Melbourne

Where in Melbourne should I live?

The article is written by Paola Bianchi Cover pic by @rhindaxu

You decided to stay in Melbourne for a while. Diversity, culture, music, food, opportunities. Great decision. Now, you have to decide where to live.

A quick explanation before choosing the location. In Australia, neighbourhoods are called suburbs and they represent urban areas close to the main city centre. This differs from other countries where suburbs mean the opposite. Victorian suburbs are under the management of a Municipality (Council). They are called ‘City of x’. To give an example; t the City of Melbourne municipality has 15 suburbs. There are at least 30 Councils and more than 300 suburbs. Check the full list.

How to choose where to live in? Which suburb would suit you better? Actually, the correct question is; in which neighbourhood would you fit better? Each of Melbourne’s suburbs has its own personality, mood and charisma.

I do not intend to make an exhaustive list here. Let’s just talk about some of the most popular ones near the CBD.

RICHMOND

Close to CBD, with difficult parking but excellent public connections to… everywhere. Residents are varied, from cool tattoo appearance to professional looking. Everyone is welcome. Plenty of cool bars and cafes, and the Vietnamese food rule. This friendly and hip suburb is hard to beat.

2 Richmond Pic by Josh Calabrese

CARLTON

Pasta and gelato. This suburb holds the Italian precinct, the Melbourne Museum, the University of Melbourne, beautifully restored Victorian buildings, green gardens, and one of the best tram networks.

3 Carlton Pic by @thethinblackframe

FITZROY

Bohemian, hipster and funky. A suburb that offers what is Melbourne known of. Bookshops, art galleries and boutique stores. Beards, barber shops, and where greatest baristas want to work. Pubs, remarkable cafés and trendy restaurants. Vintage biking is the way to move.
4 Fitzroy Pic by @louissamal

Note that Collingwood and Abbotsford are adjacent neighbourhoods with similar vibes. They have cheaper accommodation but not many good public transport connections.

BRUNSWICK & NORTHCOTE

Even though they are much far away from the business district centre, these suburbs are becoming the next cool place to live in. Alike Fitzroy, but less crowded and with a peaceful residential looking. Think of houses with garden, trees in the streets and organic stores. Unpretentious. Relax vibes and far cheaper accommodation options.

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Pic by Tom Rumble

DOCKLANDS

A suburb that has high expectations for its future. On the west side of the city, right on Victoria harbour, features an enormous development with shops, restaurants, a mall and the famous wheel of fortune. One of the newest suburbs in Melbourne. Its name comes from being a swamp that served as a dock in the previous century. Think of tall modern buildings and clean spaces. Certainly not cheap as it pretends to attract high-income professionals.

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Pic by Oskars Sylwan

SOUTH MELBOURNE

Historic buildings, Victorian houses, old-fashioned pubs and top-notch cafes scattered over the narrow streets. Hip and cool. This suburb has history and has an excellent public transport network. The South Melbourne market is one of the most well-known markets of the city, with gourmet options.

Note that closer suburbs like Port Melbourne and Southbank are also in high demand. Port Melbourne is a renovated suburb, a similar and smaller version of South Melbourne but with ocean views. Southbank, on the other hand, lacks the Victorian charm and character of others suburbs because of its tallest contemporary buildings. But this might be the urban style that you are looking for. Great location, though. Close to the Botanical Gardens, museums and the river.

7 South Melb Pic by Manki Kim

SOUTH YARRA & PRAHRAN

Posh and chic. High-end fashion labels, upscale restaurants, cocktail lounges and nightclubs. It can get crowded but never boring. The large Prahran Market is a popular option for local groceries.

ST KILDA

Beach vibes, spectacular sunsets and penguins in the pier. Busy in summer, chilled in winter. Gardens, festivals, the long Esplanade, markets and diverse eateries. Supposedly, named after a vessel with the insignia ‘Lady of St Kilda’, this bayside suburb embrace diversity to its fullest. Once known as the red district, now is slowly being gentrified. Great public transport options.

