Travel
From Melbourne's best-kept secrets to last-minute road trips to major international jaunts, we've got your travel needs covered
Cosy cabins you can stay in near Melbourne
Cabins are an ideal solution for when you want to get off the beaten track without having to sacrifice access to indoor plumbing. Whether you wanted to head north to the mountains, west to the spa country, east to the Yarra Valley or south to the sea, there's a cosy cabin ready with a comfy bed and wilderness to explore. Take a staycation: these are the best boutique hotels in Melbourne.
A weekend guide to the Mornington Peninsula
If ever a region were ideally suited to a motoring holiday it’s the Mornington Peninsula. Whether you’re seeking a family break, an outdoors adventure or a weekend of indulgence, its diverse attractions are best discovered by car. You'll find luxe accommodation, award-winning hot springs, gourmet restaurants, world-class wineries and pristine beaches and walking trails. It's only an hour from Melbourne, but it definitely feels like a world away. See how Mornington stacks up against Melbourne's other peninsula, the Bellarine.
Glamping at Mirador Springs
Mirador Springs isn't all that far from the M1. But in the short, winding distance between the highway turnoff and the blessedly well-signposted retreat, you'll go from flat farmland to a mountain of densely wooded eucalypt forest punctuated by laughing kookaburras and warbling maggies. On arrival take your immediate right, following the narrow track signposted "cottage and tent". Yep, Mirador Springs offers both, though we can only speak for the tent. This is glamping as it should be – that is, as far removed from camping as possible. Sure, you'll be staying in a canvas tent (which is a roomy twin-bell design), but it has pretty much all the comforts of your standard hotel room. That means you get a mini-fridge, microwave, pod coffee machine and kettle. If you forgot to bring food it’s no problem, with a stack of menus for local restaurants and takeaway shops provided. Or if you’re prudent you can arrange for a breakfast hamper to be delivered for a little extra moolah. No compost toilets here; Mirador's amenities take the form of a luxe outhouse complete with deep dish hot water tub, polished stone basin and a real toilet in all its flushing glory. Plus, with enough pot plants to make a gen Y weep, this washroom is better than a number of hotel loos. You might be wondering about the heating situation. Just as those who live in glass houses should not throw stones, those who stay in canvas tents should not expect central heating. But Mirador Springs has taken steps to
Where to find Victoria’s pink lakes
No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. That lake is that pink. And before you ask – it’s a completely natural phenomenon and not some camera trickery done to get more Instagram likes. Pink lakes are rare, and only a handful are found around the world. There are a couple in Western Australia (including maybe the most famous, Spencer Lake) and in South Australia, but Victoria is actually home to a few of its own rosy-hued lakes. Keen to see these liquid fairy floss lakes IRL? Here’s where to find Victoria’s best pink lakes. (Plus! Scroll down to the end to find out when is the best time to visit!) Check out more of Victoria with our guide to secret gardens, national parks and romantic getaways.
An insider's guide to Melbourne travel
Short escapes from Melbourne
Interstate trips from Melbourne
International escapes from Melbourne
Travel tips and tricks
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Much Ado About Nothing
Zindzi Okenyo will finally be front and centre where she belongs when she stars as the whip-smart Beatrice in Bell Shakespeare’s new production of Much Ado About Nothing. In case you missed reading it at school, Much Ado is pretty much the original romantic comedy, and features one of Shakespeare’s most-loved couples, Beatrice and Benedick, who banter and swap barbs until their friends decide to bring them together. Don’t expect it to be all hearts and flowers though – Bell Shakespeare associate director James Evans promises to bring out the play’s darker conflicts as well, in particular the female characters’ struggle for identity and self-knowledge in a male-dominated world. "The story flips from uproarious comedy to utter heartbreak in an instant, and then back again. That is the genius of Shakespeare, and why this play is one of my favourites,” he says. Sparring with Okenyo as Benedick will be Duncan Ragg (The Dance of Death), alongside Mandy Bishop, Will McDonald, Vivienne Awosoga, Danny Ball, Marissa Bennet, Suzanne Pereira, Paul Reichstein and David Whitney.
Win your dream American experience with Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines
Has that winter wanderlust kicked in yet? Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines know what it's like when you're hankering for a getaway, and to celebrate the USA's Independence Day on July 4th, they're inviting you to experience the best of America with a huge giveaway. Together with Time Out, Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines are giving away return flights for two to North America flying from Melbourne or Sydney. You could take off to over 45 destinations in the U.S, like New York, Los Angeles, Seattle or San Francisco. Kick off your adventure with a walk through Hollywood, visit the Las Vegas strip to try your luck, before jetting off to the city that never sleeps - New York. Or, head south to visit the home of the blues and gems like New Orleans and Nashville. Canada calling you? Take off to Vancouver. Beach time? Hit up Mexico. We're not kidding when we say that there are a lot of destinations open to the lucky winner, check out our terms and conditions to see the full list of cities. All you need to do to enter is tell us which American city you'd most like to visit and why in 25 words or less. If you win this incredible prize, you'll have one year to claim your amazing trip, so you can have a stellar getaway to look forward to. You've got until July 31 to enter, so don't sleep on this! Enter now Experience the best of both worlds with Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines can fly you to over 250+ destinations across the
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Melbourne has a new coworking space – and you can get free membership
It’s safe to say that Melbourne is a city obsessed with eating and drinking. After our morning coffee, we're already thinking about where to have lunch, and right after that lunch, our minds turn to where we might head to for dinner. The city’s hospo crews certainly have their work cut out for them, but a new, collaborative coworking hub is helping give Melbourne’s culinary pros the space to stretch their wings. Worksmith has opened a fresh coworking space located at Ella – the new entertainment and dining precinct on the corner of Elizabeth and La Trobe streets (Elizabeth plus La Trobe equals Ella). After successfully opening its first coworking space in Collingwood, the industry professionals behind Worksmith launched the CBD outpost in June, and the community there is thriving. Just like the original Collingwood hub, Worksmith Ella is a space where those working in the hospitality industry can build and grow their latest projects and collaborate with like-minded professionals. Plus, to celebrate Worksmith’s official launch party at Ella, Time Out has teamed up with them for an exclusive industry offer. Until September 30, Time Out readers who are in the food, beverage and hospitality industries can score a free month-long membership to Worksmith Ella or Collingwood (whichever suits you best). Your Worksmith industry membership gives you access to 16 hours at the hub per month; use of the Worksmith meeting room (once a month); invites to social events, launches and net
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Win your dream ‘week well spent’ with Ableforth’s Bathtub Gin
Imagine this, the chance to spend your dream week, in whatever shape or form that might take. Well Ableforth's Bathtub Gin is giving you the chance to win your perfect 'week well spent'. Whether a 'week well spent' means shopping sprees or lunch dates and nights out on the town with your mates, Ableforth's Bathtub Gin wants to know about it – and they want to help you bring your dream week to life. And if you win, Ableforth's will help the winner turn their dream 'week well spent' into reality (to the value of up to $1,000). Terms and conditions apply. So, why do the spirit makers at Ableforth's want to know what your ideal week is? That's because a week is exactly how long it takes to make each batch of their award-winning Bathtub Gin. To get the gin's distinct flavour and botanical hue, the team spends no fewer than seven days cold compounding (infusing in layman's terms) their ingredients, which when everything's distilled at high temperatures in copper pots, becomes the distinctively delicious Bathtub Gin. To be in with a chance of winning your dream ‘week well spent’, head to the link below and tell us what your 'week well spent' would look like by July 31. Good luck! Enter now
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