Discovering Melbourne

Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Center

2010-05-10T21:33:00.004+10:00

Since moving to Australia in January I was still feeling like all I knew of the Aboriginal people was from what I saw on Crocodile Dundee. After visiting the Melbourne Museum I felt a little disappointed with my trip through the Koorie Voices exhibition. They seemed to do a good job of celebrating the culture of the modern day Koorie people, rather than the history. This led me to the Koorie Heritage Trust. The trust is a non-profit organization that works to "protect, preserve and promote the living culture of Aboriginal people of south-eastern Australia." One way the do this is by opening their doors to the public, free of charge, to enter in and experience a bit of the Aboriginal culture.
The main floor of the center houses a collection of paintings by local Koorie artists as well as the retail shop with books, art and gifts.

The cultural center is filled with artwork, multi-media presentations, photographs, news articles and life-size replicas. Not only did we get a look into the history of the people, but also a representation of individuals struggles and successes.

Upstairs there is another art exhibition that was worth a visit all on its own, it has some amazing modern art by Koorie artists, not what you would traditionally think of, but fascinating. Each painting is accompanied by a plaque which explains the symbolism of the work.

The Cultural Center also offers some additional experiences for those wishing to learn more. Programs include: Koorie storytelling, tours through the Center, others along the Yarra, or through Flagstaff Gardens with an indigenous culture twist.

Name: Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Center
Telephone: 03 8622 2600
Website: www.koorieheritagetrust.com
Location: 295 King Street (Cnr Little Lonsdale Street)
Getting There: Take the Free City Circle Tram and exit at King Street and La Trobe. Head South and the center is on the right side of King Street.

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Werribee Open Range Zoo

2010-05-04T19:19:00.009+10:00

There are three zoos in Melbourne and I made it to the last one this weekend, Werribee Open Range Zoo.

When we arrived the ticket guy immediately booked us in for the safari tour, we only had 20 minutes before it left, so first we grabbed a bite to eat at the Meerkat Bistro/Kiosk. The Kiosk sells quick take-away items like fish and chips, ready-made sandwiches and drinks. If you have a bit more time the Bistro serves fresh made to order meals, steak sandwiches, hot focaccias, pastas. They serve the full menu only during lunch hours (noon-2:30pm), during other hours there is a limited menu available.

Next it was onto the safari tour- the tour is included with your general admission, so everyone should take advantage. At the appointed time you are loaded onto the tour buses with a friendly guide/driver- no food or drinks allowed, so finish up your lunch before heading out.

The buses then take you through the "open range" including the Australian bushlands, the desert, and finally the African savannah. It's a very different way to see the animals and you really get the experience like you're on a real safari. so when you spot the animals there is a sense of excitement, like you were really lucky to see them :) But don't worry, everyone will see them!

The savannah was my favorite part of the tour. first you drive along the ridge of the savanah and are able to see the animals in the distance, then you head down a steep hill into the middlle of it, where you'll get up close and personal with the animals. In the savannah all the animals are roaming free, so you'll see giraffes, zebras and rhinos all in the same area. We loved the rhinos! The were huge and we were able to get really close. So close that one of the females started to get angry and the driver said we might have to drive off if she gets mad enough to charge (I'm sure he just said that for effect, but it was still exciting). The whole tour takes about 45 minutes and was totally worth it.

After the tour we checked out the rest of the zoo- the Pula Reserve Walking Trail. I love how this was laid out. It's set up like you are walking through an African village. So there are huts, chicken coops, trails through tall grasses, a rope bridge, stepping stones across the water. Just walking through was fun. Of course, on your walk you'll also see lots of animals.

I loved how so many of the animals were in what looked like large, open enclosures, with glass that seemed to keep us away from them, rather than the other way around.

There are also plenty of extra tour opportunities available. You can go in one of the open-air vehicles which go off the path during the safari tour and get much closer to the animals. You can even sleep overnight in the savannah! see the website for details on these experiences.

Name: Werribee Open Range Zoo
Telephone: 03 9731 9600
Website: www.zoo.org.au/WerribeeOpenRangeZoo
Admission: Adult $24.40, Child $12.10, Family $55.50
Friends of the Zoo Passes are good at all 3 zoos (Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, and Healesville Santuary) for 12 months from the time of purchase.
Location: K Road, Werribee, VIC 3030
Getting There: Catch a train from the Melbourne CBD to Werribee Startion (Werribee Line Train), then from the train station catch bus 439 (Werribee South) from Werribee station to the Zoo. Buses leave the train station once an hour (at 15 minutes past the hour). Because buses are few and far between I recommend planning your departure/arrival around the bus schedule.

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Abbotsford Convent

2010-05-01T22:17:00.002+10:00

The beautiful building and grounds of the Abbotsford Convent were home to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd between 1863 and 1975. During this time they "provided shelter, food and work for thousands of vulnerable and poor women and girls. They provided a refuge for orphans, wards of the State and girls considered to be in moral danger." Since that time the convent has become home to artists, writers and health practitioners. There are spaces for rehearsals, creative work spaces for designers, a glass blowing studio, a primary school, a classical radio station, a bakery, a restaurant, as well as venues for weddings and other events.

The convent is made up of 11 historic buildings on nearly 7 hectares of beautiful grounds along a bend in the Yarra River.

We visited the convent on the day of the Slow Food Farmers' Market, which is held the 4th Saturday of each month from 8am-1pm. The key words for the Slow Food Market are: organic, fresh, and gourmet. Here you'll find fresh produce grown by local Victorian farmers, bread, jams, free range eggs, rare meats and cheeses. Yummy!

The vendors were all very proud of their products and happy to talk to us about what they were selling or offering samples. We bought some figs to share with the kids (as they'd never had them before), a package of strawberries that were just too red and beautiful to pass up, some homemade jam and fresh feta cheese.

Abbotsford Convent is home to many different markets and events, here are some of the monthly markets that take place:

Supper Market: Every Friday night, November-February, 6-10pm- Quality craft, fashion and food stalls with music and entertainment
Sunday Arts: 1st Sunday of every month in the Community Room- fine art prints, drawings, exquisite jewellery, beautiful designer clothes, paintings, photography, childrens books, organic body-care products, fun garden sculpture, ceramics, and lots more.
Finder's Market: 1st Saturday of every month 10am-1pm- Browse stalls filled with collectables, nic-nacs, bric a brac and memorabilia.
Shirt and Skirt Market: 3rd Saturday of every month- Home to Melbourne's emerging designers, producing quality Australian fashion and accessories in limited editions.
Maker's Market: 3rd Saturday of every month in the Community Room- Browse, discuss and purchase the work of local artists and crafts people

After browsing the Slow Food Market, strolling through the grounds, and brunch at Lentil As Anything, we stopped by the Convent Bakery on our way out. Since we had just eaten we grabbed a sweet roll for the road, but I'll certainly have to make a trip back for lunch one day.

