Princes Park Accommodation

September is when Melbourne comes alive! There are plenty of things to do in Melbourne in September as spring comes around. The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer and kids are on school holidays for part of the month.

The 4×4 Outdoors Show and Fishing and Boat Expo will be held on the 3-5th of September at the Melbourne Show grounds. There will be a huge range of fishing gear, camping gear, 4×4 products, boats, campers and outdoor caravans on display. For information on opening times and ticket prices go to http://www.4×4show.com.au/ 

The Tesselaar Tulip Festival is held from the 16th of September until the 13th of October an hours drive from Melbourne in Silvan. There is a great variety of food and entertainment on show at the festival. This is a great day out for the family where you can learn about how the tulips are grown and their history, among other things. Tickets are $18 per adult $15 per concession and children under 16 are free. For more detailed information and to see the brochure go to http://www.tulipfestival.com.au/

The Melbourne Juggling Convention is being held from the 17th-20th of September at the Collingwood College. There will be over 250 participants from Australia and worldwide who will be there to perform and teach how to juggle. For more information on this interesting and different Convention go to http://mjc.juggling.net.au/

The Royal Melbourne Show is held from the 18th-28th of September at the Melbourne Show grounds. There are live shows, exhibitions, displays, rides, animals, show bags, shopping and food!  Go to http://www.royalshow.com.au/ for detailed information

The Melbourne Fringe Festival is on from the 22nd of September until the 10th of October and is a great way for up and coming artists and performers.  For more information go to http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/

The time for AFL finals and some of the final games are held in Melbourne. The Grand Final is held on the 25th of September at the MCG. For information on tickets go to http://www.afl.com.au/tickets/tabid/212/default.aspx

A great way to see the city of Melbourne and its surroundings is to take a trip on the Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle. The Shuttle is a free service which stops at major tourist attractions around Melbourne. Travelers can sit in the comfort of the Tourist Shuttle Bus and listen to the commentary about Melbourne. Travelers can also get on and off the Shuttle at any of the 13 stops throughout Melbourne.

Stop 1 is the Arts Precinct which consists of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the Australian Center for Contemporary Art (ACCA) , the Malthouse Theaters, the Melbourne Recital Center and the Performing Arts Museum.

Stop 2 is Federation Square which is where the Melbourne Visitor Center located. The Australian Center for Moving Images (ACMI) is also located there. There is a riverside park called Birrarung Marr and a kids playground called ArtPlay at this stop.

Stop 3 is the Sports Precinct. This stop is the place to get off to see MCG Tours, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, the National Sports Museum, Rod Laver Arena and Olympic Park. This is also the stop to get off at to see the Fitzroy Gardens.

Stop 4 is Chinatown. Chinatown has a fantastic selection of Asian cuisine and Asian shops littered in the lanes, sidestreets and arcades. The Chinese Museum is also located in Chinatown.

Stop 5 is the stop for the Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens. The IMAX Theater is located next to the Melbourne Museum.  The Royal Exhibition Building and the Old Melbourne Gaol are also at this stop.

Stop 6 is the Lygon Street Precinct. Here you will find Italian restaurants and cafes everywhere. This is the heart of Melbourne’s Italian Community. This is also where the Carlton Courthouse theaters are located.

Stop 7 is Melbourne University which has museums and galleries including the Ian Potter Museum of Art.

Stop 8 is the stop for the Queen Victoria Market. This is a major landmark in Melbourne and has a wide variety of goods on sale including fresh meats, fish and vegetables, and gourmet food, wine and souvenirs.

Stop 9 Waterfront City Docklands is the new section of Melbourne. There are many waterfront attractions in the Docklands including ice hockey, curling and more ice based activities. New Quay has many great restaurants and bars. Waterfront City is the place for filming in Melbourne with its stunning views.

Stop 10 is for Etihad Stadium, the home of great sporting events and concerts. Docklands Park has BBQ and picnic areas and kids playgrounds.

Stop 11 is at William Street in the city center. The Immigration Museum, the Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Center and the various Law Courts of Melbourne are at this stop. This is also the stop to get off at to see the Melbourne Aquarium.

Stop 12 Southbank is where the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center and Crown Entertainment Complex are. The Eureka Skydeck 88 and the Melbourne Martime Museum are also accessible from this stop.

Stop 13 is The Shrine of Remembrance, the Royal Botanical Gardens, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and Government House are all close to this stop.

The Herald Sun Home Show and Garden Expo is on in Melbourne from Thursday the 19th of August until Sunday the 22nd of August at the Melbourne Exhibition Center. This home show has been running annually since 1973. This year there are over 400 stalls with products to build or renovate your home.

