GC, Brisbane & Melbourne - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**mooloo** · 11-06-2008, 06:59 PM

Hey guys,

Well I just booked myself flights to OZ in March next year - I wasn't planning on doing any other trips between now and my proper OE but its my half-sisters wedding (she lived with us for a year when I was about 10 and thats it, only just got back in touch with her so will be interesting to see how things go) and its around the time of my 21st so I decided what the hang and just booked tickets.

Dates 4th March arrive at Gold Coast airport (wedding is in GC so this is why I am going here - otherwise wouldn't bother - went here earlier this year) - wedding is on the 7th so have 2 days to do something - suggestions??

I will somehow get to Brisbane sometime on the 8th and stay until the morning of the 11th when I am going to Melbourne until the 16th when I fly back to Auckland and celebrate my actual bday with family and alcohol - my bday is st pattys day so Auckland better put it on for us!!

So basically I need suggestions on where to stay, things to do and how to get around in GC, Brisbane & Melbourne...

At this point in time I will be travelling by myself which I have never done before so am a bit nervous but also very exciting!! I have just ordered my backpack as well so can't wait till that gets here!!

I need to do things as cheap as possible so hit me with your best ideas!!

I'm not a big shopper - in fact the past year I have grown to hate shopping to be honest but like wandering around towns, general sightseeing stuff, not really into museums but if I get a really energetic suggestion or they are free I might go, I love doing short hikes/walks although I am scared of seeing a snake - typical NZer I know - I also know its not that likely in such big towns.

So hit me with it...

**raoulduke** · 11-08-2008, 01:01 AM

Sounds like a great trip.

Good to see Australia getting some attention for a change.

I'll have a long hard think about what you can do in Melbourne and I'll let you know when I think of something good.

**aliz** · 11-08-2008, 01:59 AM

I feel like I should help you, being Australian 'n all, but actually I don't know much about queensland at all, and I've only been to melbourne a couple of times, always with mum or dad and usually staying in motor inns or whatever... and the only thing I ever do there is shop! hah. but have a great time!

**lauren313** · 11-08-2008, 04:34 AM

Hummm, in Melbourne I stayed at Urban Central. It was a really big hostel, the rooms were clean and quite large, there was a big kitchen, and on a Monday they do a free dinner. I really enjoyed staying there. They had a comedy night one night and a bunch of other stuff. There was a tram stop right outside the front door near enough. It was easy to get to places. The only lowlight of my stay there was being near enough accosted by a group of naked guys on a stag night, haha.

In Brisbane, I can't for the life of me remember where I stayed! It's possible it was Base (Central). Another big hostel with a bar downstairs. Very good location, easy walking distance to everything, and it's pretty much opposite Central Station, so if you're getting a bus or train there, it's nice and easy. The rooms were kinda small, but overall it was pretty good.

Ok, I just checked, it must have been Base, because it says that is opposite the station.

**maracle** · 11-08-2008, 07:30 AM

Can't say I've been any of those places really...I was just in Melbourne to crash for a few hours at a hostel before my flight home.

But if you're going farther into queensland to Cairns or farther north let me know.

**mermaidnz** · 11-08-2008, 06:02 PM

the gc for two days? um laze on the beach, get drunk... theres really not a whole lot to do here

if your really into hiking theres a place called o'reillys which is up in the hinterland about an hour from the GC, its pretty, all bush and birds, a few nature walks and a treetop walk thingie. nice views, and an easy day trip.

Brissy, um, theres a cool park at southbank, its a bit ok... shops? i find brisbane really boring haha

melbourne is heaps cool tho, so many shops and things to see!! the city is a bit more interesting then brissy. you can catch the bus arounf to st kilda, which is a sorta beachy area.

**raoulduke** · 11-08-2008, 07:50 PM

I don't know anything about Hostels in Melbourne but I'd recommend you get one in St Kilda, there's is heaps more atmosphere out there with the beach (albeit not a great one) shops, live music and markets etc.

It's also just a couple of minutes on a Tram to the middle of the city.

**mooloo** · 11-09-2008, 07:56 PM

Thanks for all your replies - I am looking into the places you stayed at Lauren - Will also look at St Kilda & see what there is.

How accessible is Melbourne (& Brissy if anyone knows), like is it easy enough to walk most places or do you really need to use public transportation - and how expensive is it if you do?

