Here’s Day 1’s & Day 2’s recap:
Melbourne Day 1: Federation Square, Hoiser Lane & Flinders Street Station
Melbourne Day 2: Queen Victoria Market, Royal Arcade & Block Arcade
I’ve been talking about Victoria Hall (known as Space Hotel now), my 3 days accommodation in Melbourne several times. Now let me take you in and around Victoria Hall. In my opinion hostel in Melbourne is quite expensive. That kind of money would have paid for a comfy stay in say 4 star hotel in Malaysia. Thank God it’s not New South Wales or Queensland or the accommodation $$ would be even high up. Yes, yes I convert la.
I found Victoria Hall through TripAdvisor (ranking 17/91 in Specialty Lodging). This hostel had poor and terrible reviews in the past. Since undergoing major renovation works (until end of 2010), the reviews have been improving to ‘very good’.
Victoria Hall. As you can see the rooftop, top floors and ground area are under renovation. The shared kitchen is currently at its sorry state. Functional but a little sore.
Our room is on the first floor – left most of this picture.
Our renovated budget twin room for 3 days. It’s a little small (remind me of Hong Kong hotel) but it suits us just fine. On the right is wardrobe, table and chair. Paid AUD74 for 1st night (Thursday) and AUD76 x 2 for 2nd & 3rd night (Friday & Saturday). Just like that RM650+ gone. No breakfast, clean towels are provided and shared bathroom.
Bunk bed with super comfy mattresses. My favorite place! Haha
LCD TV and iPod docking station. Very limited TV programs though. (3-5 channels only)
Power points are available. It’s hidden behind the side table.
Clockwise L-R: Hallway, hot water station, shared bathroom. Forgotten to snap picture of the bathroom/toilet. They are very cool. Made of stainless steel… even the toilet bowl. Haha
Games & gym areas.
Security card swipe is needed to access rooms, communal bathrooms & toilets, game/gym/lounge/movie areas, each levels and front door (after dark). So it’s pretty safe. π
All in all I love this place. Great location (only 12 minutes to my favorite Queen Victoria Market) and near to tram station. and I bet the place will look awesome once it’s completed.
Alright let’s continue my day 3.
We said we wanted to go to Queen Victoria Market again a day before we go home but found out QVM doesn’t open on Wednesday (the day we planned to go) so we have to go today, day 3.
We choose to walk again since the Saturday morning weather is very pleasant plus there is no point on wasting $$ on tram tickets. Sure there’s the free City Tourist Shuttle Bus that pass QVM but you won’t get to see anything. Walking is the best way to get to know the place you’re visiting.
Can you guess what’s on the other side of this door? My initial guess was a restaurant.
Hey, hey it’s a barber shop actually.
While I was passing by City Baths, I chanced upon rosemary & bay trees behind City Baths’ mini garden. So healthy & green unlike my rosemary. Haha
Cute bull dog. Even his vest match the color of the car.
Love this building. Independent Order of Rechabites.
Opposite this lovely building is City Mart (Asian grocery shop). Too bad we don’t have time if not I would love to check that place out.
Here we are at Queen Victoria Market again. Haha
This is the meat & fish hall building.
Opposite QVM is the Elizabeth Street tram station.
Shops at QVM.
We stopped by the deli hall aka dairy produce hall to grab our favorite boreks before heading to the general merchandise section.
Florist at QVM.
The ‘general merchandise’ area. Shopping time!!!
We shop for like 3 hours there… still not enough. But we have to stop as we’re heading to another place after lunch.
Bought a Ugg knee-high boots there @ AUD70. Nope it’s not from the ‘UGG’ brand but it’s real sheepskin. Oh so comfy!!! π
Do you know that even if the UGG brand doesn’t exist this kind of boots will still be called Ugg boots? Ugg boots has been a generic terms for sheepskin boots in Australia and New Zealand.
Had our lunch just outside the deli hall.
I had spicy pork bratwurst for lunch @ AUD5.50 while my sis had chicken souvlaki also @ AUD5.50.
Perfect day, perfect lunch.
Now it’s time to head back to our hostel to download our goods. π
Stay tuned for day 3 (part 2).
11 Comments
Those UGG boots are nice but I refuse to buy it…not very practical over here coz there’s not much “grip” on ice.
Wow..the place you stay looks super cosy. It is equipped with so many stuff. π
Dawn, they’re not suitable to wear in Malaysia. Haha Going to wear it in cold country. I think you can wear it on cold winter days (no snow time) or chilly spring/autumn days.
Tekkaus, oh yeah the room is very cosy particularly the bed. It’s even more comfy than my own bed. Hahaha
lucky i have friends in melbourne… but that hostel is too expensive π but well worth every penny i bet π
Fufu, I have aunt and friends there but I thought let’s us try on our own the first time. Haha Yes accommodation is expensive. I searched high and low but still get this price range. Aiya Didn’t choose dorm as I don’t trust strangers.
Toilet bowl also made from stainless steel? Wow!
Foongpc, haha ya. My first reaction upon entering the toilet was ‘Wow’ too.
looking at your photos now, i just realised i didn’t take much photos of Melbourne when I was there…
π
FeR, hey when did you go? Do share your story in the blog.
I thought I didn’t take enough because some times I was lazy/tired.
Thanks for the recommendation, will check out the hostel when I go visit. But wondering if it’s suitable for families with kids or not.
Adino, I think this place is okay for families with kids. They have family rooms and shared kitchen downstairs. Walking to the nearest tram stop will take about 2-3 minutes.