Name: Abbotsford Convent
Website: www.abbotsfordconvent.com.au
Location: 1 Heliers Street, Abbotsford, Victoria 3067
Geting There: Via public transport the best way is bus. Take the 200, 201 or 207 from Lonsdale, or the 205 from Melbourne Uni (it then heads down Lygon, Elgin and Johnston), get off at the Clarke St stop (just before you cross over the Yarra). Turn right and walk down Clarke then left onto Heliers and into the Abbotsford Convent.

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Lentil As Anything

2010-04-24T22:04:00.002+10:00

I took the opportunity today to visit a very different and delicious restaurant, Lentil As Anything. This restaurant was unlike any I have ever visited before; Lentil survives on the generosity of its patrons. There are no prices, no bill when you finish your meal, no cash register, just a box near the front of the restaurant where patrons may, if they wish, pay what they feel.

So let me first talk about the restaurant, then we'll revisit the concept of Lentil. When you first enter, it can be a little confusing as to where you are meant to go. To get to the front you walk past the outdoor dining tables and there may be someone out front preparing food for the next group of visitors. You'll see the days menu on a big chalkboard near the main door, there is also a menu just inside on a large white board. Chances are someone will greet you here and this is where you will order your meal. They will also happily answer any questions about the menu- like, What is a Sri Lankan Farmers breakfast?

Once you've ordered you can choose a place to sit, out front, inside, or outside in the rear of the building. Just be sure to let the staff know where you're headed so they can bring your food. The food is all vegetarian and you'll find a mix of traditional as well as foods from all over the world. You can see the brekky menu on the above photo and later on you can enjoy items such as: lentil burgers, Vietnamese salad, Japanese cabbage-and-carrot pancake, or a range of curries.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal of poached eggs on toast for myself,

for my husband, The Sri Lankan Farmers Breakfast (a crepe filled with spiced potatoes and other veg),

and for the kids, sweet French Toast.

We were pleasantly surprised with the quality and presentation of the food. When you take in the surroundings of mismatched chairs and tables along with the eclectic art hanging on the walls you may wonder what type of food you'll be eating. But not to worry, the food was delicious!

Lentil's philosophy of trust and generosity allows them to provide food for all, including those with very limited resources. They also provide training and educational opportunities for new migrants, refugees, and the long-term unemployed. Basically, if you are willing to put on an apron, you are welcome to work in the kitchen.

Name: Lentil As Anything
Telephone: (03) 9419 6444
Website: www.lentilasanything.com
Location: 1 Hellers Street, Abbotsford, Victoria 3067
Geting There: Via public transport the best way is bus. Take the 200, 201 or 207 from Lonsdale, or the 205 from Melbourne Uni (it then heads down Lygon, Elgin and Johnston), get off at the Clarke St stop (just before you cross over the Yarra). Turn right and walk down Clarke then left onto Hellers and into the Abbotsford Convent.

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Toto's Pizza House

2010-04-17T22:39:00.007+10:00

We were craving some Italian the other night and were having dinner with friends, so gave Toto's a try. We've walked by plenty of times and it's always bustling with lots of patrons enjoying themselves, so that's a pretty good gauge that's its worth a try. Toto's is located on the city side of Lygon Street, which makes it really convenient to us city-folk. They opened up in 1961 and claim to be the first pizza restaurant in Australia. One thing I can say for sure is that their pizza was yummy! We actually had our food delivered this time, which is a nice option. We tried Toto's Super Special (tomato, cheese, hot salami, ham, mild peppers, mushrooms, olives, prawns) and the Pizza Bolognia (tomato, cheese, spiced meat, onion, bacon, salami, ham). I preferred the Super Special as the Bolognia was just too much meat, and I'll say I liked it so much that I'll have a hard time trying something different next time. The olives were a mix of black olives and kalamata olives, which gave it such a nice, distinctive flavour.

We also tried a few pasta dishes, the Fettucini carbonara and Rigatoni matriciana, both were delicious. I was really impressed with the value of the food at Toto's. It was delicious and quite inexpensive. A pasta main dish costs under $11 and was more than enough food. The main meals (meat based) are served with chips and a salad and include things like chicken parmagiana, veal scaloppine, porterhouse steak - In my opinion the mains were nothing special (we tried the chicken parm), I'd rather have a flavourful pasta any day.

Bottom line- great pizzas and pastas, affordable, casual/family friendly
Sorry for the lack of pics (next time I'll take some, because I'm sure we'll be back)

Name: Toto's Pizza House
Telephone: 03 9347 1888
Website: totospizzahouse.com
Location: 101 Lygon Street, Carlton
Getting There: Take the Free City Circle Tram to Russell and La Trobe (at the North of the City) get off the tram and walk North (Russell turns into Lygon St)

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Queen Victoria Market

2010-04-13T22:57:00.017+10:00

It was brought to my attention that I have failed to do a post about Queen Victoria Market! I can explain why... I live close enough to our beloved market that I am lucky enough to do lots of my shopping there. I guess it has become such a normal part of my life that I forgot it's also a tourist destination! So today I brought my camera and tried to look at the market through the eyes of a first-timer.

When most people hear "market" they think fresh produce/farmer's market, and they would be right. Queen Victoria's Fruit and Veg Precinct is amazing. The produce is fresh and delicious. I saw some of the biggest mangoes I've ever seen during the summer, literally, as big as small pineapple. Beyond its quality, the produce is also wonderfully inexpensive. Just to give you an idea, I was there today and bought Willaim Bartlett pears for $1.50/kg, white button mushrooms for $4.00/kg, and Pink Lady apples for $1.00/kg. There's also an organic section where you can find 3 certified fresh fruit stalls and an organic dry goods outlet.

One of my favorite parts of the Market is the Deli Hall. Here you will find heaps of fresh bread/bakery stalls, local and imported cheeses, dips, olives, chocolate/sweets shops, and poultry shops (where you will also find game meats like crocodile, rabbit, kangaroo).

Within the Deli Hall you'll also find a number of take-away stalls where you can get some great eats to take to the tables outside for a quick bite or eat as you browse the rest of the market.

