Anyone been to Melbourne?

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Holy thread revival.
It looks like the job is going ahead in August and I'm seriously looking forward to it.
I've also managed to get in touch with family on the Gold Coast, I don't think I've actually met any of them so I'm looking at going the extra mile to meet them as it's proper once in a lifetime stuff.
Has anyone had experience with long distance driving down there? It looks like a good 1000 mile journey each way which is probably doable over two days per leg, trains look rubbish so the other option is internal flights.
Any tips on how best to tackle the drive if I choose that option?

It can be very boring driving in Australia - roads on the East coast follow the coast but tend to be a fair bit inland of the sea - so often no coastal or sea views..., but the roads (motorways) south from Brisbane are good - well at least as far as Byron Bay. I assume roads from Byron Bay south to Sydney and then on to Melbourne are just as good. 500miles a day is more than we did - but easily doable. After all you are only talking about the distance from London to Dundee each day .

As it happens back in March we had to get from Sydney to Melbourne and we flew - it was easy. Flew Jetstar - ~£75 each one way.

 

[Beezerk]

Thanks mate, I drive 300 plus miles most days with work (and a shift at a customer in between driving) so the miles dont bother me. It's more the driving experience out there I'm concerned about, and how many petrol stations/rest stops there are etc.
I've also looked at flights, they seem very reasonable, my only issue with that is I'm relying on some relatives I've never met before going out of their way and picking me up/dropping me off at the airport 😁

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Thanks mate, I drive 300 plus miles most days with work (and a shift at a customer in between driving) so the miles dont bother me. It's more the driving experience out there I'm concerned about, and how many petrol stations/rest stops there are etc.
I've also looked at flights, they seem very reasonable, my only issue with that is I'm relying on some relatives I've never met before going out of their way and picking me up/dropping me off at the airport 😁

A couple of times I was having to look out for fuel - but that was simply me being silly and letting fuel run down. No real issues on the East coast for fuel in my experience.

 

[Beezerk]

Crikey, after what seems like an age the job is finally arranged and my temporary work visa has been granted. Looks like I'm flying out on Saturday 12th October for three weeks 😎.
An old mate I used to be in a band with lives about 20 miles up the road from where I'm staying so at least one piss up has already been arranged 🍻🍻🍻

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Crikey, after what seems like an age the job is finally arranged and my temporary work visa has been granted. Looks like I'm flying out on Saturday 12th October for three weeks 😎.
An old mate I used to be in a band with lives about 20 miles up the road from where I'm staying so at least one piss up has already been arranged 🍻🍻🍻

Have a great time. October in Durham or October in Melbourne mmmmmmmmm

 

[3offTheTee]

Are you still going to The Gold Coast which is a bit of a dump.

Over 18 hours to drive, 2 hours by plane. Cost around £150. Regular flights.

No brainier really, take the plane and have a great time. Trip round MCG is a must whether you are a cricket fan or otherwise

 

[williamalex1]

Crikey, after what seems like an age the job is finally arranged and my temporary work visa has been granted. Looks like I'm flying out on Saturday 12th October for three weeks 😎.
An old mate I used to be in a band with lives about 20 miles up the road from where I'm staying so at least one piss up has already been arranged 🍻🍻🍻

Enjoy yourself Cobber cheers.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Crikey, after what seems like an age the job is finally arranged and my temporary work visa has been granted. Looks like I'm flying out on Saturday 12th October for three weeks 😎.
An old mate I used to be in a band with lives about 20 miles up the road from where I'm staying so at least one piss up has already been arranged 🍻🍻🍻

Have a good time mate and enjoy yourself.🍻

 

[Beezerk]

Are you still going to The Gold Coast which is a bit of a dump.

Over 18 hours to drive, 2 hours by plane. Cost around £150. Regular flights.

No brainier really, take the plane and have a great time. Trip round MCG is a must whether you are a cricket fan or otherwise

I'm still looking at the Gold Coast, it depends if I have enough time really, I'll know better once I've settled in.
My mate lives at the south side of Melbourne, hes offered to be tour guide for a weekend but I'm not sure if he's a sports fan, I'd love to visit the MCG.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Aussies we met up with on our travels advised us to just miss out the Gold Coast completely - which we did. Drove past it going from Brisbane to Byron Bay (south of the Gold Coast - stunning and absolutely a 'must visit'). From a distance the Gold Coast just looked like a string of huge 'sky-scraping' hotels. On the other hand the Sunshine Coast the north side of Brisbane was fabulous. Noosa being the place to visit if time is limited. We took four weeks (basically all of April this year) driving from Cape Tribulation to Byron Bay so if you need any advice on places north of Brisbane...

Going west from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road is very highly recommended by the tour guides - and we did it - and it was great - but be aware it was also very busy with Chinese package tours taking photographs of themselves with the sea stacks of the Twelve Apostles in the background. Port Fairy - the far end of the Twelve Apostles stretch - was however very lovely indeed - and it has a cracking links golf course. And not quite so far from Melbourne - going out to Cape Otway was well worth it.

 

[Beezerk]

Well D day has finally arrived, sat having an eye wateringly expensive pint in Newcastle airport (which is the law I'm led to believe 🍻) and bored already 🤣.
This time tomorrow I'll be in the land of kangaroos and criminals 🤣

 

[Tashyboy]

So Britain's two finest golfers are in Oz at the same time. Hope you enjoy Melborne. Oddly enough Melborne is coming across as Bovril talking to folk out here. Either love it to bits or dont get it. That said, done Eumundi and Noosa today, Noosa north beach stunning, a little drive down sunshine coast, oh wow. Called into me aunties at pican waters for half an hour and spent 5 hrs there, got back to Brisbane skytower at 01.30.
Enjoy Beezerk aka Bruce.

 

[Beezerk]

I'm not in Melbourne exactly, I'm just to the south on the Mornington Peninsula. Vineyards and all that good stuff going on down there 😁

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

So Britain's two finest golfers are in Oz at the same time. Hope you enjoy Melborne. Oddly enough Melborne is coming across as Bovril talking to folk out here. Either love it to bits or dont get it. That said, done Eumundi and Noosa today, Noosa north beach stunning, a little drive down sunshine coast, oh wow. Called into me aunties at pican waters for half an hour and spent 5 hrs there, got back to Brisbane skytower at 01.30.
Enjoy Beezerk aka Bruce.

Aye - Noosa - what a fantastic place. I played Tewantin-Noosa when we were there in April. We stayed on Noosa River Holiday Park for 5 nights. And yes - as suggested - isn't the Sunshine Coast fabulous.