For the “Tour Melbourne CBD” bit, here’s my tour if you’re staying in the CBD (this assumes you’ll be waking up early):
take the number 1 tram down to Albert Park, go for a jog around the lake/ GP circuit. OR the 109 to Port Melbourne and jog along the bay cutting in to Albert Park and then:
head to bridport st, Albert Park for breakfast at the Albert Park Deli. Take note of Andrew’s Hamburgers, you may want to partake on another day.
hop back on the tram and make your way to the top end of Collins st, specifically the Sofitel. Walk through the lobby and take the lifts to the 35th floor. Near the lifts are some toilets. Walk in and be greeted by an incredible view. Don’t worry about the hotel staff, they know why you are there. (It looks like since I was last there about 25 years ago that a massive sky scraper now disrupts the view slightly.)
now it’s time to explore. Wander around the lanes and arcades - see this guide which is decent.
for lunch you have loads of options in the CBD and in neighbouring Fitzroy (Brunswick and Gertrude streets) or North Melbourne (the Queen Victoria Market food / deli section - make sure to try out the hot jam donuts from the big van parked outside of the market).
enjoy the afternoon in the botanical gardens or taking a tour of the MCG.
for dinner try one of the many Vietnamese on Victoria st Richmond, or the gazillion options in and around the city.
There’s a souva in prahan that I loved dearly that I can’t remember the name. And a Vietnamese place near Albert park I adored and went to nearly every other day on my visits there. Buddy lived on the other side of Queens from AP’s 16th tee.
I used to eat far too many souvlakis from Kings on Brunswick St when I lived in Carlton. They used to place the flat bread on the hot plate and squirt it with lemon juice. I’m not sure if it is still there. I can’t think of a good charcoal chicken joint in or near the CBD, which is a real shame because they are a culinary tour de force. They’re mostly out in the suburbs. The one in Watsonia is fantastic.
Another suggestion for the CBD tour thing: South Melbourne market is a lot smaller than the Queen Vic but there’s a dim sim stall there that still blows my mind when I think of them.
When I lived in Port Melbourne I used to think about going for a “run” around Albert Park. I’d jog down there but just sit in a cafe in my active wear looking like I’ve been for a proper run.
That place in Queen Vic market that does the Polish potato/onion bread thingies is fantastic as well. That’s one of the major things I am looking forward to - the food scene in Melbourne is unbelievable.
I could go on about the food scene in Melbourne for days, but want to shout out to the banh mi from cacom.banhmi.bar on Bridge Road in Richmond that I had last week before going into the Epworth - best I’ve had, even over the dozen or so I’ve had in Vietnam
The new drop of items at craftgolf.com.au has landed on the store in time for balls in the air at The Open! Plenty of caps and towels and other items refreshed too.
Hope all the golf lovers stayed up late for this one. One shot lead heading into the last hole.
Wow. Cam drives the green as I am writing this. What a comeback win today.
Has anyone in here been to Bandon? If so, which course was the most interesting coming from your neck of the woods? I’m planning a day trip for family visiting from Adelaide.
Picking only one Bandon course is a difficult choice.
I would try and squeeze in the par 3 Preserve course as well. All 5 18 hole courses are uniquely special. If I had to choose one I would go with Pacific Dunes.
Continuing to plan my trip here. I reached out to Victoria Golf Club to see if they could accommodate me. As of now, the day that makes the most sense (to me) on my itinerary has me playing at Kingston Heath in the morning. Unfortunately, the only times they could accommodate me are either really too close to the tee time I have at KH (like 4hr 20 mins after KH time) or late in the afternoon where I’d have just under 4 hours of sunlight left. Do you think it’s worth taking the later tee time with less than 4 hours of sunlight? Or would you look elsewhere to see what else is out there? Thanks! Truly a tough problem to have I know.
The other options I guess would be to try to play somewhere on the full day I have to just “tour” Melbourne after I arrive, but I kinda want to reserve that to actually see Melbourne itself a bit.
What time are they giving you? Last March will still be daylight saving, so it would still be light until at least 7-7:30 and could probably still see the ball through 8pm if its a nice day.
Played Lonsdale the other week, one of the most fun courses I’ve ever played. Template holes were engaging without being gimmicky, conditioning was great and the course makes you hit nearly every club from the top end of your bag off the tee.
Barwon was a good big boy test of golf, especially with the wind whipping
Can be a slight crapshoot that time of year, but I would gamble you’d have some pretty good days in late March and if it’s a clear day you’d prob be fine with a later tee time. These clubs know and won’t have tee times where you won’t get 18 holes in.
