Hotel Location
Holiday Inn On Flinders, with its convenient location in the financial
and entertainment hub of Melbourne, is the ideal venue for the business
traveller. The hotel is close to the Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne
Exhibition Centre, World Trade Centre, Stock Exchange and Docklands development.
Spencer Street Interstate Railway Station is just a two-minute walk away
and the International Airport can be reached via direct freeway within
30 minutes. Many of Melbourne's popular sightseeing attractions and places
of interest are within easy reach, including the Crown Entertainment Complex,
Melbourne Aquarium and Telstra Dome and numerous art and cultural centres.
Distances To / From the Hotel
- Melbourne International Airport (YMML) at Tullamarine - 27 kilometres,
20 minutes, taxi service and Skybus bus shuttle available
- Spencer Street Station - 2-minute walk
- Flinders Street Station - 10-minute walk
A taxi ride from the airport will cost approximately A$35 and take 30
minutes. There is the option of the Skybus bus shuttle that runs a service,
taking about 35 minutes, direct from the airport to Spencer Street Station,
which is a two-minute walk from the hotel.
The hotel also has a complimentary limousine service that operates between
7:30 am and 4:00 pm, in the CBD within a five-kilometre radius of the
hotel.
A tram service to both Spencer Street and Flinders Street stations operates
from outside the main entrance of the hotel.
Nearby Attractions
Queen Victoria Market
Queen Victoria Market is an historic landmark, a tourist attraction and
an institution for Melburnians. Spread over seven hectares, it is the
largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere. There are almost 1000
traders selling everything from fruit and vegetables, local and imported
gourmet foods to hardware, manchester, clothing and Australian souvenirs.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Established in 1846, Melbourne's Royal Botanical Gardens are one of the
most magnificently landscaped gardens in the world. The garden stretches
over 35.4 hectares and is located in South Yarra, only minutes from the
centre of Melbourne. Here you will find some of Melbourne's most spectacular
scenery and a superb collection of plants from across Australia and the
world.
The Royal Botanic Gardens has rejuvenated
the old Melbourne Observatory and grounds, as well as constructing a new
Visitor Centre on the site opposite the Shrine of Remembrance. Dating
back to 1861, the observatory contains two working historic telescopes.
Phillip Island - Fairy Penguin
Parade
The Penguin Parade is located on Phillip Island, 140 kilometres south-east
of Melbourne. It is part of Phillip Island Nature Park. The area is a
reserve designed to protect and promote awareness of Little penguins (previously
called Fairy penguins). Founded in 1996, it is also home to the Phillip
Island Koala Conservation Centre.
The Parade is open 365 days a year.
The best time to visit is at sunset when, after a day fishing for food
in the waters surrounding Phillip Island, the penguins make their way
across Summerland Beach in groups to return to their burrows in the sand-dunes.
This delightful event is commonly known as the 'penguin parade'. This
unique 'parade' can be experienced from environmentally friendly observation
boardwalks and viewing stands.
There are various tour operators
that offer tours to Phillip Island. Please see the Concierge for further
information and assistance.
The Great Ocean Road
Cross over Melbourne's Westgate Bridge for panoramic views of Port Phillip
Bay, Port Melbourne, the city skyline and its western region. Take a trip
down the Princess Freeway until you reach Victoria's second largest town,
Geelong. Travel along the famous Great Ocean Road and discover golden
sandy beaches, sheer cliff faces, surf beaches and amazing rock formations.
Arrive at Torquay, Australia's surfing capital and home of Rip Curl. It
is also home to world-famous Bells Beach (featured in the movie Point
Break) and home to the World Surfing Championships.
Pass through the beautiful coastal
towns of Anglesea, Lorne and Wye River, and visit the spectacular Cape
Patton Lookout before reaching Apollo Bay; even take your swimwear. If
you are not in the mood for a swim, discover the magic of the Otway National
Park, silent and untouched, lush tree-fern gullies and towering mountain
ash forests. For the budding photographer, there are many opportunities
to shoot stunning scenery, such as the stone monoliths of the Twelve Apostles
or the remains of the London Bridge.
Yarra Valley
Situated a one-hour drive east of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is the ideal
destination for wine enthusiasts to stimulate their taste buds. A day
trip can be arranged for you to relax at some of Australia's most notable
wineries such as Domain Chandon, De Bortoli and Eyton on Yarra. The region
is most famous for its production of dry white wines with fruit flavours
that are being recognised in world-class rankings.
From this location, you can also
view the Dandenongs and Sherbrooke Forest while taking a ride on the Puffing
Billy Steam Train. Once you have reached your destination, you can wander
amongst the koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and wombats.
