Calling all Aussies,need info

[desmocat]

As I said quite a while back, Myself and Mrs. desmocat are heading to Oz. We will be there on 21 Jan and fly back out on 28 Jan, so we have a limited amount of time. The plan as of now is to fly into Sydney, and catch a domestic flight to Melbourne(same day) to save time and spend three days there. Then we will fly back to Sydney for the last 3 days and then fly out to Fiji where we will stay for 3 days.
I was kind of thinking of staying downtown in Sydney, around the CBD and Rocks area. I really don't have any good info on where to stay in Melbourne, so I was hoping a member of the community here that either lives around that area or has any recommendations for a nice place to stay.
While in Melbourne, we plan on going down the great ocean road and seeing the sights around town, and if time permits, maybe taking the Foster's brewery tour.
We were originally going to drive between Melb and Syd, but airfare is pretty cheap between the two, and it will save a whole lot of time that we can spend seeing the sights.
We also plan on being in the harbor area in Sydney for the Australia day celebration and for the fireworks show, I was told it's not to be missed.( Gotta stop by Harry's cafe' de wheels for a meat pie too.. )

After we leave Australia on the 28th, we will stop in Fiji until the 31st, so we can do some snorkeling and stuff along the coral coast there, then it's back home to the cold
Any input greatly appreciated, thanks.. desmo

[KraM]

I don't think you'll have any trouble finding a place to stay. Somewhere on the harbour is supposed to be nice, expensive though. You'll probably find it easier just asking a taxi driver (if you catch one from the airport, that is) where to stay.

[Hellmund]

Medo is from melbourne, suggest giving him a PM

[linux_guru]

Hey desmocat: good to here you're coming down to our part of the world. A couple of suggestions on where to stay:

Menzies @ Rialto
Hyatt
Stamford Plaza Hotel ( Highly recommended & very central to Melb CBD)

Any cab driver will know where all of these are.

These are moderately expensive for us But the U.S. dollar goes a long way here.

If you are looking for suggestions on what to see & do while in Melbourne, email me.

[Bullion]

Melbourne;
Somewhere in the south yarra area is pretty nuts, nice area, i think the hotel como is a good place, but dont quote me!!

P.S. If you are going on the great ocean road, deffinitly hire a sports car, its one of the best roads in victoria. wilsons promontery (and youll probably see kangaroos on the way) is pretty nuts aswell.
Problem is if your only here for a few days youll have to be selective on what you go see, cause the wilsons prom and great ocean road are on differing sides of the bay.

but enjoy the sights and sounds of Australia

[Wombat]

Sorry but I'm from the other side, Perth, Western Australia, but I've been to Sydney a couple of times. If you want an eye opener, cruise the Cross (King's Cross).
Not for the close minded..


Paul

[desmocat]

Wombat, I have been doing a little reading on the Cross, kinda on the wild side, we will have to make a pass down thru that area, I like to see a lot of different things, and from what I've been reading, you want it, they got it there..
Not gonna do it a 2:30 in the morning though.. not that brave