Melbourne Trip Dilemma - Please Recommend Itinerary

[Deactivated] on 02/04/2021 - 16:53
Last edited 04/04/2021 - 17:19 by 1 other user

We are coming from Sydney to Melbourne and staying at Williams Landing.
So we have following days planned:

4-5 April : In/Around Melbourne Sightseeing
6-7 : GOR (booked night stay at Port Campbell on 6th)
8 : In/Around Melbourne Sightseeing
9 : Check-out from Melbourne

For 04 April:
Since we are traveling with kids and elderly parents, originally we thought we will do some sightseeing via Hop-On Hop-Off Bus ( City Tour / St Kilda Tour) to visit some highlights and spend some time at places which we like. But it seems the bus service is closed till Sept 2021 :(
https://ops.isango.com/echo/Files/City-Sightseeing-Melbourne…
——> Is there any other similar Hop-On Hop-Off Bus or day trip service (where we don't need to drive and we just seat and relax/see the places)?
What are other best options to visit highlights of Melbourne?

For 05 April:
We were planning to do the PUFFING BILLY but it seems they are operating at reduced capacity, so no tickets are available for 05 April :(
We should have thought about this few days back but its mistake on our side in planning :(
——> What do you recommend doing on this day (considering kids/parents with us)? Happy to drive nearby.

For 08 April, we are thinking to spend a day trip doing below:
Mornington Peninsula
Arthur’s seat cable car
Point Nepean
Cape Schanck
——> Is this doable in a day? Is it worth visiting these places? What else on this track for sightseeing?

TIA!

Travel Holiday Melbourne New South Wales Sydney Victoria

Comments

  • jjjaar on 02/04/2021 - 17:03
    +2

    There’s the free city circle tram, but that only goes around the cbd.

    Williams landing is quite far to be staying, I assume you’re staying with family? How are you panning to get into the city itself each day?

    • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2021 - 17:08

      right, thank you. Our original was to get into City only once via train to onboard hop on/off bus as other two days in Melbourne those places are not in city so happy to drive.
      Now that the original plan of bus is blown up, what do you recommend?
      Is there any other similar Hop-On Hop-Off Bus or day trip service (where we don't need to drive and we just seat and relax/see the places)?
      What are other best options to visit highlights of Melbourne?

      • stirlo on 02/04/2021 - 20:29
        +1

        There are frequent trams all across town, costs $9 for a whole day. No real need for the hop on/hop off bus.

        Not many people know but there's a colony of little penguins at the St Kilda breakwater. With Covid you need to book but its free and saves a trip to Phillip island.

  • MrHyde on 02/04/2021 - 17:15
    +3

    Trams within CBD and Docklands are free. Most of the places on the Hop On bus can be covered by the trams. It's only for the bit further North like Museum, you would need a way.

    If you are going to train in and back, you will already have a day ticket, so can tram it anywhere in Melbourne

    • stirlo on 02/04/2021 - 20:57

      It's only for the bit further North like Museum, you would need a way

      The number 86 tram from Bourke st has a Melbourne Museum stop only 100m from the entry. Also the entire Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition Building is worth seeing as well.

  • jv on 02/04/2021 - 17:26
    +4

    For 04 April:

    All Trams are free in the free zone…
    https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/default-site/Maps-and-Time…

    For 05 April:

    Lots to do in the Dandenongs/Yarra Valley other than the puffing billy
    https://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions/Yarra-Valley-and-Dande…

    For 08 April, we are thinking to spend a day trip doing below:
    Mornington Peninsula
    Arthur’s seat cable car
    Point Nepean
    Cape Schanck

    If you make an early start, you can probably do all… For Point Nepean, you'll need to use the bus shuttle service… way too far to walk unless you're going to spend the whole day there. You wont be able to go to the end by car, only shuttle.
    https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/point-nepea…

    You'll probably need to allow a couple of hours at least for Point Nepean, and 1-2 hours at least for Cape Schanck if you're going to walk all the way down to the beach.

    Flinders is a great spot to visit too… Everything there is only 10-15 mins apart.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2021 - 18:05

      Thanks JV. Much appreciated, so let me change/ask ….

      04 April : Do you know/recommend any half or full day tour to see highlights of Melbourne?
      Reason for such tours is we dont need to worry about points, times, walking in city etc.
      05 April : Instead of Dandenongs/Yarra Valley/ Puffing billy, what do you think about Sovereign Hill?
      08 April : Since Point Nepean needs more time and change of car to bus, we can skip that point and instead keep Cape Schanck as our last point of the day.
      So my question for this track ( Williams Landing to Cape Schanck) - which visiting places do you recommend?

      • jv on 02/04/2021 - 20:04
        +6

        Do you know/recommend any half or full day tour to see highlights of Melbourne?
        Reason for such tours is we dont need to worry about points, times, walking in city etc.

        I wouldn't pay for one.
        Just take the free city circle tram
        They have commentary about the main historical/tourist sites and you can get on and off as you please. They run approx. 20 min apart and go in either direction.
        All the trams in the CBD are free, but the city circle tram also has commentary.