One of my favorites is Colour of Earth (shop 97-98), which specializes in all-natural pizzas. They make a variety of Gluten-free, Vegan, Vegetarian pizzas, as well as full gluten, meaty pizzas :)
I spoke with their chef, who told me they've started grinding their own specialty flours to make the pizza bases, including: pumpkin, beetroot, polenta, wholemeal and white. They make so many different flavours you're sure to find one that suits your taste buds; from a simple margherita to a spicy satay or asparagus pizza. Delicious!

There's also a food court in the market with plenty of options to satisfy your hunger (my favorite in the food court is the butter chicken from Drums).

Adjacent to the Deli Hall is the Meat Hall. Here is where you find all types of meats; pork, beef, lamb, with every cut to suit your needs. The Meat Hall also home to ten fishmongers, offering whole fish, fillets and crustaceans. Even if your just touring the market, don't skip a walk through the Meat Hall. It's quite a sight to see the butchers shouting their specials down the aisle, luring customers to their stalls.

Finally we come to the general merchandise stalls. When I pulled out my camera to capture this section of the market I was at a loss. There is such a variety of goods sold here that I could not choose just one photo to illustrate the diversity of market stalls. Instead, let me give you an idea of the many things you'll find.
Clothing- children's, women's, men's, leather coats, wool and cashmere jackets, shoes, accessories
Sheepskin- australia is known for their sheepskin and you'll find all types here: rugs, seat covers, fake UGGs (I've done my research and the UGGs you find at the market are true sheepskin, but are not the REAL UGG brand)
Home decor- artwork, sculpture, photo frames, gifts, fabrics, pillow covers
Souvenirs- boomerangs, photos, didgeridoo
Toys- stuffed animals, children's books, dolls

Trips the market are not complete without a stop at one of the Doughnut Vans. The Spanish Doughnut Van (located in the upper market past the Fruits and Veg) sell hot, crispy Spanish-style churros. My personal favorite is The American Doughnut Kitchen has been making hot delicious, jam-filled doughnuts right in their van since 1950. The queue can be quite long on weekends, but totally worth it in my opinion.

TAKE NOTE OF THE HOURS:

Monday- Closed; Tuesday- 6am to 2pm; Wednesday- Closed; Thursday- 6am to 2pm; Friday- 6am to 5pm (General Merchandise to 4pm); Saturday- 6am to 3pm; Sunday- 9am to 4pm

Name: Queen Victoria Market
Telephone: 03 9320 5822
Website: www.qvm.com.au/qvm

Location: corner of Queen and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne
Getting There: Take the City Circle Tram and exit at La Trobe and Elizabeth Street, then head north

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Ying Thai 2

2010-04-12T20:21:00.006+10:00

Among all the Italian restaurants on Lygon Street there a few misplaced Asian restaurants that should not be overlooked. We tried out Ying Thai 2 last Friday night and if the number of people waiting for a table indicates anything...then we were in for a treat.

Restaurants here in the Melbourne CBD are not like the big chains found outside of the city, you won't normally have to wait for a table. But the night we went there was a full house.We waited about 15 minutes for a table, then another 5 for the server to clean the table from the previous patrons, another 10 before he took our order, and our food came after about 15 minutes. Wow, when I say it like that it sounds like a lot of waiting. I was pretty excited to try it out after all the good things I had heard, so the wait really didn't bother me, but it's something to be aware of (on a Friday night anyway).
While we waited I had plenty of time to take in the atmosphere. Not exactly what you'd expect of a Thai restaurant, the decor was a little more like a kindergarten, bright colors, drawing on the wall. Something different.

On to the most important part...the food.
They offer a fairly large menu, featuring salads, noodles, curry, stir fry, and rice dishes. Most main dishes range in price from $13-$16.

We opted for the Kao Pud (Thai style fried rice with onion, sping onion, egg and choice of meat) and Pud Thai (I usually see this dish as Pad Thai).

We also tried the Gang Panang (Mild thai curry in coconut milk with Kaffir lime leaves) over sticky rice.
Bottom line- Very authentic, very flavorful, high quality ingredients, I loved the Pud Thai (some of the best I've had). Next time I will probably order different items from the menu (I'm not up at night craving the Gang Panang, although it was good), but I will definitely be back.
When ordering keep in mind the Thai love their chili, mild is equivalent to a typical medium and if you order hot be prepared to blow fire.

Name: Ying Thai 2
Telephone: 03 9639 1697
Website: none
Location: 110 Lygon Street, Carlton
Getting There: Take the Free City Circle Tram to Russell and La Trobe (at the North of the City) get off the tram and walk North (Russell turns into Lygon St)

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Great Ocean Road

2010-04-10T21:26:00.002+10:00

I had a friend visiting from the United States and decided it was the perfect opportunity to tour the Great Ocean Road. Since I live in the CBD and don't have a car I had to come up with a way to get there. I had two options 1) Pay for a tour that would drive us around, stopping at all the spots they thought were interesting 2) Hire a car and try my hand at driving in a foreign country for the first time... on the other side of the road....on a very winding road (with lots of beautiful scenery to distract me). Although I normally prefer being able to plan my own outings and spend as much time as I like or stop wherever I want, I opted to go with a tour company, A Tour With A Difference (which I highly recommend- small group, great guide, lots of good stops).

Our first stop was just outside the town of Torquay, Victoria's surfing capital. Torquay itself is a great little town where you could easily spend the whole weekend. There are awesome surf beaches as well as protected beaches, perfect for the family. If you're into surfwear, this is the places for shopping. Every major surf label has a retail store here.

One of the calmer beaches, at Torquay

Cape Otway Lighthouse was our next stop along the way. The lighthouse was the second lighthouse built on the Australian mainland (built in 1848). You can take a tour of the lighthouse at 11am, 2pm, or 3pm, or it's open for self-guided tours from 9am-4:45pm (entrance fees apply).

Just down the path from the lighthouse you will, of course, find the views the Great Ocean Road is famous for.

Another seaside resort town, Lorne is a popular holiday location along Loutit Bay. Lorne boasts a 2km of protected beach, perfect for families. Near Lorne there are 5 waterfalls to visit, getting to the falls range from easy 1/2 km walks to 8 km hikes.

Another next must-see destination is the small hamlet of Kennett River. This is one place that you are almost guaranteed to see some adorable koalas in the wild. With the forests of local gum trees the koalas have a plentiful food source here. On our tour we pulled just off the main road and were able to see two or three koalas snoozing high up in the trees. I have been told that if you head further up the road you can see lots more (30-40).

