Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

The wait is over!

It's time to step back in time and relive the memories and magic at Cherry Tree Lane.

Everyone has their favourite Mary Poppins song...was yours Chim Chim Cher-ee,  A Spoonful of Sugar,  Feed the Birds or Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?

(Sorry if you have that song stuck in your head for the rest of the day!)

Mary Poppins the stage spectacular is playing for a strictly limited season at Her Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne.  Based on both the book by Aussie   P.L. Travers and the 1964 film, it features new sub plots and songs.

It'll cost you over $130 for a good seat (you can grab midweek matinee seats in the stalls for $60) but unlike other musical theatre experiences (I'm talking about you Cats...meow!) you'll be floating out of the theatre feeling you absolutely got your money's worth.

But you know if you are planning an evening at the theatre dahling, you absolutely must make a night of it.

There a ton of fantastic restaurants near Her Majesty's Theatre.  For a list and locations check out this site.

And of course, for fantastic luxury accommodation in Melbourne check us out.

Her Majesty's Theatre. 219 Exhibition Street. Melbourne Victoria 3000.

Super - cali - fragi - listic - EX - P - I - A - LI - DOCIOUS!

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A Good Read

I love boutique...anything really!  I'm not referring to little, funky clothes stores but to little companies that strive to be a little bit different and provide that something extra to their customers.

Melbourne Books is a boutique publishing house that publishes works of both non fiction and fiction.  It also offers a self publishing service to authors who are finding it increasingly difficult to secure a publisher.

Australian writers should be celebrated and I'm chuffed to share this little gem that Melbourne Books has launched following the success of Award Winning Australian Writing 2008 at last year's Melbourne Writer's Festival.

This anthology provides an opportunity for talented Australian writers to showcase their short stories and bush poetry.  Several of Australia's most prestigious competitions are participating in the book.

It's a great way to promote Australian writers.

For those of you who have always envisaged yourself as a writer...(admit it, we all have a dream of writing the great Australian novel) why not attend the Melbourne Writers Festival?  For more info, click here.

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Let's get all arty farty....

So being a Melbourne girl, just like a diamond (Tiffanys if you are reading boy, hint hint) I tend to have different facets to my personality.

There's uber professional me.  You know the one that open all the emails as soon as they hit the inbox,  shows up for work on time, and never, ever has a sick day.  Well almost never :)

Then there's the little miss party pants me.  The one who can't wait for Friday night drinkies with the girls.

Next we have ex Melbourne Storm supporter me.  Honestly boys, WTF?!  You better win every game for the rest of the season just to prove a point.  Disappointing to say the least....

Of course we also have Super Mummy me.  Because girls can do it all * laughs hysterically *.

And then there's wildly intellectual, arty farty me.

So what's an art farty (no, I don't have a gas problem, honestly!) gal like me like to check out?

I love to check out The Rose Street Artists Markets when I have a free afternoon in Fitzroy.  They run every Saturday and Sunday from 11am till 5pm.  The Market is held in a disused yard in the back streets of Fitzroy and showcases up to 70 artist and designers each weekend.

Most of the artworks are a tad pricey if you're just after a souvenir, but there are cheaper items like hand drawn badges, cards or magnets priced from $3 - $5.  I love the atmosphere and finding quirky designers flogging their wares, like the guy who makes bracelets from forks and funky earrings by Kasame.

  

The Market has live entertainment as well as munchies for you to enjoy.

The Rose Street Artists Market, 60 Rose St, Fitzroy.

- Nicola 

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Back to Melbourne we go!

Hi guys!

Ready for the long weekend?

Well, I'm posting from my town this week and I thought I'd share with you one of my favourite touristy things to do in Melbourne.  This is the tour that I take all my non-Melbournian relatives on when they visit and it never fails to impress.

What am I referring to?

The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.

It glides through the city streets and onto South Melbourne, St Kilda, Prahan and Malvern.

You're welcomed aboard by a friendly maitre d' and served by the friendliest waiters I've ever met.  Although it's also open for lunch, we always go for the five course dinner in the evening.  Prices range from $82.50 for lunch (4 courses + drinks), $77 for the early 3 course dinner to $121 for the 5 course late dinner.  

Open bar.  

Figured out why I love it so much?

Booze aside, the food is always sensational.