Close by, Elwood suburb enjoys same green spaces and beach views without the tourist and noise that St Kilda has during the high season. Bad tram network though. Peaceful and gorgeous neighbourhood.

8 St kilda Pic by HealthyMond

Which one do you like better? Do your research and pick the best.

Island Life

The article and the pictures by Rebecca Todesco

If you’re planning day trips around Victoria, then stop what you’re doing and immediately put Phillip Island at the top of your list. I’m talking about koalas, kangaroos, beaches and penguins all in one day!

Phillip Island is an Australian island that is a few hours’ drive southeasts of Melbourne. The island itself is less than 100 square kilometres so it is very easy to get from place to place once you’ve crossed onto the island. The island is extremely popular with tourists, especially in the warmer months and on the weekend. I would strongly advise making your visit on a weekday.

There are plenty of hotels and hostels on the island (or just across, on the mainland) if you decide to make your trip an overnight one. But if you leave early and have some people to share the driving with then it’s possible to do it all in one day.

Start your day with a visit to the Phillip Island Wildlife Park. This park is home to more than 100 species of Australian animals and is spread over a whopping 60 acres. You can see an array of famous Australian animals including dingoes, wombats, echidnas and bats.

The reptile house will bring you up close and personal with some of Australia’s scalier residents and you’ll be grateful for the wire that separates you from the birds of prey in the bird section. There’s even a raised platform that you can walk on which will allow you to get on the eye level of the koalas.

For a small fee upon entry to the park, you can purchase a small bag of feed which you can use at my favourite area of the park: the free-range section. You’ll find yourself completely surrounded by kangaroos and wallabies with no fences to separate you. You can pat and feed them and it’s the perfect opportunity for you to get that snapshot for your Facebook.

If you’re brave enough you can even feed the emus but be warned: they’re big and they run fast!

After getting your fill of petting kangaroos and running from emus, head over to the western tip of the island to The Nobbies Centre. The headland cliffs are covered with a network of boardwalks which you can walk on, enjoying spectacular views of The Nobbies and Seal Rock.

At certain times of the year, if you’re lucky you can see some of the little penguins hiding in under the boardwalks or in their little burrows along the cliff’s edge.

If you choose to, there are boat tours that’ll take you offshore and closer to Seal Rocks for the chance to catch a glimpse of some seals. The Nobbies Centre boasts a gift shop chock-full of cute souvenirs as well as a café where you can sit and enjoy a coffee or snack in front of the floor to ceiling windows, overlooking the cliffs.

As the last activity of the day, head to the famous Penguin Parade. Phillip Island boasts the largest little penguin colony in all of Victoria. Decades worth of research effort has gone into the conservation of these little penguins at Phillip Island, making it one of the longest continuous seabird studies in the world.

The research centre has plenty of information and exhibits about the little penguins, as well as a gift shop with an abundance of adorable penguin souvenirs. Visitors can learn all about what the penguins do at sea as well as why they make their way inland every night.

Just before sunset visitors make their way to Summerland Beach and fill the tiers of seating overlooking the water. Once the sun begins to set, keep your eyes peeled: that’s when the penguins make their way out of the water, up the beach and back to their burrows. You’ll be able to follow their journey from a safe distance as you make your way back up to the visitor centre.

If you get any time between activities head to the small town of Cowes. Like any quintessential beach town, the main strip of Cowes is crammed with fish and chips shops and coastal clothing and furniture stores. Spend some time having a wander or grab a serving of fish and chips and eat it on the beach.

(These are only a few of the activities available on Phillip Island. There is also a chocolate factory, Grand Prix circuit visitor centre and plenty of other wildlife parks)

Peninsula Livin’

The article is written by Rebecca Todesco

For those of you studying in Melbourne, there’s plenty in the city to keep you occupied. But if you’re looking to leave the skyscrapers behind and escape to the coast for the weekend then here’s a couple of places you should consider.

Sorrento

The limestone buildings that line the main street are a hat tip to Sorrento’s history. Sorrento beach offers white sand and shallow water, perfect for the littlies to get their feet wet and have a paddle.

