Melbourne supremacy
Sharon Mcgowan samples the food, drink and sunny seasides of bustling Australian city
FOR decades, Irish people have been drawn to the far away lands of Australia – particularly Melbourne.
With plenty of sunshine and sandy beaches, Down Under offers us a picture-perfect lifestyle.
But there’s one catch, and it’s quite a big one – the distance between our wee country and the land of Oz.
There’s no way of getting between Ireland and Melbourne in less than 24 hours.
When travelling to Australia, you’re quite literally in it for the long haul but, luckily, a relatively new arrival to Ireland is making the journey a lot easier.
Since they started services in Ireland last year, Qatar Airways have squared up to the wellestablished UAE airlines Emirates and Etihad.
The airline truly hold their own when it comes to delivering a Middle Eastern luxury approach to travel.
This can be seen through small touches such as the complimentary welcome package which includes a dental kit, lip balm, socks, earplugs and eye mask – a treat for economy customers and not just those lucky enough to afford business-class tickets. It’s the little things like this – along with friendly staff, good food and great entertainment – that make being on such a long flight an enjoyable experience.
Once you land in Melbourne, the best way to beat the jet lag is to immerse yourself in the city from the word go.
A great place to start is with a hearty meal because if there’s one thing Melbourne knows how to do, it’s food. Australia is fast becoming one of the foodie capitals of the world and every cafe and restaurant in the city seems to serve up dishes that are as delicious as they are Instagram friendly.
Down Under, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day and a huge number of the city’s eateries pride themselves on serving up extravagant versions.
Forget the full Irish, think more along the lines of colourful Acai bowls, corn fritters or even breakfast ramen.
You’ll be able to find top-notch grub anywhere in the city, but the best neighbourhoods for trendy restaurants include Brunswick, Fitzroy and Richmond.
There are plenty of gems in the suburbs too, including the No.19 in Ascot Vale which serves up an incredible pulled pork
Oz wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the beach
benedict. If you’re still hungry later on in the day, a trip to The Night Market at the Queen Vic Market is a must.
Open every Wednesday, there are dozens of food stalls serving international fare, from Spanish paella to freshly-steamed bao buns – all to be enjoyed with incredible views of the city’s skyline.
Along with tasty food, there are plenty of pop-up arts, crafts and vintage fashion stores selling bits and bobs, making it perfect for souvenir shopping.
Australia is one of the top producers of New World wines in the world and for those who love a crisp glass of Chardonnay or a deep, hearty Shiraz, a trip to some of the Yarra Valley wineries is a must.
The Domaine Chandon was founded more than 30 years ago by French specialists Moet & Chandon, who wanted to start producing sparkling wines thousands of miles from their home in the Champagne region.
There’s no better way to enjoy a glass of bubbly than taking in the stunning views of this vineyard, which rests deep in the scenic countryside.
Of course a trip Down Under wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the beach, and Melbourne has plenty of beautiful spots where you can cool off from the balmy weather. While St Kilda is probably the most famous
seaside strip in the city, Brighton Beach is a real gem just a few kilometres outside the CBD.
And if swimming isn’t your thing, this golden beach is also home to 82 beach huts – each uniquely decorated.
It is well worth seeing the bathing boxes, some of which have fetched more than AUS$300,000 in recent years.
The artistic side to the city is never far away, with street art adorning buildings and walls across Melbourne. The most famous spot for graffiti is Hosier Lane – located just a couple of minutes from Federation Square – as every inch of this narrow walkway is covered with stunning works of local and international artists.
You really will be bowled over with things to do Down Under.