Melbourne, Victoria
Welcome to Melbourne! Where the weather may be unpredictable but the coffee is always great! We hope you come for the visionary 2020 ANZSGM Annual Scientific Meeting program and stay the weekend to enjoy Victoria. There’s something for everyone – food and wine, sights and relaxed weekend getaways.
Coffee: as important as Oxygen
Market Lane Coffee is quintessential Melbourne snobbery and Melbournians love it! Want a hot chocolate? Want a cup of tea? Don’t come here! Right across the road from The Sofitel on Collins, this will have you sorted… and grab a bag of beans to bring home!
8 Collins St, Melbourne. M-F 7am-5pm
Axil Flinders Lane has great coffee in one of Melbourne’s most happening laneways. A short stroll from The Sofitel on Collins, grab a coffee and head down to AC/DC Lane to check out Melbourne’s renown graffiti laneway
76 Flinders Lane, Melbourne M-F 7am-4pm
Pellegrini’s Bar and Espresso. One block over from The Sofitel on Collins, visit this Melbourne institution and give a nod to his former owner, Sisto Malaspina, who died at the age of 74, while helping others.
66 Bourke St, Melbourne. 8am – 11.30pm
Food: limited only by your stomach
Melbourne is known for its fabulous food – and once you’re in the Good Food guide/in Broadsheet, expect a queue. Many restaurants do not take bookings and accept walk-ins only. For large groups, we recommend booking early and you may be asked to have the set menu.
Uncle CBD - Had a long day at ANZSGM? Really can’t get those legs to cross the road for the gazillion food possibilities Melbourne offers? Go downstairs to Uncle CBD. Offering delicious South East Asian cuisine and cocktails, this is a perfect way to end a long day of learnings!
Level 1, 15 Collins St, Melbourne
Andrew McConnell. Don’t know who he is? Google him. Stat. Supernormal is his Melbourne CBD gig offering delicious Pan Asian food; dumplings, lobster rolls, whatever… it is all delicious. The peanut butter parfait is a must have.
180 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
*Cumulus In and Cumulus Up are both located in the CBD and offer European cuisine
**Cutler and Co and Marion Wine Bar are a 10-15 minute stroll into Fitzroy
*** We are happy to recommend anywhere Andrew McConnell!
Spring Street. The top of Spring Street is one of the Melbourne’s favourite haunts. Start with an aperol spritz at Siglo rooftop bar. Head downstairs to City Wine Shop (casual) or the European (formal) for a solid European dinner. Then it’s up to you – head up the stairs to the dark and moody Melbourne Supper Club for great wine. Or head next door to Primavera for some of Melbourne’s best gelato!
159 Spring St, Melbourne
Drink: no drought here
Laneway watering holes or rooftop haunts, Melbourne has it all.
Rooftop / outdoor (for a crisp and fresh autumn day!)
Siglo – tres sophisticated, tres French
Lvl 2/161 Spring St, Melbourne
Rooftop at QT – observe Melbourne pretense in all it’s faux glory
Lvl 11/133 Russell St, Melbourne
Union Electric Bar – Laneway feel with outdoor vibes
13 Heffernan Lane, Melbourne
Arbory and Arbory afloat – See the pretty the lights reflect off the water at this water’s edge watering hole.
1 Flinders Walk, Melbourne
Ponyfish Island – An island in the Yarra. Standing room / deck only (mostly due to hipsters)
In the middle of Southbank Pedestrian Bridge Southbank
Others
The Melbourne Supper Club (winebar) – a Melbourne Institution
Lvl 1/161 Spring St, Melbourne
Embla – simple food based on fresh quality produce and divine wine
122 Russell St, Melbourne
Eau De Vie – Amazing cocktails in all its fanfare if you’re able to find the door to this hidden gem!
1 Malthouse Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Archelin – subterranean ambience with food and wine from the Guy Grossi brand
Mornane Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000
Boilermaker – whiskey fan? This is the place for you.
209-211 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Other suggestions
The conference program is unmissable but if you have a half day spare some time in Melbourne, go and explore some of our ever changing renowned laneways.. Here is a free self-directed walking tour.
