Exploring Melbourne

Leaving behind me a very successful business day I checked into my current favourite hotel-Carlton Crest, Queens Way overlooking Albert Park and Port Philip Bay. I stayed on the executive floor where we have negotiated a rate of a night which includes complimentary drinks, continental breakfast and a business centre. I met my customer in the Kelvin Club off Russell Street, an olde world private club started last century by Lord Kelvin. Then to the Gin Palace off Little Collins Street, one of the new trendy bars decorated as one would expect from the name. Then off to my favourite steak restaurant Vlado's Bridge Road, near the Hilton. Vlado and his son have run this restaurant for more than thirty years. Vlado is in at least his seventies and cooks on an open barbecue plate behind a glass cabinet of Fillet, Ribeye or Sirloin steaks.The fixed price set menu has never varied and offers a continental sausage, a selection of meats and for mains your choice of steak accompanied by coleslaw, lettuce mayonnaise, horseradish and french mustard and a crusty french roll. We drank St Henri Shiraz. Dessert is a strawberry pancake and icecream-Yumm.

Quick Tips:

You must book ahead for Vlado's. They have an early sitting. Ask for a downstairs table so that you can watch Vlado in action. His son points out the diner's choice of steak and he selects the piece to suit. Never ask for well done steak. This is a steak lovers restaurant-I have mine blue (warm in the centre) which is usually met with surprise by my male dining companions. Never leave any steak-Vlado will be offended.

Expect to see celebrities from all walks of life. Elle MacPherson was there last time we dined and yes she is still drop dead gorgeous with a fabulous smile for everyone. Vlado is just wonderful and will acknowledge you and perhaps come out for a chat.

After dinner head to Southbank to the Casino-great bars, clubs etc and spectacular walk along the river.

Best Way To Get Around:

Taxis and maybe trams in the city, are the best way to get around. Although, Melbourne has an excellent limousine service which is not much more expensive than cabs. Beware hiring a car-they have a funny left hand right turn rule that will confuse you and trams have right of way.

Go walking around Alber Park, or along St Kilda Road to the War Memorial or along South Bank in the morning when the rowers are out. Melbourne is quite flat and easy to find your way around.

As you draw up outside the grand old hotel "The Windsor' you will be greeted by one of the liveried doorman dressed in green tails and a top hat-often he will be re-polishing the brass rails. Escorting you inside as if you are royalty you are likely to pass well known personalities, politicians, gentle folk from a bygone era, sports stars and businessmen. It truly is a popular and well loved establishment.

As you walk on the plush carpets past the highly polished concierge's desk across to reception you will notice the grand stairway leading upstairs and the even grander ballroom. Once a year they turn this into the restaurant when One Eleven Spring is going through its annual spring clean.

If you arrive in the afternoon you may participate in their famous afternoon teas which are often served in the Grand Ballroom on three tiered silver stands with full siver tea service and finger sandwiches, scones and cream and delicious cakes.

If this is not to your liking then pop into their equally famous Cricketers Bar for a beer or stout off the tap or perhaps a Pimms or Gin and tonic.

At check-in request a Spring Street facing room. These are the cream of the hotel. There are only 3 floors and you will be amazed at the rabbit warren of corridors that lead to several hundred rooms in all. The rooms are beautifully and comfotably appointed.

Each time I have stayed at the Windsor (25+ visits), I have had a large room, separate dressing room, and well appointed bathroom with a separate bath. The furnishings are pretty old worlde style. each room has tea and coffee facilities and a well stocked bar.

Room service is excellent. They do finger sandwiches, shepherds pies, sausages and mash as well as the normal burger through to exotic cuisine and grills. Your meal is wheeled in by a waiter in gloves and tails and served silver service style even if it is just the sandwiche a milkshake and fruit.

All rooms have inhouse movies and you can connect to the Internet. There is a tiny gym on the third floor and I love it because hardly anyone uses it.

Breakfast is usually included with your rate, and you may select from buffet or full a la carte. They have honey combs, fresh raspberries and pancakes along with the normal fare and of course silver tea and coffee service.

There are conference facilities and we have used these very effectively for a customer function.

The rack rate is $280-$350 but if you search sites such as Last Minute Deals you may pick up a special for around $220 inc breakfast.

The Windsor truly is a favourite hotel of mine and I always feel pampered.

Located in the centre of Melbourne you are very close to shops, restaurants, bars, casino, clubs, parks, theatre, movies, museums, art gallery ad railway. It is easy to walk to the trams or the Yarra and Southbank.

