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I think it's my first post in this forum. 
I'm going to be in Melbourne, Sydney, and Hobart next month for a couple weeks, and I wonder if there's any Australian members here who have some recommendations about places I should see and things I should do, outside of the normal touristy stuff. Restaurants? Clubs? Coffee bars? Pubs? Beaches? Public transport? Any advice appreciated!
There's a boozer in Melbourne (Kew In think) called the Clifton that has fantastic strippers
I still think about them
Exactly the type of helpful tip she's looking for, no doubt. :D
Be sure to bring luggage large enough to carry the Blue Order. 
do the normal touristy stuff. in nsw especially in the country do go to the clubs ie football, RSL, bowling etc, for cheap food. in sydney i would recommend a trip up the blue mountains to see the three sisters. it would be a daytrip. in melbourne trips to the great ocean road to see what is left of the 12 apostels is recommended. it can be done in a day, but two days is probably better. also on the other side of melbourne are the dandenong ranges. ferntree gully, and healesville animal sanctuary are worth a visit there. Again this would be a daytrip. a bit further out is the yarra valley which is quite nice wine country. South of Melbourne is Wilsons Promontory, nice cliffs. On phillip Island you might want to check out the nightly penguin/rat parade (I've avoided it for 20 years). there should be tour buses going to all these places.
Go to the tourist bureaus, check out the web. Can't help you much with tassie.
Ronald Kirsch wrote: in sydney i would recommend a trip up the blue mountains to see the three sisters.
These girls single?
Comrade Shampanyov wrote:
Ronald Kirsch wrote: in sydney i would recommend a trip up the blue mountains to see the three sisters.
These girls single?
as far as i know they've never married.
canberra is also worth a vist. canberra being a planned city is different from other oz cities, and you may wonder where all the people are. the answer is they are in the suburbs.
Def. do the Blue Mountains (about a 1.5 hr drive from where I live) Beautiful and breath taking. Just make sure its a warm day. Then you'll know the reason for 'blue'.
Sydney, do the climb over the bridge. A coupla hundred aussie dollars will get you up and over. Centrepoint Tower for a good view of the city, and the explorer bus is a good go-oer too.
I would highly recommend a visit to one of the many Thai restaurants. There is a couple of excellent ones in Oxford Street - home of the Mardi Gras. If you follow Oxford St out, you will get to the some of the most lovely beaches.
Also, check out Newtown. It's (apparently) the place to be now, and has some fantastic retro shops, including very cheap clothing, designer jewellery, good pubs and a relaxed 'modern' crowd.
As they say, 'Enjoy!' Dave
Ronald Kirsch wrote:
Comrade Shampanyov wrote:
Ronald Kirsch wrote: in sydney i would recommend a trip up the blue mountains to see the three sisters.
These girls single?
as far as i know they've never married.
Jillaroos?
HotStuff wrote: Def. do the Blue Mountains (about a 1.5 hr drive from where I live) Beautiful and breath taking. Just make sure its a warm day. Then you'll know the reason for 'blue'.
Sydney, do the climb over the bridge. A coupla hundred aussie dollars will get you up and over. Centrepoint Tower for a good view of the city, and the explorer bus is a good go-oer too.
I would highly recommend a visit to one of the many Thai restaurants. There is a couple of excellent ones in Oxford Street - home of the Mardi Gras. If you follow Oxford St out, you will get to the some of the most lovely beaches.
Also, check out Newtown. It's (apparently) the place to be now, and has some fantastic retro shops, including very cheap clothing, designer jewellery, good pubs and a relaxed 'modern' crowd.
As they say, 'Enjoy!' Dave
G'job nancyo! You found an Aussie lurker!
Welcome, Hotstuff!
Gudday and welcome, Nancyo
Futher to what's already been said, I reiterate Ron's suggestion of Healesville Sanctuary to the northeast of Melbourne if you get the time; a much better option than Melbourne Zoo, which is fairly generic. You'll probably need to hire a car to get to Healesville tho.
Other good Melbourne stuff would be Brunswick St in Fitzroy for good food and CD shops, ditto Carlton, St Kilda and Richmond (inner subs) for good food. Consider a ferry ride to Williamstown, a nice old part of Melb with great foreshore, pubs and restaurants. A tram to St Kilda beach from the centre of town gets you to a beach and the Esplanade pub, well worth it.
Only go the Melbourne Museum if you're really stuck for something to do, it's fairly dull - although I might have a slightly biased view on this having to work here every day 
Good Ocean (ie. not bayside) beaches at Gunnamatta and Great Ocean Road, but once again, only practical if you have a car and a few days.