Sorrento’s main road is lined with enough boutiques, restaurants and cafes to keep you entertained for the day. Be sure to make a stop at Just Fine Food and sample their famous vanilla slice. If vanilla isn’t really your taste, then there are plenty of other scrumptious desserts for you to try.

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Rye
Rye really comes alive during the summer holiday seasons. Rye beach offers a large stretch of fine, white sand and shallow water. The Rye pier is a popular nighttime fishing location. Even if you’re not much of a fisherman (or woman), hanging around the pier and watching other peoples’ fishing success is a lovely way to pass the time.

The main strip of Rye, running parallel to the beach, is home to shops, restaurants and ice cream and gelato stores. Speaking of gelato: an after-dinner trip to Vulcano Gelato is an absolute must! You can find it by following the line of people waiting their turn to be served. Don’t be put off by the line though: it is well worth the wait!

The annual summer Rye carnival happens in the beach car park and is usually around in the months of December and January. There is no better way to spend an evening than walking along the pier – gelato in hand – watching the carnival lights reflect off the water.

Arthurs Seat

The Arthurs Seat State Park rises above the Mornington Peninsula and provides fantastic views of the surrounding area. There are plenty of hiking and walking tracks through the park for the more adventurous to lose themselves on.

A popular spot is the Arthurs Seat Summit, where visitors can stop and enjoy a picnic or barbeque while being treated to spectacular views.

The Arthurs Seat Eagle is the perfect opportunity for braver souls to get their adrenaline pumping. This attraction is a state of the art gondola ride that flies you over the forest to the highest point of the peninsula. The ride takes about 14 minutes (one way).

Carnival

Mornington

There is plenty to see in Mornington. You can visit Victoria’s oldest courthouse and adjacent lockup or even take the steam train ride on the Mornington Railway.

The main street of Mornington boasts a large number of boutiques and shops to peruse and find the perfect beachy souvenir to take home. If, after a long morning of shopping, you want to give your weary feet a rest, there are plenty of fantastic places to satisfy your hunger pangs.

The Mornington Main Street Market is on every Wednesday. Stalls line the street, selling an array of items from handcrafted soaps to locally grown produce, homemade cakes to handmade jewellery and everything in between. The market has been up and running for over thirty years, making it the state’s longest running street market.

Hot Spring

Peninsula Hot Springs
The Peninsula Hot Springs is a hidden sanctuary tucked away on the peninsula. You can almost feel your stress and worries disappear as soon as you don the fluffy white robe and begin your bathing experience. I would recommend setting aside an entire day at the springs because once you’re there, the hours seem to fly.

The Peninsula Springs water carries a range of minerals including calcium, magnesium and potassium. The temperature of the pools ranges between 37 and 43 degrees Celsius and the water runs untouched from the source directly to the pools.

The springs have two facilities: the Bath House and the Spa Dreaming Centre.

The Bath House offers more than 20 bathing experiences, including a Turkish steam room, plunge pool, reflexology walk and a sauna. Be sure to make the journey to the very highest pool and you’ll be treated to 360-degree views of the surrounding area.

If you’ve got a bit of extra money to splurge, then head to the Spa Dreaming Centre for massages and beauty treatments.

One day eating like a foodie (Plant-based Melbourne version)

The article is written by Paola Bianchi Title pic by Smith & daughters

Did you ever wonder where a plant-based lover would eat if given a chance to eat in the best spots in Melbourne for just one day?

Choosing where to eat in Melbourne can be exciting and painful at the same time. This city has gained the irrevocable reputation of foodie-obsession for a reason. The more amazing eateries options you have, the more confused you get. It is overwhelming. Needless to say, who has so much time and budget to try them all?

To help in this delicious endeavour, here is where to eat if you have just one day in the city:

For BREAKFAST head south to Elwood: Combi

2 Combi

A superfood- focused café offering organic treats and coffee, raw food, colourful smoothies in a small venue. Food and drinks presentation is ready for an Instagram post. I would recommend avoiding peak times if possible because seats are extremely limited. That said, is a vibrant and cosy place.

