While it’s always been easy to find yourself amongst the bustle of Lygon or Chapel St, the lights of the MCG, or the corridors of the National Gallery, there are now a number of online tools that have unlocked the hidden gems of Melbourne’s underground.

Whether you are planning a night out or a solo tour to catch up on some culture, here are a few of the best websites showcase the best of what Melbourne has to offer.

Threethousand.com.au

Threethousand is a hipster’s guide to the arts scene of Melbourne (postcode 3000) and its surrounds. Operating as an online magazine with a small team of editorial staff and photographers this looks to filter the very best of Melbourne’s local arts culture. Split into categories such as “eat” “play” “stray” “watch” “make” the Thousands (they also operate in Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney) offer an often cheeky view on experiences such as how to make a frozen banana or build your own “herb fortress”, as well as a great range of book, music and theatre reviews.

The cultural calendar on the site is the most useful feature with great events every day of the year.

Thatsmelbourne.com.au

This is a slightly more mainstream and family oriented site that is run by the City of Melbourne. It offers thousands of events and ideas for trips in and around the city as well as links to longer weekend trips around Victoria. The ‘What’s on’ section is the most useful if you are looking to fill your day. This one is perfect for the upcoming school holidays.

Urbanspoon.com.au

Part of the global Urban Spoon network this harnesses the networked potential of bloggers across the city to give a citizens guide of the best places to eat in town. You can filter your search by location and price and then go on to read the experiences of hundreds of diners. After you’ve chosen a place to eat you can return and place your own voice on the site! On the whole it is a fairly reliable indicator of a good feed, but unless you have booked, steer clear of any restaurants in the top 10 as they will almost certainly be full!

Also Check out

BROADSHEET MELBOURNE – Food/Drink and Culture

BAR ENGINE – Nightlife

BEAT MAGAZINE – Melbourne Music Guide

But, even better than any of these sites will be your friendly guide at reception who will be able to point you in the right direction for a great Melbourne experience.

• Arcadia – so close to our South Yarra property (this means you can stumble home!)
• Bridie O’Reilly’s – On Chapel St, it’s an Irish pub and lots of fun. An afternoon session is a must here. The perfect location for people watching, just grab a table out fron!
• The College Lawn - On Greville St. Sunday afternoons are the go for this place.
• Fog – Also on Greville St, you can get some nice cocktails here and the food menu is great.

• Borche Vodka and Tears – A polish restaurant and they have the most extensive AND DELICIOUS vodka drinks list! It’s a small place and if you want to go for dinner I would make a booking. The evenings usually see an older couple dressed in traditional Polish gear playing an accordion, very cute!
• Hoo Haa – You can grab a great Pizza or a casual dinner, after about 9pm the bar kicks off on Thursday through to Sunday. Hoo Haa has a great Vibe and is always a good place to start the night!
• Lucky Coq – Great any night of the week. They have $4 pizzas!! Woo! The décor has that ‘I found it so I’m going to use’ feel, but very chilled and its buzzing here most nights of the week.

• Orange Bar – A small, very chilled out bar/café. The vibe is often set by the person behind the bar. He plays whatever music he feels like listening too. Nice for a quiet sit-down drink.
• Railway Hotel – Has that pub feel with a bit of class attached to it. The upstairs area is great, and the best bit about it is that attached to the hotel is a 24 hour bottle-o!!!
• The Social – The crowd tends to be a little older (I suppose), a small bar with booths set up outside, couches along the wall and a dance floor towards the back. Decent music.
• The Windsor Castle – Friday nights are packed in the beer garden with an eclectic mix of drinkers. Decor is rainbow fantasia meets the tropics, with hurricane lanterns and straw umbrellas and palm trees. I would say one of the most popular drinking holes in the area.
• Bable – Next to the Coles car park. Great for breakfast or a hot or cold drink.

• Is It Café – Go just for the tagine breakfast…Oh so tasty!
• Mother’s Milk – Great for a quiet drink during the week, or a place to start the shenanigans of a Saturday night!