The Park Hyatt is one of Melbourne's newwest luxury hotels and I stayed there for the first time last night as I was presenting at a Microsoft Executive Circle Breakfast Event in the Conference Room adjacent to the grand ballroom.

This hotel is very luxurious from the moment you step into the sumptuous foyer -you feel pampered. The hotel is opulent and spacious. My room on the 11th flooor looked over gardens and Parliament house. The room is beautifully appointed, ultra modern yet wood paneled Japanese sliding doors to the bathroom and dressing room make it very pleasant.

The bathroom is sumptuous with dual glass basins, a spa bath, and separate shower and a remote control for television in the wall of the spa and background music - very romantic for couples, alas he was at home in Sydney.

The king size bed was very comfortable with fabulously comfortable pillows. The bath robes were thick and a decent size. Tea and coffee making facilities and the fully stocked fridge and mini bar are very good.

The business desk and Internet facilities were excellent, making it easy to work in the room and the french doors opening to the fresh air meant that I could leave them open and avoid air conditioning. Room service food was excellent with a wide array including simple choices through to exotic and cosmopolitan choices. Equally the restaurant and coffee lounge are comfortable with excellent service offered everywhere you turned. There is health club which is of course complimentary.There are gardens closeby and it is only a couple of blocks from the centre of town- expensive, yes, and worth it.

The Lyall Hotel is situated in the heart of South Yarra, one of the world's most fashionable and cosmopolitan destinations.

The Lyall is discreet and offers magnificent accommodation. You sense the comfort and luxury as you step in the door, and if you have shopped around you are in this exclusive, small luxury hotel at a 60% or better rate - email me for details. There is an elegant reception adjacent to the trendy bar and restaurant. Nine floors, and my one bedroom apartment was on the top floor. As you go to your room you pass a mini art gallery featuring local artists. The room is magnificent and comfortable with a separate living room and fully equipped kitchen with the latest accessories. You open on to a small balcony which is totally secure, so you may leave the door open. The bed is king and extraordinarily comfortable - tv in bedroom as well and free cable TV on both sets. The bathroom is pure luxury and you can pamper yourself with a spa.

Room service is very good. I had a sensational soup and chicken finger sandwiches. You can order gourmet meals or eat downstairs in their restaurant or at one of the many cosmopolitan restaurants two or three minutes walk away.

You can stroll along the street then shop until you drop at the leading fashion boutiques Australia has to offer - very trendy and expensive, yet the astute shopper can sniff out the bargains. It is a coffee shop mecca as well, and you will find really fabulous little cafes and restaurants in South Yarra.

Situated in the heart of Lygon Street, infamous for its predominately Italian, Greek restaurants, Oakford is a low cost option for singles, couples, or families.

The spacious rooms are actually self service apartments with a fully equipped kitchen, dining room, lounge, and a separate bedroom(s). The bathroom has a washer and dryer, bath and shower. Ironing boards, hair dryers, TV, and everything you need; all for $125AU per night. Some have balconies and no view.

There is no bar or restaurant, however you can order your meals from La Notte restaurant (see separate journal in this series.) I can recommend their chicken or veal parmigiana for a hearty Italian meal. They also do splendid fresh breakfasts all delivered by a charming Italian gentleman and charged back to your room. La Notte is also a bar, coffee shop, and liquor takeaway, so prices are reasonable.

It is a five to ten minute walk to the city. There are shops and parks nearby and lots of happy friendly people around, so it is very safe to walk about. Highly recommend as a 3.5 to 4 star accommodation.

Hilton on the Park is a longstanding landmark in Melbourne. For more than 30 years, it's been a favourite with business-travellers, high-profile personalities, and sports lovers. Across the road is our famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, home to major cricketing and AFL (Australian Football) events. Also, during Melbourne Cup week, it's full of famous faces.

The hotel is a short stroll across the park to the city, trains, and trams. As you enter, their famous bar is on the left where, each evening, the piano is played for a couple of hours; it's a lovely spot to sip your favourite cocktail and watch the world go by. The hotel also has an upmarket bistro that serves great smorgasbords, steaks, and seafood; organises theme nights like wine tastings; and, if the budget allows it, offers guests an a-la-carte five-star restaurant. I love to take business people for drinks around the piano and then a steak at the bistro.