Top pick: Mango shack with Sweet sprouted bread or ice coffee deluxe with Dragon fruit bowl.

For LUNCH, take a walk through the Esplanade and go to St Kilda: Sister of Soul

A vegetarian café and restaurant with a menu that will make you fall in love with food, without overpricing! Such a delicate combination of flavours. The menu has a strong mixed influence from Asia to India. Huge windows, chic decoration and friendly service. Overall, great location. No booking accepted but you won’t need to wait too long because the place has lots of seats.

Top pick: Massaman curry or the Jack Black burger.

3 Sister of Soul

For DINNER head to Fitzroy North: Moroccan Soup Bar

Small restaurant that just opens for dinner. Good luck trying to get a spot to seat as they are always full, but that’s because their food is absolutely like eating in heaven. There is no written menu, but a verbal menu. The waitress will explain about the two banquet options you can choose from. Then the food will start coming in steps. Each one will blow your mind. Non-complicated delicious food. Finish with some special tea.

Top pick: eat everything!

4 Morrocan

For DESSERT stay around and proceed to: Smith & daughters

A vegan eatery that ticks all the trendy’s boxes. Seasonal menu, attractive visual atmosphere and women directing the orchestra. You can book, and please do so. The cocktails are to die for and better if accompanied with a Milanese Schnitzel. Nop, it’s not chicken!

Top pick: The Tiramisu. How on earth can this be vegan?

5 Smith

Australian Weather: Myth busted

The article is written by Bernadette Sanfilippo

Most have this general conception that Australia endures hot weather all…the…time. The truth of the matter is, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s trek around to several Australian capitals and explore their accompanying weather conditions…

SYDNEY

Sydney is prone to experiencing four seasons in a single day. The summer days tend to endure periods of high temperatures, coupled with relatively high peaks in humidity however, in the late afternoon, the sky can quickly become overcast and, if so, a downpour is likely to ensue. The maximum temperatures can also differ greatly from one day to the next. A day of 38^oC can easily be followed by a day of 26^oC. Winters in Sydney do tend to be milder, with temperatures typically hovering between the high-teens and low-twenties.

MELBOURNE

Melbourne is a rather interesting one for weather. Winters are icy cold, with most days never reaching a temperature higher than 15^oC. While that may seem warm compared to many other winters around the world, the humidity is usually extremely low, making the weather feel much icier than it may actually be. In more recent years, very little rainfall has been experienced throughout the season, and the absence of such has greatly contributed to the lower levels of humidity. Summers, on the other hand, tend to experience lower average temperatures, primarily due to the city’s close proximity to Antarctica, but periods of extremely high, uncomfortably dense humidity.

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BRISBANE

Brisbane experiences a humidity so high in the summer time, it is virtually impossible to be active outside. While the peak temperature may not necessarily be high, there is often little to no relief from the humidity, which remains consistently high all throughout the day and deep into the night. The capital experiences intense tropical weather conditions and, in the last few years, has endured a number of relatively serious cyclones and tropical storms. Brisbane does not tend to experience a formal winter, but rather a period of lowered humidity and heat between June and September.

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PERTH

Perth is situated between the sea and the land, literally. Situated on the coast of Western Australia, the Indian Ocean sits on one side of the city, while both the Gibson and Great Victoria Deserts sit on the other. With all this in such close proximity, Perth experiences very high temperatures in the summertime, typically enduring consecutive days of 40^oC+ weather. Unlike other Australian cities however, the overall humidity tends to remain quite low. Perth’s winters tends to resemble Sydney’s, with temperatures typically floating between the high-teens and low-twenties, with strong, short bursts of rainfall occurring periodically.

CANBERRA

Canberra, our nation’s capital, experiences the lowest winter temperatures in the country. While the average daytime temperature tends to sit between 10^oC – 15^oC, much like Melbourne, the nightly average can frequently fall several degrees below zero. While the city can experience rainfall throughout the winter, it is not nearly as prone to strong downpour as other Australian capitals. While the summers in Canberra will often endure much higher peaking temperatures than those in neighbouring states, these, once again, tend to be followed by much cooler nightly conditions.