• Killing Time – Great music and a very cool crowd. A small bar which feels like your own backyard. I would recommend Saturday night. Start here then head to 161.

• One Six One – Go for the music and stay for the retro dance-floor. Thursday nights have live music.

• Electric Land Land – Again, great for a quiet drink during the week, or, Friday and Saturday nights here get very busy. More of a sit down kind of place with heaps of cosy corners to tuck yourself away in.

Please feel free to add anymore to the list! We are always looking for new places to go and to recommend to our guests!

Melbourne Cafés

So you may have noticed lately that there have been a few lists for the ‘top cafes’ in Melbourne. After trying out a few of them myself, I think I can justify putting one out there for you guys too! After all, Melbourne is famous for the coffee it resides! Feel free to add a few more as I’m sure there are infinite ‘top’ cafes in Melbourne.

Coin Laundry Café

Definitely a Melbourne café you cannot miss. Its quirky style shows us all what the essence of Melbourne is: fun, interesting and great coffee!

Conveniently located minutes away [by foot] from Armadale Station, Coin Laundry presents a beautiful and simply furnished café, in a quiet inner south eastern suburb locale, without the snotty attitude (No offence Armadale!). It was previously a real coin laundry but the boys have done a great job of fixing it up with some snazzy décor!
It is run and owned by a group of local ex-school mates, who work excellently together and you can really see their teamwork shine through.

Having recently gone for breakfast, I would strongly recommend the ‘Coin Laundry Breakkie’ but there are so many yummy things on the menu, it may take a while to choose! However, be prepared to wait to be seated, it’s no secret!

61 Armadale St, Armadale, 3143 * 9500 1888

Monk Bodhi Dharma.

Looking for the perfect coffee? One suggestion: Monk Bodhi Dharma. Hard name to remember? Yes. Hard coffee to remember? No. Fashionably hard to find? Yes.

Tucked away in the depths of Carlisle St, this little gem of a café lies awaiting to show off its house roasted coffee beans. Yep, they roast their own coffee beans in the café itself. They let the beans speak for themselves.

If you’re going in for a meal, meat lovers be wary, it’s a fully vegetarian menu.

You may have to search a bit for it, but, trust me, it’s worth it. Balaclava station is on the Sandringham Line (same as Middle Brighton) and it will take all of 15 minutes to get to Carlisle St, from Caroline Serviced Apartments Brighton.

202 Carlisle St, Balaclava VIC 3183* 9534 7250 * Weekdays 6:30am to 5pm * Weekends 8am to 5pm

Bossy Boots

What a gorgeous little café! In a world of high-end (and high priced) gastronomy, there’s something refreshing, almost quaint, about a cafe that labels its fare as homemade. And when it’s in a location that’s renowned for its ostentatious displays of affluence, it’s even nicer to know that you can schmooze with Melbourne’s finest and still greet the morning with a breakfast that gives you change out of $10.
Bossy Boots jostles for a slice of the seaside action on Bay Street and offers the aforementioned homemade provisions in a distinctly non-threatening environment. With understated decor that’s very, well, beige, there’s something about Bossy Boots that makes it endearingly homely, like you’ve just thrown open your pantry and the team at Bossy Boots have set up shop and made an ambrosial meal from your bare shelves.

You MUST try the orange cake, the most divine cake I have ever tasted!! Yes, you can hold me to that!
106 Bay St, Brighton * 9596 6825 * Mon-Thu 7am-7pm, Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 7:30am-5pm

Three Bags Full

No one has a bad thing to say about this thoroughbred café. This 2010 café is a brilliant addition to the industrial chic café scene that Melbourne does so well, this is attributable to the buildings history, it was previously the Denton Mills Hat Factory.

It’s quirky interior certainly adds to the husband and wife team’s successful café. With old street signs as seats, and cups and saucers as light fittings it (serious style), they’ve taken a gamble, and are now rolling in the winnings.

Like most Melbourne cafés, their coffee is one of brilliance. Accompanying the coffee is an incredible breakfast menu of at least 20 options on a fabulously bright yellow menu. Their lunch menu won’t be outshone by breakfast though, with beautiful salads and pastas and so much more. And check out their display cabinet! Full of yummy things like HUMONGOUS cookies and delicious muffins, you won’t be able to resist to grab something to take away!

