Eat your way through Melbourne

Inspired by Travel Channel

Highlights

The “No Reservations” crew tasted their way through the best of Melbourne and surrounds…now it’s your turn! Call and book this culinary exploration and taste just some of what the “No Reservations” crew had the pleasure to experience.

Your Itinerary Includes

5 nights Melbourne at Crown Towers (with Crystal Club Access)
Colonial Tramcar Dinner
Understanding the Real Melbourne tour
Private Chef Led Journey through Mornington Peninsula
Yarra Valley Wineries tour
7-day car rental
1 night Apollo Bay at Captain’s at the Bay
2 nights Port Fairy at Oscars Waterfront Boutique Hotel
2 nights Dunkeld, at The Royal Mail Hotel
10 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners (including a 10-course tasting menu)

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Day-By-Day Itinerary

Day 1 Fly USA to Melbourne
Please note international air from the USA has not been included in the package price.

Day 2 Cross The International Dateline

Day 3 Arrive Melbourne
At first glance, Melbourne may resemble any other modern city with its skyline full of concrete and glass. However, if you look a little closer, you'll find the real Melbourne, a city of diverse cultures and unique charm. There are the clanging trams (street cars), hidden laneways with their chic boutiques and eclectic cafés, amazing restaurants and fantastic galleries. Add to this, Melbourne's traditional virtues of tree lined boulevards, beautiful parks and gardens and grand Victorian architecture and you'll have some idea of the city.

Colonial Tramcar Restaurant
Dining in Melbourne can be a fabulous experience, especially aboard the historical Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. The glossy, burgundy restaurants on wheels are the first travelling tramcar restaurants in the world and ensure a delightful innovative approach to dining.

Tonight, dine in style aboard the unique Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. Enjoy fine Australian cuisine and wines as you travel around the city into the more exclusive suburbs Melbourne is known for.

Day 4 Understanding the Real Melbourne
Truly a city like no other – an eclectic mix of cultures and history, join us to immerse yourself in the 'Real' Melbourne.

Hear stories of the early Indigenous history of Melbourne, and learn more about how this remarkable history is reflected in modern day Melbourne. Take a drive through The Golden Mile - past the Old Treasury Building, Parliament House and the world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building. See how the discovery of gold in the 1850's shaped our city. Experience the 'edge' our migrant groups have given the city, visit some of Melbourne's cultural precincts and grab a sidewalk coffee at a chic laneway café.

For Melbournians today, life revolves around food, fashion, beaches and sport. Take some time to connect with the city and its people with this 'local's look'. Meet the faces behind the produce at The Queen Victoria Market, drive through the beachside suburbs, stopping in St Kilda - Melbourne's playground, perhaps to stroll along the boardwalk. Take in the grandeur of the city's sporting precinct and perhaps understand this city's obsession with sport. Enjoy a stroll through some of Melbourne's iconic laneways - home to the best and most unique bars, galleries, boutiques and cafes in the city.

We end our tour stopping for lunch at Federation Square - Melbourne's new meeting place and cultural heart beat. Tjanabi showcases Australian native produce, combined with fresh regional produce - a celebration of our Australian and Indigenous heritage. Enjoy an indigenous river walk with an original descendant of the local tribe before lunch, or try your hand in the kitchen with an indigenous cooking class, as you say goodbye to your hosts.

Day 5 A Chef-Led Journey
From Melbourne, travel to the Mornington Peninsula where you’ll meet our highly regarded local chef for a private, culinary expedition through the region. Your journey changes seasonally (and almost daily) but you may do some of the following: meet cheese makers at a private goat dairy to discuss processes and techniques, press olives and learn about olive oil production, visit Harry's mussel farm and collect fresh seafood, learn about chocolate making or get involved in a spice blending class.

It's now back to the kitchen with your produce for an afternoon of fun with an intimate, hands on cooking class. Learn more about the local produce then feast on your hard work!

Finish off with a private barrel tasting of local cool climate wines just down the road before returning to Melbourne.

Day 6 Yarra Valley Wineries
Only an hour from Melbourne renowned for its quality wines, specialty foods and breathtaking scenery, the Yarra Valley is Victoria’s most well known wine region and a great day trip from Melbourne.

You’ll visit Yering Station Vineyards, one of Australia's most spectacular winery set-ups before enjoying another wine tasting and lunch at Rochford's Wines. Next is Yering Farm. The old hay shed, situated at the top of the hill overlooking stunning views, has been converted into a charming rustic Cellar Door, oozing with character.

Finally, you’ll visit Domaine Chandon. French Champagne company Moet & Chandon's Australian production house Domain Chandon is the perfect way to finish the day with a guided tour through the winery followed by a relaxing glass of Australia's best bubbly.

Day 7 Drive Melbourne to Apollo Bay
Leave Melbourne for the coastal towns of Victoria, and the stunning Great Ocean Road. Torquay, this is where the Great Ocean Road begins its journey westward. From Lorne to Apollo Bay the hills begin to slope more gently towards the sea and give way to some breathtaking scenery of wide sandy beaches backed by the rolling green Otway hills.

Day 8 Drive Apollo Bay to Port Fairy
At your leisure depart Apollo Bay and continue along the Great Ocean Road, traveling through the Otway National Park towards Port Campbell and the majestic Twelve Apostles rock formations. Port Fairy is one of Victoria's earliest seaports and many homes and other buildings of last century still remain.

Day 9 At leisure, Port Fairy
Discover history in every corner of this charming old fishing village. Wide streets are lined by nineteenth century cottages, great Norfolk pines, old stone churches, boarding houses and inns. Many fine examples of architecture of the 1800s remain intact, and more than 50 buildings are classified by the National Trust.

Day 10 Drive Port Fairy to The Grampians
From Port Fairy, your drive turns north, away from the coast and towards the natural beauty of the Grampians mountain range. Dunkeld, is a beautiful village on the edge of the Grampians and is of course, home of The Royal Mail Hotel. To survey the beauty of the region follow the trail joining Mount Sturgeon and Mount Abrupt, the highest peak in the southern Grampians.

Day 11 At leisure, Grampians National Park
The scenic Grampians National Park is one of Victoria's largest and most accessible National Parks. It is home to the biggest collection of Koori rock art in the state, and is well known for its wildflowers, striking rock formations, 200 species of bird life, panoramic lookouts and well maintained network of 50 walking tracks.

Day 12 Drive Grampians National Park to Melbourne

Day 13 Fly Melbourne to USA
Return your rental vehicle before boarding your departure flight.

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Hotels

For more information about the hotels visited in this itinerary please click the hotel name below.

City	Standard	Superior	Deluxe	Luxury

Melbourne	-	-	Crown Towers	-

Apollo Bay	-	Captain's at the Bay	-	-

Port Fairy	-	Oscars Waterfront Boutique Hotel	-	-

Grampians National Park	-	Royal Mail Hotel	-	-

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Pricing

To determine pricing for your tour select the appropriate travel season and desired accommodation level from the table below.

	Standard	Superior	Deluxe	Luxury
Reference #	-	SWSP12265	-	-

4/1/10-4/30/10	-	$3950	-	-

5/1/10-5/31/10	-	$3799	-	-

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Terms & Conditions

*Prices are per person, twin/double share and exclude international airfare. Based on travel between 9/1/09-5/31/10 with blackout dates applying to holiday and local special event periods including but not limited to Christmas and New Year, and Melbourne Grand Prix timeframe. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Additional restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Quote reference SWSP12265. CST#2012413-20. See our Complete Terms and Conditions.

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