I'm spending most of February down under: 2.5 weeks in Melbourne, then
we'll drive up to Sydney and spend 3 days there.

I'm looking for tips of things to do and see, places to hang out,
drink and eat - hopefully some interesting local knowledge 'off the
beaten track' type advice.

About me: I'm 29 and will be there with my girlfriend. We're very
active, like good company, a couple of beers sometimes, good fun and
good food.

Things I'm looking at are: skydiving; horse riding; kitesurfing, plus
visting some winerys, the ocean road etc.

Any tipe would be much appreciated

thanks

In

Hi Inshallah,

I'm sure that you will find lots of help here. You will find that us
fair dinkum Aussies are very accommodating and proud hosts of our
lucky country.

This medium doesn't allow for one-on-one contact, so I for one will do
the best that I can to help make your visit a memorable one within the
confines of our discussion. I'd much rather catch up over a beer, but
this Q&A site is not designed for such. It would of course be far
easier with direct contact, but we can't go there. Fair enough and so
be it. Your journey will be great fun, I know that much.

I am going to include three "GA handles" of suggestion here, so that
when the "handle" owners search their own names, they may be directed
to your question if they choose to participate. Just in case they miss
your header. I bet they won't though!

johnfrommelbourne (a Patriotic Melburnian - and a good bloke)

johnfrommelbourne-ga

stressedmum (a Mum whom I think uses this as an outlet .. for Mum's time)

stressedmum-ga

scriptor (a fountain of knowledge)

scriptor-ga

OK, now the computer bit is out of the way, I have more questions and
suggestions for you.

1/Downunder? Are you a Yankee? (Hey, it's important to know where you reside)
2/It's already February. Are you in Aus now, or on your way?
3/Does your lady friend reside in your country or Aus?
4/What is your budget?
5/What is your total time frame, with dates? (I will check events for you)
6/Have you visited Aus before? 
7/Are you staying with friends, or is it just the two of you?

All that you suggest can be accommodated. The kitesurfing is more
popular further up in Queensland, but I'm sure you will find kite/para
surfing in Sydney. (Can check for you). The rest can be done on your
drive north. You will find horse-riding and wineries predominantly in
the first half of your drive. The grapes prefer the cooler climes,
further south. Victoria and Southern N.S.W. are famous wine areas. As
you head further north, you will find more interests to your active
lifestyle.

Time permitting, would the Federal Capital, Canberra be of interest?
If you stick to the Hume Highway, you will miss this one-horse
political town, yet wineries are prolific in the region. Lots to see.
The National Gallery, Museum, National Library, Questacon (hands-on
science for kids young and old - good fun changing themes), National
Aquarium and Zoo (really good fun feeding honey from your fingers to
the bears and horse's heads to the lions .. :)), old and new
Parliament House, helicopter rides .. and all this by the lake.

Then .. treat your fine lady to some romance. Look up the following
villages and towns on your drive to Sydney: Sutton Forest, Bowral,
Berrima and Mittagong. Think of Devonshire Teas, (tea and hot scones
with lashings of jam and cream) antique shops and golf. If time
permits, check out the Kangaroo Valley and beyond to Nowra and
Bateman's Bay if you enjoy fishing.

When you hit Sydney, make sure that you visit both Manly and Coogee
Beaches. The Pub at Coogee Beach is an attraction for people of your
age. The pub and beach are divided by a busy road. "Do not cross if
pissed".

http://www.travelmate.com.au/Places/great_drives.asp?TM_Page=Places&RegionId=14&State=NSW

If your budget allows you could duplicate most of the above in Western
Australia. Wine, horses, swimming with dolphins as an extra at Monkey
Mia (look it up), never-ending sand dunes .. and ya get to see the sun
set over the ocean.

Happy holidays. Please respond.

Phil

Ummm Phil,

I think Scriptor lives in Germany...

Great comment though!!
I wish I was going on a trip to Aus :(

Steph53

Hiya Steph,

Thanks for the comment. Yeah, I just re-read what I wrote. Now I can't
think of who I really meant. That's not to say that Scriptor isn't a
fountain of knowledge by the way.

Hoping to hear back from this young couple to help maximise their
trip. Nothing worse than arriving back home only to find you were 1
mile from your favourite point of interest but unaware of it.

Phil

Hi guys - thanks for all you've said.

Very strange - I posted a comment answering your questions and it was removed!

Answers:

1/I'm British, but grew up overseas so keen on outdoor life
2/We arrive in Melbourne on the Morning of the 5th Feb and Fly out of
Sydney on the evening of the 24th.
3/My gf is an Aussie, but been living in the UK for 4 years.
4/Budget - we're staying with family and have a free car - so I'm
hoping not to spend over £1000 each.
5/see above
6/Never visited b4

We were thinking of driving up to Sydney on the 21st Feb, probably
along the coast, maybe droping in on a friend in Canbera.