East Coast vs. West Coast

The article is written by Bernadette Sanfilippo

Though it goes without saying, almost all international travellers are familiar with, or have at least heard of, Australia’s east coast capitals, a list typically reduced to Sydney, Melbourne and (to some extent) Brisbane. Mention anywhere else in the country and, more often than not, at least in my experience, you’ll receive a relatively blank expression! Cities like Sydney and Melbourne have done an excellent job at securing themselves prime positioning on the world stage, particularly over the last two decades and, while this is wonderful, it has unfortunately made the rest of the country appear almost redundant in the process. As a result, many are completely unacquainted with the west coast of Australia and have little to nothing to compare our major capitals against.

I was born in Sydney, raised in Perth and moved to Melbourne more than a year ago, so I can certainly draw a number of comparisons between the two coasts. Here are amongst my most significant findings thus far:

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1. THE POPULATION

Obviously the bigger and better cities become, the more people want to live in them. As a result, they become overpopulated and Sydney and Melbourne are certainly busier and more bustling than they have ever been before. The wonderful offset to this is that the people who reside there are more exposed and far more desensitised to contrasting cultures, influences and experiences. Perth, by comparison, has a relatively low population count and a much lower rate of immigration, so the level of exposure there is much lower. However, the less people you place in a city, the less pace and congestion you receive and, generally speaking, Perth is a much slower, far more relaxed city to reside in. Perth is typically recommended as a great place to either retire or raise a young family in.

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2. THE JOBS

There are stacks upon stacks of job opportunities in Sydney and Melbourne, particularly now that dozens upon dozens of companies are based there. In fact, it was my primary reason for relocating. There’s only one factor I didn’t take into consideration…there’s a lot of people living in Melbourne and, unfortunately, this means there’s a lot more people to compete against each time you hand in an application. Prior to moving, I had worked for several national retail brands, so I truly (truly!) believed that getting a job would be a cinch! In reality, I spent my first 4 months in Melbourne unemployed. In Western Australia it’s far less competitive and far easier to score work, particularly with a little experience on the resume. The biggest downside is that applications move very slowly in Perth and it can take several weeks just to score an interview. Unfortunately (major generalisation alert!), it’s a city with no real sense of urgency!

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3. THE WEATHER

Weather has been a bit of a battle for me since I moved to Victoria, simply because it differs so greatly to the climate in Western Australia. In order to understand Australia’s varying weather conditions, it is important to understand how Australia sits geographically. Capitals like Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart are closest to Antarctica, so they experience incredibly cold, icy cool winters and relatively mild summers. Brisbane sits much higher on the east coast, closer to Asia, and thus tends to endure very tropical weather patterns year-round. The middle region of Australia is comprised primarily of desert and dry arid land, so seasons in the neighbouring capitals, these primarily being Perth, Adelaide and Darwin, are riddled with much higher annual temperatures.

4. THE SIZE

Ready for a mind-boggler? Here it is: States like Victoria and New South Wales are comparably amongst the smallest Australian states geographically, yet they are the biggest in relation to sprawl. Essentially what this means is that, while they don’t occupy as much landmass as neighbouring states, they utilise the land they do occupy to the greatest possible extent. This often results in more regular, lengthier commutes. Geographically speaking, Western Australia is the nation’s largest state, occupying approximately one-third of Australia’s total landmass however, the current population of Western Australia is a mere 2.5 million, against a national population count of nearly 25 million. This effectively means that most of the state’s land is uninhabited, making what is inhabited relatively small geographically and thus quicker and easier to get around. Weird huh?

48 hours on the Great Ocean Road

The article is written by Paola Bianchi

Do you understand this is a MUST see when visiting Victoria, right?

Let me be honest with you. One or two days may cover the main spots of the Great Ocean Road. However, you can easily spend a week or more here. If you have the time, please do so. There is plenty to explore and enjoy.

