Great for lunch. Go to the deli section, order a pie, sandwich, coffee etc. They have Greek, Italian, Vietnamese - you name it. Then find a seat in the alley out back and they will bring it to you. It is a sunny spot if the weather is fine. Afterwards you could stock up on bargain souvenirs to take back home. There is often some kind of street theatre going on too. It is a lively, vibrant place and definitely should be included on a visit to Melbourne.

A city tram drops you near to the market.

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Another nice little find in my local neighbourhood... Sarands presents a Mediterranean-based menu of seafood or meat dishes. The restaurant itself is light and airy (with an upstairs private dining area for functions), service is pleasant, the wine list small but well chosen and the (mains) servings huge. The prices are reasonable too. Coffee is excellent.

532 Hampton St, Hampton
3188 Vic (200m south of South Rd)
Ph 9598 8944

www.greateats.com.au/restaurants/au/Melbourne_Inner_South/Hampton/14489/Sarands_Mediterranean

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It's a two hour hike to this little bit of Thai splendour a couple of hours from Melbourne. A forested swamp meets the sea in a golden crescent of sand hemmed in by mountains. Granite headlands keep the warm, clear waters nice and calm; continue on to Refuge Cove (2hrs) for a more exclusive swim before a long walk out.

wilson's prom national park

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Recently renovated inside, the Flinders Pub has moved to improve its eating areas with a formal dining room in addition to the bistro.

The pub is a favourite of motorcycle riders (it's a great place to start or end a ride) who frequent the bistro but the dining room is a nice place for those wanting something more formal... nice thick linen and quality tableware. It's a nice place to eat for those who have been tramping the wineries in the area or having a hit at Flinders Golf Club.

Cook St
Flinders
Mornington Peninsula
about an hour from central Melbourne
ph 59890201

www.flindershotel com.au

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The 'Show' - where city and country get together! Once a year, the country invades the city at the showgrounds and lets city families see what the country has to offer.

In addition, there are quite a few competitions where our farmers and country folk can show off the best bull, pig, horse or who can cook the best sponge or grow the best pumpkin.

Sheepdog and poultry competitions are favourites. City kids also have a chance to see new lambs or piglets or chooks. There are enough circus rides, face painting areas and handicraft stalls to keep everyone happy.

Adults have flamenco, hip hop, capoeira performers, belly dancers and others to keep them entertained.

And of course, there are fireworks at night. Everyone should go and don't forget to grab a ShowBag.

Sept 20 - 30
Royal Melbourne Showgrounds
Epsom Road, Ascot Vale

take a tram or train there from the CBD (car parking is available too)


www.royalshow.com.au/

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Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Or, so it said in Lewis Carrol's Jabberwock!

Cafè Callooh is a new cafè in Hampton with an unusual interior, great coffee and snacks. Soup of the day and other eats are great. Kid-friendly too. Tucked away from the main part of Hampton's High street, Cafè Callooh is well worth a visit! Enjoy the wall writing....

75 Ludstone Street
Hampton Vic 3188
T: 9521 6865

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Melbourne is the home of footy. The game was devised here, was first played here in a paddock (on what is today part of the MCG) and, despite it branching out to be played, spectated on and barracked on in all corners of Australia, Melbourne still rules the footy.

The 'footy' is aussie speak for football, which is played under the rules of the Australian Football League.

However, this football is like no other on earth. It is uniquely Australian and uses some of the skill sets from Gaelic football (but not use of their round ball), some of the tackling skills of the two rugby codes and the use of the oval Rugby ball but none of the hassles of 'offside', 'own goal', or 'handball' which taint the rules of soccer.

It is a 'winter' game played by both sexes and is very much a sport where the entire family can attend and barrack for their favourite team (or player). It is a game with history going back to the early 1850s and with its rules and first clubs pre-dating even the setup of other major football codes. Some of the rules even relate to age-old aboriginal sports which featured jumping to catch a ball made of possum fur, today reflected in the rules related to 'overhead marking'

Our great game results in a Grand Final (after 22 matches between 16 national teams) traditionally held on the last Saturday in September.

The rules? Too many and complex to list here so I suggest a visit to the AFL website or, if in Melbourne between March and September, go to the footy! It's a Melbourne institution!

at your nearest footy ground
or visit the
Australian Football League at
or www.afl.com.au
or
www.realfooty.com.au

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The Boundary is a pub with a history,
although today it fronts as a pub with decent food, kid-friendly even for those with ankle biters or rugrats who want a meal out and, of course, it has the obligatory pokies and TAB. Oh, and a decent wine list in the dining room.

The history bit? The Boundary pub gets its name from being on East Boundary Rd which gets its name from being the former east boundary of a large farming estate (back in the 1880s through to the 1920s)

Take the kids (leave them in the playroom) and have a meal or play the pokies.

cnr East Boundary Rd and Centre Rd
East Bentleigh
Vic 3165
ph 9570 7044
free on site parking

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Wheelers is a pub that has gone through a bit of a transformation and turned into a top class hotel with good food, good entertainment (especially Thursday and Friday nights) and a view to die for.

Having a lazy lunch in the fancy class restaurant overlooking the valley is a great way to spend a Sunday. The Wheelers is a fave with locals. And did I mention the views too?

Wheelers Hill Hotel
Ferntree Gully Road (cnr Jells Road), Wheelers Hill (about 20 mins from the centre of the city along the freeway) Tel. 9560 8922
car parking on site is free

www.melbournepubs.com/v/794/Wheelers-Hill-Hotel.html

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Tucked up in the ranges overlooking Melbourne is a series of small villages, most with little restaurants, cafes and bistros. At the small village of Olinda is 'the Cuckoo' restaurant probably one of the best known and famous for its Bavarian (German) based entertainment and food.