This Melbourne café will not abuse your budget with most mains staying around the $15 mark. Go immediately.

60 Nicholson St, Abbotsford * 9421 2732 * www.threebagsfullcafe.com * Open Weekdays 7am-4pm, Weekends 8am-4pm

Miss Jackson Café

Wedged down an alley between halfway houses, backpacker travel agents and a few seedy nightclubs, Miss Jackson is a shining beacon of class in an otherwise classless (apologies to the Melbourne Wine Room, none such to the ever-so-trashy George lane-way bar) area. The café itself is a converted house that may be likened to more of a rabbit warren than a café. Yep, it looks a bit disorganised, but don’t fret yet!

The menu is brilliant. While not being terribly exciting, the execution of the food is incredible. You might think you could cook everything that’s on the menu, but it simply won’t be as good (that’s a challenge). The food looks amazing, the portions are perfect and it tastes spot on.

Venture out of our Brighton bubble and give Miss Jackson a go.
2/19 Grey St, St Kilda 3182 * 9534 8415

Grumpy’s Green

Who’s a vegetarian? Who’s not a vegie and is keen to eat some mouth watering food??

Grumpy’s Green is an all-in-one deal. It’s a bar, a restaurant and a café. The extensive menu encourages over-ordering, and you are guaranteed to experience massive order envy for anything you don’t get to try.

Foodies you won’t be disappointed, the food is seriously spectacular. Oh, the presentation, the service, the taste!

I would suggest to go as a group of 5 or less, just to ensure a comfortable dining experience and to increase the likelihood of actually finding a table! With an incredibly relaxed ambience, the set out reminds me of a pub than anything else. Despite all of the ingredients being sourced from Victoria and most of them organic, Grumpy’s Green is not only kind to the planet, but to your bank balance too as the prices are between $8 and $12.

Everyone’s welcome at Grumpy’s, including gluten and lactose intolerant foodies.

Grumpy’s seedy exterior may discourage you from entering, but go on, I dare you…

125 Smith Street, Fitzroy VIC * (03) 9416 1944

Las Chicas

A veteran in Balaclava. Open nearly every day of the year. Superbly crafted coffee, good service and consistent, fresh food. Breakfast all day and plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options. Excellent.

Las Chicas pumps all throughout the week but the friendly staff stay composed when the going gets hectic, delivering generous breakfasts from a menu split into healthy, vegetarian and non-veg.

Definitely a winner, give it a go.

203 Carlisle St, Balaclava *9531 3699

Big Mouth

What an all-rounder! With a mouth watering breakkie (The Big Ben Breakkie is a personal fav- think eggs Benedict) and lunch menu, delicious cocktails, and that buzz that is so St Kilda, Big Mouth hasn’t put a foot wrong.

It’s become a bit of an icon in St Kilda that does both winter and summer perfectly. Picture yourself after a perfect day on the beach in the hot Aussie sun, then strolling up to Big Mouth for that hard earned drink. Ahhhh, bliss! Or if you find yourself in the throws of winter (as we are very much in the middle of now), get cosy in the warmth (temperature and atmospheric) of the upstairs room.

Oh, and also, of course, brilliant coffee. The electricity of both the clientèle and the actual café is palpable. Take a peek.

Monday 9am-12am   Tuesday 9am-12am  Wednesday 9am-12am   Thursday  9am-12am   Friday 9am-3am   Saturday 9am-3am   Sunday 9am-3am

168 Acland St, St Kilda VIC 3182

Which ones have I missed??

“C’mon! Wake up; we’re going out for breakfast!”

‘Urgh…Just five more minutes…’ I thought!

Rolling out of bed, a little unimpressed I must admit, I hastily got dressed and ready to go.

We took the 10 minute drive down to Abbotsford, where tucked away amidst all the traffic and busy streets, lies a beautiful national park (The Yarra Bend Park) in which you can find the Yarra River lazily flowing through AND The Collingwood Children’s Farm.

