Aboriginal Art in Melbourne, Australia - 24-Hour Travel Guide
Overview - A reserved Australian city, Melbourne in a day includes aboriginal art, a tram ride, and dinner at the bay.
Breakfast - The Commercial Bakery on Collins street isn't exactly your proper breakfast, as they specialize in little sweet tarts, but they are so good. And you can get porridge if you really want to please mum, so I'd start the day there. Plus, it keeps you in downtown.
Morning - A stroll around town is in order, looking at the buildings and getting a feel for stately old Melbourne. Check out City Hall. But be careful... I thought it was the train station, as it resembled Penn Station, and highly insulted an Aussie when I asked if it were the train station. It's not. By far the easiest way to take in the city is to hop on the tram and just ride around the whole thing. It won't take more than an hour, and you get a feel for all the neighborhoods.
Lunch - Right on Albert Park Lake is the Point Restaurant. It's probably sweet lit up at night, but I like parks during the day. You have your choice of upscale or casual, because the restaurant is quite fancy, but the cafe is very approachable and has the same neat view right on the water. After lunch, take a walk around the park.
Afternoon - In the afternoon, you have two choices. You could try and get a car and go about 160 miles to the Grampians Park, which houses a huge amount of the Aboriginal Art Carvings. But, more likely, you would head to the Melbourne Museum, which makes it much easier to take in this amazing art without hours of travel. It's well worth it. After the museum, and an understanding of the art, head to Bourke Street where you will find several galleries ready to sell you some works. They continue to go up in price, so shop carefully.
Dinner - Hard to pass up being on the Bay, so if you are up for a splurge, the very modern upscale Sails on the Bay is worth it. Get there as the sun is setting, and enjoy a glass of Australian wine before and with dinner.
After Dark - There are several theaters in Melbourne, and there is an annual film festival, but you have to time it right. Best advice is to take in whatever is happening at the Arts Centre, (get used to Aussie spelling... they like 're' not 'er' ) where there is either a festival of some sort or dance.
Sleep - A real beauty is the Hotel Windsor. The building is awesome, and the location is perfect, right down town. It is so classy. In case we forgot to say (which I did) make sure you take some high tea in the afternoon there. The hotel is one of a kind.