My favourite so far has been the cognac pate for an appetizer, heavenly kangaroo (sorry Skippy) with tomato chilli jam for an entree, macadamia chicken with pesto, a selection of cheeses served with pear, and white chocolate and passionfruit parfait with praline and raspberry coulis for dessert.

* swoons *

I love my food.

It's a great way to introduce people to Melbourne but make sure you book early, it's so popular that it's often difficult to get a reservation.  The tram has all the modern conveniences you'd expect from a first-class restaurant (but no room for prams folk) with all the luxury and fittings from the period.

It departs from the Tramstop at Normanby Road near the Crown Casino.

For more info or to book give me a holler.

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ACTION...Kudos Villas

Hi guys, Nicola here.

Time to have some fun!

Kudos Villas provide you with all the indulgent pampering that you would ever require.  Makayla checked out the hedonistic packages that the villas offer.  

If you do decide to venture out of your villa, Hepburn Springs has heaps to see and do.

You'll notice that on every street corner and in every row of shops, you'll see a sign offering massages and spa treatments.  This is the heart of spa country, people!  The perfect destination for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The towns of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs are surrounded by more than 60 natural mineral springs.  Rich in minerals, the region's springs are believed to cure all sorts off afflictions from acne to athritis.

Want to earn your massage at the end of the day?

Try the Tipperary Walking Track.  It runs from picturesque Lake Daylesford to the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve.  It's a 5 hour, 16 kilometre walk that traces the route of the old water races cut by miners last century.  Look out for the Blowhole, a tunnel built to divert water and allow sluicing for gold.

Or you can visit Mount Franklin (yup, like the water bottles).  It's located 8km north of Daylesford.  The sheltered extinct volcanic crater of the mountain provides a great setting for a picnic (the Villas can hook you up with a basket full of goodies).

There's also Hepburn Springs Golf Club.  An 18 hole course with manicured fairways, in a peaceful bush setting.

My personal favourite activity is horseriding through the bush to the historic Swiss Mountain Hotel for lunch.  It offers pub grub at its absolute and unashamed best.  Hepburn Lagoon Trail Rides offer a scenic alternative to discovering the region.

But let's face it folks, you come to the area massages, treatments and the mineral springs.

Next up, Susan will find the best places to eat while at Kudos Villas.

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Exploring Victoria...Inspired by the Winter Games...

The 2010 Winter Olympics Games are currently underway in Vancouver, Canada (currently Australia has one silver medal, woot woot!)

I don't know about you but for those of us sweltering in the Australian summer, the images of all the supporters frolicking in the snow and more so, the fairytale Whistler resort...

makes me yearn for a skiiing holiday with the family.  Such a fairy tale setting!  Makes me want to pack my suitcases and grab the next flight to Canada. 

Until I realised I'd have to spend 22 hours on a plane.  With my children.

Um...maybe not. 

Time to check out what's available in good ol' Oz.

We took the kids on a snow trip a few years back and it was one of the best family holidays that we've had.

Although there is great skiing in New South Wales too, I think Victoria offers a better variety of snow fields and the snow is within easy access of Melbourne.  Whether you're a beginner or a pro, or simply want to throw a few snowballs at the kiddies, there are plenty of options to satisfy your inner snow bunny.  

We chose not to stay on the actual resorts (it can get pretty pricey), but picked a few different destinations so that we could drive around and explore the region.  That way we had the option of hitting the ski fields for a day and then relax doing other activities the next.  Snow is lots of fun but it can also be wet, miserable and cold.  Keep your options open!

Basically, the higher the mountain, the better the snow quality and the more chances of there being snow.

The Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges let you enjoy some of the best cross-country skiing in the country, tobogganing, snow play and alpine landscapes at Melbourne's closest snow fields.

In Gippsland, Mt Baw Baw and Mt St Gwinear offer the chance for you to enjoy skiing or snow boarding.

The High Country has some of Australia's most beautiful and accessible alpine regions.  Mt Buller, Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Mt Stirling, Lake Mountain and Dinner Plain give you a variety of destinations to choose from.  

You just need to know what sort of activities tickle your fancy and let someone recommend the best destination and accommodation.

PS.  And if you're not a fan of snow, the Australian Alps are great to explore in summer too!

Time to check the medal count, Go Australia!

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