We also stopped at the Cape Patton Lookout, but I won't bore you with another beautiful coastal photo. :)

Don't miss the Great Ocean Road sign for a photo-op:

To change things up a bit after all the coastal views, we headed inland to the Cape Otway National Park. We took the Mait's Rest Rainforest Trail through the beautiful untouched rainforest. According to our tour guide Mait's Rest is named after one of the original settlers who explored this region and typically stopped to rest and camp at this location. I was really surprised how much cooler the temperature became as we moved into the rainforest. The path is very easy and only takes about 30 minutes.

If you'd like to check out an amazing beach and get a sneak peak of the Apostles, head to Gibsons Steps, where you can take 86 steps down the cliff face to the beach. You can see one of the Apostles and if the tide is low enough you can continue around the corner of the cliffs and see another. It a beautiful view from sea level that you won't get at the 12 Apostles Park.

It's on to the highlight of the trip, the 12 Apostles, which was just as beautiful as expected.

The Twelve Apostles have been created by constant erosion of the limestone cliffs of the mainland that began 10–20 million years ago. The stormy Southern Ocean and blasting winds gradually eroded the softer limestone, forming caves in the cliffs. The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed rock stacks up to 45 metres high were left isolated from the shore.

Here you have lots of options, there are accommodations if you'd like to stay the night, helicopter rides for a different point of view, or you can just take a walk out along the pathway to enjoy the scenery.

Not far down the road, and completely worth a stop is Loch Ard Gorge. This location is famous not only for its beauty, but also for the story that accompanies the beach.

The Loch Ard departed England on 2 March 1878, bound for Melbourne, carrying a crew of 17 men and 37 passengers. On 1 June, the ship was approaching Melbourne and expecting to sight land when it encountered heavy fog. Unable to see the Cape Otway lighthouse, the captain was unaware how close he was running to the coast. The fog lifted around 4am, revealing breakers and cliff faces. Captain Gibbs quickly ordered sail to be set to come about and get clear of the coast, but they were unable to do so in time, and ran aground on a reef. The masts and rigging came crashing down, killing some people on deck and preventing the lifeboats from being launched effectively. The ship sank within 10 or 15 minutes of striking the reef.

The only two survivors of the wreck were 18 year olds, Eva Carmichael and Tom Pearce. They came ashore at what is now known as Loch Ard Gorge and sheltered there before seeking assistance.

The final stop on our journey was that of the London Bridge. This formation used to be connected to the mainland and visitors were allowed to walk out across the two arches until the arch closest to the shoreline unexpectedly collapsed in 1990, leaving two tourists stranded on the remaining arch. Luckily nobody was injured and the stranded tourists were rescued by helicopter.

A beautiful day, beautiful scenery, lots to see and do. You could easily spend a whole week exploring the Great Ocean Road staying in the seaside towns along the way, or do it like I did, in one long day.

Birrarung Marr

2010-04-09T18:05:00.001+10:00

Head down the steps from Federation Square and turn left (as opposed to walking into the Yarra River), you'll find Birrarung Marr

Its name comes from the language of the Wurundjeri people who originally inhabited this area, 'Birrarung' means 'river of mists' while ‘Marr’ refers to the side of the river.

This is a great spot for the kids to get some energy out. We find that when we go down to Southbank or Fed Square area my kids always need a break right about the time we cross the river, so this play yard is a perfect stopping point.
The park features rock and rope climbing features, swinging hammocks, a swing for wheelchairs, picnic tables and don't worry, public toilets too.

My kids love the "spider web"

This is also the home of Artplay

ArtPlay is a civic studio where families and children can be creative and express themselves in ArtPlay’s open and supportive environment.

At ArtPlay, children up to the age of 13 and their families are encouraged to learn the language of art together.

Our mission at ArtPlay is to involve children and their families in artistic, interactive and creative projects. Through workshops with professional artists, ArtPlay aims to improve educational and arts opportunities for children.

If you have adventurous climbers, just past the playground is a formation of boulders with rock carvings, see if your kids can identify the animals carved into the boulders.

You can see the Giant Sky Wheel just past the boulders. Don't walk down there if you don't want your kids to beg for a ride!

The Sky Wheel is the largest travelling Ferris wheel in the southern hemisphere, so it won't stay here forever. Rides cost about $8 per person and a ride lasts about 10 minutes.

Suga

2010-04-09T16:23:00.010+10:00

Got a Sweet Tooth?

Suga Lolly Shop is a great place to stop for a treat while shopping at the Royal Arcade or anywhere along Bourke Street Mall. They make the lollies right there in the shop in front of a big window looking out onto the arcade, so all the lolly-lovers can watch there treats being made right in front of them.

Established in 1998, Suga makes old-fashioned rock candy completely by hand. Their "lolliologists" create heaps of flavours, as well as lollies with tiny messages inside. You can even order personalized treats to suit an special occasion.

Name: Suga
Telephone: 03 9663 5654
Website: www.suga.com.au
Admission: Free, but you'll want to buy some lollies! They run between $4.50 and $6.50 for a package
Location: Royal Arcade, Shop 20, Bourke Street, Melbourne
Getting There: Bourke Street runs east/west across the center of the city. Between Swanston and Elizabeth St. is the Bourke St Mall, you'll find the Royal Arcade here.

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Eureka Skydeck

2010-04-08T23:23:00.004+10:00

Head up 88 stories to the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere!

It's pretty touristy but you really can't beat the view up there.

There are floor to ceiling windows around the whole floor so you can really see every bit of Melbourne. Dotted around the space they have fixed scopes you can look through to see key buildings and landmarks and of course there's a snack kiosk in case you get hungry.
The EDGE experience is also available, where you enter a glass box which is then moved out from the building (so you can look down below you through the glass) be aware that it does cost extra. Apparently a lot of people have been confused about that. It costs nearly as much as your ticket up and from what I hear it's not any better view, I think it's more for the thrill of looking down and seeing the ground 300 meters below you.

Name: Eureka Skydeck
Telephone: 03 9693 8888
Website: www.eurekaskydeck.com.au
Admission: Adult $16.50, Child $9.00, Family $39.00
Location: Riverside Quay, Southbank
Getting There: Take any tram along Swanston/St. Kilda and exit at Flinders St. Head east from there along the river and just head toward the really tall building :) You can't really miss it!

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Phillip Island

2010-04-08T22:46:00.011+10:00

Where to start? There are lots of things to do on Phillip Island. We did it in one day, we hired a car and drove down in the morning and then left after the Penguin Parade, however there is more than enough to keep you busy for two days, so consider staying overnight on the island. That being said I'll tell about the things we did, and give some other info on the attractions we missed.
Our first stop was Woolamai Beach- I was so sad we only brought bathing suits for the kids, because it was a really fun swimming/surfing beach. Next time, we'll bring suits and boogie boards. There were lifeguards keeping watch over the swimmers, that always makes me feel a little safer.