If I am dining in, the food is excellent and the rooms are conservatively furnished and comfortable. The bathrooms are very good and there are in-room movies available. If you are a Hilton member, you sometimes get upgraded to the Executive floor where there is a lounge for complimentary evening drinks and breakfasts. There is a day spa here too and I will often have a facial or massage; on-site gym, pool, and sauna are complimentary.

In the mornings, you can go for a good walk around the adjacent park and in the evenings, you can stroll into town for movies and restaurants, or take a tram or taxi to the casino or the theatre on the banks of the Yarra.

Melbourne is well known for its excellent restaurants, culture, and nightlife.

Walking distance (3 minutes) from the Hilton on the edge of the CBD,Vlado and his son have run this restaurant for more than thirty years. It is renowned throughout Australia and you will find many celebrities, politicians and business people converge there. Elle MacPherson was there last visit. Bookings are a must and they have two sittings in the evening due to demand.Vlado is in at least his seventies and cooks on a huge charcoal grill, fired up each morning, in an open area behind a glass wall housing Rump, porterhouse and eye fillet steak all grain fed in Victoria. You just have to love steak to go there as the fixed price set menu never varies. It offers a continental sausage, then a selection of mixed meat appetisers and for mains your choice of steak accompanied by coleslaw, lettuce mayonnaise, horseradish and french mustard and a crusty french roll. Once you have made you selection of steak and your preference for cooking the waiter converses with Vlado. He checks you out and selects the steak for you from his window display. One must never never order well done. I am favoured as I like my steak blue (warm in the center).We drank St Henri Shiraz. Dessert is optional- a strawberry pancake and freshly churned icecream-Yumm. The ambience is not luxurious. There is an upstairs and downstairs and the wooden tables and chairs quite plain although they do use white linen cloths. Memoribilia going back over 40 years with photos of celebrities lines the walls. I recommend a visit on an empty stomach of course!

Mrs. Jones is a very trendy snappy restaurant in Carlton near the centre of Melbourne and very much part of the restaurant scene. I dined with the Chair of the Melbourne Historic Trust and her husband and we had a delightful meal.

Mrs. Jones is small, furnished with modern timbered, polished tables, and in the centre is a long table seating twelve or so--you quite likely will be seated next to absolute strangers. The lighting is red on a frame with old meal dockets decoratively hanging around the frames.

The menu changes each day. Complimentary french bread and butter served on a board is delicious. There are two choices for each course. Last night it was duck and prune pie (exquisite and delicious) or a Seafood fricasee followed by exquisitely roasted chicken on mash or John Dory with asparaghas. For dessert, we shared a hazelnut crepe stuffed with soft cheese and a pavlova with a quince sorbet... Yum!!

The winelist is absolutely international. We chose a Villa Maria Chardonnay from NZ and it complemented our meal perfectly. The service is unobtrusive, yet always at your side just as your glass starts to empty. You can visit their website mrsjones.com.au and see the daily menus--neat huh!! It was well patronised on the Thursday evening that we were in town

La Notte is a great Italian Restaurant in the midst of Lygon Street, which is truly Melbourne's little Italy. Apart from the great food you can partake in karaoke nights in their fuction room.

As you walk along Lygon Street, the Restaurateurs are out 'spruking' for business. Most reataurants are indoors and outdoors on the pavement. At La Notte you can stop for breakfasts, coffee, a drink, or a full meal from 7:30am to 1:00am daily. They also service a great little accommodation called Oakford Apartments on Lygon, which is just down the alleyway.

They are true traditional Italians. You can order from a range of bruschetta's, pastas, risottos, or parmigianas. Fully licenced, they have a great wine list and super coffee. I had a cold and they served ne a beautiful lemon tea with a jug of honey as a chaser to my campari and soda. All of their food is fresh and beautifully prepared.

The Maitre d' and his assistants are hardworking, fun, and always on the run. With outdoor heaters they are open seven days, 365 days per year.

Try it you will not be disappointed.

During the long weekend in March each year, Melbourne is host to the Formula One Grand Prix. The track goes around Albert Park which is about 2km from Central Melbourne. The whole city prepares for this with great enthusiam and welcomes participants and visitors from all over the world. It is a social highlight and large corporations have their hospitality tents.

As a guest you get the chance to walk through the pits and get a glimpse and if lucky, speak to the celebrities. I just love the noise the smells and the great party atmosphere. Socially it is a big party and prior to and post the race the drivers participate. The Crown Casino and its many restaurants is just a kilometer away toward the city and a great spot for partying, dining, etc. This year Baracello and Schumaker had a cook-off of their favourite pasta dishes with two of Australia's celebrity chefs, judged by a beautiful model who said in the end it was a tie--surprisingly, they both cook well!!!

