Melbourne and Surrounding Areas | Welcome to Travel

6 Melbourne Instagram Accounts You Need To Follow

Darryl Newby — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 05:05:00 +0000

We All Know Instagram Is The Best For Travel Inspiration....

Instagram and its updates are always changing…and so are the creatives on the platform. Whether you’re searching for the best reels, posts, stories or even IGTV’s to consume these are the best accounts to follow for Melbourne in 2021.

Aside from being an incredibly Instagrammable city in it’s own right, there’s a big chance that Melbourne is the city you’ve been dreaming of. Whether you’re in the planning stages of your Australian adventure or you just have Melbourne on your mind, these Melbourne Instagram accounts will give you all the travel inspo you need.

1) @melbourneiloveyou

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A post shared by Melbourne - Chris Cincotta (@melbourneiloveyou)

@melbourneiloveyou is ran by Chris Cincotta. Not only is he a Melbourne legend, but a talented photographer that captures the true essence of Melbourne and its people. He is also the founder of @humansinmelbourne.

@melbourneiloveyou now shares other peoples stunning photos of Melbourne when you #melbourneiloveyou, so if you manage to get a beautiful snap of the city when you’re here, feel free to hashtag your life away!

Chris still gets behind the camera and captures Melbourne through a lens, often using his girlfriend @milymiss as his focus to compliment the city.

You can buy his prints, books and jigsaws at his website – melbourneiloveyou.com

2) @whereiskapa

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A post shared by KapaMelbourne (@whereiskapa)

@whereiskapa I’ll tell you where she is on Instagram bloody killing the reels game.

With 2.2 million views on her Sounds of Melbourne reel, along with millions of other views on her reels Kapa seriously gets Melbourne and it’s not just reels she offers.

A talented photographer with care factor for her audience giving more info in her guides around Victoria.

You want to make the most of this amazing city…follow her account.

3) @lushsux

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A post shared by lushsux (@lushsux)

If you have ever been to Melbourne you have seen @lushsux‘s work…and to be honest he will probably hate being on a blog like this.

His satirical, pop culture graffiti is always a talking point. From online beef with 50 Cent to poking fun at CEO’s such as Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, no celebrity is safe when @lushsux has a spray can in his hand.

It’s always a favourite on our Welcome to Melbourne tours to find his 15 foot Kim Kardashian and Em Ratajowski mural…good looking finding it

4) @oldvintagemelbourne

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A post shared by Old Vintage Melbourne (@oldvintagemelbourne)

There is something so wholesome about this account which made me put it in.

Seeing Melbourne through the ages just warms my heart, but also seeing it with worldwide icons like Arnold Schwareznegger and Dolly Parton make it mind blowing , it’s like two worlds have collided.

Curated by @chrismacheras he has found images which will take you back in time and @oldvintagemelbourne has been so popular that Chris is publishing a book with his favourite images captured over the years. A perfect gift for any Melbourne lover.

5) @welcometo.travel

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A post shared by Welcome to Travel | Australia (@welcometo.travel)

Hang on a minute…is this not a Welcome to Travel blog…well yes it is but there is a good reason why we’re putting ourselves down here.

Our Insta account is more for travellers looking to coming over to Australia maybe on a gap year or working holiday so they can be informed and see the places they want to explore. Whether you want to join us on one of tours in Melbourne or Sydney we hope our account inspires future travellers.

Also our improved Instagram game may also be due to the help and advice we received from the talented @benn_tk. The only reason he didn’t make the list is because he’s too busy travelling all over the world, but we know Melbourne’s still his favourite.

We may not have the biggest audience, but a little follow from you would be nice.

6) @jjzandt

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A post shared by Jeff van de Zandt (@jjzandt)

No creator has quite captured the lockdown mood of Melbourne better than Jeff.

It feels like when Dan Andrews changes from a North Face coat to a blazer and we’re due some bad news, we turn to @jjzandt to get us through those neggy times.

So on behalf of all of Victoria, thank you Jeff.

What now? Go follow these accounts, get inspired and come and experience one of the best cities in the world.

The post 6 Melbourne Instagram Accounts You Need To Follow appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Australia

Annisa Maher — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 01:47:51 +0000

We all know the things that Australia is known for:

Beautiful beaches and turquoise waters, barefoot surfers, icons like the majestic Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Opera House, quarrelsome kangaroos and cuddly koalas, barbecues, venomous arachnids, vegemite… The list goes on.

But what about the lesser known places and phenomena? Australia is, after all, the world’s biggest island with incredibly diverse landscapes and is the home of the oldest living culture in the world. So, we’re taking it upon ourselves to shine light on and pay homage to these wonderful things you didn’t know you could do in Australia.

Go jump in a pile of snow

Or go skiing, whichever you prefer. Many people seem confused with this one, but yes Australia does actually get snow in the mountainous regions in the south of the country.

While there isn’t an abundance of it, there’s certainly enough to create a cosy, wintery snow season in the months between June to September. Some of the best places to indulge in some winter sports are in the Snowy Mountains, the Australian Alps and Tasmania. Ski resorts such as Perisher, Mount Hotham, Thredbo, Mt Buller, Falls Creek and Ben Lomond are all popular choices, and offer terrains suitable for all difficulty levels.

But if you don’t care much for overheating in a big onesie while you speed down a snowy mountain with your feet attached to slides, fear not. You can still go and experience snow, sleep in a cute country cottage and sit by the fire with a glass of wine just like the Europeans do.

Places like Cradle Mountain in Tasmania, Oberon and Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales and Lake Mountain in Victoria are perfect for the wintery vibe. Cherry on top of the cake? Country pubs with working fireplaces are PLENTIFUL in Australia – do yourself a favour and check them out.

Go searching for some beautifully strange natural sights

If you’re intrigued by the natural phenomenon behind beautiful pink lakes, then you’ll be glad to know that you can feed that intrigue in Australia. The most popular and picturesque body of water with a bright pink hue, known as Lake Hillier, is off the coast of Western Australia. But there are actually various pink lakes all over Australia and definitely worth exploring.

Sydney’s known for a lot of things, but one thing that’s not as broadcasted as the Opera House? The Figure 8 Pools. These are naturally-formed tidal pools that are shaped perfectly as figures of 8 and are really quite aesthetically pleasing. However, they’re not easy to get to and sit on a dangerous rock shelf. So, if you want to see them, make sure you’re well informed on the weather, tides and swell and check the Royal National Park page for information.

Find out where and when these unique events are held

Just off the coast of Darwin, in the Northern Territory, you can find the Tiwi Islands. Wurrumiyanga is the largest community on the Tiwi Islands and is where the annual Tiwi Islands Football Grand Final takes place, as well as a popular art fair. Both of these events are incredibly significant to the remote Indigenous communities on the islands and are certainly worth checking out if you’re in the Northern Territory. The events are held in March – so pencil them into your travel itinerary!

Another event to chase in Australia is one for the books. The Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) is an extraordinary natural light display in the sky. The beautiful green, blue, purple and red colours really are a magical sight to witness. And guess what… You can see them best from Tasmania. It’s recommended to go looking for them in the winter months, but you can spot them all-year round. Go somewhere with little light pollution, and prepare to be mesmerised.

Check out some pretty extraordinary wildlife

We all know that wallabies, kangaroos and koalas are Australias’ sweethearts, and rightly so.

But many are unaware of the other magnificent creatures you can spot in the wild in this beautiful country. For example, did you know that one of the very few places you can take part in responsible (very important!) cage diving to witness the beauty of the largest predatory fish in the world, otherwise known as great white sharks, is near Port Lincoln, South Australia?

Speaking of fish, you can also tick off an epic item off your dream bucket list in Ningaloo Marine Park, by swimming with the largest of them all: the beautiful Whale Shark. On the Ningaloo Reef, they hold the highest rate of Whale Shark swim numbers in the world and only engage in eco-friendly tourism practices, meaning they ensure absolute minimal impact on the environment and marine life.

Didn’t know you could see PENGUINS down under? Well now you do! As someone who works for a tour company that includes this wonderful and unique experience in its itinerary, I know that people are SHOCKED at the idea of being able to witness these little waddlers in their natural habitat right here in Australia, on Phillip Island.

What about some unusual land creatures too?

Then let’s start off with the most unusual of them all: the Cassowary. Never heard of them? That’s what this blog is for.

This beautiful, but terrifying, exotic bird is essentially an emu that looks like it’s dressed up to go to a Mardi Gras festival. The Southern Cassowary is native to the tropical forests of Australia, so you can set out to North Queensland and try places like the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation for a glimpse.

And last but certainly not least, the adorable but less-known QUOKKA. These cute, smiley marsupials can be seen in the wild on Rottnest Island. Add them to your Australian bucket list and you won’t be disappointed. They’re coined the happiest animal in the world, and we completely understand why.

And for the lightning round...

Think sand dunes are cool? Well, we got those too, all around the country, and you can sand board down them.

Fascinated by volcanoes? When the Undara Volcano last erupted, it spat out 23 billion cubic litres of lava and made some of the largest and highest lava tubes in the world.

Intrigued at the fact that there’s a Spanish Castle somewhere in Queensland? I am equally as bewildered.

Never heard of the town Coober Pedy, where in summer it gets SO unbearably hot that they decided to build their houses, cafes and churches UNDERGROUND? I also just found this out.

I think that’s enough to get you started. Check out ANY of the wonderfully-Australian things above, and I guarantee you’ll feel a lot like Owen Wilson does in every movie he’s ever been in. Also, don’t forget to watch our tour guide/influencer queen Clauds talk about all of this in our latest video (below). If you’re looking for more advice on what’s absolutely not to miss in Australia, get in touch!

The post Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Australia appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

What Is A Tour And Why Should You Go On One?

Annisa Maher — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 02:56:43 +0000

For First Time Solo Travellers

Or less-experienced travellers in general, making decisions when trying to plan for the ultimate travel adventure can be incredibly daunting. How to get from one place to another, how to see everything you want to see in a certain amount of time. The list goes on. The good news is that going on a tour can make those decisions a whole lot easier and take the stress out of the equation.

I think tours are a really great way to ease into stepping out of your comfort zone. Why? Because everyone you are doing it with is in the exact same boat. A tour is essentially an organised trip that is guided and, honestly, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of organised fun?

Dispelling Myths About Tours

Group tours can sometimes get a bad wrap, particularly from adventurous souls who prefer to go their own way at their own pace, in search of a road less travelled by. But many don’t know that opting for a tour doesn’t mean you have to compromise on adventure, independence or more low-key destinations.

There exists the assumption that tours can be too large and impersonal, over-guided, and subject to a strict itinerary. While this may still be the case for some, this structure has changed dramatically in recent times. Most group tour operators these days now focus on offering flexibility, variety and smaller, more intimate tours.

It’s also important to note that group tours are not one size fits all. The number of types of tours are endless. But I can guarantee that you are bound to find one that suits your travel style and expectations and allows you to meet like-minded people.

Some tours choose to just scratch the surface and cover as many key tourist sights as possible. Others may choose a slower and more authentic approach that focuses more on educating travellers on the destination, culture and environment.

From sightseeing tours, to eco-tours, to adventure tours, there’s a myriad of options out there that are worth exploring!

The Value of a Guide

One of the biggest benefits of choosing a tour is the guide.

Tour companies will often employ local people, meaning guides often have first-hand experience living in and exploring the destination. This comes hand in hand with extensive knowledge of the area, along with its culture and history. Because of this, the experience is made ten times more authentic and personal, because you are being shown the destination through the eyes of an insider.

Local guides also have the hot tips: the hidden gems, the cutest locally-owned shops where you can buy gifts for your friends back home, and which cafe to get the best oat milk flat white from (if you don’t know what that is, you’re in for a treat).

A good tour guide is engaging, passionate and knows how to tell a story.

Having a guide show you around should feel like wandering around town with a mate. Exploring little streets and quirky stores, doing a bit of window shopping along the way, trading stories and anecdotes, popping into a bakery for a treat, taking some photos for the gram and finishing the day off with a nice cold beer and a burger at the pub on the corner. Throw some valuable insight and knowledge about the destination and culture into the mix, and you’ve basically got yourself a guided tour. Who would have thought?

Meet Like Minded People

Let’s not forget that travelling is all about meeting new people and sharing experiences with them.

So, what better way to do that than throw yourself into the deep end right from the start and spend days (or weeks) eating, drinking, sleeping and exploring with your own little travel crew?

There’s something really special about discovering new places with new people who are like minded and share the same passion for travel. It really does make the whole experience so much more enriching and memorable.

Take it from someone who works for a tour company and sees it every week. Travellers start the week off as complete strangers, all from different walks of life, bringing their own experiences and stories to the table, and over the course of the week they become such a tight-knit family that by the end, they don’t want to part ways.

You never know what could happen. Whether it’s finding the perfect summer fling to get you over your breakup or meeting friends for life that you will go on to travel with for years. The possibilities are endless!

The sense of community that comes hand in hand with people choosing to go on an adventure together is pretty heartwarming and in my opinion, is what travelling is all about.

Avoid Logistical Nightmares

Sometimes, it’s best just to leave it to the experts to take care of the logistics.

Don’t want to be blind sighted by national park fees that you were unaware of? How about left desperately searching for the nearest gas station? Or having to deal with a bus or accommodation booking gone wrong when you’ve had approximately 2 hours of sleep and a ton of tequila?

If you opt for a tour, not only does it often make more sense financially, but EVERYTHING is organised and taken care of for you. This means that you have more time to just be, enjoy and take it all in without worrying about where to be, how to get there or what to do.

To put this into perspective, let’s take Fraser Island as an example. Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, and a must-do destination on the East Coast of Australia.

No roads means the only way to get around is by driving around the island, on the sand, in a 4×4. Yes, it’s exactly as cool as it seems.

Doing a guided tour is HIGHLY recommended because not only is the island HUGE and remote, it’s also dangerous if you don’t understand the tides. As in, you could end up in the ocean if you miscalculate when high tide is.

On top of this, wouldn’t you just rather have all of the boring stuff (food, camping gear, transport) already sorted for you so you can spend your energy on frolicking in the pristine freshwater lakes, cruising down lazy rivers, driving like a rockstar on the beach and drinking beers by the fire?

So How Do I Find The Right Tour For Me?

You do want to make sure that you pick a tour that’s designed for travellers like you, has the vibe you’re looking for and has good reviews so make sure you do your research!

Watch some YouTube videos/travel vlogs and read some blog posts by people who have done the tour or by the company itself. These can really help give some insight into what to expect, what the company is like and if it’s for you. Word-of-mouth recommendations are usually quite reliable!

Go on the company website and even reach out to them. We all understand that this is a difficult decision to make, so we’re more than happy to answer your questions or paint a better picture for you. At the end of the day, we just want you to have an unreal and unforgettable experience, because a good tour is one you will never forget.

Still want to learn more?

Then our legendary guide Clauds has made a video below just for you.

The post What Is A Tour And Why Should You Go On One? appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

When Is The Best Time To Take A Gap Year?

Annisa Maher — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 02:45:15 +0000

It's The Question Worth A Million Dollars...

Or at the very least, a couple thousand. When is the perfect time to take a gap year? If you’re indecisive by nature, it’s a question that will make your skin crawl. And even if you’re a decision-maker, you’ll still wonder ‘what if?’

What if I go now and miss out on opportunities that may never come up again? What if I’ve done all I need to do, but now it’s too late? We’ll go over all of the benefits and reasons for taking a year off to travel at different stages of life, but spoiler alert: there is no perfect time so if you’re thinking about it, just bloody do it.

Why Not Straight Out Of High School?

Just finished high school, ready to put down the books for a while and take a year off to figure out what the next steps are? Well why not do it in a foreign land, where you can try new food all day and meet people from all over the world? There is a lot of pressure placed on young adults today to know exactly what they want to do when they finish school. This pressure isn’t helping anybody – it will either push us into something that we may end up regretting or make us miss out on so many other opportunities that we were blind to.

There is no doubt that travelling on a gap year will allow you to experience new cultures, contribute to your personal growth, help you to develop life skills and teach you independence and maturity. With these new skills and experiences, you will be better prepared to tackle what comes next, whether that’s more study, work, or even more travel. So if leaping into the unknown sounds appealing to you, leap. Enjoy this moment and use it to be carefree and feed your curiosity. You won’t regret it.

After University?

If like most, you decided to jump straight into more study after high school and now have a degree/diploma/certificate under your belt, you’re probably aching to switch off, get out there and get amongst it (it being everything). One of the great benefits of taking a gap year after university is that you can now complement your academic knowledge with real world experiences. You’ll have the opportunity to strengthen your intercultural competence, learn a new language and develop street smarts.

Don’t underestimate the power of soft skills that so many people look for in potential candidates: open mindedness, time management, social skills, stress management and teamwork, to name a few. These are all strengths that come hand in hand with travelling to new, exciting places, stepping outside of your comfort zone and demonstrating a willingness to challenge yourself. All of these things will ultimately make you more attractive to employers and more valuable in the workplace.

So, don’t question whether taking a year off before entering the workforce is a smart decision, and certainly don’t worry about employers not taking you seriously because of it. Gaining a global perspective, reflecting on your strengths and working on yourself and the way you deal with those around you will make you that much more hirable in the long run. What have you got to lose?

After Working For A While?

Decided to get a job straight after university and have now found yourself in a role you don’t love, lacking motivation or drive, or simply feeling like you’ve missed out on the opportunity to explore more of what the world has to offer? OR have you found a job you love in a field that you’re passionate about, but before progressing to the next stage of your career, you’re looking to work on your strengths and get some more real world experience? Take a gap year. Sometimes, when we feel like our motivation levels at work are stooping, it’s because we need to push the reset button and reassess what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and what we need to do about it. Travel can help you do just that. It can be the vehicle to help you understand yourself better as well as the world around you; it can create a space within which you have the freedom to take a step back and re-evaluate your purpose and passions.

Travel is hands down one of the best things you can do to make yourself a more understanding, organised and adaptable human in an increasingly competitive world. It throws curveballs at you that in turn will make you a better decision-maker and problem-solver which, spoiler alert, are two very desirable skills to have. So once again, if your body and brain are telling you that you need a break, listen to them and book a plane ticket.

How About When You Just Need A Change?

Packing your bags and going on an adventure when you’re in need of a change can ONLY do you good. Whether you’re looking to switch up your lifestyle a bit, make a career change, deal with a rough breakup or shift your mindset, travel will give you the space you need to look at the bigger picture and understand what you need to do to grow from your experience.

Need some time alone with your thoughts? Go on a long hike and reflect with no distractions. Find comfort in food? Plan a full day of exploring different elements of a new and exciting cuisine. In other words, eat all the things. Due for an appreciation check? Go have a swim in the ocean, let the salty water on your skin dry in the sun and be one with nature. Travel gives you the wonderful opportunity to take a breather and check yourself before you wreck yourself. Meeting new people, tasting new things, opening your eyes to new cultures and chasing sunsets will help you re centre, redefine your meaning of life, help you find your place in the world and reinvigorate your soul. It sounds ridiculously corny, but it’s true.

There Is No Perfect Time

So if you can’t stop thinking about it and any or all of the above arguments speak out to you, pack your bags. There’s a whole world out there waiting for you to explore it, and there are always going to be reasons to say no. Don’t miss out on an opportunity that could ultimately change your life just because you’re feeling pressured to stick to the status quo. Eat the food, watch the sunsets, meet the people and feel the feels.

If we haven’t already made it obvious enough, we think Australia is the perfect place to start exploring. We also know the perfect tour to set you up for your year-long (or longer) adventure.

The post When Is The Best Time To Take A Gap Year? appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Why Melbourne Is A Great Place To Work On Your Gap Year

Darryl Newby — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 23:02:44 +0000

You may have guessed it already, but we really love Melbourne and everything it has to offer.

We’ve written a blog on why it’s such a good place to start your travels, but why is it such a great place to work when on your working holiday / gap year?

Forever Feeling Like You're On Holiday

And that’s the way it should be. There’s no point travelling to the other side of the world to just work, you should be there for a reason so you can see new places and experience new things.

Something people don’t like about their working routine is nothing is new day to day and that can be mundane.

The beauty of being on a working holiday is everything is new and there’s so much to explore.

Weekend after weekend you could go seek out a new place. One weekend you could meander down the Great Ocean Road, one of the best drives in the world.

The next weekend you could hiking and wildlife spotting in either Wilsons Promontory or the Grampians. There’s so many places within such a short distance!

Also, that’s just on weekends. What about after work? When it’s cold and grey you want to go home, get the kettle on and never leave the house again. I’ve mentioned it a few times before but working in a hot country revitalises you when finishing work.

After work you could go paddleboarding in St Kilda, relax in the Botanical Gardens or check out a gig at the Myer Bowl.

On top of that there’s City favourites such as the Noodle Markets and the Queen Victoria Night markets to fall in love with.

Something that will be a struggle for you is Rooftop Bars. Not the fact you won’t be able to find one, the fact you won’t know which one to pick. Whether it’s Loop, Good Heavens, Imperial or Madame Brussels, you’ll feel lucky to be working and living in Melbourne when you’re overlooking the City sipping on a mojito in 27 degree heat at 8.42pm on a Thursday in February.

The Wage & The Sectors Of Work

We’ve mentioned it several times but earning a lot more money than you’re used to earning is a great additional bonus to your working holiday.

Working in a café or bar on minimum wage in your hometown may suck, but working in a café or bar on minimum wage on a part time job in Australia would mean you’re earning $19.49 an hour but it’s more than likely you’ll be on a casual contract meaning your minimum wage will be $24.36. Not bad hey!

I’ve used bars and cafes as there’s a lot of them, Melbourne has a healthy snobbery towards hospitality. It is the self-proclaimed coffee capital of the world and is obsessed with café culture. It’s where the finest chefs in the world have brought their restaurants (Heston Blumenthal, Shannon Bennett, Nobu Matsuhisa). On top of that every back laneway door reveals another bar with another quirky difference, with cocktails being a theme prevailing more often than. If you want a job in hospitality then you’re in the right place.

Melbourne’s in the middle of a boom, meaning trade work is easy to come by. Want to work in retail? No worries, this is a City in love with shopping!

If you fancy something more office based then that’s fine too. This is a global City with young professionals working in every aspect of office life, recruitment, IT, Consultancy, Journalism, you name it, Melbourne has an opening in it.

If you’re English speaking and a teacher in your home country then you could even land teaching work here.

If I were you I’d be supremely confident about getting a job here.

This Means You Can Treat Yourself

We’ve mentioned above that the diversity of the City, weather and local beauty spots can make it feel like you’re constantly on holiday despite the fact you’re working.

This is an extension of that. The things mentioned already are quite low cost but your increased wage can mean you can treat yourselves on that bit more often.

You could even take things a bit further and jump out of a plane and feast your eyes on the City Skyline from 15,000ft as you Skydive over St Kilda Beach.

Going further out of the City you could treat yourself to relaxing in the hot pools in Mornington or maybe go on a wine making your way around the Yarra Valley.

You’re a sports nut? You’ll be fine here. Melbourne is the only City in the world that has TWO public holidays for sporting events and you can launch yourself in to their obsession as it’s so damn affordable, especially if you’re working!

In the Spring (September-November) you can throw on your glad rags on the first Tuesday of November as you attend the Melbourne Cup (Horse Racing @ $50 upwards) then in the Summer (December – March) you can watch both domestic and International cricket at the MCG ($20 upwards). Not for you and tennis is more your jam? That’s a relief as we have the Australian Open (first Tennis major on the calendar) here in January! Grounds passes start at around $35!

If you’re here in the Autumn and Winter (March – September) then that’s fine too as there’s just as much going on. There’s Soccer, Rugby (both codes) and AFL (Australian Football League, $15 upwards).

If traditional sport isn’t your thing then go check out the F1 Grand Prix at Albert Park at the end of March. It’s the first of the season and a global event. It’s also pretty well priced at $90.

As if that wasn’t enough Melbourne holds events in MMA, Darts, Snooker and Swimming. You won’t be starved of sport in this City!

Sports Not Your Thing? That's OK.

Whether it’s Manchester or New York, a cool City must have an influence from the arts and Melbourne sure does.

A city needs arenas to attract big acts but the lifeblood of a City’s music scene is in the indie clubs and rock bars and with choices like Cherry Bar, Old Bar, The Espy, Prince of Wales, The Tote, Melbourne has its fair share. Visit them.

If you prefer music of the festival variety, Victoria is home to some of the best of Australian festivals such as Rainbow Serpent in January, Falls Festival over New Years or the famous Laneway festival held right in the CBD itself.

Melbourne loves its music but it has diversity across the arts, boasting an international festival in comedy and film and musical residencies such as the Book of Mormon. It’s also 1 of 3 Cities chosen to host a residency of Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, that’s pretty good going.

Maybe you just want to shop until you drop? Well then look no further than the thrift shops of the North or the retail mega mall (biggest in Southern Hemisphere!) of Chadstone, whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it.

And that’s not even everything. Melbourne loves events and hosts things such as the Food and Wine Festival and Sustainable Living Festival and hundreds more!

There are undoubtedly some wonderful places to do a working holiday. Some have the weather, some have a great live music scene or diverse food culture, maybe even an abundance of sport to view.

What’s the thing that sets Melbourne apart from any other city in the world?

Melbourne has it all.

The post Why Melbourne Is A Great Place To Work On Your Gap Year appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Mornington Peninsula | The Most Underrated Place In Australia?

Darryl Newby — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 01:25:45 +0000

Mornington Peninsula has everything you could ask for.

Breathtaking views, secluded beaches and wine. What else? It’s only one hour from the worlds most liveable city – Melbourne, Australia.

The post Mornington Peninsula | The Most Underrated Place In Australia? appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW | We’re Loaning The Most Liveable City To Vienna – Melbourne

Darryl Newby — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 00:32:28 +0000

With the shock news that Vienna, Austria has stolen the ‘World’s Most Liveable City’ crown from Melbourne.

We here at Welcome To Travel was able to secure an exclusive interview with the actual city to get their thoughts on the whole debacle.

It’s surprising, sat with a confident, nigh on but not quite smug demeanour, Melbourne looks calm as if it’s just another day. They’ve thrown on a baggy jumper from the thrift shop, sprayed on their jeans and taken 40 minutes to lace up their 100% vegan Dr. Martens.

Today isn’t a normal day though is it, today is the day after Melbourne lost something they thought was theirs (it has been for 7 years), the title of World’s Most Liveable City. When we called Melbourne for an impromptu meeting we expected a tongue lashing at best or a protest down Swanston St with placards berating us at worst, but we got lucky.

Just 2 hours later we are sitting on an old milk crate in the rain watching this beautiful City muse as they sip on a coconut milk half strength latte, stopping only to run a 2 inch comb through their beard. Melbourne is here to chat.

Welcome To Travel: First of all thank you for meeting us on such short notice, you must be pretty upset and we can’t even begin to appreciate what you’re going through.

Melbourne: No, not really. It’s fine, it’s meant to be isn’t it?

Welcome To Travel: But you have won it for the past seven years. It must mean something to you?

Melbourne: It’s background noise for me to be honest. I don’t need an award to know I’m doing something right.

Welcome To Travel: So you wouldn’t have liked to win it an 8th time?

Melbourne: Well I’ll win it an 8th time at some point won’t I? It’s not going to Vienna for long is it? To be honest, I’m kind of busy this year anyway.

It’s at this point I’m startled yet intrigued. While it’s hard to keep Melbourne on track in between talking about them actually being the first capital and Sydney having lockout laws (and Melbourne not), I need to hear more. Yes it’s now 42 degrees after 20 minutes ago being positively baltic but I just have to know, how can a City be too busy to take out such an honour?!

Welcome To Travel: Oh. Busy? How busy?

Melbourne: By the time I’ve listed the events I’m hosting this year they’ll have announced the most liveable city of 2019

Welcome to Travel: No go on, tell us a few.

Melbourne: Ok, so I’m hosting VidCon next month and even WWE later in the year. That’s not even mentioning the fact I’ve just hosted the State of Origin and I don’t even care about it, that’s for NSW and Queensland.

Welcome To Travel: Is this on top of The Australian Open and F1 Grand Prix?

Melbourne: Oh you’ve heard of those? Finally a journo that’s done their research. You know we’ve got the Melbourne Cup and Grand Final too yeah? That’s the AFL Grand Final yeah, it’s our official religion.

Welcome To Travel: Jesus, you are busy!

Melbourne: Exactly, can you imagine me having the time to lobby for an award too?

Melbourne: I’m also hosting more gigs than you can even imagine. Pink, Taylor Swift, you name it they’re coming.

Welcome To Travel: Ok I think we get-INTERRUPTED

Melbourne: You know I let Ed Sheeran play a secret gig this year too?

Welcome To Travel: Yes, down Hosier Lane? I saw that.

Melbourne: Yes, I loaned him Hosier Lane for the morning, like I’m loaning this award to Vienna really.

.@edsheeran is giving us life right now. This is actually PERFECT. #iHeartAwards2018 pic.twitter.com/NYkVSXT1Xy
— iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) March 12, 2018

Welcome To Travel: So we know you’re hosting events, that can’t take up all of your time though. You have people to do that for you. Surely you have time for an award?

Melbourne: Oh you’re right, that’s just a part of my job. The events are not just events, they’re a responsibility, as are many other things.

Welcome To Travel: Such as?

Melbourne: Well take the comedy festival for instance, it’s important to make people laugh, it keeps them happy. Food and drink keeps people happy too, so I make sure I have the best food in the world, as well as the best coffee, hence me not having many Starbucks here. I told them they’d be no good here. Why would everyone want an overpriced pint of syrup flavoured coffee when they could get a sumptuous cup of joy at a fair price from their local barista? No brainer!

Welcome To Travel: Good point, what else is important?

Melbourne: Educating people. If you want impressive awards, in 2008 I won my favourite award. UNESCO made me the world’s second ever City of Literature, that’s my proudest achievement. It’s why I have one of the first public free libraries in the world and it’s why we have a huge amount of Universities. Education is important.

Welcome to Travel: I didn’t know that!

Melbourne: Not many people do. I haven’t even mentioned I made all the trams in the City free a few years ago. That keeps people happy too, especially tourists

Welcome to Travel: It must do. That’s an amazing win for tourists! Do you know how much money I paid to get around London last month?! It must be incredible to welcome so many tourists?

Melbourne: It’s my favourite thing to do, make others happy when they see me and when they leave me. I want to ensure people from all over the world love what I’m doing and never forget me. Nothing is better than hearing people tell their friends that I’m the best City in the world and they must visit me, nothing tops that. I am lucky too though.

Welcome To Travel: How so?

Melbourne: Well I’m at the bottom of the country it kind of self appoints me as the best place to start a trip doesn’t it? Also I have made sure it’s easy for people to visit me by organising great value flights from all over the world.

Welcome To Travel: I think I’m beginning to get this.

Melbourne: Are you?

Welcome to Travel: I think so…

Melbourne: Free transport, education, sport, comedy, music, culture, food and drink…and you’re only just getting it?

Welcome To Travel: I’m definitely getting it. All of these things, they’re what makes you special aren’t they? The most liveable City in the World you could say? And on top of that you also have beautiful beaches and amazing wineries down Mornington Peninsula, just one hour away from you and can go surfing and see penguins at Phillip Island.

Melbourne: You are right, you really are getting it and in 2019, we’ll get the award back.

Welcome To Travel: Wow, Melbourne, you’ve surprised me. To be honest I thought you were a bit sure of yourself, I didn’t get it at first.

Melbourne: Don’t worry, you’re not the first, no-one gets it to begin with then they arrive to Melbourne and go ‘Now I see what all the fuss is about’. So I’m happy that Vienna has the award for this year, I can come kickback with you guys on your 8 day tour and show everyone why I’m the best city in the world.

Welcome To Travel: We would love to have you on our tour. Thank you for your time and everything that you do for Australia.

Melbourne: It’s my pleasure.

The post EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW | We’re Loaning The Most Liveable City To Vienna – Melbourne appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Things Never Said In Thailand

Darryl Newby — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 04:20:21 +0000

WE FOLLOWED UP A HIT!

After out first video ‘Things Never Said By Backpackers’ went crazy we kept getting asked to do a follow up.

Fortunately we had already written this and had a flight booked to Thailand, but there a few crazy things in Thailand that we forgot about since we were last there.

Now we’re wondering what our next video should be.

The post Things Never Said In Thailand appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Things Never Said By Backpackers

Darryl Newby — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 03:22:57 +0000

Things Got A Little Crazy After Uploading This!

In just 7 days this video about backpacking and specifically staying in hostels we reached over 5 million views! SAY WHAAAAAAT!

It is great to know that all of our hostel and travelling experience in Australia resonated with so many people and it had an incredible reaction, even LADBible shared it.

We’re making more videos like this, so keep an eye out in the future, but for now if you have any questions about backpacking feel free to contact us HERE.

The post Things Never Said By Backpackers appeared first on Welcome to Travel.

Bloggers Thoughts On Melbourne: Totally Sam’s World

Darryl Newby — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 09:00:50 +0000

Totally Sam’s World is an informative and thoughtful travel and lifestyle blog written by Samantha Smith.

Sam is originally from the Hampshire, UK and after travelling the world and ticking off a lot of her travel goals and pole-ing around the world she has decided to live in Australia.

We caught up with her to find out her thoughts on Melbourne!

First things first...where in the world are you right now?

I’m currently based in beautiful Byron Bay. I’ve been here for almost four years and despite hating it at first, I’m now embracing/loving the slower, alternative, more relaxed pace of life!

Melbourne has been voted the most liveable city 7 years running and you lived here. What is your personal opinion of the city?

I loved living in Melbourne, it kind of reminded me of a mini London (with added beaches!). Melbourne has an excellent art/music scene, with fantastic nightlife diversity, amazing coffee, great shopping and a huge range of things to see and do. I love the food in Melbourne too, I actually gained like a stone in weight during the small amount of time I was based there for!

If you were going to show your best friend from overseas around, where would you definitely take them?

We’d start with a breakfast at Vicolino, followed by a wander down the laneways, looking at the awesome street art. We’d then catch a tram and explore the Botanical gardens, State Library & Southbank, then to Bruns for lunch. Hopefully the Rose Street Artist Markets are on, as they’re a great place for crafty gifts. Then to the beach, followed by and drinks on Chapel Street in the evening. I love bar hopping in Melbourne, there are so many good places to go! (non of which I remember the names of!)

Quick fire round –
Favourite bar?

There was this epic rooftop bar but I have no idea what it’s called,..oh wait its called Cookies Rooftop Bar.

Favourite secret spot?

Eau De Vie (another bar – because we all know backpackers love a drink.. or two!)

Favourite beach?

In Melbourne, probably St Kilda, as it has cool vibes.

From Melbourne, I’d say Cape Woolamai on Phillip Island

Favourite place to eat?

Chin Chin, if I’m feeling fancy, Shanghai Village if I’m skint.

A post shared by @chinchin on Feb 21, 2018 at 12:38am PST

You started off as a backpacker and stayed in Australia. Why?

I always had this feeling that I didn’t belong in the UK. I had an overwhelming desire to be somewhere else! As soon as I landed in Australia, after 4 months backpacking South East Asia, I just knew that here was where I belong and everything kind of fell into place rather nicely. I love Australia; it’s a country of beautiful destinations, wonderful people, interesting wildlife, delicious food and happy & healthy lifestyle.

What would be your one piece of advice for people thinking about travelling?

If you want to do it, then go! Don’t overthink it or talk yourself out of it; it will be the best decision you ever made! And remember. there is no set path… just follow your heart.

The post Bloggers Thoughts On Melbourne: Totally Sam’s World appeared first on Welcome to Travel.