From Woolamai Beach Carpark there are two walking trails. The first is a two hour walk heading up to the highest point on the island, Cape Woolamai. The is also a one hour walk along the beach to the Colonnades, a "natural attraction featuring columns of basalt and is best seen at low tide". No dogs are allowed on either path. Check here for more walking paths on the island.
Along the main road there is also Surf Beach (original name, right?) which I'm sure is also an awesome beach.

Next stop was the Koala Conservation Centre, so cool! There is a nice gift shop and Visitors Center where you can learn about the koalas before going out to see them. There are a few different paths, The Koala Boardwalk, Woodlands Path and one other that I forget the name :) The Koala Boardwalk is a raised platform that allows you to the walk high up in the gum trees where some of the koalas are resting right at eye level. We got some great views of the adorable little guys.

We were even lucky enough to see a few with their eyes open. Since they sleep 18-20 hours a day, that is pretty exciting.

Don't skip the woodlands walks because you're likely to see some cute little wallabies jumping around and even an echidna if you're lucky.

Another destination is the Churchill Island Heritage Farm. We didn't have time to make it there, but it looked like a lot of fun. Here's what the website says about it:

Experience a piece of Victoria's heritage on this historic island, where you can enjoy a relaxing stroll through the fragrant cottage gardens and lawns. Coastline walks offer magnificent views of Phillip Island and Western Port, while the restored farmhouse and cottages provide a glimpse into the past lives of early Australian settlers and past farming practices.

It was about 2:30pm and by this point int he day we were STARVING! We headed over to the town of Cowes to grab lunch. Bad idea at 2:30pm because most places were closed till dinner. We finally found Gulliver's Cafe and restaurant and grabbed some fish and chips. It was fine, but I was so hungry that anything would have tasted great, so I wouldn't be a very good critic. The town itself was unimpressive, though it did have a lovely bayside beach and nice tree lined main street.

I asked someone once what these trees are called but I cannot, for the life of me, remember. So if you know, please leave me a comment and tell me! I love them!

We didn't go to the Phillip Island Wildlife Park, but I would highly recommend it because you'll have a chance to hand feed the kangaroos, and we all know how much I love that! They also have bats, dingoes, wombats and heaps of other animals.

Next on our list was a visit to The Nobbies, which is a free center and walk along the cliffs just past the Penguin parade entrance. It's the perfect thing to do for a couple hours before you go see the penguins.
The center has lots of great information on the marine life found around Phillip Island, including some cool interactive displays. But the highlight of the Nobbies is the view. Head out onto the boardwalk to the bright green hillside cliffs that drop into the ocean.

Check out all the interesting rock formations at the base of the cliffs, including the blowhole. Wait for a big wave to come into this cave and as it crashes at the back water comes spraying out the mouth of the cave.

On a clear day they say you can see fur seals off the shore, but we didn't see a single one.We did, however, see some of the adorable fairy penguins high up on the hills, poking their heads out of their burrows.

Since you cannot take photos at the Penguin Parade I felt very lucky to get a picture of these little guys.

After a long and fun-filled day we headed over to the Penguin Parade, the culmination of any Phillip Island trip. In case you don't know, here's an explanation of the Penguin Parade:

The Penguin Parade is Australia’s most popular wildlife attraction and home to the largest Little Penguin colony in the world.
Every sunset, the hundreds to over a thousand wild Little Penguins emerge from the sea and march across the beach to their sand dune burrows.
The Little Penguin is the world’s smallest (and cutest) penguin and the Penguin Parade is the best place to experience this completely natural phenomenon. Courtesy of Phillip Island Nature Parks

Don't get your hopes up for seeing "thousands" of penguins, but they are cute and it was amazing to see them heading home after a day out fishing. We upgraded our ticket to the Penguins Plus, based on the recommendation of a friend and I second that advice. Then general viewing area is out on the main beach, but the Penguins Plus section is over on an isolated corner of the beach where 50% of the penguins pass by on their way up the hill, and you can follow them down the boardwalk and watch the find their way home.

Name: Phillip Island
Location: an hour and a half south of Melbourne
Website: www.penguins.org.au and www.visitphillipisland.com
Admission: A 3-park pass get you into Churchill Island, the Koala Conservation Center, and the Penguin Parade. Child $18.00, Adult $36.00, Family $90.00
The Nobbies is Free.

Luna Park

2010-04-07T15:58:00.004+10:00

For my son's birthday we went to down to Luna Park for some fun!

It's right by the beach in St. Kilda, so very easy to get there. If you're going to plan on purchasing the unlimited ride tickets, plan on staying a while. However, it's also kind of fun to just do one ride on your way to the beach (just be sure your kids understand that you are only doing one ride). According to my kids all the ride were a lot of fun and there was plenty to keep them busy.

My only complaint was the Circus of Screams attraction. We saw that the line was kind of long so we asked the lady at the front how long she thought it would be and she said about 20 minutes. Nearly an hour and a half later we made it to the front (you go through in groups of 8, each taking about 10 minutes). So take a look at the line, if there are more than 20 people, you'll be there for a while and it's really not worth it. Even my 7 year old thought it was predictable and not very scary. Just a lot of black lights and stuff hanging from the ceiling.
And if you get hungry, no worries, there's plenty of amusement park food!

Name: Luna Park Location: 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda (right by the beach) Telephone: 03 9525 5033 Website: http://www.lunapark.com.au/ Admission: Single Ride tickets- Toddlers $3.50, Children $6.50, Adults $8.50 unlimited ride passes- Toddlers $12.95, Children $29.95, Adults $39.95, Family $122.95	View Larger Map

Royal Botanic Gardens

2010-04-07T15:21:00.004+10:00

Need a little nature in your day? Take a quick tram ride (most of the tram running down St. Kilda Road will get you there) and get off at stop 20 (Domain Interchange) and take a walk up the hill to the gardens.
At the entrance to the garden you'll find the Garden Shop and Observatory Cafe, a great place to grab a bite or just an ice cream to eat as you head into the Gardens.

I love the Gardens for the walking paths, I feel like I could get lost in there, which is exactly how I want to feel when I need a break from the city. I love how one minute you can be walking through the bright sun and vibrant colors and the next minute you are in the shady, cool "jungle" (as my kids call it).

