Melbourne Travel Answers

Hi Have you tried Tripadvisor www.tripadvisor.com This site is fantastic and contains customer reviews. When booking or checking out accommodation anywhere in the world i refer to Tripadvisor. They also often have photos taken by customers. Have you looked on www.visitmelbourne.com Good Luck, Mike

Hi, Thanks for the info - I found a nice wee place on Wills Street, just off Latrobe Street and close to Flagstaff Gardens. Does anyone know if this area is ok? Many thanks, Steven

It should be okay. Its in the main city area, but its a 'quieter' end of the city, not much in the way of shops around there, mostly offices - but its not far from Queen Vic. Market, which would be good for fresh produce. Latrobe street has the city circle (tourist) tram, and other routes, and its about half a block from the Police Headquarters! Most of the city shops, or the 'busy' area of the city, is between Elizabeth & Russell Street (running north/south) and Lonsdale & Flinders (running east/west)- so that's about a block and a half to the start of that area. Good luck, Grevil

Good advice Glenda. Member name 'SM79'. I thought that sounded familiar. I think it was/is a Sennheiser (?) microphone I used in studio work a year or two back ?? Or was it SM69 and SM71. !!?? Nickname/member names are interesting in their origins. " ..a nice wee place on .. ". Sounds a bit Edinburgh-ish to me ?? The lovely Flagstaff Gardens are as historic as anything you would get around our Melbourne. As it was the highest geographic point, the flag, on the pole - staff - was raised and/or lowered before and after noon. As advice to the early settlers - circa 1836. Quite 'late' in the order of major town establishment in Australia. And it was a navigating point for sailing ships sailing up Port Phillip Bay. Batman Street is nearby - but not Robin's boss!? John Batman is in the history books in that he chose the site for the settlement of the village of Melbourne. (And 'purchased' it from the natives. That transaction having no legal standing was subsequently cancelled. A 'refund' was organised ???? ) Flagstaff Gardens area was originally named 'Batman's Hill'. The 'original' Melbourne, Lord Melbourne's estate, is up York way in the old dart'. He was a PM under Queen Victoria. End of 'wee' history lesson. ;-)

Ha ha sorry to say but the origin of my username is very dull (initials and year of birth) although I think I prefer your description. As for my Scottish-isms, you were close - Glasgow is the nearest city to me. More accurately I'm 25 miles outside Glasgow in a wee town on the River Clyde which is very scenic with stunning views (slightly biased opinion) over the water in the direction of Loch long, the Holy Loch, Gare Loch and beyond. Thanks for all the help and info, can't wait to get to lovely Australia - roll on next June!!!!

Pacific international apartments are fab too, especially the one in Little Bourke Street. You can read my review on this site.