There are huge arrays of nature walks you can choose from and joining the many other baby-strollers, joggers, bird watchers and fisherman we made our way around the park, taking in the crisp, fresh morning air. I couldn’t believe that this quiet little sanctuary existed right under our noses and I had never visited before!

Continuing our stroll we diverted into The Farm Cafe to feed our grumbling bellies, and there we sat amongst the cows, chickens, sheep, peacocks and fascinated little children while we sipped our delicious coffee and ate one of the tastiest breakies I have ever had (all produce comes directly from the farm and you can really taste the freshness!).

As if the animal distractions weren’t enough, it is even possible to hire a canoe for a few hours and drift your way down stream (or paddle up if you’re feeling that energetic!).

All in all, if you’re visiting Melbourne, or have just relocated to our beautiful city, be sure to check out this hidden little gem, right in the heart of the city (and fun for young and old alike!)!

It’s getting cold and gloomy and we all want to reach for our comfort foods!!!
When it’s cold outside comfort foods are often on the menu. The problem is that while they’re keeping us warm, they’re also expanding our waistline.
During winter we naturally burn more body fat because our body temperature is forced to adjust to the change in temperature (however, don’t use this as an excuse not to exercise because our body doesn’t burn enough on its own!)!

Winter is one of the hardest times to keep motivated and therefore many of us become lazy and our physical activity drops. This is why we need to be careful not to overindulge on the wrong foods.
To keep you headed in the ‘right healthy direction’, choose foods based on vegetables, meats, fruits, whole grains and dairy.

Planning meals in advance means we are less likely to snack on junk foods, however if you can’t resist the temptation I recommend having a low-fat hot chocolate or a small portion of your favourite treat.
During winter most of us want to snuggle up on the sofa and watch our favourite television programs. Instead try to organise time out to enjoy the company of friends and family, together you can motivate each other on starting a new exercise program rather than sitting at home.

Winter forces us to take exercise inside, and it is easy to find activities that will keep you fit whilst protecting you from the elements. Activities like yoga, dancing, boxing and the gym are all great winter warmers that you can do with your friends to keep you healthy.

In saying that, I’m going to give you my winter super foods that will keep you warm and healthy this winter:
• Green tea for antioxidants
• Vegetables, they are low in calories
• Citrus fruits are nutritious and a great source of vitamin C that will help fight infection
• Vegetable based soups (add some chilli to increase fat burning)
• Eating more meat and vegetables then over indulging in pasta, bread & rice
• Adding garlic & ginger to your diet as both have an antibacterial and warming effect, also a great support to your immune system.
• Limit high-fat treats such as pizza or dessert to once a week
• Focus on eating more good fats like nuts, oily fish, dairy and avocado

Come on and beat the winter blues with me! Get motivated with a new exercise program and a new and improved diet to keep warm and healthy!

Melbourne Winter Festival;

Running from 18^th of August to the 3^rd of September, The Melbourne Winter Festival is set to cast a spell over Melbourne this August – transforming the city into a winter wonderland and warming hearts with all the delights of an alpine snow-season abroad. Fall under the Winter Festival spell and enjoy some of the best entertainment your city has to offer. Glide across the oversized 1100 metre square outdoor Strepsils Cool Ice Rink with the first ever Ice fun Track, be warmed by cosy wood fires in the original winter-lands Alpine Ski Hut, succumb to the delights of the international Alpine food stalls and share a new-found love for your city this winter. Another highlight includes the St Moritz VIP Winter bar and Alpine food stalls with winter delicacies from alpine regions across the globe including Poffertjes, Glühwein and Swedish Meat Balls.

Be entertained by skating performances as dazzling ice skaters from Ice Skating Australia fly and twirl around the Ice Rink. New to Skating? Take lessons with Aussie Skate coaches and learn a move or two.

Entry to the event is free. Tickets for the Strepsils Cool Ice Rink and Winter Festival Packages are available on the website.