Thanks again!!

**raoulduke** · 11-09-2008, 09:19 PM

Melbourne is very walkable, there are also lots of cool alleys and cafes and stuff that you won't discover unless you are walking.

It has a tram system that makes getting around easy. There is a tourist bus and tram that does a loop of the city for free, otherwise a daily travel card is around ten bucks.

I had a look at the location of Lauren's hotel and the location isn't too bad. It's a little bit of a walk but would be a pleasant one with a bit to see on the way. I'd steer clear because in the write up they offer happy hour with jugs of XXXX, a Queensland beer that no self respecting Melbournian would drink. Also I still think St Kilda would have more atmosphere.

If you want to post the links to hostels your looking at I can tell you what the area is like.

Just had a quick look at www.backpackvictoria.com the info seems pretty accurate, at least in the nightlife section.

**lauren313** · 11-10-2008, 06:04 AM

I found Brisbane to be very accessible, I didn't use public transport at all while I was there.

I'd agree with St Kilda having a better atmosphere than the city centre in Melbourne, part of me wished I'd stayed there instead.

**mooloo** · 11-16-2008, 02:05 PM

That site is great thanks!!

Based on staying at St Kilda, these are the hostel's I have found - which one do you think would be best?

base Backpackers St Kilda
St Kilda Beach House
Cooee on St Kilda
Olembia Guesthouse

Base sounds pretty cool but It seems like it might be a huge party hostel and to be honest I don't want to be partying every night, but I don't want to be a hermit either, so possibly somewhere that has a decent nightlife - or is near enough to a decent nightlife (something tells me I could pick almost anywhere in OZ and it would have a decent nightlife compared to here!) so I can go out when I want, but not get too disturbed if I just can't be bothered.

The second and last ones sound like they might be really quiet and I wonder if it will be hard to meet people, so I might be back to Base or the third one? What do you think?

**raoulduke** · 11-16-2008, 04:07 PM

Base is in a much better location, so I'd definitely go with that.

If you want to be a hermit the 6 bed female dorm shouldn't be too hectic.

**mooloo** · 11-16-2008, 04:26 PM

Cheers!

I'm all for having a great location so I think I will go with Base - then I can still party when i'm feeling keen!

What would you say are must see's in Melbourne & what about things that are a waste of $$...?

I havn't had a really good look at that site yet so I'm sure I can find a huge list off things on there closer to the time.

Thanks again!

**raoulduke** · 11-16-2008, 04:28 PM

I've got my last exam in a few hours and I'm using this thread as an excuse not to study.

So I'll have to get back to you tonight.

**mooloo** · 11-16-2008, 08:00 PM

Haha I thought you had replied pretty quickly! Don't worry I used TPunk as an excuse not to study a couple of weeks ago when I had my exam!

Lots of Luck!!

**raoulduke** · 11-19-2008, 02:03 AM

Sorry I still hadn't gotten back to you about stuff to do.

I honestly can't think of much off the top of my head that doesn't involve shopping or museums, but I am sure there is plenty to do. There'll be stacks of info at the hostels as usual.

By the time you get here the giant ferris wheel they're building will be open, so you can roadtest that for us.

Also Dio suggested Greenhouse backpackers in another thread. That's about as central as you can get, so worth taking a look at.

**lauren313** · 11-19-2008, 08:14 AM

Is it terribly sad that when in Melbourne I went on the Neighbours tour?

**aliz** · 11-20-2008, 12:23 PM

yes it is

**Diorama** · 11-21-2008, 01:42 AM

Yeah as raoulduke mentioned greenhouse backpackers is a good place to stay if you want to be central. It is literally in the thick of things. They do pub nights and bbq's too which is handy. I lived in St. Kilda and it's a sweet place for sure. Tons of restaurants and bars (classy and not so classy). THe best place to go is a bar called The Espy!! You must go there..It was my local, but its really famous in Melbourne for excellent live music. The drinks are fairly cheap there too. www.espy.com.au

**mooloo** · 11-24-2008, 12:44 AM

Righteo Guys - Now I have too many options!!

Do you think I would be best to stay in Melbourne (Greenhouse) and just take a trip to St Kilda for a day or something or do it the other way around and stay at St Kilda (Base) and just take the tram or something into Melbourne for a couple of days...?

I'm assuming theres more to do in Melbourne, but who would know...?