It's been there for about 50 years and thrives with families going there for a great night out.

The food? A huge variety of seafood, meats, side dishes, hot and cold. The freshly made pancakes are a favourite for desert, with cream of course!

The music and entertainment? Bavarian with something for all the family.

508 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda Victoria
Australia 3788
phone: +61-3-9751 1003
Fax: +61-3-9751 2229

www.cuckoorestaurant.com.au/

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At dusk daily numerous little penguins come in to rest, sleep and feed their young. It is a fabulous sight to behold. they are the smallest penguin species in the world and VERY cute.

Penguin Parade, Phillip Island, Melbourne.

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In Melbourne you will find soapboxes being put to use on Sunday afternoons at the Speakers’ Forum on the forecourt outside the State library.

Over the years, speakers (including Prime Ministers) have gathered on the banks of the Yarra river to discuss politics (brave!). In 1995, the tradition was relocated to the forecourt. If you have something you think needs to be heard, the stage is yours between 2.30pm and 5.30pm every Sunday. The audience gets to heckle and boo for free.

the State Library of Victoria
Melbourne CBD
328 Swanston St City

www.slv.vic.gov.au

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Visting Melbourne's Chinatown - the oldest area of continuous Chinese settlement in the western world is a great way to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon. Lots to see (as the history of the area dates back to the 1840s and 1850s), plenty of places to have a bite and while there, visit the Chinese Museum.

Melbourne's ChinaTown
along Little Bourke Street City
plus the alleys which link the area to Bourke St and Lonsdale St
www.melbournechinatown.com.au/


Museum of Chinese Australian History
22 Cohen Place Melbourne
Victoria 3000 Australia
Phone: 9662 2888
www.chinesemuseum.com.au

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Go to the zoo and see the animals ..and get up close with the animals. After closing time, "Roar 'n' Snore' starts with dinner followed by a nightime guided tour of the zoo. You get to explore the zoo as night falls and see the zoo's nightlife...animals whose activities start at dusk. Supper follows..before you bed down for the night...in your tent in the middle of the zoo.
I might add, nightime at the zoo is NOISY!
Breakfast is served next morning before more walks around the zoo.
This is simply a wonderful activity that has to be experienced.

For adults and families with children 7+

Melbourne Zoo
Elliot Ave, Parkville

Melbourne Zoo is located only minutes north from the city centre, within Royal Park. Car parking is available or visitors can take the tram or train to reach the Zoo. Trains run from Flinders Street Station stopping at Melbourne Zoo's own Royal Park Station

www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/roarnsnore.htm

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Kids complaining? Don't know where to take them during holidays? The Melbourne Fire Services Museum is a great place to take them. Adults will also find this place of great interest. Located in the old head office of the Melbourne Fire Brigade, the Fire Services Museum Victoria was opened to provide a home and focus for the history of fire fighting services in the Victoria. The Museum includes a large collection of fire related items...fascinating.
Take the kids!

39 Gisborne Street
(Cnr. Gisborne Street and Victoria Parade), East Melbourne
take the tram from Flinders Street railway station.
Open Fridays 9am to 3pm
and Sundays 10am to 4pm.

home.alphalink.com.au/~fsmvic/

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Poci's is a typical bustling noisy Italian place full of kids and families enjoying the great food from the list of daily specials, a la carte menu or the menu for kids.

The servings are typically huge, the service prompt and cheery, all at reasonable prices. Enjoy!

417 Hampton St Hampton,
VIC 3188
Tel: (03) 9598-7477
Fax: (03) 9521-0893
a few hundred metres north of
Hampton Station

www.pocis.com.au/index.asp

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Just opened in time for this year's cricket season (and series of Test matches) the new museum (needed as the old one disappeared when the stand was torn down) contains an amazing amount of cricket paraphernalia and artifacts ... tours of the museum depart regularly each (week) day, definitely worth a visit.

Gate 3 (tours leave from here)
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Brunton Ave
Melbourne VIC 3002
Phone 03 9653 1100
www.cricketvictoria.com.au

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Cricket fan? Barmy Army member?
THE Ashes test match to attend is the one traditionally starting on Boxing Day at the 'G'. The MCG is the Australian home of Test cricket and the Boxing Day Test match has been there for more than 50 years.

However, this is more than just a cricket match, it's a sporting and cultural event Melbourne is proud to showcase to the world. There is something for everyone if cricket isn't your thing such as: Family Day, KidsZone, Merv's Walk to the G, Ladies Day...so go to the G on Boxing Day.

Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Brunton Ave
Melbourne VIC 3002
Phone 9653 1100
(get off either at Richmond or Flinders St railway station)
www.cricketvictoria.com.au

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A quiet private resort at Metung with many upper class town houses and cabins for couples and families. Set on the hill overlooking the lakeside at Metung, Mcmillans is walking distance (10 mins) from the town centre. Go and have a quiet comfortable weekend away. Highly recommended!

3 hours drive from Melbourne on the Gippsland lakes.
www.mcmillansofmetung.com.au

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Ramsay St..famous for the site of Neighbours .. the Aussie sitcom/drama

It's actually not known as Ramsay St, its actual title is Pin Oak Crt and it's in the Melbourne suburb of Sth Vermont and yes .. you can go and have a look when there is no filming.

Ramsay St ...aka Pin Oak Crt is accessible only by car off Springvale Rd Sth Vermont

instructions and details -
www.onlymelbourne.com.au/melbourne_details.php?id=3790

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