Have just returned from a pretty interesting holiday in Australia and here are a couple of things you might want to note should you visit these cities.....

Melbourne: Stayed at the Sebel of Melbourne. A new hotel that almost became a Four Seasons but did not. Located in the financial district and a 2 minute walk away from the Flinders Station and all the public transport. Rooms are huge by city standards and they come fully equipped with microwave, cooking utensils, and even a washing machine!! The gym is really small but they have reciprocal membership at another but you will have to pay A$15 per entry. The lobby is still under construction but all the rooms are completed.

The best meal we had was at the Republic Bar and Restaurant on Queens Street (a 5 minute walk from the hotel). Serving modern Australian, the place is a bit on the dressy side and the cost for 2 should set you back about A$160, but worth every cent you pay for. Service attentive and food almost superlative.

The most watered down drinks we had in Melbourne was at the Turf Accountants..... probably the name says it all (though no offence meant to people in the trade). A place you would skip.... really....

Adelade:

We stayed at the Chifley on South Terrace. Very dated hotel with no safety box in the rooms and a communal balcony.... Service-wise decent, and the gym is a prefab out-house the size of a small kitchen that vibrates with every time you run on the treadmill (we stuck to the stationery bicycle)

Note that North Terrace is not on the opposite side of the road from South Terrace..... and you can walk thru/around/across the entire city within an hour if you don't stop to shop or visit the market....

The best restaurants are outside of the city all about 10 minutes drive away....

Sydney:

We stayed at the Regent and the Observatory 3 nights each and as always, the Observatory will win hands down....

The best meals we had in Sydney were at Sailor's Thai, Celsius, and Fish at the Rocks. MG Garage was pretty much over rated while Fuel (which is part of MG Garage at half the price) was a much better place. Quadrant at the Quay Grand (next to the Opera House) was also very nice though did not match up to it's decor.

Most overrated bar was The Establishment which was a real poser joint..... all the people in there looked at who was looking at them.... Our fave was Pierpoints at the Inter-continental which was pretty much a men's-club like cigar bar.

Well.... apart from eat, there were a whole bunch of other things which we did that might just bore you. So, should you need more info, I'd be happy to help.

Edmund in SIngapore