A weekend in Melbourne
A weekend in Melbourne was always going to be fun, but the Airnorth direct flights from Toowoomba to Melbourne make even the travel a joy. A short 25 minute, traffic free drive to Wellcamp Airport where check in is quick and hassle free (given it is the only flight out at the time it would be worrying in if that wasn’t the case), and you have time for a coffee before strolling through security and onto the plane.
I was pleasantly surprised by Airnorth – it’s a long way from the no-frills standard of other domestic airlines. The flight attendants were friendly and chatty, we were given a hot meal of mini quiches which were of the ‘actually edible’ airline food variety, 2 drink services plus a tea/coffee run, all in the space of a 2 hour flight. My only recommendation would be to check in online (available from 24 hours prior to departure) as the check-in staff have a bizarre tendency not to seat travelling companions together. Happily the cabin crew then start the flight with a game of musical chairs to get everyone where they want to be, but checking in online would be easier.
Airnorth is a new comer to Melbourne Airport and as such isn’t featured on the signage which can be confusing...currently baggage collection is with Jetstar in Terminal 4. Not that I, as an experienced travel agent, would ever get lost in an airport. I blame my travelling companions.
Baggage located, and with a transfer organised we just had to meet our driver and sit back and relax until he dropped us at our hotel.
The Oaks on Market is in a great location for heading over to Southbank, and just a short 5/10 minute walk into the heart of the city. Our 2 bedroom apartment could have been more spacious given there were 5 of us sharing, but would be ideal for a family or a group of 4. The views out our window on the 21st floor were amazing.
I’d love to give you a rundown of all the amazing things to do in Melbourne, but as it turns out, we mostly just ate. The high point was a spectacular banquet dinner at Spice Temple, which I cannot recommend enough, but we also enjoyed a straight forward yet delicious breakfast at Max; and sangria and tapas at Bomba. A trip out to Prahan got us a beautiful (both visually and in taste!) breakfast at Tall Timber, and then we worked off breakfast off with a walk to Adriano Zumbo’s patisserie in South Yarra…promptly undoing any walking off we may have achieved in getting there!
From South Yarra you can enjoy a green and leafy walk back to the city through the Botanic Gardens, passing Amii Stadium and Rod Laver Arena. Or, if you were feeling lazy, you could get a taxi... Once you are back in Federation Square the options are again plenty: markets along South Bank, shopping in the City, ride one of the free trams through the city centre or one of Melbourne’s many galleries, theatres or sports stadiums.
This weekend in Melbourne was the perfect relaxed break with good friends. We enjoyed some good food and great company – sometime travel isn’t about seeing or doing it all, but just taking a break from the day-to-day; just being somewhere different and having a chance to recharge and refresh.