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HOT: Helados Jauja, 254 Lygon St, Carlton
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 8 January 2012
Happy New Year! Hope you had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday break. Apparently one of the best ways to stretch out that happy holiday mood is to continue one holiday habit in your everyday life. With Melbourne’s unpredictable heat waves, one holiday habit I’ll be continuing is daily ice-cream! Fortunately in Melbourne there’s lot of [...]
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Hairy Coos, Baby Animals and Amazing Views on Churchill Island
Blog: Landlopers - 14 December 2011
The Scottish highland cow greeted us with its giant horns and fuzzy bangs as we navigated the dirt road leading to Churchill Island. We very well could have been in Scotland, except it was far too sunny and there wasn’t a sign of a distillery...Copyright LandLopers All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
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HOT: SO:ME Space, South Melbourne Market, 322-326 Coventry St, South Melbourne
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 11 December 2011
South Melbourne Market has moved out the dollar stores and moved in some hip wares. Under the big shed they’ve created a space for small shops and pop up sites called SO:ME Space. It’s filled with clothing, accessories, artwork and bikes – a fun place to browse before or after your market grocery shopping. Some [...]
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La Madre Bakery Giveaway!
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 8 December 2011
Following on from my carb-fest at La Madre Bakery recently I am excited to offer a giveaway of a selection of La Madre‘s new Christmas range! The sweet and savoury treats come presented in a reuseable cookie tin and inside you’ll find a sample of: Vanilla Snowflake Shortbread made from Heilala Vanilla vanilla paste and topped [...]
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HOT: Threefold, 381 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 7 December 2011
Threefold is a casual cafe/bar tucked into a narrow corner space on Flinders Lane and Tavistock Place. You’ll recognise it by the planter boxes laden with fresh herbs at its entrance - a happy contrast to the soulless vistas offered by its office block neighbours. It’s a smart establishment that seats mostly business people along narrow benches and small [...]
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The Casual Cyclist’s Guide to Melbourne Giveaway!
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 1 December 2011
I am a big fan of Melbourne-based bike rental company The Humble Vintage and the limited edition hand-drawn maps coming out of it called Melbourne for Visitors and Casual Cyclists. Now author and entrepreneur Matt Hurst has written The Casual Cyclist’s Guide Melbourne, a book bringing a fresh perspective to cycle routes in Melbourne interspersed with articles on cycling tips, [...]
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Rail Trails of Melbourne
Blog: Aerohaveno: A Travel Blog - 1 December 2011
In the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, the ghosts of steam trains pull their carriages along rails long-vanished.But not entirely forgotten. Along the route of old suburban train lines lie fascinating walking trails and linear parks, each an insight into the city’s hidden charms.
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HOT: Beechworth Bakery, 316 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 30 November 2011
I didn’t realise that the Beechworth Bakery had stretched beyond to town of Beechworth to other parts of the state – but it’s pretty handy that there’s one in Healesville. Beechworth Bakery prides itself on being ‘Australia’s greatest bakery’. That’s a tall claim! But it is an old-fashioned bakery filled with old-fashioned British style bakery items [...]
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HOT: N. Lee Bakery, 62 Little Collins St, Melbourne
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 29 November 2011
Summer’s here, the sun is out! (Well, not today. But it’s Melbourne so the weather could change by lunch time.) Instead of eating your lunch at your desk, why not stroll down to Little Collins Street to N. Lee Bakery? Join the fast-moving queue of office workers, grab a $5.50 Banh Mi and eat your [...]
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HOT: Melbourne Tweed Ride 2011
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 28 November 2011
Tally-ho ladies and gents! Thanks to some Sunday sun, a group of about 50 well-dressed cyclists gathered for the annual Melbourne Tweed Ride. Tweed wearers and vintage-stylers rode out from Federation Square along the tweedy brown Yarra River to Como House, which was hosting the Paris to Provence Festival. We got many amazed glances, friendly waves and [...]
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HOT: Duchess of Spotswood, 87 Hudsons Rd, Spotswood
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 27 November 2011
So the Queen just visited to Melbourne and Princess Mary came to town. If you’re not royal-ed out, take yourself to visit the Duchess in Spotswood. Duchess of Spotswood is a cafe is located in an unprepossessing strip of shops near Spotswood station and when I arrived at 9am on a weekend it was easily [...]
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Travel Editor Interview – Kelly Irving From Get Lost Magazine
Blog: The Travel Tart - Offbeat Tales From A Travel Addict - 25 November 2011
Some Travel Editor Tips! Hi there people in Travel Tart land. Today, I’ve scored an interview with Kelly Irving, who is a director of Good Globe Media, a Deputy Travel Editor...