The Garden is also an great place for having a picnic, talking your dog for a walk (they must be on a leash and are not allowed in the cafe, visitors center or children's garden). If you're bringing the kids be sure to check out the Ian Potter Children's Garden, found just a few steps through the garden gate. The Children's garden has lots of fun pathway through the trees, over bridges, under tunnels. Once you get far enough back in the garden you just might see a smiling dwarf or water nymph :)

They have loads of special events, guided walks, holiday programs and more. See the "What's On" section of their website to find what is available at any given time of year.

Name: Royal Botanic Gardens
Telephone: 03 9252 2300
Website: www.rbg.vic.gov.au/rbg-melbourne
Admission: Free
Location: Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra
Getting There: Take any tram south on Swanston/St. Kilda and exit at the Domain Interchange/Shrine of Remembrance stop, then head up the hill and cross Birdwood Ave. You can also take the Free Tourist Shuttle, which will drop you right at the Shrine of Remembrance.

View Larger Map

Healesville Sanctuary

2010-04-06T19:12:00.003+10:00

My trip to Healsville Sanctuary led to my first up close and personal kangaroo encounter. This is a rite of passage for a foreigner and my experience did not disappoint. We arrived at the zoo at 11am and they were doing a kangaroo feeding at 11:30, so we made it just in time. NOTE- they only do the feedings once a day, so don't miss it. There were a lot of people around for the feeding, but most got their fill after a few minutes and we were essentially the last ones left with the kangaroos and the keeper. The big males couldn't be bothered to come over and have a snack, but the small females were more than happy to let us pet and snuggle them.

The were all fun to watch, even the big boys over in the corner that pretty much kept to themselves.

The zoo is much less commercialized than Melbourne zoo. The grounds are all kept very natural with dirt paths leading you between the animals. In between the enclosures you can even find lots of large birds and a wallaby if you're lucky. There is a shop with souvenirs near the main entrance and there are a number of places to grab a bite to eat. A few kiosks with snacks and ready-made sandwiches are tucked away among the trees and there is also a yummy bistro if you'd rather have some freshly made hot food (chips, pizza, foccacias, pies, as well as a rotating menu of restaurant style items.)
Back to the animals. The sanctuary mainly houses Australian bush animals: emus, platypus (is there a plural form of platypus?), koalas, Tasmanian devils, various reptiles, dingoes.

Many of the animals have been brought in because they were sick or injured. These animals are treated at the Australian Wildlife Health Center (located on the Sanctuary grounds and available to tour) then some are released into the wild, others who are not fit to be released will stay at the zoo.
There are lots of chances to "Meet the Keeper," in which the keeper will talk to you about the animals and answer any questions. During the kangaroo presentation the allow you to feed the animals and during the reptile presentation you will be allowed to pet a snake or two, but get there a few minutes early, otherwise you can't see anything. The Birds of Prey presentation is pretty amazing, don't miss that one. The keepers bring out lots of different birds and demonstrate their hunting habits as they swoop over the audience. Get there early for this one too, the close the gates and won't let you in late.

Getting there was my only problem with the zoo. If you have a car, skip ahead because you won't have any problem. If you want to take public transport, plan on 2 1/2 hours each way from the city. You'll take the Lilydale line all the way to the last stop. From there you take the 685 or 686 bus to the Sanctuary (the bus leaves right from the train station, though you might have to wait a bit for the next bus). NOTE- be sure you find out when the buses come by the Sanctuary for your return trip home. We were finished at the zoo at 4pm and had to wait for the next bus till 5:30!

Name: Healesville Sanctuary
Location: Badger Creek Road, Healesville
Telephone: 1300 ZOOSVIC
Website: www.zoo.org.au/HealesvilleSanctuary
Admission: Adults $24.40, Children $12.10, Family (2 adults, 2 children) $55.50
Friends of the Zoos Passes also available, see website.

Melbourne Aquarium

2010-04-06T00:10:00.007+10:00

I just can't get enough of those cute little penguins! Checked out the Melbourne Aquarium and I could hardly pull myself away from the penguins.

The penguins are the first attraction as you enter the aquarium, we arrived right as they were feeding them, which was fun to see. They are like a bunch of little kids, waddling around on their tiny little legs :)
The aquarium is set up in a one-way loop. After the penguins you head to the Weird & Wonderful section, which is just that: a lot of weird looking sea creatures. For example,

whatever this is.
Next you'll take the escalator up to the river to reef exhibit. The top floor of this exhibit (which housed freshwater river/lake fish) was not my favorite part of the aquarium. Freshwater fish tend to be a bit colorless and boring to me. The top floor does house the rock pools where you can touch a starfish, shark egg and sponge, which is a highlight, especially for kids. Down the ramp you'll find the jellies and learn all sorts of interesting facts about them. From here you can head toward the sharks but don't miss the coral reef exhibit, which is also on this level. In this tank there are some of the beautiful reef dwellers, including: a sea turtle, huge eel, and heaps of amazing and colorful fish.

The final section of the aquarium is the Oceanarium, which include the sharks and monstrous rays. The rays were amazing, but for all the hype about he sharks I thought they were a bit underwhelming (though I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting). I can imagine though if you had kids with you (mine were at camp this day) they would find the oceanarium mesmerizing.

My overall impression of the aquarium was mixed. It was definitely worth the trip. That being said, it costs more than the Melbourne zoo, which is an all day trip and the aquarium we breezed through in about 2 hours. So I guess I expected more. There were no seals or dolphins, which I have seen at some other aquariums. The penguin enclosure was probably the most fun, and since it was at the beginning, things just got less exciting as you continued.

Name: Melbourne Aquarium
Location: Corner King and Flinders Streets, along the Yarra River
Telephone: 03 9923 5999
Website: www.melbourneaquarium.com.au
Admission: Adult $32.50, Child $18.50, Concession $21.00, Family $87.50

View Larger Map

Shrine of Remembrance

2010-04-05T22:54:00.008+10:00

While the kids were at school the other day I hopped on the tram and headed down to the Shrine of Remembrance. You can see the Shrine as you drive down St. Kilda Rd (just south of Federation Square).

"The Shrine of Remembrance was built between July 1928 and November 1934 in remembrance of the 114,000 men and women of Victoria who served and those who died in the Great War of 1914-1918 - 89,100 of them served overseas and 19,000 did not return."

It was a really lovely experience, somber and meditative.

Each medal on this wall represented 100 people who served and 16 people who died serving their country.
They have a few different exhibitions in the visitor's center and then it's a nice walk through the Shrine and up to the balcony where you get a nice view of the gardens and the cityscape.

