What to Do in Victoria – According to Qantas Frequent Flyers
A short cultural pilgrimage in Melbourne, a spontaneous adventure in Bendigo and a run amid the wild beauty of the Great Ocean Road: Qantas Frequent Flyers share their top tips on how to pack the magic of Victoria into one short getaway.
“What really struck me was the genuine warmth of Bendigo’s hospitality scene.” – Catherine Cervasio, Platinum Frequent Flyer
“I went to Bendigo in winter with two friends to see Frida Kahlo: In Her Own Image at Bendigo Art Gallery (pictured, right). We flew into Melbourne, picked up a hire car and hit the road, arriving in under two hours. The whole trip was unplanned yet we managed to squeeze so much into 36 hours.
“The Bendigo Art Gallery itself is amazing, with a mix of local and international artworks on display. The show was exclusive to the gallery, with personal items belonging to Frida like clothing, make-up, medical equipment as well as art on loan from Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico. We explored the city’s heritage streets and admired grand Victorian architecture, including the enormous Sacred Heart Cathedral with its imported Italian marble floor and belfry with five bells and the old Union Bank, now home to Wine Bank on View bar and restaurant. We stopped there to sample local wines – the options span Bendigo’s own Balgownie Estate sparklings to hearty Yarra Valley malbecs – all served in front of an open fireplace.
“I’m the foodie of the group, so I’d done some research beforehand. We ate well everywhere we went: a decadent ham and three-cheese toastie for breakfast at Omari in the Bendigo Botanic Garden, and for lunch a standout gnocchi (I’m Italian and I was impressed) at Ms Batterhams in the historical Mackenzie Quarters residence, located within the art precinct.
“At dinnertime we found The Dispensary Bar & Diner (pictured, left) hidden down a laneway, where we savoured edamame with smoked miso and ginger dressing and fried whole quail with radicchio slaw.
“What really struck me was the genuine warmth of the Bendigo hospitality scene. I’m already planning a return visit.”
Catherine flew Sydney to Melbourne.
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“We awoke to the sight of hot air balloons floating past our hotel window before enjoying espresso and pastries.” – James Hill, Silver Frequent Flyer
“My partner, Jen, and I like to think of Melbourne as ‘Paris in an hour.’ We fly down there every few months when we’re craving great food, art and a change of scenery.
“Our routine is pretty well rehearsed. We aim for a midday flight, drop our bags at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins – we love its central location – then head straight to MoVida for tapas and a glass of wine. On our last trip we did exactly that before spending the afternoon wandering through the NGV.
“For dinner one night we went to the three-storey Farmer’s Daughters on Exhibition Street. We’re big on seasonal menus and this one was focused on Gippsland. The lobster ravioli with squid ink and Mirboo garlic was my favourite dish on the tasting menu and we paired it with Entropy Wines Savagnin, an interesting French varietal. Afterwards we squeezed in cocktails at Apollo Inn in Flinders Lane, which is a new bar by Melbournian chef and restaurateur, Andrew McConnell. I ordered the signature Lucien Gaudin made with Tanqueray gin, Campari, dry vermouth and Grand Marnier.
“We awoke to the sight of hot air balloons floating past our hotel window (pictured, right) before enjoying espresso and pastries at Il Solito Posto, an Italian institution on the corner of Collins Street. They remember us every time we walk in the door. After checking out Mailbox Art Space – a Flinders Lane gallery with artworks displayed inside a row of restored glass-fronted mailboxes in the foyer of Pawson House – we went to Shandong Mama, a tiny eatery in a Chinatown arcade with the best dumplings in town. Watching the chefs prepare them is half the fun.
“We always leave Melbourne with a few new wardrobe items – Jen never misses Peter Sheppard for shoes; I bought a jacket at Henry Bucks. Our weekend wrapped up with a light meal at another Andrew McConnell favourite, Marion Wine Bar in Fitzroy, before our flight home. We’ve already booked our next visit!”
James flew Sydney to Melbourne.
“A midweek day trip to Melbourne from Sydney was so easy!” – Fiona Dalton, Gold Frequent Flyer
“A midweek day trip to Melbourne from Sydney with a friend to see the Martin Grant exhibition at the NGV’s Ian Potter Centre was such a treat – and so easy!
“We left early and ate breakfast in the Qantas lounge before our 8am flight. After landing, we took the SkyBus straight to Southern Cross Station and caught the free tram to Federation Square to get to the gallery. Once there, it was incredible to see the arc of Martin Grant’s career: from his early beginnings in Melbourne during the 80s all the way up to his elaborate couture made in Paris, including beautifully crafted pieces worn by icons such as Cate Blanchett and Naomi Campbell.