Melbourne public transport is being spruced up for the coming Commonwealth Games, but it still isn't too flash to be honest (trams, buses and trains). Go and see a game of real football at the MCG if there's one on (not sure when the season starts this year).
Hope you have fun, and don't forget the sunscreen!
Ron, Canberra for a first-time visitor to Aus? 
(joke)
CTB
CTB wrote: Gudday and welcome, Nancyo
Futher to what's already been said, I reiterate Ron's suggestion of Healesville Sanctuary to the northeast of Melbourne if you get the time; a much better option than Melbourne Zoo, which is fairly generic. You'll probably need to hire a car to get to Healesville tho.
Other good Melbourne stuff would be Brunswick St in Fitzroy for good food and CD shops, ditto Carlton, St Kilda and Richmond (inner subs) for good food. Consider a ferry ride to Williamstown, a nice old part of Melb with great foreshore, pubs and restaurants. A tram to St Kilda beach from the centre of town gets you to a beach and the Esplanade pub, well worth it.
Only go the Melbourne Museum if you're really stuck for something to do, it's fairly dull - although I might have a slightly biased view on this having to work here every day
Melbourne public transport is being spruced up for the coming Commonwealth Games, but it still isn't too flash to be honest (trams, buses and trains). Go and see a game of real football at the MCG if there's one on (not sure when the season starts this year).
Hope you have fun, and don't forget the sunscreen!
Ron, Canberra for a first-time visitor to Aus?
(joke) CTB
hey canberra is worth a visit, if only because it is so different.
CTB wrote: Melbourne public transport is being spruced up for the coming Commonwealth Games, but it still isn't too flash to be honest (trams, buses and trains). Go and see a game of real football at the MCG if there's one on (not sure when the season starts this year).
What do you mean by real football? Aussie Rules? I didn't think the season would be on in February, 'cos I'd love to see a game in person. What about cricket? We're staying very near the MCG. And I'm quite excited about the trams, we've got one here (which came from Melbourne) that's for tourists and just runs along the waterfront--but it'll be nice to take one for more than a half mile ride.
Thanks everybody for the suggestions (except for you, Barney Army), there's so much to do and see! It's hard narrowing it down, 'cos it's such a long journey you think you have to cram everthing in that you can to make it worthwhile. But it's just not possible. Canberra for, uh, another trip perhaps?
I haven't been to Can-berra for a few years. And I would also recommend it as a great place to visit.
The roadways make me think of what 'the future' will look like - citadels with round roads coming off. Very exciting! And some of the architecture is brilliant. The War Memorial is a definiate must see.
That and the porn! 
(People travel a long way to get fireworks too, dont they?)
Speaking of architecture, I would also suggest Archibald Fountain and the War Memorial in Hyde Park in Sydney. Two great examples of Art Deco.
Enjoy your trip!
Dave
Comrade Shampanyov wrote:
G'job nancyo! You found an Aussie lurker!
Welcome, Hotstuff!
Thank you Comrade!
Dave
Recommend a game of real football as others have mentioned. I can't tae to american football. What's with all the armour? The helmet, the shoulder stuff - what rubbish. The clowning glory? Lycra pants. I thought it was a joke.
Over here we have real men - wearing singlets and stubbies and ploughing into each other. Now that's football.
I mean no offence to any passionate US football fans over there but I just can't take it seriously.
hotstuff wrote: Def. do the Blue Mountains (about a 1.5 hr drive from where I live) Beautiful and breath taking. Just make sure its a warm day. Then you'll know the reason for 'blue'.
Sydney, do the climb over the bridge. A coupla hundred aussie dollars will get you up and over. Centrepoint Tower for a good view of the city, and the explorer bus is a good go-oer too.
I would highly recommend a visit to one of the many Thai restaurants. There is a couple of excellent ones in Oxford Street - home of the Mardi Gras. If you follow Oxford St out, you will get to the some of the most lovely beaches.
Also, check out Newtown. It's (apparently) the place to be now, and has some fantastic retro shops, including very cheap clothing, designer jewellery, good pubs and a relaxed 'modern' crowd.
As they say, 'Enjoy!' Dave
Newtown is good. check out the Town Hall pub(tavern) on the main street. also an irish bar doing guiness of all things (strange) and showing footy. Don't go near Redfern unless you are tooled up and can out run the aborigines. Go to Manley beach. Go to Kings Cross. good pubs. mad people.
