We decided to leave Johanna Beach a day early, so we're now in Anglesea.
I've talked to Wendyv last night, and suggested if there are others around Melbourne who'd like to get together for a cuppa, I'd love to do that.
We plan to base ourselves at Akoona Park at Berwick for several days, doing day trips from there. We want to see Mornington Peninsula, Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Valley and Victoria markets. And we must have a ride on a tram! We have maps, info and TomTom to find our way around.
And we have to meet up with some cousins at some stage.
Kaid said
06:41 AM Nov 7, 2012
There is a free tram in Melbourne City. I think it is called the City Circle Tram. If I remember correctly.it is Red You can get off and on at will. Hope this helps cheers Kathy
the rocket said
05:03 PM Nov 7, 2012
have a great time
Dougwe said
05:25 PM Nov 7, 2012
You three sertainly are getting around Beth, I hope we get to meet somewhere along the way. I think I'm heading away from you at this stage but that could all change though. I am still keeping an eye on your post's.
jules47 said
06:08 PM Nov 7, 2012
Hi Beth - the train goes to the city from Berwick - at Federtion Square there is an information booth - Fed square is opposite Flinders Street station - big ultra modern place - you can find out which tram to catch to the Vic Market - it is quite a walk from Flinders St - not on every day the market tho - they will also give you info on the City Cirle Tram - it is hop on, hop off, takes you right round the city - and FREE!! - there is a Sunday market at Berwick where you will be staying - not bad one either.
And I still reckon a trip up the Eureka Tower is worth your while - you can see so much from there - and don't need to go near the windows - Enjoy a beautiful city!!!!!
Beth54 said
06:55 PM Nov 7, 2012
The major bit of info there was where to get fish & chips. Will do!
Dande stations sounds a bit like Woodridge station in my neck of the woods...Frankston sounds good to me!
And I must say, what a freaky/scary experience driving across Melbourne! Sis & bil have the TomTom..no problem with me spelling Somerville...so I just had to follow blindly and try not to lose them. Bil & I both needed a good stiff Camomile tea when we got here!
-- Edited by Beth54 on Wednesday 7th of November 2012 06:55:40 PM
barina said
10:51 PM Nov 7, 2012
Hi Beth you will need the dreaded MYKI card for tram or train travel, can buy at 7/11's.. There is the free circle tram which now goes out to docklands and also a free orange bus which does some great sites including The Shrine of Remembrance and Victoria Market. I may be able to catch up if you are still here at the weekend.
Beth54 said
02:12 AM Nov 8, 2012
Thanks for all the advise and good wishes.
Change of plans slightly...we couldn't get into Akoona Park, didn't realise we'd have to book, and anyway, we didn't really know what day we'd get here.
We then rang several other places with the same story, booked out sorry. Eventually we got 2 nights here at Western Port Harbour CP at Sommerville. From here we can go and check out Mornington peninsula tomorrow.
And we've just booked a further five nights at The Big 4 at Dandenong South. I remember someone saying Dandenong wasn't a very nice suburb, but surely a Big 4 won't let any rabble in. Fingers crossed anyway.
We have a couple of maps about the city circle tram and will use them. I didn't think about the train tickets Judy. I wondered what the site was in my favourites. Now I know. I'll look into that.
Doug, thanks for keeping an eye on me, sometimes I need it. Just ask my sis&bil, they'll tell you.
As you may remember Doug, we'll return home via the NSW south coast, so if you're still in that area, we still may meet.
jules47 said
02:18 AM Nov 8, 2012
Beth the Big 4 in Dandenong South is just out of the industrial area, been there for a long time and ok - Dandenong is not as bad as people make out - there are a lot of permanents there I think - but you will be ok - and bus from the door to Dandenong or Frankston - you may even feel safer going to Frankston to get to the city on the train - Dande station is a bit -hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
And Somerville - lived there for 15 years - our first house - bought the kids up there - only ONE M in Somerville, though, you gps won't like 2 - you can catch a Country line train from Somerville - change at Frankston to get to the city. Make sure you get to Sorrento - fish and chips in the main street is a MUST!!!
leevin said
04:07 AM Nov 8, 2012
We stayed four nights at the Mornington Gardens Holiday Village, 98 Bungower Road, Mornington. We liked the privacy hedges and it is midway to Melbourne & Peninsular.
jules47 said
04:23 AM Nov 8, 2012
Forgot about that one - not a bad spot either - though a bit out of Mornington itself - and yes Dandenong Station is a bit like Woodridge! In fact, all of dandenong is a bit like Woodridge!!!