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HOT: Giant Steps Innocent Bystander Winery, 336 Maroondah Highway, Healesville
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 24 November 2011
A sunny weekend saw us taking a trip out to the Yarra Valley, armed with a recommendation for lunch at Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander. Unlike most of the other wineries in the Yarra Valley, Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander isn’t located on an expansive piece of green land – it’s just a straight turnoff from the Maroondah Highway [...]
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HOT: Zakkaya, 52 Johnston St, Fitzroy
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 23 November 2011
Nestled in Johnston Street, in between the curry houses, Latin American restaurants and sweaty gyms is Zakkaya, a quietly beatific shop selling contemporary Japanese goods. Their wares range from clocks, clothing, jewellery, toys, storage and everything is delicate, charming and oh-so-cute. It’s the perfect place to find a unique gift for that special person with [...]
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HOT: Rose Garden BBQ Shop, 435 Elizabeth St, Melbourne
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 22 November 2011
Rose Garden may sound romantic but it’s not the sort of restaurant where you’d take a first date. But go with your friends, your colleagues, your relatives, on your own – it’s that good! The small no-frills restaurant specialises in cheap, quick Cantonese fare. It’s a favourite amongst international students and office workers during the [...]
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On Parade with the Penguins of Phillip Island
Blog: Landlopers - 22 November 2011
There are certain words and phrases that should never be repeated in the context of a travel post. Hidden gem, unique treasure, and charming all come to mind. Cute is another one most experts say to avoid, yet I find myself at a loss to...Copyright LandLopers All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
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HOT: La Madre Bakery, 18 Milton Street, Bell Park
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 21 November 2011
La Madre Bakery is located in Geelong but well-known in Melbourne. Their bread is sold at discerning grocery stores and delis across the city, including my nearest stockist in North Fitzroy, The Green Grocer, as well as being used in cafes such as Pope Joan. Their excellent reputation means that if you’re in Geelong or on [...]
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HOT: WLG Wellington Pop-up Restaurant, 153 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 19 November 2011
For the last week I’ve been watching the corner of Gertrude and Napier Streets with interest. WLG stamped on the walls. Brightly coloured metal chairs lining long tables on the pavement. A dude with an enormous 19th century handlebar moustache working the tables. The answer? The WLG Wellington pop-up restaurant has landed in Melbourne to [...]
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Exploring metros
Blog: Snaps and Flip Flops - 18 November 2011
I think one way of getting a know a city is by taking the public transport. It kinda lets you sneak a peek at how locals go about their daily lives. While I personally love walking to get to places when i'm in a foreign city, I must say I'm also fascinated by the train stations and the people in it.
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HOT Chat: Georgia Beattie from Lupe
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 17 November 2011
Melbourne Music Week starts today until 26 November – a fun-filled week of music (natch), films, workshops, parties, eating and drinking. One of my discoveries for Melbourne Music Week is actually not directly about music. If you visit any of the bars at Melbourne Music Week you’ll find Lupe, an innnovative single serve filled wine glass [...]
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HOT: Phillippa’s City Store, 15 Howey Place, Melbourne
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 17 November 2011
When I worked in the CBD one of my shopping challenges was finding a good loaf of bread. I rarely had time in my lunch hour to travel to Queen Victoria Markets or battle the lines at David Jones Foodhall, which meant often I had to be organised enough to buy my bread on my [...]
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HOT: Melbournalia Home, Level 1 Rear 126 Franklin St, Melbourne
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 16 November 2011
Stuck for a unique, Melbourne-themed Christmas gift or holiday souvenir? Then make sure you get to Melbournalia, a series of pop up stores open now in the lead-up to Christmas. Over the next few weeks four Melbourne CBD venues and one repurposed newspaper stand will host displays of Melbourne design goodness, with HQ being at [...]
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Kissed by a Koala at Healesville Sanctuary
Blog: Landlopers - 16 November 2011
I never expected to be kissed by a koala, yet there I was being gingerly kissed by Australia’s fuzzy mascot. The koala in question was at the Healesville Sanctuary, a short drive from Melbourne and home to one of the best animal experiences in the...Copyright LandLopers All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
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HOT: Dandee Donuts, Dandenong Market, cnr Cleeland and King Sts, Dandenong
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 14 November 2011
The Saturday Age recently ran a ‘Five of a kind’ article on Dandenong Market describing five stallholders in the refurbished Dandenong Market, including Sataylicious which I’d recommended previously on the blog for their noteworthy satay sauce. Obviously there’s only room for five places to be featured in that article so let me redress the omission [...]
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HOT: Bento Lunch, Taxi Dining Room, Level 1 Transport Hotel, Federation Square, Melbourne
Blog: MEL: Hot or Not - 13 November 2011
Out of all the dining venues in Federation Square, my favourite is the Transport/Taxi/Transit complex. Transport is great for a quiet riverside drink (though it can get rowdier on weekends), I often take visitors to experience the slick food and expansive Yarra views at the high-end Taxi restaurant and we even arranged our post-wedding drinks [...]