There will be exhibitors showing their products to do with building materials, flooring, decks, architecture, bedding, bathroom products, garages, outdoor products, laundry and kitchen appliances, paint and wallpaper, roofing, wardrobes, windows and doors to name a few.

Discount tickets are available online or full price tickets are available at the Melbourne Exhibition Center. Go to http://www.melbournehomeshow.com.au/index.htm for more information

The Melbourne Orchid Spectacular and Victorian International Orchid Fair is being held from the 20th of August until the 22nd of August. It is held at the Springers Leisure Center in Keysborough and is a major orchid event. There are guest speakers on the Saturday and to hear this one off event tickets must be booked in advance.
For more information go to http://www.oscov.asn.au/oscovshw.htm

The Victorian Hobby Ceramics Association is holding their annual Ceramic and Hobby Expo on the 28th and 29th of August. This year’s theme is butterflies! This is a great chance for people of all ages from small children to seniors to show their talents. For more information go to http://www.vhca.org.au/pages/AnnShow.htm

The Queen Victoria Market has been Melbourne’s best market for over 130 years. The market has an amazing atmosphere and there is a lot to see and do at the Market for the whole family. There is a great combination of food and general merchandise stalls as well as cafes to have a snack at.

There are a few tours of the Market available. Enjoy a coffee and a lovely sample of food on The Foodies Dream Tour. The tour costs $35 and is a tour of the Meat and Fish Hall, the Fruit and Vegetables Hall and the Dairy Hall. The tour runs for 2 hours from 10am to 12pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The Heritage Market Tour costs $19 and gives you a history of the market.
The Shop and Cook Tour takes you through the market to buy your groceries then back to Cooking School for cooking class with your items. This tour takes approximately 2.5 hours and is a great tour for school groups.
The Market is open everyday except Monday and Wednesday. For more information go to http://www.qvm.com.au/

With the school holidays approaching, you’ll find there are lots of things happening in Melbourne!

The Melbourne Boat Show will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Center from the 1st of July until the 5th of July. There will be the latest in boats and boating equipment. All the new model ski boats, wake boats, fishing and cruising boats will be there. There is plenty to do for the kids as well so bring them along and have a great family day.

For more information go to the Boat Show website http://www.biavic.com.au/melbourneboatshow/
The Melbourne Magic Festival is held from the 28th of June until the 10th of July at the Northcote Town Hall. There are many local and international acts performing. If you are interested in learning how to perform magic acts, there are classes being held for adults and kids combined at various locations and dates during the festival. There is also the Australian Junior Championships of Close Up and Stage Magic taking place.

For details on how to register or to book tickets to the shows go to http://melbournemagicfestival.com/

The Reinvent Your Career Expo is on the 10th and 11th of July at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Center. This is a great chance to see what is out there if you are looking for a career change. This Expo is targeted to mature adults and has organizations involved who understand the work/home life balance.

For more information on ticketing and operation times go to http://www.reinventyourcareer.com.au/html/s01_home/home.asp

There is always a lot happening with the animals at the Melbourne Zoo. There are talks from the Zoo Keepers twice a day, a variety of School Holiday Programs for kids, meeting of the elephants Bong Su or his daughter Mali and viewing of the Sumatran baby tiger cubs to name a few. The Zoo is a short walk from Melbourne’s Princes Park Motor Inn

For more details go to http://www.zoo.org.au/MelbourneZoo

The Australian Business and IT Expo is held on the 29th and 30th July in at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Center. The Expo is for entrepreneurs, business owners and managers who are searching for products to further their business. There are many different seminars being held during the expo. There will be information on Online Sales, Digital Marketing, Business Software, IT Security, Sales Techniques, Finance and Legal areas.

For detailed information go to http://australianbusinessanditexpo.com.au/

As the cold winter weather sets in there are still a lot of things to do while in Melbourne.

The Docklands Classic Film Festival is held until the 27th of July at the Waterfront City Piazza from 7pm every night. It’s a great chance to grab a snack and snuggle up under a blanket and watch a great movie under the stars for free! There are also matinees held at 2pm on Saturdays.

For a list of the movies playing, go to http://www.waterfrontcity.com.au/events/upcoming-events/177-docklands-classic-film-festival.html

The Good Food and Wine Show will be held from the 4th-6th June at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center in South Wharf Melbourne from 10am to 6pm.

There will be Celebrity Chefs doing live demonstrations throughout the 3 days, Cheese and Chocolate Master classes, Coffee and Cupcake classes, Cocktail and Coffee Classes and Cooking School. There is also a restaurant to taste the great food and wine on show. There will also be Chef Book Signings.

For more detailed information go to http://www.goodfoodshow.com.au/

Calendar Girls Charity Gala Performance is going to be held on Thursday the 17th of June at the Comedy Theater in Melbourne. All tickets purchased through the Leukaemia Foundation will benefit their Mission to Care Vision to Cure so purchase your tickets from them.

