Smart Traveller

The Australian Grand Prix is the second Grand Prix of the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship season and is due to take place on the weekend of the 25^th to the 28^th of March 2010 at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. If you’re planning to head out to Australia to see the race, here is some information about Melbourne and some of the other things that you can see and do whilst you are there.

Melbourne Overview

Melbourne is situated in the south of Australia and is the capital of the state of Victoria. Famous as both a city of culture and a city of sports, Melbourne attracts visitors from around the world.

Getting to Melbourne

The city’s main airport, Melbourne Airport, is only 25 minutes’ drive from the city’s Central Business District and many international airlines provide flights to Melbourne from the UK and other countries.

Albert Park Circuit

The Albert Park Circuit is about 30 minutes’ drive from Melbourne Airport. If you’re planning to watch the 2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, it’s best to travel to the circuit using public transport as car parking spaces are limited.

The circuit is temporary, as it includes public roads, so the fencing and grandstands are erected each year and then taken down again after the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. The track circles the Albert Park Lake and is 5.3km long.

Melbourne Hotels

Melbourne has many hotels, guest houses and bed & breakfasts, as well as  self-catering accomodation. If you fancy splashing out, try The Langham Melbourne Hotel in the suburb of Southbank. This 5-star hotel overlooks the Yarra River and has a number of different types of rooms and suites: Classic Rooms, River View Rooms, Corner Deluxe Rooms, The Langham Club Rooms, The Langham Club Spa Suite and the Presidential Suite. The hotel’s facilities include a restaurant, a bar and lounge, a spa, a fitness centre and an outdoor heated swimming pool.

Other hotels in Melbourne include the Hilton on the Park Melbourne, The Westin Melbourne Hotel, The Hotel Windsor and the Novotel Melbourne on Collins.

Attractions in Melbourne

Melbourne is packed with attractions, so if you are planning to stay there for a week or two, you won’t be bored.

Melbourne grew into the important city that it is today as a result of the Gold Rush in the mid-19th century, and you can see some of the important buildings from this time by walking the city’s Golden Mile Heritage Trail.  Melbourne also has some excellent museums and galleries, including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne Museum and the National Sports Museum.

Other popular attractions in Melbourne include the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Zoo and Melbourne Aquarium.

Melbourne is a cosmopolitan city and has excellent shops, restaurants, theatres and bars, so you should be able to find plenty to do there whatever your tastes.

Essential Information

The currency in Melbourne is the Australian Dollar and it is either 10 or 11 hours ahead of the U.K depending upon the time of year (+11 on the 2010 F1 Australian Grand Prix weekend).

The BBC Good Food Magazine has launched a competition in which you could win a two week holiday for two in Australia.

The prize consists of: two economy return flights from the UK to Australia with Qantas and Jetstar; four nights’ all-inclusive stay at the exclusive Voyages Bedarra Island resort,which is  situated on a private island off the coast of Cairns; two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at the Voyages Silky Oaks Lodge and Healing Waters Spa, which is situated in Daintree National Park; four nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at The Grand Hyatt Melbourne; and two nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation at Chateau Yering, a five star luxury hotel in the Yerra Valley.

The winner must take the prize before the 31st of July 2010. The following dates are not available: 1 - 14 August 2009 and 10 December 2009 - 15 January 2010.

You can enter the competition via the BBC Good Food Magazine website. Entries must be received by 31 July 2010.

Experience Queensland is offering UK residents the chance to win a holiday for two in Queensland, Australia’s Sunshine State.

The prize consists of: return flights for two from London Heathrow to Cairns via Singapore on Quantas and Jetstar; airport transfers; seven nights’ accommodation at the Cairns Colonial Club Resort (on a room-only basis); and two places on a Quicksilver Outer Great Barrier Reef Cruise.

To enter the competition, complete the form on the Experience Queensland website. Entries must be received by midday on Friday 8 May, 2009.  The winner must redeem the prize before 30 June 2009 and must take the holiday before 31 May 2010 (travel is not permitted between 10 December 2009 and 10 December 2010, and travel is restricted during school and public holidays).

Image by Donaldytong