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The Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens has just opened 'Australian Garden' at the Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne. This is so different from any other botanic garden I have ever seen anywhere else in the world. It showcases the Australian landscape with red sand, rockeries, dry river beds, arid areas and Australian 'bush'. Breathtaking (and not a rose bush in sight).
1000 Ballarto Road, Cranbourne (about 40 mins from the city);
tel: (03) 5990 2200;
www.rbg.vic.gov.au/australian_garden
This loungy bar has one of the best views of the Thames.
The cocktails and drinks are fabulous, and very reasonable for London!
2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 (between Southwark Bridge and Millennium Bridge);
tel: 0207 021 0085;
www.zakudia.com
At its southern base, the Citadelle du St Esprit provides superb panoramas of both the valleys and the Grund.
Plateau du St-Esprit, Luxembourg City
Also called "the most beautiful balcony of Europe". It has superb views of the Alzette Valley and the hills around the city.
It runs along the Alzette Valley on the ramparts - from the Bock Promontory up to the lower part of the Holy Ghost Citadel
Melbourne has superb gardens spread throughout and one of the best - the Botanical Gardens - has 'The Tan'.
The Tan is a wide flat track around the outside of the Botanical gardens, and it’s home to joggers, runners, walkers and pusher pushers. Watch out for the footballers though as they try and complete a lap in record time.
Best of all: it’s free (bring your own running shoes).
The Tan runs around the circumference of the Botanic Gardens and the Domain. Run there, take a tram or walk from Flinders Street station; www.accessibility.com.au/melbourne/garden/tan.htm
A giraffe or rhinoceros in the middle of an Australian plain? Yes there are, at the Werribee Open Range Zoo. The Werribee Zoo is an extension of Melbourne’s famous zoo at Parkville, but with much more land. It’s billed as 'Africa out of Africa', and that is a very good description.
K Road, Werribee, Vic. 3030
tel: 9731 9600;
www.zoo.org.au/visiting.cfm?zoo_id=3
A magnificent 19th century Romanesque mansion that has been restored and is open to the public. Its grounds and gardens are amongst the finest in Melbourne. Originally owned by a series of families over the years, it is now a National Trust property. Open most days of the year with special 'free entry' days now and then (like for Mums on Mothers Day).
192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick 3185 (a short walk from Glenhuntly railway station);
Car parking outside in Hotham Street;
tel: 9523 6095;
ripponleaestate.melbourneaustralia.com.au
A day trip to Sintra is a must. Rather than get the crowded bus, those who can should walk up to Castelo dos Mouros, high on the hill above the town. The path starts near the Church of Santa Maria and winds up through woodland. You’ll feel like you’ve earned the magnificent views you get from the castle walls.
Regular trains from Sete Rios station or Entrecampos station (Estação Rossio closed at time of writing). Journey time is less than an hour;
www.portugalvirtual.pt/_tourism/costadelisboa/sintra
At the top of Rialto Towers, Melbourne's tallest building (and the tallest office building in the Southern Hemisphere), is an observation deck. The 360° view is simply amazing. You can see up to 70kms on a clear day.
525 Collins St; Walking distance from Flinders St or Spencer St station. Parking for cars underneath Rialto Towers;
www.melbournedeck.com.au
The loveliest - and probably steepest - of Lisbon's funiculars, the Bica hauls itself up and down from the Bairro Alto to the Rua de São Paulo (look out for the arch with the inscription 'Ascensor da Bica'), through a neighbourhood all its own, situated in a steep-sided chasm. At the bottom, the Mercado de Ribeira has a lively fish and flower market in the mornings.
Between Rua do Loreto and Rua de São Paolo;
Metro: Chiado
Nothing defines Lisbon better than its miradouros, the lovely belvederes from which to sit and gaze at the view. The Castelo de São Jorge is the best-known, but there are many more.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara:
At the top of the Elevador da Gloria, looking out across to Graça and the Castelo, it has a tiled panel detailing the view.
Miradouro de Santa Catarina:
Near the Bica funicular, this hidden-away viewpoint is worth seeking out: it has a little cafe, popular with late-night clubbers. Wonderful views over the Tagus.
Miradouro das Portas do Sol:
The 28 tram sweeps past here before plunging away towards Graça. Probably the best view over the Alfama.
Miradouro Santa Luzia:
Perhaps the loveliest one of all, round the back of the Igreja de Santa Luzia, just before you get to Largo das Portas do Sol. A pretty terrace of azulejos, hung with flowers, you'll want to sit here and gaze across the Tagus for hours.
Wherever there's a hill, go up it and you'll come to one.
Have a whole day out in Sintra. Don't miss Quinta da Regaleira, Monserrate Gardens, and Palácio da Pena.
Regular trains from Sete Rios station or Entrecampos station (Estação Rossio closed at time of writing). Journey time is less than an hour;
For photos see www.isidore-of-seville.com/photos/regaleira
Zip across the bay to this small town for great views, lots of cheap restaurants and welcoming people.
Take the catamaran from the ferry terminal to the left of Praca de Commercio facing the sea.
The many ferries crossing the mouth of the Tagus are very relaxing and offer both excellent views and great tanning possibilities. I tried the one from Praça do Comércio to the South bank and back and the one from Belém which is a convenient way of getting to the Caparica beach just round the corner from landing.
Along the waterfront - various places.
Ruined church right in Chiado in Lisbon's centre. Wonderful, relaxing and quiet place to escape the heat. Great museum also inside with some weird and wonderful exhibits. In a nice shady square too. Go in early spring to get the jacarandas in bloom. Closed on Sundays (whereas most museums close on a Monday). You can get a look in if you go up the Elevador da Santa Justa - which also has fabulous views over Baixa.
Largo do Carmo;
tel: 21 346 0473
Come out of the top exit of Baixa-Chiado metro, walk down the hill (past cafe Brasileira) and turn left up any street – which will be steep. It's at the top in the shade.
This restaurant/bar at the top of the Sheraton Hotel offers an excellent view of the city by night and the cocktails are fairly inexpensive (in comparison to other European capital cities).
Rua Latino Coelho, 1;
tel: 21 312 0000;
www.sheratonlisboa.com/eng/restaurante/bar_panorama/
Every city deserves a high point, a look out, a place to be amazed by the city. Melbourne has Mount Dandenong, the perfect place for a restaurant, viewing platforms and television signal towers. The view gets better at night with all the lights. Parking (which used to be free) now costs.
Observatory Rd, Mount Dandenong;
tel: 9751 0443;
www.skyhighmtdandenong.com.au
take a trip to the castle - the view from the top is outstanding and is well worth the climb up the streets to reach it. Take plenty of water though, as you will need it on a hot day!
Largo do Chão da Feira, in the Alfama district;
tel: 21 887 7244
A brilliant restaurant which is part of the Chapito artists' complex. Located near the castle, the outside terrace has stunning views over Lisbon and the River Tejo. Food is excellent, has vegetarian options and is reasonably priced.
Costa do Castelo 7;
tel: 21-888 18 34
The small mountain that Cezanne endlessly painted is worth viewing from either a painterly distance or more closely, and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. The colour of the stone is said to change with the light, which is perhaps why it fascinated Cezanne so much.
East of Aix near the village of Tholonet.
www.aixenprovencetourism.com/aix-sainte-victoire.htm
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