My Melbourne To-Do List

As of right this very second, I am officially 15 days, 16 hours, 37 minutes and 26 seconds away from my holiday. This Christmas, we’re heading to Melbourne, to visit my sister Jonti and her fiance Nick. It’s going to be my first visit to Australia and I have to admit, although it’s not a destination that was very high up on my bucket list before my sister moved, I’m getting really really excited to visit. Who knows, I may end up looking into something like Southbank Accommodation from Platinum Apartments if I love it over here. We’ll see.

I’ve often heard that Melbourne is similar to Cape Town, so I probably like it already. I’ve been doing sombare research and writing up a to-do list of all the things I want to see, which includes a lot of food-related activities. I love food so I can’t wait to try out lots of restaurants in north melbourne. My sister tells me the food in Melbourne is incredible so I’m excited to try it for myself! One of my favourite things about travelling is sampling different cuisines. From my research, it seems like I might have to eat the whole city.

Here are a few of the things I’m most looking forward to experiencing in Melbourne

Queen Victoria Market

Melbourne has a vibrant market culture, which really excites me. I can’t wait to see, smell and taste a few of the city’s markets.

South Melbourne Market

Yarra Valley

As you may know, I’m obsessed with wine. Over the years I’ve gotten to know South Africa’s wine regions and varietals well, and I’m very much looking forward to experiencing the wine culture in Melbourne.

Laneways & Coffee Culture

Melbourne is well known for its coffee culture, which I can’t wait to explore. I love finding new and exciting little coffee shops and according to my sister, the laneways are the best place to look for Melbourne’s coffee scene. The coffee industry has boomed in recent years and as they say in the world of Coffee – Something big is brewing. I’m hoping to find my new favourite blend that I can take home with me.

Nightlife and Melbourne Night Market

In a city as safe as Melbourne, with public transport easily accessible, it seems like exploring the nightlife is going to be a lot of fun. My sister and Nick are both young, so we’re counting on them to show us the best the city has to offer.

Rice, paper, scissors

My sister’s favourite restaurant. I can’t wait to eat here and at many more of the city’s eateries!

Peninsula Hot Springs

Natural thermal minerals flow into the hotsprings. And so will I.

Welcome to Thornbury

A place where food trucks are permanently set up is a place where I want to eat.

Moonlight Cinema at the Botanical Gardens

I’ve been to one of these in Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and I can’t wait to check out Melbourne’s offering.

Rooftop bars

My sister talks about rooftop bars all the time and I can’t wait to experience them. She recommends Campari House and Tuscan Bar and I’m looking forward to discovering a few more. She recently did some government funded courses in melbourne so she’s a qualified barmaid now. I can’t wait to visit her at the bar she works at!

Cutlural hotposts – Little Italy

Nick is Italian and has a huge Italian family so I’ll be expecting them to show me the best of Little Italy. From what I hear, the city is famous for it’s cultural hotspots where you can learn about Vietnamese, Greek and Italian cultures – not to mention eating their food.

Do you have an recommendations for a visit to Melbourne?

Travelling with Eastpak

I just got a new trolley bag from Eastpak and I can’t wait to travel with it! The Eastpak brand is new to South Africa but they’ve been around since 1952 and are famous all over the world for their beautiful designs and exceptional quality. They also offer a 30 year warranty, which means that once you go Eastpak, you never go back.

Not only that, but they literally invented luggage with wheels. So, we all owe them our thanks. Today, their versatile designs and amazing durability have made them one of the top luggage brands in the world. Their 2015 ranges are so nice I literally want them all.

You can shop the brand locally on takelot, ebucks, labels4less, milesforstyles – SA Voyager miles and ibags. Spoil the traveller you love with some luggage this Christmas or, better yet, invest in a beautiful, durable piece of luggage for yourself. Also keep an eye out because I’m going to be giving away one of these bags to a lucky reader later this month.

*This post is sponsored by Eastpak, a brand I value and feel honoured to work with