Thanks for all your help!

In
7/Are you staying with friends, or is it just the two of you?

Inshallah,

Great to finally see your response. Judging by the dates you have
shared, I think that you may be in transit as I type. I hope that you
can get the use of a computer when you arrive.

Still happy to help. But if your lady is an Aussie and you are staying
with family (presumably hers), are they not aware of their own
surroundings? No rudeness intended, I just don't get it.

Reply again if you want more than I first posted.

Happy travelling.

Phil

Well thanks for your kind words Silver One.You have already given so
much advice I am not sure what to add. However just a cupla things
perhaps. By the way you are from Sydney yes?? In regards eating I
assume that being English  the questioner is fond of Indian food. Well
if he is on a budget then best bet where mant Englsih go for cheap but
good quality Indian food is the CLASSIC CURRY COMPANY. not only cheap
but dead esay to find as it is in Melbourne's (arguably) main street,
Elizabeth St, (near market but cant miss it) Excellent curries of 
good size portions with free rice as well are from $6.50 to $7.50. I
not sure what that is in English money but I think about 2.5 pounds;
although I am really not sure. If you want to go upmarket on Indian
food in terms of the real best but still cheap then my mates at
TANDOORI TIMES offer the best Indian food I have eaten. give them a
ring when yiu get here and one of four  young brothers will anser the
phone. Tell them John from Australia Post sent you and they will look
after you very very well.pIzza wars now see large pizzas at $5.50
 but the best cheap pizza of excellent quality comes from DOMINOES in
my opinion. All types of crust and only $5.00 per large pizza if you
buy three.
  I mentioned market above and that is a big tourist drawcard in my
opinion. Biggest market in souther hemisphere and sells  everything.
Food part is amazing especially the delicattessen section in my
opinion.
  You should also go across Citylink tollroad in a car and see the
Manhattan style skyline. It is beautiful!!
 Will think of something else and write again perhaps but currently at
work so must go for now,

 Bye all

G'day John,

You're making me hungry you bugger. Sounds great. Ever thought about
starting your own promotion business for other businesses? You're
doing a fine job. Tell 'em about St. Kilda will ya. What's that bar
with the expensive cars and motorbikes? Cavallaro/Caravello ??? or
similar? Just up from the Elephant and Wheelbarrow pub. And the Lygon
St. crowd of course. Wondering too, as the questioner asked about
wineries .. are there some within the outskirts of Melbourne?
Somewhere they won't get too lost.

Inshallah .. Hope you get on a computer shortly after you arrive. John
might tell you a bit about the casino. 3 entries/exists .. big enough
to get lost in for a week. Even if you don't gamble, it's worth a
visit just to have a look at the musical water fountain.

All the best. I trust that our combined assistance puts us in good
stead as Ambassadors to our lucky country. Enjoy your stay.

Phil

Why do I think of something else AFTER I have hit that bloody send button?

Anyway, you have missed the tennis in Melbourne. JFM might be good
enough to check what events are happening in Victoria during your
stay.

Just an afterthought.

Phil

I live across from casino yes, but are not overly familiar with it or
its offerings unfortunately. I am wondering if any new info is now too
late as questioner would be well entenched in Melbourne now and
thinking about Sydney I would think.

 Plenty of wineries just outside Melbourne thats for sure!!

G'day John,

Maybe not. They are spending "2.5 weeks" in sunny Melbourne. If their
travelling went to plan, they have spent only a day and a half in Vic
so far. Perhaps sleeping off the jet-lag also!

Catch you again, around the traps.

Phil

Hi there Inshallah, (and Hi to you, Phil! Yes I use this as an
'outlet' because my kids are all grown up and know everything so I've
got to be able to give advice to *someone*!!!)

Okay, Inshallah, you're already in Melbourne so I hope you're able to
access the internet. Melbourne is a fantastic city and you've picked a
great week to visit. Last week would have been awful because of the
record breaking storm that cause me to once again go off air -- only
got the phone line reconnected late last night.