Melbourne International Film Festival;

From the 27^th July to the 7^th August, The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is an iconic Melbourne event with a devoted audience. MIFF hosts a feast of cinematic delicacies from over 50 countries for some 17 days each winter, heavily garnished with a range of parties and special events that envelop the CBD. In addition to screening the very best in world cinema, MIFF is Australia’s largest showcase of new Australian cinema and most vocal champion of both emerging and established local filmmaking talent.

MIFF has a rich history, celebrating 60 years in 2011 which makes it one of the oldest film festival’s in the world (one year younger than Cannes!). From its earliest days, MIFF has provided audiences with a unique window on the world and has acted as the leading intellectual and artistic catalyst in Australia’s screen cultural landscape.

The Festival enjoys annual admissions of 185,000, making it one of Melbourne’s significant public events.

Good Food & Wine Show

3^rd- 5^th June 2011.

Feed your inner foodie; Spend a day exploring the ultimate food and wine playground. Watch live demonstrations from celebrity chefs. Indulge yourself in a delectable array of local and international produce. See the latest in kitchen appliances and cookware and stock your pantry with new and exciting products.

Love Never Dies

22^nd May – 24^th June 2011.

Personally, I am so exited about this one, a musical lover at heart, this will probably be the highlight of my winter… now to get my tickets! – Anna

The world’s greatest love story continues in the musical LOVE NEVER DIES.

Having been seen by over 100 million people worldwide and having taken more than US $5 billion at the box office, The Phantom of the Opera is widely regarded as the most successful piece of entertainment in history. Now, the story of The Phantom of the Opera continues in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest musical masterpiece, LOVE NEVER DIES.

The year is 1907. It is 10 years after the Phantom’s disappearance from the Paris Opera House and he has escaped to a new life in New York where he lives amongst the screaming joy rides and freak-shows of Coney Island. In this new electrically-charged world, he has finally found a place for his music to soar. All that is missing is his love, Christine Daaé.  In a final bid to win back her love, the Phantom lures Christine to the glittering world of Coney Island with her husband, Raoul and their young son Gustave… unbeknownst of what is in store for her….

LOVE NEVER DIES will be the first new Australian production of an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical in more than 20 years – Directed by Simon Phillips, Choreographed by Graeme Murphy and Designed by Gabriela Tylesova. Melbourne will also be only the second city in the world to host the musical after London, setting the stage for a theatrical experience of a lifetime.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs exhibition.

From 22^nd April 2011.

Uncover the myths of Ancient Egypt when the captivating exhibition Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohsarrives in Australia. Learn the history and see artefacts belonging to Ancient Egypt’s ‘Boy King’ before this acclaimed collection returns to Cairo.

Untold riches
Discover more than 130 artefacts, including 50 from the tomb of Tutankhamun, and get an insight into the daily life and burial rituals of Ancient Egypt’s ‘Golden Age of the Pharaohs’. See statues, mummies, jewellery and weapons along with the crown from the young pharaoh’s resting place in the Valley of the Kings.

The chance of a lifetime
Don’t miss out on this remarkable exhibition that has broken attendance records all across the globe. The collection of Egyptian treasures comes direct from New York City after showings in London, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and forms part of the celebrated Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series.

And one for the kids… and big kids at heart!

Moscow Circus

April 28 – May 15

‘Renowned Russia performers together with exclusive International Guest acts from around the World, showcasing a performance of sensational skill and agility.’ Over 2 hours of breathtaking entertainment from the worlds most famous circus.

The Performers will astound you with a thrilling combination of acrobatic artistry, along with Incredible magical illusions – ” Its not possible how do they do that?”

Not only does the Great Moscow circus feature sensational death defying acts…. The Wheel of Death, but wait! The Grande Finale, the Highly Tuned Spectacular of Four Daredevil Motorbike’s from Brazil in the splitting ‘Globe of Death’ never seen before in Australia.
Watch in wonderment…. spellbound, at the precision juggling, silks, hula hoops Cubes, and the famous statue act, not forgetting the clowns, who will leave you in stitches!
If you thought you had laughed enough wait for the Wacky Ringmaster with his trampoline and the fastest somersault in the world.

So, get out there and enjoy this winter!!

