Melbourne Options, Potentials: NY Times Sunday

For our interests and cruise, we won't be visiting Melbourne either pre-cruise or during our Jan. 20-Feb. 3, Sydney to Auckland Celebrity Solstice sailing. BUT, maybe others will be able to do Melbourne. Coming in the Sunday morning New York Times travel section, they have this feature and headline: "36 Hours in Melbourne, Australia" with these highlights: "The fact that Melbourne, the capital of the Australian state of Victoria, regularly appears near the top of lists ranking the world’s most livable cities says a lot about its efficiency, cleanliness and safety. What that recognition doesn’t immediately reveal is how Melbourne is now arguably the most exciting city for food Down Under. But even more noteworthy is the city’s distinctive creative energy, manifested everywhere, from flourishing street art and a cool bar scene to homegrown boutiques and buzzing back-street cafes. When even cosmopolitan Sydney talks of 'Melbournising,' it’s clear that something special is happening in Oz’s second city."

This feature has lots and lots of details on various options for dining, drinking, exploring, discovering, arts/culture potentials, etc., in Melbourne. Many pictures, good map, etc., are all a part of this profile. Sounds super, super nice and exciting there in Melbourne. For our first trip to Australia, we'd like to see it "ALL", but we only have so much time. And, money!! Maybe Melbourne will be possible for our next visit when we can do Ayers Rock, Perth, etc. For our first trip, we'll have to be happy with Sydney, Great Barrier Reef/Rainforest, Kangaroo Island/Adelaide and Hobart/Tasmania. It's a big, big country with lots of variety and diversity. Kind of like the United States. Can't see it all in America during just one, first visit.

From those who live in Melbourne and/or know it well, is this story a good summary for some key highlights and options to consider there?

Full story at:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/travel/36-hours-in-melbourne-australia.html?ref=travel&_r=0

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 119,640 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

Terry

Thanks for this.

We will be doing a two week precruise (leave on 10 Mar 2013)through Adelaide (Kangaroo Isl + Barossa) Melbourne (Great Ocean Road + Foodie stuff) and Sydney (Bridge Climb, Blue Mtns, Ferries). The NYT article will help. After we are doing an 11 day Queensland cruise up to GBR on the Solstice)

I'lll reciprocate after. Your baltic trip comments were very helpful before we went in 2011.

george

Terry: Thanks for this. We will be doing a two week precruise (leave on 10 Mar 2013)through Adelaide (Kangaroo Isl + Barossa) Melbourne (Great Ocean Road + Foodie stuff) and Sydney (Bridge Climb, Blue Mtns, Ferries). The NYT article will help. After we are doing an 11 day Queensland cruise up to GBR on the Solstice) I'lll reciprocate after. Your baltic trip comments were very helpful before we went in 2011. george

Appreciate, George, these added comments on my past info on the Baltics being helpful. Look forward to your future sharing of ideas and suggestions for Sydney, how you liked the Solstice, etc. Good luck on your travels!!

We've now got our airline bookings done that get us down from Ohio to Dallas, Hawaii, Brisbane and then Cairns. All on American Airlines Frequent Flyer miles. Good news having the flights and seats booked!! Will do JetStar or Qantas for Cairns to Adelaide/Kangaroo Island and then to Sydney to see that city and board our Solstice cruise ship on Jan. 20, 2014. So many have been very helpful in sharing the potentials for down under! Keep it coming.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 119,837 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474