A VC - Latest Comments in Off To Australia

Re: Off To Australia

fredwilson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:10:03 -0000

Re: Off To Australia

fredwilson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:17:03 -0000

Don't think we'll make it to Canberra

Looking forward to christmas in 100F heat!

fred

Re: Off To Australia

fredwilson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:17:03 -0000

Thanks epcostello

We were so upset that Tetsuya's will be closed when we are in Sydney. We
were so looking forward to it.

We'll check out the rest of these suggestions

fred

Re: Off To Australia

fredwilson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:17:02 -0000

Wow KOL in australia

Gotta check that out!

Re: Off To Australia

fredwilson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:17:02 -0000

Wow. This is terrific. Thanks so much!

fred

Re: Off To Australia

Pistol — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:57:04 -0000

fred, i am an australian myself living in london, but not from the usual sydney's or melbourne's - i am from newcastle. a very quiet and beautiful city 100 miles north of sydney, some of the best (and most spectacular) beaches on the east coast. if you enjoy good wine, newcastle has the hunter valley wines, so make sure you get there and eat plenty of cheese. enjoy your trip.

Re: Off To Australia

rachel — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:12:35 -0000

I'm so jealous - studied abroad there and then went back again for a vaca last year. Everything is amazing. The only place in the world that brings a huge smile to my face everytime I hear the word Sydney or Australia. Make sure to go to the Sydney Fish Market for lunch one day. You could just eat raw fish ALL day. Have the best time.

Re: Off To Australia

MParekh — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:22:28 -0000

Fred, if you're anywhere near Cairns, check out the Hayman Island resort (http://www.hayman.com.au/). It's a bit of a day trip via ferr, but really one of the places I've had a chance to visit. Safe and fun travels.

Re: Off To Australia

Mike Macgirvin — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:23:30 -0000

Welcome - hope you have a memorable visit.

I liked it so much I stayed.

Re: Off To Australia

Craig Baker — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:29:20 -0000

If in Sydney you can't beat breakfast at Bathers Pavilion, overlooking Balmoral Beach.

Re: Off To Australia

fredwilson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:43:01 -0000

Thanks rob

Re: Off To Australia

fredwilson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:42:01 -0000

Any tips simon?

Re: Off To Australia

Giordano — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:27:29 -0000

I'll be there in the second half of January... it's always great to be in Australia. In Melbourne, try a restaurant on Docklands, called Livebait. Really nice and great seafood.

I'll be spending NYE in Tokyo, which I love, and right now I'm writing from Napa Valley (first time here!). Can life get any better? :)

Happy holidays!

Cheers,
Giordano

Re: Off To Australia

e.p.c. — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:06:40 -0000

I was in Melbourne and Sydney in August and I highly recommend ezard in Melbourne off Flinder's Lane.

In Sydney: Tetsuya's is fantastic but impossible to get into. Macleay St. Bistro in Kings Cross, the sushi bar in the Establishment hotel on George St. I also recommend Malaya at King St Wharf (moreso for lunch than dinner). If you're up for exploring, breakfast (er, "breakie") at The Globe in Coogee is a great way to start the Coogee-Bondi cliffwalk.

Re: Off To Australia

trib — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:41:04 -0000

Hey, Fred! Should be quite the climate shift for Christmas, although the food should be similar. We're insane enough here to maintain the full roast dinner at lunchtime Christmas Day. 100F in the shade be damned!
If you're planning to tour 'round, let me know if you're passing through Canberra and have time for a beer!

Re: Off To Australia

fredwilson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:08:02 -0000

We are going up to the great barrier reef but otherwise staying south

Fred

Re: Off To Australia

Guest — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:51:48 -0000

True, though Ocean Road can get extremely crowded at times, especially this time of year...

Re: Off To Australia

andrew — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:41:24 -0000

Have a great time Fred.