“Lunch at the NGV’s Garden Restaurant was a fabulous dining experience – it's located in the heart of the gallery and bathed in natural light. The menu changes with the seasons and spotlights Victorian produce, resulting in dishes such as salmon tartare and a 16-hour braised beef rib.
“We finished our getaway with a walk along the Yarra River (pictured) before catching a late flight home. An inspiring culture fix, a relaxed long lunch and a good friend for company – it was the perfect Melbourne day.”
Fiona flew Sydney to Melbourne.
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“The great thing about completing a 12-kilometre run is that you can eat whatever you want afterwards!” – Yvette Peverell, Bronze Frequent Flyer
“After losing my running mojo for a while, I signed up with my sister for a 12-kilometre trail run at the Great Ocean Road Running Festival (pictured). Trail running is all about weaving through bush tracks, breathing fresh air and taking in the scenery. The route through the Great Otway National Park among the eucalypts to Phantom Falls, back along the St Georges River and finishing at Lorne Foreshore was spectacular.
“The great thing about completing a 12-kilometre run is that you can eat whatever you want afterwards! We based ourselves in Torquay and rewarded ourselves by dining at The Kyn, where we shared dishes such as prawns with chilli salt and lamb shoulder with pilau from the Middle Eastern menu before exhaustion set in and we went to bed early.
“The next day we had coffee and breakfast at the beachfront cafe/restaurant Bomboras before driving the length of the Great Ocean Road towards the Twelve Apostles. We made stops at Apollo Bay and Lorne for coffee breaks and beach strolls to take in the panoramic sea views. On the return trip, we lingered over drinks at Love House at Anglesea Surf Club, a pastel-tinted bar with a retro 60s vibe and an uninterrupted outlook to the ocean. The whole weekend was a pretty fantastic way to regain my enthusiasm for running.”
Yvette flew Sydney to Melbourne
“As Italian-Australians, we found the menu at Johnny, Vince & Sam’s on Lygon Street so nostalgic.” – Alexandra Mediati, Bronze Frequent Flyer
“Each family member had something to tick off the wishlist during our school holiday trip to Melbourne. We went to the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre with my son; my daughter and I shopped at Chadstone; and my husband’s pick was Johnny, Vince & Sam’s on Lygon Street. As Italian-Australians, we found the restaurant’s decor and menu so nostalgic.
Walking and eating are our family’s favourite pastimes, so we spent hours wandering Melbourne’s laneways and exploring Queen Victoria Market. We chose Novotel Melbourne on Collins for its central location. The kids loved the indoor heated pool and the room was big enough for all four of us. Most importantly, it was around the corner from our new family favourite, Brunetti Oro. We were there morning, noon and night for pastries, pizza and gelato.”
Alexandra flew Sydney to Melbourne
“On warm nights, Melbourne’s open-air rooftop bars are spectacular.” – Rachel Pannekoek, Bronze Frequent Flyer
“A friend and I planned a trip to Melbourne around Taylor Swift’s Eras concert. It was just one highlight of a well-spent weekend that also included booking spur-of-the-moment Grease the Musical tickets at the beautiful Her Majesty’s Theatre. We stayed in an Airbnb in the CBD: café/bakery Brick Lane was our go-to for coffee and smashed avo with pickled onion, feta and beetroot relish in the mornings. On warm nights, Melbourne’s open-air bars are spectacular. The vibe at HER Rooftop, along with its Thai snacks and charred pineapple margaritas, made it a weekend favourite. Goldilocks Rooftop Bar was a real find too: to get there, you have to go through a Chinese restaurant, up a lift and a set of stairs. The views are epic, as are the lemon curd martinis.”
Rachel flew Perth to Melbourne
“Melbourne’s CBD is easier for me to navigate than other capitals.” – Lisa Cox, Gold Frequent Flyer
“I’m in a wheelchair so accessibility is front-of-mind when I travel. Qantas is my airline of choice because the staff are so accommodating without being patronising or condescending. While travelling to Melbourne, I met a Qantas Commissionaire at the airport whose role is helping customers with specific needs. I’ve never heard of an airline doing that – it’s brilliant. Hotels can be harder to book as accessibility is about much more than just a ramp at the entrance. Grand Hyatt Melbourne has multiple rooms with wide doors, roll-in showers and lots of space to manoeuvre wheelchairs, plus it’s on Collins Street near luxury shopping, Federation Square and laneway cafés. Melbourne’s CBD is easier for me to navigate than other capitals, but if I want to go further afield, I take an Uber. My favourite restaurant is St Kilda’s iconic Stokehouse. The menu focuses on super-fresh seafood, but it’s the views of Port Phillip Bay that I love most.”
Lisa flew Brisbane to Melbourne
