information centre has free walking maps - one for street graffiti, one foodie etc
Melbourne has great food/coffee culture - love the breakfasts here.

Big flames? Waterfoubtauns? Where? That sounds fab!

Breakfasts just anywhere?

I am really looking forwards to mooching round Melbourne!

It says the 'Gas Brigades'(never knew they were called that!) start at 6pm from the 1st April - they are part of Crown, which is a big, Hotel/casino/restaurant/shopping/cinema/spa place. The big flames take place on the river. I wouldn't make a special trip but if you are walking on the Southbank anyway....
We eat all over Melbourne for breakfast - couldn't name one special place as we look up recomendations and try them on the spur of the moment.
Melbourne is great for mooching!

I stressed about hand luggage when we flew with Singapore - it's really easy to exceed 7kg if you have a laptop or camera plus chargers and a few other bits. In the end, ours was never checked on any segment going out or returning.

Oh wow just looked up and we can definitely mooch near gas display one evening.

Oh that's so reassuring with cabin stuff. We've got bits for changi with us, change of clothes etc so won't have so much on the way back.

So the pull along was weighed (just under 7) but now we're through I'm thinking I'm going to rearrange it all. They won't care getting on the plane at this stage will they??