I really enjoyed the time I stayed in Melbourne. Even in the winter(August), it was great place to visit. I'm really curious now to see how Perth and Sydney compares when I visit in October. I wonder where Perth was on the list.
It is a great place to live. Great restaurants, great shopping, good beaches, beautiful countryside, and the weather....they say about Melbourne that if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute. We frequently have what feels like 4 seasons in one day A bit cold today though. Lovely sunshine, but only up to about 14 celcius. Brrrr..
Posts: 66 | Location: Melbourne Australia | Registered: 22 March 2006
I went down for a long weekend once and really enjoyed seeing some of Melbourne. The Art Gallery is very good and the city is so clean and pretty and lively.
There are fun markets and lots of antique centers. Not to mention the trams! Where do you think they got the idea for the San Francisco cable cars hey??
I lived in Melbourne as a child-- from when I was 8 until I was almost 13. We lived just up from the Yarra River, a block from the Botanical Gardens. I went to an all girls school just down the street. I have wonderful memories of our time there, though I have never been back. I do plan to visit again, when we can stay for a while!
I remember riding on those green and yellow trams-- maybe even the very same ones.
It's a great place to live, although if you're battling the peak hour traffic, or trying to find a park in town, or waiting for another cancelled train - you would wonder sometimes....... The old green and yellow trams are still around, although most of them have been replaced with sleek new models. I'm sure that they're nicer to travel on, but the interior colour schemes are generally vile (bright acid green seems to feature) and they're much less of an 'experience'!
Posts: 204 | Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Registered: 08 May 2003
I really enjoy living in Melbourne, in the historic seaside suburb of Williamstown, but without the dollars to afford a sea view!
The new trams are generally much more comfortable than the old style ones, tho' I agree with mary that aesthetically they are not quite so pleasing.
I've just spent a cold, wet weekend in Sydney and wonder why they sneer so much about our weather: for the last few years rain has been in short supply, but I guess the grey skies in winter are rather gloomy. But nothing can beat Sydney for the beauty of its harbour.
I think what I really love about the city is the coffee culture where the lane ways and arcades are crammed with coffee shops, indoors and out, nestled among boutiques selling all sorts of "gorgeous things"
And Kaydee, I too went to that all girls' school opposite the Botanic Gardens in South Yarra. It's a small world!
Cheers, Sue
Posts: 107 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 04 April 2005
Sue, The world gets smaller and smaller. I also live in Williamstown! I'd love to catch up for a coffee one day - would that be the first Slow Trav GTG in Oz? If you're interested, I can be emailed on events@opengarden.org.au
Posts: 204 | Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Registered: 08 May 2003
Perth has the reputation of being the most remote capital city in the world. 5 hours by plane from Sydney.
Our city is very quiet in comparison to the east coast cities, more laid back and the people friendly. Most Australians are friendly when asked for help.
Our state's initials are WA, and meant to stand for Western Australia. People from the eastern coast will tell you that is stands for Wait Awhile.
Marta, if you don't have anything in particular planned on some days, I can always show you around. I live approx. 100km south west of Perth, and almost half way to the famous Margaret River region.
Or if you would like to know anything in particular, you can always drop me a personal email. Happy to help, since I couldn't have done 14 weeks in Europe without this forum.
Elly
Posts: 1055 | Location: Western Australia | Registered: 27 March 2005
Working on my itinerary now for NZ/Australia and getting very excited! As I mentioned in my other post we want to visit Melbourne to sample some of the great restaurants.........I'm assuming we'll rent a car and drive from Sydney - we like driving - it's about 1000km - right? Nice drive? Should we take a few days? I'm probably getting ahead of myself as I now will start to do much more research.......but if anyone has an opinion I'd appreciate hearing it!
Liz, There are 2 main options for driving from Sydney to Melbourne. The first is to take the Hume Highway - it's divided freeway almost all the way and the trip can be done in around 9 hours. It is however quite BORING! You could also take the Hume but break the trip in say Canberra, or perhaps somewhere in the North East of Victoria (Beechworth is lovely).
The second option is the Princes Highway which is the coast road. Although not a lot of the road actually gives you coast views, it is a very attractive drive with loads of interesting places to visit. It is however not a divided road and is quite windy in a lot of places. I would think that you'd want to allow for 2 overnight stops on the way otherwise you may as well take the Hume as the easier option.
Posts: 204 | Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Registered: 08 May 2003
I guess you are from the US. I expect you know that we drive on the left of the road here, but I mention it just in case. Hire cars are mostly automatic transmission. In NSW there are numerous speed cameras; with 100Km/h maximum speed on highways (occasionally 110Km/h). The speed cameras are easy to spot as there are usually three official warning signs before you reach them.
The Poll was taken for the Melbourne Age newspaper. Knowing the Sydney - Melbourne rivalry I am suspicious of these polls.
Anyway, Dean will tell you that there is no such thing as the best city.
John "There are two types of problems: those that solve themselves, and those which you can do nothing about" Isabel Allende's grandmother
Posts: 1515 | Location: Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia | Registered: 26 March 2003
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