        Melbourne Museum
        State Library
        The Immigration Museum
        The Arts Centre
        National Gallery
        Victoria Market

        Instead of Dandenongs/Yarra Valley/ Puffing billy, what do you think about Sovereign Hill?

        Only worth it if you plan to stay the whole day, there's a lot to see there… You're looking at about a 90 min drive each way.
        Last time we went there, we stayed in Ballarat 3 nights, did Sovereign Hill for 1.5 days (you get a free pass for next day), and also spent a whole day at Kryal castle.
        Since you're staying at William's Landing, if your kids are young enough eg. primary school, you might want to consider Fairy Park instead. It's nearby in Anakie. It has a tacky name, but is a really good day out… Lots of things for the kids to do while the adults walk around and relax.
        https://www.fairypark.com/ (probably around 45 mins drive from William's Landing). Or another nearby option is the Werribee Open Range Zoo…

        So my question for this track ( Williams Landing to Cape Schanck) - which visiting places do you recommend?

        Go directly to Arthur's seat. Personally, I'd skip the chair lift due to limited time. Park at the top next to the chairlift. They have a nice cafe up there, and you can see the chairlifts going up and down and you'll have a fantastic view across the bay back to Melbourne.
        From Arthurs seat, make your way to Flinders. Maybe stop at Sunny Ridge Strawberry farm for a strawberry fondue… They have a nice shop there with lots of strawberry products… Maybe stop at a winery along the road and do some tasting if you're into that… eg. T'Gallant winery (they also have a pizzeria there). If you like apple cider, or apple juice, Mock Red Hill Orchards is on that road too…
        PS. If you are into beer, there is an alternative route to Flinders via Red Hill and Shoreham that takes you past the Red Hill brewery which make awesome craft beer. I'd also stop at Red Hill Estate winery if going that route. They make nice wine but also have one of the best views from their vineyard. If you do end up going by Shoreham, and have time, it's worth stopping tat the Pt. Leo Estate winery… It is really something else… Worth seeing, even if you don't want to taste the wine.

        At Flinders there is a single street of shops, some tourist shops, some galleries and a pretty good ice-cream/chocolate factory (Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie). Also the Flinders Bakery do some pretty good breads… If you have time, drive down to the beach and walk on the pier.

        From Flinders, you can go to Cape Schanck (about 15 mins). It's a bit of walk down to the beach from the main car park but worth it. If your elderly parents aren't up to it, you can walk part of the way and still get some awesome views along the walk.

        From Cape Schanck, you can drive down to Rosebud and slowly make your way back along the coast (not the freeway). Grab some fish&chips and enjoy them on the beach at either Rosebud, Mcrae, Dromana. Wherever takes your fancy… If you have time, go all the way to the Mornington Pier and have dinner there…

        Then catch the freeway home… Not much else after that… Enjoy…

        • stirlo on 02/04/2021 - 20:59
          +2

          ^ I think this is the first post from JV I've seen that's actually on topic and useful!

          • jv on 02/04/2021 - 21:01

            @stirlo: I think I posted a useful one last decade too…

  • fantombloo on 02/04/2021 - 19:00

    Every time my clan roadtrips to Melbourne we take our bikes. Often we won't use the car for days, just bikes and public transport. Great way to see things.

    I'd never ride down King St Newtown but don't mind even my littlest kid riding in convoy down Brunswick St Fitzroy. It's just different. Excellent bike paths everywhere.

  • JimmyF on 02/04/2021 - 19:16
    -1

    Dilemma

    Sorry, whats the Dilemma?

    but it seems they are operating at reduced capacity, so no tickets are available

    Isn't this EVERYTHING now days?

    • elgrande on 02/04/2021 - 19:26

      Sorry, whats the Dilemma?

      Has to spend time in Melbourne..

      • JimmyF on 02/04/2021 - 21:05

        Q How do you know someone is from Sydney?

        A They'll tell you!

  • Seraphin7 on 02/04/2021 - 20:25
    +1

    Chairman Dan has other plans for you.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2021 - 22:26

      Dan just informed me saying he will personally serve some Chinese food to us.

    • jv on 02/04/2021 - 23:45

      He's lucky his trip will be over by the time we restart hotel quarantine for overseas travellers.

      It should be at least a couple of weeks before our lock downs start again.

      • [Deactivated] on 03/04/2021 - 13:12

        Whoah, whoah, Dan Andrews never gives warning. He'll institute a curfew with less than 4 hours' notice willy nilly.

        If you want to visit Victoria you better be checking the mainstream news every 2 hours to see if you still have any basic freedoms.

  • holdenmg on 02/04/2021 - 21:06

    Hi,

    Check out: Halftix Melbourne
    https://halftixmelbourne.com/all-events/

    They have moved to 208 Little Collins St (up from Swanston St).
    https://halftixmelbourne.com/find-us/

  • Tily on 02/04/2021 - 23:41

    If there are a few of you and heading into the city, might be cheaper to drive and park in the city rather than take public transport. Parking at Crown is $10 flat rate or if you are coming in on a weekend a lot of Wilson parking can be pre-book for $5 for day parking.

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