What to do in Melbourne, Australia

Index

In Melbourne, the first point of call for beer enthusiasts is the Brandon Street Pub in the suburb of Carlton. The pub is close to the city. easily accessible by public transport, and most importantly has the best range of quality beer in Melbourne. The main draw is the cask conditioned real ales, produced locally by Mountain Goat Brewery (located in the city) and Holgate Brewery (located in the Macedon Ranges in the country town of Woodend). The publican is also intending to offer the excellent Gippsland Gold from the Grand Ridge Brewery in Mirboo North (Gippsland) in cask conditioned form shortly. Note that these ales are served through rare hand-pulled taps and are naturally carbonated. A pint of these fine beers will set you back $6 AUD each.

Next is the range of 10 fine bottle-conditioned English Ales, served in pint bottles. These represent the best of Englands independant breweries and a sample of at least one is highly recommended. Ask the publican for a recommendation based on your personal beer preferences. These bottles will set you back $6.50 AUD each.

The Brandon also serves a range of premium Australian-made beer. Coopers (from Adelaide, South Australia), Cascade, and Boags (both from Tasmania) are the brewers of these beers. Some beer enthusiasts may wish to try the 'common' beers that ordinary Australians drink every day. These are the Victoria Bitter, Carlton, Fosters, Castlemaine XXXX and Toohey's brands. They are not quite as bad as a Budweiser or Miller beer, I would compare them possibly to a Henry Weinhardts from Oregon. These beers are recommended for emergency use only.

Bells is the only brewpub in Melbourne ie, the only pub that brew its own beer. The pub offers 5 year-round beers, plus 2 to 3 seasonal ales. Meals are also available in the restaurant.

Check out these beer links:

• The Great Alpine Road
• The Great Ocean Road

The tram system is currently being upgraded with new, futuristic trams on some routes. Popular tram trips are out to St. Kilda and to Toorak. Trains take a little over an hour to reach the Dandenong Ranges at Belgrave where there is cycling and bushwalking. Lilydale is a good place to start a tour of the Yarra Valley wineries. Hurstbridge is a popular destination for cyclists, as is the nearby Kinglake National Park. Frankston is a good base to explore the Mornington Penninsula, and the line contnues out to Stony Point, where a ferry can be caught to Phillip Island.

Tickets for suburban trains, trams, and busses can be bought at larger train stations or at nearby Newsagents.

Check out these public transport links: