Undisputedly the cool kid of Australia, Melbourne is jam-packed with all sorts of marvellousness. With an interlaced network of interesting and diverse inner-city suburbs and a revitalised CBD now pulsating with rooftop bars and hip restaurants hidden away amongst its mysterious alleys, it’s no wonder why the city has ranked near the top in all kinds of travel and livability indexes. From the edgy inner north suburbs filled with quirky cafes and iconic music venues to the posher south of the Yarra precinct where shop and wine is the name of the game, and not to forget its gorgeous hinterlands such as Great Ocean Road and Mornington Peninsula enticing city breakers away from their urban pursuits, the southern belle has turned on all the lights and not intending to dim it off any time soon. Come explore a city that is obsessed with art, food, coffee, music and the easy good life with a customised Melbourne tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours today and get to know better the intriguing persona that is marvellous Melbourne.
Eating Melbourne Melbourne is a melting pot of cultures and within its boiling cauldron presents an interesting mix of cool restaurants and charming eateries offering diners a good evening out any day of the week. Cookie and Gingerboy hidden in the CBD’s nooks and crannies are hipster temples of modern Aussie-Asian cuisine combining the freshest Australian produce with the robust flavours of Asian spices. If you are dreaming of some la dolce vita, head to Ladro in Prahran for one of the best pizzas in town or Pelligrini’s Espresso Bar to jostle with locals in its small but rustic space in the middle of the city. For a good sampling of authentic Greek fare with a twist, Hellenic Republic in East Brunswick is a bustling institution and Cutler & Co on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy is modern Australian cuisine at its best – great fresh food in sophisticated but relaxed surrounds and complete with the charming Aussie bantering from its excellent service staff.
The great ocean walk Most visitors to Melbourne eventually at one point of their trip will embark on their journey through the Great Ocean Road, and most itineraries bring them on a road trip via the famed coastal highway, stopping by a couple of resort towns and culminating at their destination, the 12 Apostles, before making the return trip back into the city. But for the intrepid travellers, there are plenty more treasures of nature to discover en route and one of them is the Great Otway National Park. Stretching 91 kilometres from idyllic Apollo Bay to Glenample Homestead near 12 Apostles, visitors can walk through its trails and step on and off at numerous points depending on inclination and fitness levels. For the more adventurous, horse riding and mountain biking on formed roads and well-maintained tracks are enticing options while picnicking and camping opportunities abound amongst its many lovely settings. For wildlife lovers, spotting the rare platypus in the wild is a bonus not to be missed.
Spooky nights
Melbourne somehow lends its reputation equally to dark nights as much as bright days (and seemingly thrives so at it), especially when the mercury drops and everyone cuddles indoor in cosy bars or strolls through the windy streets wandering amid the atmospheric streetscapes, and perhaps another interesting proposition on these typical Melbourne evenings is to go one further into the dark with a night tour through the storied Old Melbourne Gaol. Built in the mid 1800s, the gaol was the holding place of Australia’s most notorious personalities such as Chopper Read and Ned Kelly; It was also where some of them were hanged hence naturally stories of the unexplained and the ghostly abound throughout its grounds. Whether you are into Australia’s criminal chronology and the supernatural realm, or simply looking for an interesting thing to do at night, heading into the abyss of the Old Melbourne Gaol may provide the experience that you are searching for, spooky or not.
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Put on your cultural smarts and get ready to explore the art, food, coffee and lifestyle capital of Australia with a customised Melbourne tour package from Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours today. Call 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg for more information.
Highlights
Every itinerary can be fully customised according to needs, special interests, personal preferences and defining style of just about anyone who wants to travel privately and exclusively.
Upon arrival to Dubai Airport, your driver will be waiting for you holding a signboard with your name on it. Enjoy a 1-way private transfer to hotel.
This morning, depart from Melbourne for the small seaside town of Lorne and continue on your Great Ocean Road journey. On the way to Apollo Bay, make a brief stop at Kennett River, which is home to numerous koala colonies. Then, stop at Otway Ranges to immerse yourself in some of Australia's best rainforest scenery amongst tall trees, ancient plant life and abundant ferns. Next, explore Cape Otway Lighthouse, which is the oldest surviving lighthouse on mainland Australia. Other activities at Otway Ranges include the world’s tallest treetop walk, where you can experience a birds-eye view of the scenic ranges and a zipline tour that allows you to zip through the leafy treetops of the ranges from one cloud station to another.
Apollo Bay
Get ready for a day of discovery along the Great Ocean Road at 12 Apostles, a collection of windswept limestone stacks formed by erosion over millions of years. 3 minutes west is the dramatic Loch Ard Gorge, named after the ship, Loch Ard, which tragically ran aground in 1878. Next, visit London Arch, the site formerly known as London Bridge until the section closest to the mainland collapsed in 1990. London Arch is one of Victoria’s most popular natural landmarks. Keep an eye out for little penguins here. Only a few minutes from London Arch is the grotto sinkhole, which can be seen at 2 viewing platforms. At the lookouts, gaze through the void to discover the fine mist that falls as the ocean surges and the rock pools fill with water.
12 Apostles
After breakfast, explore the city of Melbourne at your own leisure. In the afternoon, embark on a field trip to Phillip Island to learn about the native wildlife. The main attraction is the viewing of Penguin Parade, where little penguins waddle up the sand to their dune burrows after their daily fishing excursions. Return to Melbourne for your overnight stay.
Penguin Parade
Today, visit Ballarat Wildlife Park. Upon arrival, meet and interact with native animals of the Australian bush, such as kangaroos, emus and Tasmanian devils. Learn more about more amazing creatures at a series of ranger-led shows such as crocodile feeding and koala encounters. Next, visit the former boomtown of Ballarat as you travel back in time at Sovereign Hill, one of Australia’s renowned attractions. Sovereign Hill brings to life the excitement of Australia’s gold rush in the 1950s. Return to Melbourne for your overnight stay.
Ballarat Wildlife Park
Enjoy a private airport transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight home.