Being said that, if you just have a weekend to spend, make the most of it. This is what I and some friends did in 48hs exploring the Great Ocean Road oceanic route.

Wake up early, hire a car if you do not have one already, grab a coffee to go and put the radio on. From Melbourne city, head west via M1 freeway towards Geelong.

DAY 1

First stop: Torquay Surf Beach

Just about 100km from our starting point, Torquay is a seaside town famous for its surfing options, especially for beginners and intermediate levels. If keen on sports, give surf a try. There are several rental options in the area.

2 torquay beach

If watching others get smashed on the water is your preference, the best spot to do so is the green grass hill in front of Torquay Surf Beach. Which was what we did while half of the pack went for a swim. You will get awesome views without any danger as it is far away from the sea. I totally recommend to bring sunglasses (even if it is cloudy as the light is full on here), spread a beach towel and enjoy a picnic. Nearby is a great kiosk that sells cheap hamburgers!

Second Stop: Anglesea Golf Club

Don’t get confused, playing golf is not part of the tour… Although kangaroos are! It happened that around this golf there are lots of wild kangaroos living around. This makes this place unique because of the proximity to this huge population (around 210-270). The eastern grey kangaroos hanging out on the golf course are highly habituated to humans, and a tour is provided if you are keen on jumping on a golf trolley for 20 minutes.

4 kangaroos Image source from Anglesea golf club facebook page

Don’t worry about the tags and collars that several kangaroos have. This doesn’t hurt them. They even have names! Tagging them is part of the studies that Zoologists from the University of Melbourne have been conducting since 2005 for population surveys, movements, birth control and parasites.

Image source by Tom Walter

Third Stop: Kennett River

Nearby this river there is popular café called Kafe Koala, just in the entrance of the ‘Koala walk’. This is a short walk full of Eucalyptus Trees, the preferred ones of the little creatures. It is super easy to spot them sleeping and hugging brunches. It was no joke when someone told us that the koalas were ALWAYS there, like waiting for you to go and say hi.

6 koala in tree Image source from Jade Craven

Fourth stop: Twelve Apostles

This is why we came for! Make sure you get there before the sunset! It is the BEST.

Take a look:

7 apostles Pic by Pao Bianchi

Try to get there early to reserve your spot. It can get crowded!

8 apostles Pic by Pao Bianchi
Getting the best photo is a goal we all have but remind yourself that it’s not worth risking your life or damaging the environment to get it, like these guys:

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Fifth Stop: Port Campbell

Because of its proximity to the 12 Apostles, is a great place to stay overnight. This lovely little town has grown so much and offers great food and accommodation. We rented a house in Airbnb and woke up to this peaceful beauty:

12 peace Pic by Pao Bianchi
Plus, it has a gorgeous bay where you can have your breaky and shot some cute pics.

Looking down over the beach at the little seaside town of Port Campbell.

Pic by Shiny Things

During the morning hours, there is also a beautiful light on the incredible Twelve Apostles. That was our Airbnb’s host recommendation. Unfortunately, was too late when he told us but it is indeed a great excuse to come back!

Bonus: another great location to spend the night is Bimbi Park. ‘Bimbi’ means ‘a place of many birds’ in the local Aboriginal language. This place is located in the forest of Otway Park surrounded by Koalas! You can rent a cabin or a camping site and enjoy nature. More info here.

DAY 2

Take it easy now. You did lots of km the day before, and you still need to go back while enjoying the trip.
If you sleep as good as we did and had breaky in front of the bay getting fresh air, you most likely have the energy to continue exploring.

You may go up north to visit other natural rock forms like The Arch or London Bridge. But that means more driving hours to go back. So, you can choose to spend some quality time in nature without deviating too much.

Next Stop: Great Otway National Park

Such a magical place! Lakes, waterfall, forest.

