Aussie GP - I'm going!!

peteconnors · 7 Feb 2004, 01:31 (Ref:865989)

After months of delivering pizzas to the mass ungrateful in Shropshire (you know who you are!), I am pleased to announce that in a couple of weeks I shall be boarding the big silver bird to go down under for a while. Having never been there before, can anyone recommend anything worth seeing or doing while I'm down there. Obviously the tickets to the GP are already purchased, but I shall have plenty of other days to fill.

hgmonaro · 7 Feb 2004, 01:51 (Ref:866002)

where are you going? How long are you going to be here?

If in Melb for awhile, hire a car and go for a squirt along the GOR (Great Ocean Road) or hire one for 2 days and go over Mt Hotham. Of course there's the Penguins.. but I'm not going to recommend that!

Raglanparade · 7 Feb 2004, 01:53 (Ref:866004)

Well im from melbourne myself. I went to the GP in 1996 (the first year it was in Melbourne), and since then ive watched it at home.
Have you got grandstand seats or just a general admission ticket? If your in a grandstand then you will have a ball, but when i went in 1996 the general admission areas were pretty sub standard. I think they have actually made lots of viewing mounds around the circuit now though, which is good.
How long are you planning to spend in melbourne ?
There is Phillip Island with the Penguin Parade (and of course the MotoGP race circuit!) which you have to drive past to get the penguins !

There is Puffing Billy up in the dandenongs. its a old steam train that travels through some wonderful australian bush scenery, infact a visit to melbourne should visit the Dandenongs (they are a mountain range about 40kms) to the east of melbourne.. Lots of nice resturants and hotels and stuff up there, and the scenery is good. There is a lookout where you can look out over all of Melbourne up there.
Obviously there is the city center, always vibrant. Lots of shops to see and the likes.
There is the Melbourne Aquarium. The sydney aquarium is better so i would suggest see the sydney one.
Around the time of the GP in melbourne, i think the week or so before the GP, there is the Melbourne International Motor Show. Its at the Melbourne Exhibition Center next to crown casino on the Yarra River. Im not sure how much admission is but i dont think its too much, and there are plenty of cars to see.... they usually have at least 1 GP car on display plus all the usual stuff you expect to see at a motor show.
Bring some sunscreen as i feel it might be slightly warmer then where you are.. The again.. its melbourne... so dont expect miracles from the weather.
There is the Melbourne Zoo, i was just there last weekend and that is a good day out.. its about $18au to get in though. If you want more native animals your best bet is a trip out to Healesville Sanctuary.
Then, taking money and time contraints into consideration there is always Sydney and the Gold Coast which are a must. Remember, Australia is the size of Europe. Sydney is 9 hours away by car, and brisbane & the gold coast is over 2000kms away.
And if you like aboriginies and big rocks there is always Central Australia too. Youll never ever know if you never ever go !
IF you need anymore input about Melbourne let me know, because im from Melbourne.

-Jason

Raglanparade · 7 Feb 2004, 01:55 (Ref:866008)

Yeah the great ocean road is fun. I know Budget Hire Cars have a thing on them that you can only drive them 100kms in a day and ever Km over that they charge. Maybe its just better buying a Datsun 180b for a couple of hundred dollars and thrashing it around all the S bends ! now we are talking !
Mt Hotham is a nice drive too... but its a bit far from melbourne, the ocean road doesnt start for until torquay... and thats over an hour at least from melbourne... i know when i drive to geelong it takes me close to an hour.. and torquay is past there..
There is a lot to do.. just hope it doesnt rain

-jason

**GTRMagic** · 7 Feb 2004, 02:56 (Ref:866049)

Rent a car from Thrifty with unlimited mileage.

Isnt GP weekend also the Moomba festival week as well? Waterskiing on the Yarra and all that?

Raglanparade · 7 Feb 2004, 05:19 (Ref:866081)

Yeah, Moomba is around the same time. Waterskiing on the Yarra with the long jumping..
Unlimited Hire Car Km's... how were talking..
just be sure with the conditions of rental if you get one.
I am pretty sure you are not covered by the insurance if you drive the car on a gravel road and anything happens (you see i know a lot of gravel roads up mountain near my way.. they use them for the Australian Rally Championship

)..
Yeah i would do the ocean road, phillip island, and a drive up thru the hills to the east of melbourne.

-Jason

Mark Webber · 7 Feb 2004, 06:02 (Ref:866091)

I'm there . also the Melbourne Motor show is on to

jetsetter · 7 Feb 2004, 06:34 (Ref:866104)

You'll find plenty of things to do in Melbourne in GP week, you'll certainly not regret the trip.

Mr V · 7 Feb 2004, 08:03 (Ref:866146)

lucky

Hazza · 7 Feb 2004, 08:09 (Ref:866149)

I might be there too, i've just gotto earn the price of a ticket before university - the good thing about the new format is I can jet over in the morning intime for Qualifying (and V8s!!) and then jet back after the race

(Theory, that is)

**Peter Mallett** · 7 Feb 2004, 09:11 (Ref:866200)

This might be better in trackside?

Enjoy yourself.

jj2728 · 7 Feb 2004, 14:11 (Ref:866345)

i'll be there in spirit...........with spirits and the tv....

Knowlesy · 7 Feb 2004, 15:31 (Ref:866400)

I'm going green.......

ralf fan · 7 Feb 2004, 15:35 (Ref:866401)

Quote:

Originally posted by knowlesy
I'm going green.......

... and may I say the colour really suits you... it has done wonders to that face of yours...

Raglanparade · 7 Feb 2004, 22:18 (Ref:866644)

Hazza i agree with you. Unversity leads to arm chair motor racing as text books usually come before GP :S
-Jason

275 GTB-4 · 7 Feb 2004, 23:06 (Ref:866694)

Quote:

Originally posted by knowlesy
I'm going green.......

Is that a progressive GREEN knowlesy??

BTW re MELBOURNE - I don't think I have ever heard anything about permanent Motoring Museums, theme pubs - yes, probably something at PI, but are there any dedicated Motor Museums close to the CBD (reminds me, I must get to Echuca sometime!!)

peteconnors · 8 Feb 2004, 00:42 (Ref:866736)

Will arrive there on the 1st March, the return flight is for the 24th. Although its a minimal fee to change the date, given my current options in the UK, I might have my visa transferred if I like it enough! Probably better to buy a cheapy car while I'm there, as I can sell it on at the end. I'm staying with relatives, so if it doesn't sell before I leave it's no big deal. The Motor Show sounds good. I've heard that the Aussie police are well practiced in giving tickets out for speeding, how much truth is there to this?
I'm looking forward to it more than ever after tonight at work; gusts upto 65mph, rain, then hail. Then snow. Mind you, got a work mate in the tackle with a very icy snowball. Surprised I'm around to write this message!
I'm stopping in Hong Kong on route for a few days, any recommendations for there?

mmciau · 8 Feb 2004, 01:04 (Ref:866742)

You might also consider seeing the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide (750 Km west of melbourne) Australian V8 supercars are the main event

4 day carnival

http://www.clipsal500.com.au/

Mike

Mark Webber · 8 Feb 2004, 02:45 (Ref:866794)

I mentioned in another thread if there is a group of 10-10thers going we should all meet at the crown for a beer one night maybe the Saturday before race day

Mr V · 8 Feb 2004, 03:03 (Ref:866799)

If you do, have a

for me

Mark Webber · 8 Feb 2004, 03:21 (Ref:866805)

No prob's V

dynamicDynamo · 8 Feb 2004, 05:58 (Ref:866834)

Try going to an AFL footy game........there will be a couple on over the GP weekend......at MCG and Telstra Dome.....some of you internationals coming over may love it

Raglanparade · 8 Feb 2004, 11:35 (Ref:866977)

Oh yeah, an AFL footy game is a must !
As for the dedicated pubs question. im not sure really. maybe i should drink more beer.
Ive had my license for 18months now, and while i like to hammer my piece of **** rice burner around the suburbs i havent got a ticket yet... beware tho, there are lots of speed cameras around. there are fixed ones on most of the freeways in Melbourne. And then there are various Late model Mitsubishi magna's with cameras attached to the front of them (cops must have a contract with Mitsubishi ! )
The cops here arent that bad... just dont call them Pigs to there faces..
As for the Clipsal 500. The v8's will be supporting the f1's at albert park, so if you like them the next round is in adelaide !
and i think the Phillip Island historic car races are on in March this year too... ive been a few times..... f5000's.... old f1 cars... they had brabham there last year driving his championship brabham around the grand circuit!
so much to do,a nd so little time

-jason

ps. you can always get drunk at the portsea pub

grumpy1 · 11 Feb 2004, 20:05 (Ref:871120)

The Melbourne Motor Show is good.This years F1 line up there are confirmed Toyota Ferrari and Williams.There is a rumour doing the rounds that Mercedes Benz have been loaned a MP18 but thats only a rumour at this stage.If your a Ferrari nut then head to Lygon st.The Great Ocean Rd is a good drive but watch it as the road can get tricky to the average driver.If you want to see the goldfeilds head to Ballarat(1hr north of Melb).They put on a nightly show called blood on the southern cross which is good.Michelin will also have the F1 race simulator in Melb which you can have a go at.It will be at the track I belive.As for going I said in the tread that Mark was talking about I was going and I was to be at turn 4 in the corporate area.seems i had the location wrong.I was informed by the boss yesterday we are not at turn 4 as in previous years,but wait for it,this year the company (which shall remain nameless) I work for is located over the pits.I nearly wet myself when told.
Pete the police arn't as bad as made out but remember over here they carry guns so don't upset them.(only joking they won't shoot you).The ones you have to watch are bouncers(club sercurity) at night clubs etc.Some of them pray on people who are a bit under the weather.
Question for Mark are you going to orginse the location and time for this get together?

The Grumpy1

zonda · 12 Feb 2004, 01:26 (Ref:871402)

The historics at PI are the weekend before the GP. Will be going to that. Also there is the motorsport show on the week before the GP as well which whilst not the best will be worth attending. It is on at the Exhibition Buildings in Carlton. Its run by Mark Skafe's sister.

Apart from that there is plenty to see and do in melbourne. It will still be warm, so just kick back and follow the party for the week before / after the GP (The monday after the GP Is a public holiday)

Also for another good drive, go up towards Healesville and do the the triangle towards kinglake, or blackspur. Only problem is blackspur is so popular its very heavily patrolled by the boys in blue.

dave

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