Today is the big race and it is pouring with rain!! The V8 race has just been called off after 2 smashes in the first warm-up then a major one once it got underway. The true V8 championship will be in Adelaide later in the year so it did not matter so much. I'm off to the big race this afternoon now.

I'm back, and WHAT A RACE. The rain stopped, but this meant there was uncertainty over the tire selection--some chose wets, then had to have them changed. The quickest pitstop to change a set of Michelin tires and re-fuel was 6.8 seconds -- wow! David Coulthard from Scotland won, followed by Montoya, and Raikkenen was third. Michael Schumaker came fourth after 3 pit stops--two over 10 seconds, and he went off the track momentarily. Barricello was out early on-he damaged his front axle and had been penalised for jumping the start. A race full of drama. Our only Australian, Webber, driving a Jaguar, broke a back axle halfway around--too bad, as he was doing well in 6th position.

Now the champagne is flowing, parties are underway, and questions are being asked from the pit crews and carmakers of those who didn't do so well. Melbourne is the first in the International season, so plenty more challenges and excitement are expected around the world. Come to Melbourne next year and join in the excitement!!

It is 4.30am on Thursday 25 April, a day when Australia and New Zealand remember those who were lost in wars last century, the line of duty fighting for our countries and in support of other countries. It is a public holiday in both countries and started after Gallipolli (Turkey) where many lives were lost on 30 April 1915. You can read detail about this on many web sites. From an early age my parents who were in the airforce (Mum in NZ) and army (Dad in the Pacific), have taken us to the dawn service and later to the Anzac Day parade in Christchurch New Zealand where I grew up.

Today I am alone in Melbourne on business and have looked forward to attending these services in a different city. I can hear the rain heavily falling outside and it seems to be the tears of millions falling in sorrow and sadness for the cruelty and harshness of our world. Undeterred I make my way downstairs to take a taxi to the shrine expecting a few hundred people with such inclement weather-there were thousands.

As I approached the hill in the dark the rain poured down and then I stopped as a lone bugler on the ramparts played Reveille as a glimmer of dawn showed. There was a very moving service and as always Laurece Binyons For the Fallen was read. Then as is tradition the Last Post was played and the service over with hardly a dry eye.It was extraordinarily emotional as always.For the next two hours thousands of us queued in the torrential rain to file through the Shrine to placa a poppy in the shrine as a symbol of commemoration.

People of all ages were there and service people from all of the wars since WW1 including WW2, Korea and Vietnam proudly weraing their medal and braving the weather ready for a chat with anyone. Telling yarns, jokes, singing songs.

After I left the Shrine I walked along the paths and read the commemorative plaques remembering our heroes. Across the road at the Victoria Barracks, hot breakfasts, tea and coffee and anzac biscuits were being serviced. An Anzac biscuit is 4 oz butter, 4 oz sugar, tsp baking soda, tablespoon of golden syrup warmed together to which you add 1 cup each of flour, coconut and rolled oats. Spoon on to biscuit (cookie) trays and bake for around 10 minutes till golden at 150degrees.

The Dawn Service is followed by an Anzac Day March where all of the veterans and families representing those lost march with their battalions and bands through the city to the shrine for another service. Tens of thousands line the streets for this wearing poppies or a sprig of rosemary as a mark of respect and waving flags.

As you drive off the M1 four lane highway that runs along the coast line south of Melbourne, following the signs to the open range zoo, the landscape changes dramatically from industrial and housing to wide open spaces. All of a sudden you see rhinos in the distance and giraffes, elegant and distainfully reaching to chew leaves from a gum tree. Werribbee is 200 acres surrounding the Werribee river and focuses on African, Asian, and Australian animals in an open range zoo.

The Safari tour we took was 50 minutes and it just goes so quickly. We saw elands, meerkats, cheetah, vervet monkeys and serval cats on display in wonderful exhibits, linked by a series of waterways on the African Walking Trail. Australian animals include the kangaroo, wallaby, koala bear, and emus. There is a volcanic walk, and after the tour the Safari Shop Bistro offers great food or you can have a picnic. Large tours have barbecues catered for.

Adjacent to the zoo is the National Equestrian Centre and Polo Field, as well as Werribee Mansion which is an 150 year old seminary with a new hotel attached. It is very easy to spend a day exploring the area and the sea is just 10 minutes east.