This is an uplifting story of a woman who looses her husband to leukaemia and her amazing friends who persuade each other to pose nude for a charity calendar to raise money for leukaemia research. This will be a great show with an all star cast.

For more information and tickets contact the Leukaemia Foundation on 1800 620 420, or email mbush@leukaemia.org.au.

The Big Red Book Fair is held on the 19th and 20th of June at Trades Hall on the corner of Victoria and Lygon Sts Carlton South. The fair starts at 11am and finishes by 5pm.

For more information go to http://www.newinternationalbookshop.org.au/

The MCG will be the scene of the farewell soccer game for the Socceroos’ against New Zealand before they head to South Africa for the World Cup.

The timing of this match should draw huge crowds because most of the biggest Socceroo names will be taking part. Gates open at 5.30pm and kick off is at 7.30pm.

There is excellent public transport to and from the MCG so leave your car and take a tram or train to the match!

For more information or to book tickets, go to www.ticketek.com.au or phone 132 849.

There are lots of things happening in Melbourne in May.

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival will be held during the first week of May. The many events will be held all over Melbourne but Federation Square will be the center of all activity. It will be a very exciting week of shows with some of the masters of Jazz showcasing their talents
For more detailed information go to http://www.melbournejazz.com/v2010/webpages/home.php

RSPCA Million Paws Walk is being held on Sunday the 16th of May at Albert Park Lake in Melbourne. This is a great way to help raise money for animals in need and to help raise awareness for the very important work that the RSPCA does. Dogs and humans are all welcome for this fun filled day.
This very special event takes place all over Australia so look at the RSPCA website for more information and to register. http://www.millionpawswalk.com.au/

Law Week is on from the 17th to 23rd of May. The theme of Law Week is Law and Justice in your community. Law week is co-ordinated by the Victorian Law Foundation and is designed to provide people with legal information at a minimal cost.
For more information go to http://www.victorialaw.org.au/

The Melbourne Home and Leisure Show will be held from the 22nd to the 30th of May at the Royal Exhibition Building. This is a brand new event held in Melbourne and what makes it different from other home shows is that each exhibitor is specially selected to provide competitive pricing and variety. There are daily seminars and demonstrations run each day on all aspects of home renovation. There are special discounts on tickets are offered to RACV members. This is a great event for the whole family.
For more information go to http://www.melbournehomeandleisureshow.com.au/

The Emerging Writers Festival is run from the 21st to the 30th of May and is in place to promote the future of Australian writers..
For more information go to http://www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au/

For the best deals on your accomodation go to http://www.princespark.com.au/booking.asp

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

If you are looking for a good laugh in April, remember that the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is on in Melbourne until the 18th of April at venues all around Melbourne. Some acts that stand out during the festival are the Faulty Towers Dining Experience, Late Night Impro and The Big Laugh Out Loud At Fed Square.

For more information on anything to do with the Comedy Festival go to http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2010/season/

HIA Home Ideas Show
The HIA Home Ideas Show is running at The Melbourne Exhibition Center from the 7th of April until the 11th of April. This show has been running annually in Melbourne since 1978 and is a must see if you are thinking of doing anything to your home. There are many free seminars, experts offering advice on anything to do with your home. There are special discounts on ticket purchases if they are done online. Don’t miss this fantastic show which has something for everyone.

More information can be found at
http://www.hiahomeideasshow.com.au/

The Worlds Greatest Pillow Fight

In an attempt to break the current Pillow Fight record held by Minehead Butlins in the UK, on Sunday the 11th of April Melbourne will be holding our own Pillow Fight. It will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Center in Southbank with all proceeds going to Variety the Children’s Charity.

To register or for more details go to http://www.pillowfight.com.au/

The Australasian Quilt Convention and Expo

The Australasian Quilt Convention and Expo is being held at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton from the 29th of April until the 2nd of May. This event has seminars and workshops for everyone to attend. You will get the chance to see lots of different handmade quilts from all over the world.

For more information go to http://www.aqc.com.au/

The weekend of the 25th-28th of March is traditionally a very busy weekend in Melbourne. It is the weekend of the Qantas Australian Grand Prix and the official start of the AFL Football Season. The Grand Prix takes place in Albert Park which is located approximately 10km from Melbourne’s Princes Park Motor Inn.

The AFL Season starts at the MCG which is also located approximately 10km from Melbourne’s Princes Park Motor Inn. Richmond and Carlton will start the season at 7.10pm on Thursday the 25th.

Don’t get stuck without accommodation on this great weekend. Go to http://www.princespark.com.au/booking.asp and book online or call us on 1800 337 770.