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Pic by Pao Bianchi

Trekking, camping, fishing and even swimming. SO MANY OPTIONS. All the details here
We would need another week to explore, right? Absolutely recommended! As we had just a couple more hours to enjoy, we decided to visit the historic Cape Otway Lightstation.
15 ligthhouse Pic by Pao Bianchi

Yeap! You can climb to the top!
This place has a rich history that you can discover while walking around the huge campus that surrounds the lighthouse. It is told that, during the 19th century, Cape Otway was the first land to be seen by migrants travelling to Australia by ship. Isn’t that curious? Today migrants see the airport first.

Gotta love Melbourne in June

The article is written by Paola Bianchi Cover photo by chiaralily

Let’s face it. June in Melbourne equals sunny but cold days. The winter has been waving us for a while but now is officially here.

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Is this an excuse to get lazy and see Netflix every day? No way! (although it sounds a good idea)

Here are 3 awesome excuses to get OUT of home and IN some great venues)

WINTER NIGHT MARKET

3 nigth market 1 Image source

During 13 weeks the renowned Queen Victoria Market is open during the night but with a gourmet approach. Raw fruits and vegetables are replaced by more than 30 global street food stalls.
It’s a great opportunity to taste food from all over the world. Singaporean, Japanese, Peruvian, Spanish, you name it.
There are also live music and product stalls for gifts.

4 nigth market 2 Image by Lucas Randall

Every Wednesday of June, July and August. From 5 pm to 10 pm. It’s free!

WINTER WINE FEST

Each year during the Queen’s birthday weekend, Mornington Peninsula showcase its best local wineries and cheese makers!

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This event requires a ticket, but it is so worth it! Wine, food and music. Who is with me?
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All right, enough of eating delicious food and awesome wine and let’s focus on our inner self for a weekend, shall we?

Next event its by far the most original one:

MIND BODY FESTIVAL

The Mind-Body Festival is Australia’s largest well-being and natural therapies event held in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane every year.

7 entrance mind festival Image by Paola Bianchi
There are more than 200 stalls, short workshops and seminars, guided meditations, live performances and plenty of great products (books, crystals, tea blends) and body services (massages, iris health check, aura photographs) on offer and so many more that you have to see it believe it!

8 Pic room mind festival Image by Paola Bianchi
Without a doubt, the centrepiece of the event is the physic reading room. Well-known physics will use their abilities to give you an honest reading base on their tools, like tarot, hand reading, clairvoyance, mediumship and much more.

9 Pic reading room Image by Paola Bianchi

Head to Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center, near the Casino, to pamper yourself with magic.
Tickets are free! Make sure you swipe them in those stalls that are giving away great prices!

Melbourne City Skyline from South-East

The article and photos by Paola Bianchi

Nobody can deny that Melbourne is a gorgeous city. Have you ever seen Melb’s city skyline?
We got 4 terrific spots to see the best of the city skyline… from the south-east point of view!

Spot 1. Shrine Of Remembrance

This is the closest spot from the CBD in our list. It’s a 15-20-minute walk from Federation Square, near the Botanical Gardens. The Shrine Of Remembrance is a war memorial for the loss of lives during the First World War. The building has a 360-degree balcony where you can admire the city skyline even on a cloudy day. Open every day until 5 pm, and it’s free!

1 shrine of rem

Spot 2. St Kilda Pier

This long Pier is close to Fitzroy Street and you can get there from the city in 15 minutes by tram (12, 96, 16 or 3a). This historic Pier was first constructed in 1853 to help first settlers to unload building materials, but a storm washed it away. It has been renovated since then, and now it’s a popular destination for visitors and locals. Boats and vessels usually adorn the view of the city skyline and, when windy, also with kitesurfers!

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Spot 3. Point Ormond

In the neighborhood of Elwood, there is a Bay Trail used mainly by locals that enjoy walking, running or cycling right next to the sea. There are a few barbeques around the main hill where this lookout is situated on the top. The skyline view is breathtaking, especially at sunset! It’s a 5-10 minutes bike ride from the famous Luna Park in St Kilda.

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Spot 4. Foreshore Reserve in Brighton

This is the most distant spot from CBD city. It’s a 30 minutes train ride or car from Flinders Station. You might have even been nearby when visiting Brighton Beach Boxes. From these colorful boxes, walk south just 10 minutes and you will find this little Reserve. There is a parking lot, barbeques and benches. Sit, chill and enjoy the view of Melbourne skyline on a sunny day.