Did you use the freeways? - Best way to get to that side of town.
Beth54 said
04:42 AM Nov 8, 2012
Yes, we just followed 'Tommy'. Although 'he' has led us astray before, he was right this time.
We didn't really want to stay on the MP, it just happened that way. We wanted to be more central.
wendyv said
06:13 AM Nov 8, 2012
There's a couple of decent caravan parks at Healesville that are a good base for exploring areas like the Dandenongs and Yarra Valley. It is also less than a 30 minute drive to the railway station at Lilydale, from where you can get trains straight to the city. We used the Badger Creek CP when we were travelling for 3 years and needed a Melb base for a short stay when passing through. Lovely setting - creek flowing past; Healesville is an interesting township too.
Beth54 said
03:48 AM Nov 9, 2012
We've already booked the Big 4 at Dandenong South for 5 nights Wendy. We had such trouble getting into one, that we just took this availabilty. I had rung several places but a lot are already booked over the weekend.
5 nights is really not enough, but time is marching on, so I know we're not going to see everything on our list.
We decided to leave Johanna Beach a day early, so we're now in Anglesea.
I've talked to Wendyv last night, and suggested if there are others around Melbourne who'd like to get together for a cuppa, I'd love to do that.
We plan to base ourselves at Akoona Park at Berwick for several days, doing day trips from there. We want to see Mornington Peninsula, Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Valley and Victoria markets. And we must have a ride on a tram! We have maps, info and TomTom to find our way around.
And we have to meet up with some cousins at some stage.
I think it is called the City Circle Tram. If I remember correctly.it is Red
You can get off and on at will.
Hope this helps
cheers
Kathy
have a great time
You three sertainly are getting around Beth, I hope we get to meet somewhere along the way. I think I'm heading away from you at this stage but that could all change though. I am still keeping an eye on your post's.
And I still reckon a trip up the Eureka Tower is worth your while - you can see so much from there - and don't need to go near the windows -
Enjoy a beautiful city!!!!!
The major bit of info there was where to get fish & chips.
Will do!
Dande stations sounds a bit like Woodridge station in my neck of the woods...Frankston sounds good to me!
And I must say, what a freaky/scary experience driving across Melbourne!
Sis & bil have the TomTom..no problem with me spelling Somerville
...so I just had to follow blindly and try not to lose them. 
Bil & I both needed a good stiff Camomile tea when we got here! 
-- Edited by Beth54 on Wednesday 7th of November 2012 06:55:40 PM
Thanks for all the advise and good wishes.
Change of plans slightly...we couldn't get into Akoona Park, didn't realise we'd have to book, and anyway, we didn't really know what day we'd get here.
We then rang several other places with the same story, booked out sorry. Eventually we got 2 nights here at Western Port Harbour CP at Sommerville. From here we can go and check out Mornington peninsula tomorrow.
And we've just booked a further five nights at The Big 4 at Dandenong South. I remember someone saying Dandenong wasn't a very nice suburb, but surely a Big 4 won't let any rabble in.
Fingers crossed anyway. 
We have a couple of maps about the city circle tram and will use them. I didn't think about the train tickets Judy. I wondered what the site was in my favourites.
Now I know. I'll look into that.
Doug, thanks for keeping an eye on me, sometimes I need it.
Just ask my sis&bil, they'll tell you. 
As you may remember Doug, we'll return home via the NSW south coast, so if you're still in that area, we still may meet.
And Somerville - lived there for 15 years - our first house - bought the kids up there - only ONE M in Somerville, though, you gps won't like 2 - you can catch a Country line train from Somerville - change at Frankston to get to the city. Make sure you get to Sorrento - fish and chips in the main street is a MUST!!!
Mornington. We liked the privacy hedges and it is midway to Melbourne & Peninsular.
Did you use the freeways? - Best way to get to that side of town.
Yes, we just followed 'Tommy'. Although 'he' has led us astray before, he was right this time.
We didn't really want to stay on the MP, it just happened that way. We wanted to be more central.
We've already booked the Big 4 at Dandenong South for 5 nights Wendy. We had such trouble getting into one, that we just took this availabilty. I had rung several places but a lot are already booked over the weekend.
5 nights is really not enough, but time is marching on, so I know we're not going to see everything on our list.