Trivia hasn’t been the most popular choice of entertainment in Melbourne’s modern, fast paced society, which is why I was so surprised when my sister started going religiously every Wednesday. As it turns out, trivia is slowly climbing up the social ladder and there are so many restaurants and bars that are embracing the culture and offering trivia nights. Many bars and restaurants are holding trivia nights, mostly on a Wednesday or Tuesday, and they vary in difficulty, and some even have themes, perfect for you specialists out there!

I decided I had to check out a trivia night, so, apprehensively I must admit, I went along to my sister’s Wednesday trivia night with a group of friends to St. Kilda’s Treehouse Lounge (a great tapas bar on Carlisle St), and I was soon proven wrong! It was such a great night out, with a great atmosphere and yum food! Our team even managed to come second and won a bottle of wine! The Treehouse made it such a fun night with 7 rounds, including a ‘bevvie round’, where you got bonus points for buying drinks! Definitely my favourite round…

I started having a look at a few bars around Melbourne that offer trivia, some of which I have been to before and had no idea of their trivia antics! The College Lawn on Greville St in Prahran host trivia on a Wednesday. The College Lawn has the great feeling of a favourite local so you can really get comfy while quizzing!

After a few more Wednesday trivia nights at the Treehouse, I have to say I am a trivia enthusiast! That’s not to say I’m any good (at all!) but it’s such a fun night out to catch up with your friends, have a drink and (most likely) make a fool of yourself with the extra spontaneous rounds!

A few tips for your next trivia night:

-          Round up a team, include your mates that are talented in different areas- it will come in handy when you get that ‘outside the box’ question about Lord of the Rings!

-          Find a local venue and give them a call to confirm what time the fun begins (you’ll want to get there earlier to order a your meal and get settled in)

-          I’d also recommend booking a table because they can get quite busy!

-          Leave your inhibitions at home; don’t be surprised if you get called up to sing to gain a few extra points for the team! And remember, you can’t let your team down…

-          Think of a kick ass team name, one that will make your team shudder with excitement and the other teams with fear!

So go on, make a start and join the new trivia culture today! Grab a posse, a pint and happy quizzing!

“Wow! I’ve always wanted pink bed socks!”

As mothers Day creeps up on us yet again, I ponder what my mum thinks every time she opens her gifts. Each year mum is lucky enough to spend the second Sunday of every May opening boxes of chocolate and fluffy warm bed socks.  But does she really need another pair this year? I think not!

So, for all you fluffy sock buyers out there, I’ve given you the easy way out and done some extensive research on what to get my mum this year. Now, I promise to share my ideas, if only you promise to share yours!

Now there is nothing wrong with giving mum a bunch of flowers, but what about a bunch of flowers she can eat!? Edible Blooms provide gourmet chocolate bouquets, home baked cookie blooms, fresh fruit flowers and hampers including French champagne and specialty beers. They are based in Adelaide with stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Australia-wide delivery is available for most items, score!

Get something that will make even the daggiest of mums say “That’s cool!” Check out Cool Things’ online store for some quirky gift ideas. The Piggy Door Stop and Body Stroker are two of my favourites!

I often think that an experience is worth a thousand gifts…

Deals offers great deals in Melbourne with many businesses offering discounts on services, dining, great products and more.

With daily updates of discounts of up to 90% off the normal price, Deals.com.au is a great way to find gifts for mum. Daily deals include day spa treatments, Dining Packages, and great getaway deals.

Or alternatively (this is my favourite!!!), for the extreme Mummy, Red Balloon has everything from Rally Car driving, Helicopter rides, Barista courses, hot air ballooning and shopping (with champagne of course!) tours.

So when your mum opens her gift this Sunday, I’ll know who you (or she!) will be thanking – ME!

Do you have any other great Mothers Day ideas? I would love to hear them. Who knows, maybe I’ll be thanking you next year!

Over the Easter Break I headed to Melbourne’s Docklands to test my skills on the ice. It’s been at least ten years since I last ice-skated, and yet I was completely confident that a) I wouldn’t fall over b) I’d still be able to spin around in a circle and c) I would not break anything.