Be aware however that it's a pretty quick trip through the Shrine. You may want to pair this outing with a stroll through the Botanic Gardens across the street.

Name: Shrine of Remembrance
Location: Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra (across from the Royal Botanic Gardens)
Telephone: 613 9661 8100
Website: www.shrine.org.au
Admission: Free (however, they welcome donations)

Footy game- We just love the footy!

2010-04-05T20:47:00.002+10:00

So this post is probably more relevant to non-Aussies, because if you are Australian you undoubtedly no a whole lot more about footy than I do! We went to our first game today and it was so much fun! It was Geelong vs. Hawthorne, we kind of arbitrarily chose to cheer for Geelong because: a) we've been to Geelong and b) their colors are white and blue which were the same colors as both my high school and university.

Ten of the sixteen AFL teams are located in and around Melbourne, so they really love their footy here. Each weekend, late March through August, you can see people moving around the city in their team colors, scarves and hats. Melbourne has two AFL stadiums, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (East Melbourne) and Etihad Stadium (Docklands). The game we went to was at the MCG, which is the largest stadium in Australia and home to the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Sorry, I forgot my camera, so these pics are just from my iphone.

The game itself was one of the more entertaining sports that I have seen. I loved that there were no time-outs, no real stopping the game (even for injuries). The concept is simple: Kick the ball through the goal. Between the two highest posts you score a goal (6 points), between one of the smaller posts you score a behind (1 point).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e1/Goalposts.jpg

Then there are lots of other rules that you'll pickup as you continue to watch. In my case you'll wonder what's going on and ask a lot of questions. Here are a few of the rules hat will help you make bit more sense of this Australian game:

1) A player may run with the ball but it must be bounced or touched on the ground at least once every 15 metres.

2) The ball can be propelled in any direction by way of a foot, clenched fist or open-hand tap but it cannot be thrown under any circumstances.

3) Opposition players may bump or tackle the player to obtain the ball

4) If a player takes possession of the ball that has travelled more than 15 metres from another player's kick, by way of a catch, it is claimed as a mark and that player may then have a free kick (I noticed this was one of the best ways to score a goal).

So there's your quick run-down, it's a really fun sport to watch and if you want to assimilate into Aussie culture, you should probably go to a game and at least have an idea of what all the fuss is about :)

IKEA, Costco, repeat.

2010-03-20T16:48:00.002+11:00

Whew! No, I'm not getting bored with this new blog yet, my lack of posting is due to the fact that we've been moving to a new apartment this week. We're still in the CBD, just a few blocks further north. When we moved here from the States we decided to sell most of our belongings and start fresh when we got here. We figured it would cost about the same to ship a container as it would be to start over. Also most of our furniture was scaled to a much larger home, rather than a small inner city apartment. So we opted to stay in a serviced apartment for the first couple of months while we got our bearings. That way we didn't have to worry about buying furniture, etc for a while. Well, that has come to an end. We've signed a lease, and are now working on furnishing this place.

First stop...IKEA

(Photo by Glen Hunt - I was hardly about to lug my camera with me on an all day shopping spree)
If you've never visited an Ikea store, prepare to get lost. There are two main levels, the tope floor is the showroom and the lower floor is where they house most of the items for sale- i.e. you browse the top floor, making notes of what you'd like to buy, then go to the bottom floor and pick up those items.
The whole store is set up like a Las Vegas casino. They do their best to keep you there as long as possible. There are no windows, so who knows what time of day it is! There is a cafeteria type restaurant conveniently located at the stair/lift down to the lower level. This way you can grab a bite to eat and all of a sudden you're re-energized for another level of shopping. Finally, each level is essential a one way maze. You are meant to follow the path (arrows included, so you don't fell too lost) which winds around the store passing through each and every section. If you really keep your eye out you can find a few shortcuts, they tough part is knowing whether it's taking you ahead (toward the exit) or back where you started.
That being said... I am very grateful for IKEA. They make it possible to furnish a 2 bedroom apartment in just a couple of visits, and for a reasonable price. But be warned you have to put everything together yourself! Whenever I mention going to IKEA everybody loves to make the same joke "you have to have an engineering degree to put that stuff together" haha. It's really not that difficult.
If you have a car, you'll be amazed at how much you can fit, since all the items come flat packed in boxes, but if you're buying large items, like mattresses and sofas, or if you're like me and don't have a car, they have a delivery service. They were able to deliver all of my items the following morning. Be warned however, they do not deliver anything breakable. So if you're buying dishes, glasses, lamps, etc, be prepared to carry it out (in my case that meant 2 HUGE bags and a box of dinnerware- all the home via two trams, ugh!)

Next... Costco

The sofa I wanted was at Costco, along with items like vacuum, microwave, fans, bins. So I made a trip over there, not too bad, a quick tram ride to the Docklands , walk through HarbourTown shopping center (no complaints there- we'll do a longer post later on that) an there's Costco. Now any of my friends back in Texas will confirm that I LOVE Costco! I frequented our store about once a week. Now, however, it is pretty impractical to lug a 24 pack of paper towels on the tram and up 20+ levels to my apartment, and then have no space to store my monstrous package of paper towels (or cases and cases of Diet Coke). So I don't go there often, but when I do... It's like being home again! The staff was very helpful getting my sofa onto a trolley and up to the front where my bill totaled over $1000! I had to laugh when the cashier then asked if I'd be willing to donate $1 to the Royal Children's Hospital Fund- how selfish would I have felt if I couldn't give $1 on top of my already whopping bill.
My only problem surfaced when I tried to get my items home. On a previous trip I had been told that Costco does not provide delivery service (you have to arrange that yourself) so I had called a moving company to come and pick up my items and deliver them to my apartment. Before I left the store I spoke with the merchandise pickup guys to check and double check that my items would be released to the delivery guys as long as they had my details (member number, receipt, etc.) But of course when the delivery guys showed up there Costco said no way could they give them my stuff without the receipt, don't worry I got on the phone and let them have it, luckily I had the name of the guy I had talked to and they allowed my items to be delivered, whew. But for future reference don't try it!

Then...repeat
Another trip to IKEA to get the mattress that was previously out of stock
Another trip to Costco to get a few more items I forgot
and I think we're finished!

