Category Archives: FOOD & WINE

CAFES, COOL, FOOD & WINE

SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKET

SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKET – The market is Melbourne’s oldest continuing market – it has been there since 1867.

Located entirely undercover and close to the city and public transport, it is one of Melbourne’s most popular markets.

The official trading hours but a lot of food stalls are setting  up earlier and will serve you:

Wednesday  – 8.00am to 4.00pm

Friday            – 8.00am to 5.00pm

Saturday       – 8.00am to 4.00pm

Sunday          – 8.00am to 4.00pm

Special hours apply to time like Easter and when the Night Market is in operation.

Anytime is a fabulous time at South Melbourne Market. Go for shopping or a ramble, discover new fresh produce or simply enjoy the street scene and nearby cafes.   Be seen sipping a margarita or eating sensational Spanish, Chinese or Sicilian cuisine under the umbrellas in Cecil Street.

ATTRACTIONS, FOOD & WINE, PARKS & GARDENS

ASHCOMBE MAZE & LAVENDER

Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Farm -located on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne and is about a 90 minute drive. There are plenty of things to do, from beaches to cool climate wineries and farm gate properties selling their produce. Popular for sampling and purchasing Victorian gourmet treats, is the Redhill Market.

You’ll find plenty of Bed & Breakfast properties if you wish to spend a few days in the region.

As Australia’s oldest and most famous traditional Hedge Maze now standing over 3 metres high & 2 metres thick. With four mosaic flags to find in each half of the hedge maze, the hundreds of metres of winding paths take you through the South Maze into the Centre

Ashcombe Maze, Mornington Peninsula
ASHCOMBE MAZE

Garden before you tackle the North Maze. While not overly complicated it does take a little while to make your way through (some people take longer than others!) The North Maze is a totally different layout to the South Maze, so any tricks you worked out while making your way through the first part, mean absolutely nothing in the other!

The Ashcombe Hedge Maze was planted in the 1970’s with more than 1000 Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) plants. They are planted at around 1 metre intervals, and each year the hedge gets a bit bigger (and the paths get a bit narrower!) Being a drought tolerant plant the hedge only needs irrigation in extreme heat waves. It now stands more than 3m high and 2m thick.

Ashcombe Maze is open everyday (except Christmas Day) from 10am to 5pm.

What’s underneath the Onion Skin:

Other things nearby – Redhill Markets, Mornington Peninsula Wineries

Suburb/Neighbourhood: Mornignton Peninsula

Food:  The maze has its own café Ashcombe Café

How to get there: Melways reference  Map  256 E4

By Car:  

The easiest way to get to Ashcombe Maze is to follow the M1 (Monash Freeway) from Melbourne and take the Mornington Peninsula/Hastings exit. This will lead you onto the Westernport Highway (A780). Follow this Highway to Hastings, then follow the (C777) road towards “Flinders”. Travel through the small villages of Balnarring and Merricks and look out for the brown tourist Ashcombe Maze signs to guide you to Shoreham which is located 7km before the township of Flinders.

Alternatively if you commence your journey from bayside or the southern suburbs of Melbourne take the Nepean Highway (3) to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway (11) and at Frankston you will pass the BP & Shell service stations and at the next roundabout you veer left into Frankston Flinders Road (C777) and 4kms further on, turn right into Coolart Road (C785) and follow the signs to Ashcombe Maze and Flinders via Balnarring.

Location:  15 Shoreham Road, Shoreham on the Mornington Peninsula

FOOD & WINE

Connect with a Sausage, Melbourne Wi-Fi Hot Spots

The latest place I have discovered for a Wi-Fi connection was from the café chairs and tables outside the delicatessen hall at Queen Victoria Market.  Located on the Cnr. of Elizabeth Street and Thierry Streets outside  the side entrance to the Delicatessen Hall.

The access Wi-Fi I tapped into was from McDonalds on the opposite corner, with no need to be inside to the store,  I accessed the connection from across the  road.

This is a great place to have lunch and we purposely went to have one of the continental sausages from  ‘Bratwurst Shop &  Co.’   I had a spicy bratwurst for approximately $7.20 topped with Sauerkraut, cheese and my choice of mustard.  Let the queue above at the counter speak for itself.   If a sausage does not take you fancy there is a feast of Delicatessen stallholders plying there produce for you to try just inside the hall.

There is another Wi-Fi spot at Queen Victoria Market, Cnr. Queen and Victoria Streets,  within the Food Court area.

We walked from the market down Swanston Street though the city to Federation Square for a coffee, Cnr. Flinders & Swanston Streets.  Located there is another place to catch up on your email, upload your latest blog or travel pictures, sitting on the steps basking in the sun.  If you are lucky you’ll catch one of the international or local buskers entertaining, or you can call into the Melbourne Visitor and Information Centre located below.

If the weather is no so warm try the Great Space Cafe at 45 Collins Street, underneath the Sofitel in the food court area.  Popular with the corporate community this ‘Paris End’ of Collins Street location gets busy during the lunchtime period.

Wi-Fi Hot Spots can be found in several places around the city you’ll find a more comprehensive list thanks to ‘Only Melbourne’ here.  Most sites are free wireless internet connections, or free with the purchase of a coffee…

What’s underneath the Onion Skin:

Other things to do nearby – it’s a Market,  shop till you drop  and the Melbourne City Baths in Swanston Street

Close by to: Melbourne Central and CBD, juts walk further up Elizabeth Street

Suburb/Neighbourhood: NORTH MELBOURNE [45 minutes walk from Southbank Homestay]

Food: Bratwurst & Co.

How to get there: Melways reference  – Map 2B C12

By Car: Stacks of parking at the rear of the market

By Tram: 19, 57 & 59 from anywhere in Elizabeth Street

By City Explorer Bus: –  – Free tourist shuttle, get off at stop 8 for the  Queen Victoria Market .  Walk through the market to the opposite side and main entrance on Elizabeth Street.