Well, guess how many of those things turned out to be false? Yep – all of them! But don’t despair, it was still so much fun re-learning the skills required to stay upright and move forward. My attempt at a spin was also responsible for my first and second falls on the ice! I think after you fall over once, you realise that it’s not that bad, and the only way you will get better is by continually trying to challenge yourself (and don’t worry about looking silly).

I saw a lot of other people who spent their entire time gripping the side wall and tentatively moving around the edge. Personally, I think that this will not help you improve at all because you would rely too much on that wall for support, and not start to understand how to bend your knees to gain better balance.

The breakage? No I didn’t break any limbs. It’s ridiculous really, because as I was taking off my skates I broke my thumb nail badly by scraping it on the boot. It bled, so I considered this a breakage! Hehehe.

Here’s why you should try ice-skating:

• Skating is great fun. It’s actually fun to do stuff out of the ordinary.
• It worked so many muscles that I didn’t realise it would (such as my abs, which were a bit sore the next day – probably from trying to keep balanced). Also I should mention that your quads, calves and glutes also get a nice workout too.
• There’s always someone worse than you! That’s right, if you’re embarrassed about falling or looking silly then get a lesson. The ice rink at Docklands is filled with people of all ages, sizes and skill levels. No one is just looking at YOU. Everyone is just there trying to get better.
• It’s very family friendly with fun things for kids to do on and off the ice. Even Homer and Bart Simpson were skating around the ice and helping the smaller children stay upright.
• You can also watch people practicing ice hockey! It may not be as huge in Australia as it is in North America, but it’s still impressive to watch the people training. I saw one kid who could barely see over the side of the rink, yet he was smashing the pucks into the goal with incredible skill.

If you have a spare couple of hours, and want to try something fun then definitely go ice skating at Ice House in The Docklands.

The Arts Centre, The Princess Theatre, Regent Theatre and Her Majesty’s Theatre. Melbourne certainly is London West End’s cousin! With so much to offer, Melbourne’s theatre culture will keep you entertained everyday of the week!

There are so many options, so there are no excuses, whether you’re a musical fanatic, ballet obsessed or a keen theatre goer!

The amazing musical ‘Hairspray’ has taken over the world and has collected an impressive 30 major awards. The smash hit musical follows Tracy Turnball, a big girl with big hair and big dreams, as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular dance show. Can this ordinary girl realise her dreams, inspire her mum and still have time to win the boy she loves? Only in Hairspray, welcome to the ’60s! I’ve been assured many times that Hairspray will have you laughing and crying throughout the show, I’ll be sure to give it a go! This gem of a production closes on the 1^st of May, so get in fast!

If a musical isn’t your thing and you’re after something to appeal to your dark and dramatic side, ‘Baal’ is a must see. The first play by one of the greatest theatrical minds of all time, Bertolt Brecht’s Baal is a work of astounding beauty and brutality.

I think the best productions Melbourne has to offer, are definitely circus shows. They impress you constantly and you’ll have your jaw dropped throughout the whole night! The brilliant Circus Oz is coming back to Melbourne this June (22^nd June to the 17^th July) to show off their unconventional and fantastical world of Steampunk. With powerful acrobatics, graceful aerial artists, knock-about comedy and live musicians Circus Oz brings you a daring and dynamic circus that will leave you on the edge of your seat, steamed up and howling for more.

Circus Oz isn’t the only acrobatic team that is leaving us screaming for more, Cirque du Soleil is landing in Melbourne on 25^th May (til the 3^rd June) to show case their world class show ‘Saltimbanco’. For a quirky night out that will make you say ‘wow’, you cannot go pass the extraordinary production Cirque du Soleil is guaranteed to give. The energetic and vibrant show features and international cast of over 50 performers and musicians from more than 20 different countries.

So take advantage of Melbourne’s arty side, as a local or a tourist, you’re bound to discover something that tickles your fancy!

For more information on what’s going on, head to http://thatsmelbourne.com.au/Whatson/ArtsandCulture/TheatreandShows