House of Parliament of Victoria

2010-03-15T19:42:00.007+11:00

I doubt there are many Melbournians that have actually been inside the Parliament House. It seems like the kind of place that might attract primary school groups and old people on holiday. But there was something about that building, with the grand steps to the front entrance that was intriguing to me and I took the opportunity to go on a tour. On days that Parliament is not sitting they offer free tours at 9.30 am, 10.30 am, 11.30 am, 1.30 pm, 2.30 pm and 3.45 pm. However, when I went over for the 2:30pm tour, they told me the next tour was at 3pm, so make sure you have a flexible schedule (or call ahead). There are plenty of cafes nearby to wait out the time until your tour begins.

The tour begins in the vestibule with its amazing tile floor and takes you through:

the Queen's Hall,

the Council Chamber,

where our tour guide allowed me to sit in the President's chair.

The Assembly Chamber

and the Parliament library

The friendly and knowledgeable tour guide was able to answer any questions that I and my fellow tourists were able to come up with. To a foreigner this tour was interesting as I am pretty clueless as to how the government here in Australia is organized, but I imagine even a lifelong resident of Victoria would learn something new.

Name: House of Parliament

Location: Spring Street, East Melbourne

Telephone: 03 9651 8568

Website: www.parliament.vic.gov.au

Admission: Free

QV Fashion Show

2010-03-15T18:29:00.002+11:00

Here's why I love this city. You can be walking home after dropping your kids off at school and as you walk through the QV building you find out there is going to be a fashion show at 12:30 and 1:30 that day. Okay, that takes care of my schedule for the day.

I had seen advertisements around the city saying that this week there would be various fashion events around the city, so I was thrilled when I happened upon this show. The set was really cool, like a life size doll house and before the show started they had model standing out front posed like dolls.

Rather than showcasing the work of a specific designer this show was a collection of designers and shops within the QV building: Guess, Christensen Copenhagen, Kam Otto, Sevinha, Mooks, Pamper Heiress. I was in fashion heaven. It's not very often that a "normal" person like me gets front row seats to a fashion show, granted this was no Dior show, but it was really well done. The models were of course tiny and beautiful, the clothes were to die for and the set and music fit the scene perfectly.

How cute is that headband?

Bottom line for the season:

Skinny pats are here to stay for a while- If you haven't yet, go out and get some great skinny Jeans and black leggings.

Pair those skinny pants with lots of voluminous layers up top.

The perfect finish for a perfect outfit is still the stiletto, but for all you city wanderers like me, a good ballet flat is still a great stylish option for your wandering.

Happy shopping!

Melbourne Zoo

2010-03-13T23:24:00.008+11:00

Who doesn't love a trip to the zoo? It brings out the kid in everyone. Standing at the pool of rays I was just dying to reach out and touch them, never mind the sign next to me saying "please do not touch the animals". Moving through the Wild Sea exhibit, I would have given anything to jump in and swim with the seals! For anyone looking to feel young again- head to the zoo!

Melbourne zoo is certainly one of the good ones. Coming from Austin, Texas where we only had a joke of a zoo, I was enthralled with the animals here in Melbourne.

And coming from the United States I was, of course, thrilled to see the kangaroos, koalas, and wombats.

The birth of a new baby elephant, Mali, has attracted lots of new visitors, and for a good reason. She is adorable. Do not miss a chance to see that baby run around and play. She's super cute! I apologize for the blurry photo, that baby sure can run!

My other don't miss exhibits:

The Wild Sea, gotta love those seals!

We especially like the bears- although they look a little pale for brown bears.

Have you ever seen Meerkat Manor? Those little guys are so fascinating! No wonder they can make a whole TV series out of their lives, sometimes I think they might be more interesting than my own life :)

There is certainly plenty to see at Melbourne Zoo. We have been twice now and still haven't seen everything. I appreciate how nicely the zoo is arranged. It's large but you don't have to walk a long distance to get to the next exhibit (even with small children). There are also plenty of cafes and food stands to grab a bite to eat, but they also don't mind if you bring in a sack lunch.

Name: Melbourne Zoo
Location: Elliott Avenue Parkville, VIC - easily accessible by tram 55
Telephone: 03 9285 9300
Website: www.zoo.org.au
Admission: Adult $24.40, Child $12.10, Family $55.50

Friends of the Zoo Passes are good at all 3 zoos (Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, and Healesville Santuary) for 12 months from the time of purchase. See the website or the FOTZ office near the main entrance to the zoo.

Medallion Greek Cafe

2010-03-12T22:59:00.004+11:00

Today's Mission: Greek Food

What better place to go than the Greek Precinct, right? We headed to Lonsdale St between Swanston and Russell Streets in search of a gyro and some spanikopita. There were a number of Greek restaurants, but since we had the kids with us we opted for the more relaxed, cafe style of Medallion.

At street level there is outdoor cafe seating for those wishing to watch people, enjoy the weather or have a smoke (as there is no smoking indoors). Upon entrance to the restaurant there is a display case of desserts including baklava and sticky fig cake. At the counter you can order take-away gyros and souvlaki. Beyond the counter there is ample indoor seating, with plenty of space on a Friday night.

I chatted with the owner, Ignatios Karasavvidis, a Greek immigrant who has owned the restaurant since 1990. Medallion has been in operation since 1970 and at the Lonsdale location for the last 20 years. In addition to Medallion, Ignatios also owns the Greek restaurant and taverna, DION, which is located next door. Both restaurants serve traditionally cooked lamb and chicken (DION also serves steak and seafood).

Our lamb and chicken gyros were just what we were looking for, nicely flavoured, tender and delicious. Served with pita bread, tomatoes, lettuce, onion and tzatziki sauce. The spanikopita left a little to be desired, over-cooked and a little greasy, rather than the light flaky pastry I hoped for. Prices ranged from 5-10 AUD for entrees and 10-20 AUD for main dishes. Overall, a nice meal and relaxed, pleasant atmosphere.

Name: Medallion
Location: 209-211 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9663 4228
Website: www.dionrestaurant.com.au (this was the website given to me, but the link didn't seem to work)

How to Discover Melbourne

2010-03-12T22:41:00.001+11:00

G'Day Y'all!

I moved with my family to Melbourne from Texas, United States just a few months ago and have settled in the CBD. The last thing I want is for our time here to end and I feel like I haven't experienced all this city has to offer. So I've made it my mission to spend the next year discovering Melbourne. Don't worry, I have a plan. Since I don't have a "real" job and my kids are in school I've been spending a lot of time as a city wanderer. My plan is to continue my wandering. Brilliant, right? However now I have a goal, to spend my days visiting the sights, the shops, the restaurants that make Melbourne special. Then I'll write about them here. So stay tuned to find out what I find and who I meet as I go about DISCOVERING MELBOURNE!