For those who want a closer look
at Australian wildlife, the Healesville Sanctuary is ideal with 200 species
of native birds, mammals and reptiles, displayed in a beautiful bushland
setting.
Melbourne Aquarium
Make sure that you are prepared for anything before entering the Melbourne
Aquarium, which is within walking distance of the hotel. Travel through
billabongs, rock pools, a transparent tunnel surrounded by sharks and
giant stingrays, and finally right off the deep end, into the 2.2 million
litre Oceanarium.
Why not do something daring and participate
in a Shark Dive? The aquarium's certified trainers will help you get a
very close look!
Crown Entertainment Complex
Located on the opposite bank of the river, the complex combines gaming,
convention, restaurant, retail and comprehensive entertainment facilities
in one of the most innovative and technologically advanced sites in the
world.
Signature brands such as La Perla,
Gucci, Prada, Gianni Versace, DKNY and Giorgio Armani are located here.
The Crown Entertainment Complex encompasses
over 40 restaurants, cafés and bars, all in convenient locations.
There is also the popular Planet Hollywood and All Star Café. If
you're not hungry, visit KingPin for a bowling match or Galactic Circus
for some arcade games. If that takes up too much energy, relax in front
of the movie screen with your choice of ten different cinemas and 433
screenings weekly!
Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum is a storehouse of ideas, promoting public debate on
issues relating to the natural environment, new technology and other changes
occurring in our society.
Exhibitions include the Bunjilaka
Aboriginal Centre, Phar Lap, one of Australia's leading thoroughbreds,
and the Living Forest Gallery.
Learn about yourself in the Mind
and Body Gallery, or investigate evolution from a prehistoric and genetic
viewpoint.
Melbourne Zoo
Set at the edge of Royal Park, the zoo is constantly changing, with new
ideas for improving the life of its inhabitants and improving the experience
for their visitors. There are more than 350 animal species over 55 acres.
It is Australia's oldest zoo as it opened in 1862 and it still retains
some of its significant historic features: the design of the Main Walk
and an early 20th-century menagerie exhibition are preserved in an historic
zone, so visitors will be able to measure the great improvements which
have been achieved.
Walk amongst the butterflies in the
hothouse or witness the baby gorillas being fed... trail through a wombat
cave and be transported to a tropical forest in the bird aviary.
Victorian Arts Centre
Topped by a spire reaching 162 metres above St Kilda Road, the Victorian
Arts Centre contains four theatres, each individually designed by Oscar-winning
Australian designer John Truscott.
The complex is built with the theatres
reaching six levels below street level. The largest is the State Theatre,
used for major opera, ballet and musical productions, seating over 2000.
Attend a viewing of the latest show while you explore the home of Australia's
premier performing art companies and the theatres they perform in.
Nearby Shopping and Recreational
Facilities
Bourke Street Mall
Located in Melbourne's heart, the Bourke Street Mall is the home of some
of Australia's leading department stores including Myer, David Jones and
an array of speciality stores and boutiques. Trams operate from the front
of the hotel directly into the mall centre.
Bridge Road, Richmond
A bargain shopper's delight is located just outside Melbourne with everything
from discount warehouses to variety shops, and a range large enough to
suit all shapes and sizes.
Chapel Street, South Yarra
For the latest fashions and funkiest styles, Chapel Street's designer
labels will impress, complemented with a large selection of trendy cafés
to rest those weary feet.
Albert Park Golf Course
Located two kilometres from the CBD, this course has a double-storey range,
licensed pro shop, enormous undulating putting green, bunkers and chipping
areas. Both the driving range and the golf course are fully public seven
days a week. The golf course has been recently extended to a par 72, and
is the home of the Victorian PGA Championships, played every October.
The course runs alongside the racetrack for the Australian Formula 1 Grand
Prix, and is a most picturesque location.
Fernwood Female Fitness Centre
Located a two-minute walk from the hotel, Fernwood Female Fitness Centre
offers women of all ages, shapes and sizes the chance to exercise their
mind and body in a friendly and motivational environment, with a huge
range of fitness classes and the latest in cardio and weights equipment.
Melbourne Sports and Aquatic
Centre
This is a facility open to the public that is arguably one of the largest
fitness centres in Victoria. It is available for water sports and contains
a 25-metre lap pool, diving boards and water slides. Tram number 12 runs
from the city via Spencer Street to Fitzroy Street, stopping outside Melbourne
Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Melbourne Fitness Club
Open to both males and females, the Melbourne Fitness Club is located
on the corner of Collins and King Street, a leisurely stroll from the
hotel. It has a range of aerobic classes on offer, as well as extensive
weights and cardio equipment. |