The Melbourne suggestions are all good. Should be plenty of music on as well:

- Aussie legend, Mick Thomas, always plays a bit around this time of year (http://www.mickthomas.com/t...

- and Kings of Leon headline the Falls Festival, a big event held about 1.5 hours out of Melbourne at a seaside town called Lorne: http://www2.fallsfestival.c.... Actually, getting to Lorne is a treat in itself, as you drive along a beautiful coastal road. Might be too late to get any decent accomodation at this stage though, especially given that the weak US$ won't get you too far. :)

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: Off To Australia

stevehopkins — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:05:04 -0000

Hi Fred, Melbourne is great – I love it here. I went to uni at RMIT, whose campus is spread randomly through-out the city CBD. Must see's are:

1) Shang-Hai Dumpling Noodle House. http://www.foodgod.com.au/386 In Tatersalls Lane, CBD. The authentic dumping experience. I'm talking plastic cups, social dining, cheap, great-food. It is an experience to be had. It's well known around town. After dinner, head to Section 8, the 'Bar in a shipping container' for an interesting drink.

2) Bennets Lane Jazz Club. Is incredible. Prince played a surpirse gig there when he toured hear last year and Wynton Marsalis has been known to 'drop in' un-announced when touring with his band and play till 3am. It's magic and a MUST visit. The room fills with people keen to soak up the music, with a firm culture around mobile phones being OFF and no talking during the set. http://www.bennettslane.com/

3) I agree with Rob Barnes, definitely check out Brunswick street and surrounding the Fitzroy area.

4) The National Gallery of Victoria/Australian Centre for Moving Image/Federation Square precinct is pretty cool, and really unavoidable if you're in town. I'm not sure what’s on, but there is always something good. The Myer Christmas Windows are always a hit at this time of year too, on Bourke Street CBD.

5) Not sure when you are around, but a visit to the MCG is well worth it. It’s the spiritual home of all things sport. If you are around when the boxing day test is being played (26/12-30/12), it would be great to take the family along to. The crowd is normally about 80-100k large on day one and two and provides a real intro into aussie culture. Day 3 is normally the best day to go, as your more likely to see both sides bat and bowl. Australia will probably murder India, so don't plan to go day 4 or 5 as they may have finished the game by then!

6) Lastly, be sure to grab a coffee in De Graves St and Hardware Lane. Best coffee in town and it really captures the Melbourne lane-way feeling. http://www.melbournecoffeer...
Check out one of my posts for a little something strange to check out near Hardware Lane. http://thesquigglyline.com/...

Re: Off To Australia

Rob Barnes — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:28:08 -0000

Hey Fred - I'm a Melbourne local. I'm sure you'll love it. It's not as beautiful as Sydney but it's got more soul - a great vibe. Check out http://thebreakfastblog.blo... if you like breakfast. Of course you'll hang out in St Kilda, but check out the north of the city too, particularly around Brunswick St.

The botanical Gardens just below the city and walking along the Yarra can't be beat.

Re: Off To Australia

simon — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:27:45 -0000

ahh enjoi our country fred

Re: Off To Australia

BWJones — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:12:27 -0000

You will absolutely love it. I wrote about it a couple of years ago here: http://prometheus.med.utah....

I hope that Yoshii is still the place I remember.

Re: Off To Australia

Guest — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:59:01 -0000

Any chance you'll be traveling north? It's a bit hot this time of the year, so we'll be heading to Victoria ourselves in January, however, for the next two weeks we'll be at our home base in Brisbane and I could offer a few tips re: food, beaches, sites...

Re: Off To Australia

fredwilson — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:40:01 -0000

My daughter jessica who did a ton of research on restaurants just informed
me that we'll be eating dinner there on Saturday night!

Re: Off To Australia

BWJones — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:35:16 -0000

Fred,

When you are in Sydney, if you enjoy sushi, check out a place called Yoshii. It is absolutely the best sushi experience I've ever had with great sake as well.