Cycling in Victoria: how to ride like a local

The article is written by Paola Bianchi Cover photo by pixabay.com

From early morning to late evening is common to see cyclists sliding all over the city. Students ride for their everyday commute to their studies, workers cycle to get to their office or workplace (using comfy shoes that will be swapped later for adequate working attire), and amateurs cycling groups ride together for several km wearing the team’s cycling uniforms (they may even have sponsors!).

Cycling in Victoria is fantastic. It’s not a new thing but is getting trendy!

1 riders Pic by Mr Michael Phams

Riding a bike is a pleasure, a great way to keep fit and it is a truly sustainable form of travelling.
Plus, you get to know the city with other ayes.

Melbourne residents had embraced this way of living, and everyone is welcome to join them!

Leading up to 31 October 2011, communities across Victoria and other states of Australia will be passing a human sized earth globe from suburb to suburb and town to town until it reaches Canberra. This is the Earth Relay. The hope is that the relay will generate media and community attention along its passage to parliament and the Earth Dome will act as a symbol of hope and optimism for a cleaner, safer world.
Climate Action Moreland hosted a leg of the Earth Relay on Saturday 8 October 2011 from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm outside the Brunswick Mechanics Institute, corner of Glenlyon Road and Sydney Road, Brunswick. Members of Climate Action Moreland sent a message about how we think the carbon price can be improved, particularly increasing the 5% target.
Once the legislation is passed through Federal parliament in Canberra, the Earth Dome will be packed up and shipped to Durban for the Durban Conference of the Parties climate negotiations – COP17 – to be held in South Africa from 28 November – 9 December 2011, and with it will go our pride that finally Australia is acting on climate change and our hope that this will help deliver progress on climate change on the international stage.

Pic from Takver

To be part of this lifestyle is good to know basic (but crucial) tips:

Know the local rules.

Bicycles are considered as vehicles, meaning that riders have same rights and responsibilities than a car driver. As a cyclist, you are required to comply general road rules as any car or moto would do. For example, keep your ride on your left, stop when passengers are getting off a tram, understand when you need to give way and how to enter a roundabout. Most bike accidents occur at intersections, so watch out here!

A car uses the light signal to do a turn, uses the blinker. When riding, you must use your right hand to signal when turning (you are not obliged to hand signal when turning left but it is a good idea to do so)

Oh! and no holding your phone in your hands, please! You can hook it to the bike and use the hands-free mode for calls, GPS or music.

Read the signs.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the beginning with so many new road signs, but pay attention, and you will find them easy to understand.

4 signs Pic from baudman 

The mandatory stuff.
In many countries, using a helmet is not compulsory and is even considered a silly practice. But in Australia safety is a primary public concern. And we are glad that it is taken seriously!

Helmets are mandatory and need to be securely fitted and fastened. Be aware that police can issue a warning or a fine if not wearing a proper helmet. Don’t get upset; it’s in your best interest!

Also, proper bike brakes and a warning device like a bell are required. You may understand clearly why brakes are needed, but a bell? Keep reading!

Share the path.
Bicycles are not allowed to ride on footpaths, but sometimes cyclist lanes and pedestrian’s paths are mixed. In these cases, keep left and always give way to pedestrians. You may need to warn them with the bell!

5 shared path Pic by Paola Bianchi

Light your bike.
At night use a white light on the front, a red light on the back (they can be flashing or steady lights) and a red reflector on the back.
Be seen at night is not to be taken lightly. Look at this short video.

Use your lanes.
Where possible always use Bike Lanes. They are marked in green colour on the road. Bikers have priority and cars are not allowed to drive on these lanes (unless they are turning into an intersection). Also, you can use the Bus Line (unless otherwise signed) but you must give bus priority.

6 bike lane Pic by Paola Bianchi

Check out this great video that summarises all these recommendations.
We hope that this encourages you to go out and happily ride your bike!

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