Inside goss on things to do in Melbourne...
Go to the Dandenong Ranges for a day (or two; lots of gorgeous B&Bs)
and make sure you visit
1. the William Ricketts sanctuary --
(http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=216):
2. Sherbrooke Forest to see our giant eucalypt forests. But don't go
if it's windy as gum trees are notorious for dropping limbs with
sometimes fatal consequences. (When you are in Sherbrooke, also go to
O'Donohue's picnic ground in the morning with a bag of hulled
sunflower seeds and you'll be able to handfeed hundreds of rosellas
and other parrots -- they prefer the hulled seeds and you'll get heaps
more landing on you than anyone else! Great photo opportunity.)
3. go to Ripe deli/cafe on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road, Sassafras for
the best, cheapest, most fascinating gourmet lunch you'll ever have. I
had a home made gnocchi with quail and spinach and it cost, for heaven
sake, AU$16. Menu changes every day. Plenty of vegetarian options.
They also make the best hot chocolate in the world. Grated couverture
-- dark, or milk or even white -- in steamed milk. Try it. It's
divine. You'll see. Ripe is not signposted at all. So look for the
little weatherboard house beside Tea Leaves shop (also a fascinating
place) and walk right in. You'll also find some local wines stocked
here.
Continue up the hill to Mount Dandenong and go to Kate Kelly's Bar
(opposite the Mt Dandy Pub)and you'll find a few homesick Pommies
sobbing into their Tetleys! They also have Guinness and all the usual
Aussie beers.
4. Puffing Billy in Belgrave is a must do. It's an old steam train and
it takes you through some lovely rainforest. It's quite charming.
5. Cameo Cinema in Belgrave has an outdoor cinema (not a drive in, you
actually sit outside on a balmy evening. It's gorgeous, provided we
get some lovely weather, of course!)
6. Healesville Sanctuary is a must-see if you want to see Australia's
incredible animals. It really is worth a look. In addition to all the
'obvious' animals like wallabies and koalas, you'll also get to see
the platypus, echidna, I think they've also got a Tasmanian Devil
exhibiton, plus snakes, lizards, all kinds of cool critters. It's a
big place and extremely well run.
For more to do in the Dandenong Ranges, go to the Tourist Information
centre on Burwood Highway Upper Ferntree Gully. They have heaps of
info.

Other things I love to do in Melbourne/locale:
1. Go on a tour of the MCG Melbourne Cricket Ground in the city. Even
if you're not crazy about sport, it's still really interesting to see
how this amazing arena has evolved over the last 100 years or so. It
will also give you an insight into how crazy we Melburnians are about
our sport.
2. Go to Federation Square and wander about and also have a look in
the Ian Potter Gallery (look for the signs) at a stunning Australian
Art collection -- if your girlfriend is from Oz, she'll recognise many
of these paintings.
3. Go to Geelong and stand outside Kardinia Park (Shell Stadium) and
yell "Go Cats!" (No reason. Just do it for me!) (Actually, the Cats
are the local team for the Geelong Football Club -- Australian Rules
Football and I love 'em! Footy's a fantastic game and the Cats are the
greatest team of all. Truly!
When you're in Geelong, have a look at Eastern Beach and the
waterfront. It's such a pretty town. Near Torquay there are a couple
of small airports offering Tigermoth flights over the coast. These are
great fun and very reasonably priced. You can also do skydiving in
this region. I don't know the companies involved but there'll be all
that info in the area.
4. If you go to Ballarat (about 1hr drive whether from Geelong or
Melbourne) do go to Sovereign Hill. It sounds daggy but it's really
good fun and so interesting. It's all about the gold mining and the
village settlement in the 1860s and  the Eureka Stockade and it's
really well done and very realistic. Most of these 're-enactment'
villages leave me cold, but Sovereign Hill is excellent. (plus you get
to pan for gold and they drop in bits every day so tourists can find
it!)
5. some great areas for wineries are: Yarra Valley (out past Dandenong
Ranges); Bendigo and Heathcote (mwa! gorgeous rich shirazes and
pinots); Red Hill/Mornington Peninsula.
6. Try and take the ferry from Sorrento to Queenscliff and apart from
having an interesting view of the coastline where the houses of some
of our rich kids play at Portsea, you also get to go to Queenscliff
and eat at Mietta's. Another great place for really creative, clever
cuisine.

Okay. I'm out of ideas. Have a great stay and let us know what you saw!

Cheers

Stressedmum

Hi JFM and StressedMum,

I think we should start a Tourist Advisory Business promoting
Australia. If our enthusiasm doesn't attract them, I don't know what
else will.

You two even have ME sold on Victoria. Ya done good.

Phil

About 1 & 1/2 hrs drive west of Melbourne you will come to a country
town called Ballarat. Which is well worth a visit. See
www.myballarat.com.au for more.

I just got back from a trip to sydney and melbourne.  It was amazing
and the people were so great.  I also went to Byron Bay on the North
East coast and it is probably one of the best places I have ever been.
 We stayed in this bed and breakfast:  Victoria's on Watego's beach. 
Amazing!  http://www.victorias.net.au

So great that after the trip in February I'm emigrating there in a week!!

What a wonderful country.

Thanks to everyone for providing such useful tip!

cheers

Keithyb

Inshallah/Keith

About bloody time we heard from you! Only been waiting 6 months!

Plenty of room here in Aus for another couple .. we'll just
bunch up a bit to fit you in. Stay in touch 
somehow will ya!

I recall an e-mail contact since deleted. That's how the
system works to protect you, "G" and all contributors.

I can remember the first bit, so just list the bit after
the @ if you want further contact and advice on contacts 
for storage, accom, travel, real estate etc.

All the best, 

The Silver One