The City of Melbourne has other self-guided walks if you have another interest. Check them out here
(https://whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au/visitors/walksitineraries/walks/pages/walks.aspx)
With the kids:
Melbourne Museum – Melbourne Museum is a short 20 minute walk from the Sofitel on Collins – or get the kids excited with a short tram (away from the city, routes 86, 98 or 11) ride! With lots of exhibitions and many activities tailored for young and older kids, Melbourne Museum will have you covered for the day. The Carlton Gardens with the Royal Exhibition Building next door is a bonus!
11 Nicholson St, Carlton
https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/
Melbourne Sealife Aquarium – take a short tram ride down Flinders St (towards Southern Cross station, route 70, 75 or the city circle tram) and head to the aquarium for this magical underwater adventure. Afterwards, cross the bridge to Crown or Southbank where you’ll have a choice of restaurants for lunch/dinner.
https://www.melbourneaquarium.com.au
Yarra River, Cnr King and Flinders Sts, Melbourne
LEGOland at Chadstone – pretend to go for your kids, but we all know that the inner LEGOmaster in us is begging to be released. Chadstone caters for the whole family – shopping, dining, movies and all those luxury goods!
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Melbourne
Level 2, Chadstone – The Fashion Capital
1341 Dandenong Road
Chadstone 3148
Victoria, Australia
A free shuttle bus runs between Chadstone and Fed Square. There’s also a daily bus from The Sofitel on Collins! Check out the timetable: https://d294nyrht8hdze.cloudfront.net/media/1153833/30387_chad_shuttlebus_timetable_-1.pdf
Zoos Melbourne have a range of Zoos to choose from. Closest is Melbourne Zoo where you can catch the Upfield line train from Flinders St Station to Royal Park Station. If you’re looking for Australian wildlife go for Healesville Sanctuary or Werribee Open Range Zoo for more of a safari feel – although you’ll need a car for these trips.
Elliot Ave, Parkville
Scienceworks – highly recommended by all our friends with kids – it’s interactive and fun and your kids will learn too!
Catch the Werribee or Williamstown line train from Flinders St Station to Spotswood Station and it’s a 10 minute walk from there. Other options are a ferry from Southbank (we haven’t tried this!), cycling along the Maribyrnong River (12km, a bit under an hour, great on a mild sunny day) and by car.
2 Booker St, Spotswood
Weekend trips
Just a one hour drive from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is a great place to spend the weekend – particularly on (hopefully) sunny autumn weekends. Pick a designated driver or book a tour!
Some winery recommendations (but not an exhaustive list!)
- Stones of the Yarra Valley - spectacular views over the Yarra Valley
- Yering Station – has a beautiful dining room and wonderful gardens during Autumn
- Tarrawarra - amazing gallery, sloping hills and cracking chardonnay
- Yarra Valley Dairy - try the goats cheese! Bring a bottle wine and have a picnic
- Four Pillars Gin - worth a visit for fans of juniper and its variations
So we’re into wine, so what? Instead of going East, go South to the Mornington Peninsula and Red Hill. You’ll get the beaches of Mount Eliza, Dromana, Rye (so many, take your pick!) but also some beautiful wineries with great food!
- T'Gallant Main Ridge - delicious pizza amongst the vine greenery
- Foxeys Hangout – enjoy share plates looking over their intimate grapevines
- Port Phillip Estate – a stunning place to have lunch with great views over the vines
- Stonier Wines – recommended for great chardonnay and Pinot!
- Ten Minutes by Tractor – great for a casual lunch
- Mornington Peninsula Hot Sprints – unwind and relax in these warms pools with views over the peninsula
- Arthur Seat’s Chairlift - scenic views above the Mornington Peninsula, across Port Phillip Bay, towards the Melbourne city skyline and beyond
Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges is another popular weekend destination for Melburnians.
- There are multiple wineries to explore – who would have guessed?
- Daylesford is Spa country so book yourself in for the royal treatment at the Spa and Lake House or Hepburn Springs
- Kyneton and Trentham punch above their weight and have become a foodie destination that highlight local quality produce
- Towns in the area have small boutique shops selling clothing, homewares, food and local wares
Important Dates
ANZSGM Annual Scientific Meeting 2021
19-21 May 2021
Thursday, 5 November 2020
Call for Abstracts opens
Thursday, 19 November 2020
Early bird registration opens
Thursday, 18 March 2021
Early bird registration closes
Host Organisation
Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine (ANZSGM)
145 Macquarie Street
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 2 9256 5460
Fax: +61 2 9241 3458
Website: www.anzsgm.org
