Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Yeah Maan CARIBBEAN Is this the coolest restaurant in Australia or
what? Calypso music wafts amid the homemade triangle-backed chairs, diners
wait in the lounge or at the new bar for a table to become free, palm trees
sway—and the food! Wow! The whole place is rockin', with seats almost con-
tinually occupied. The authentic Trinidadian goat curry is a must, as is the Bar-
bados burrito. The Jamaican KFC (chicken marinated for 2 days in approximately
30 spices and then smoked), and the Jumbo-Jumbie cassava shoestring fries (cas-
sava is similar to a potato) are very, very popular. An upstairs dining room has
recently opened. The staff is ultrafriendly. Licensed and BYO.
340 Punt Rd. (at Fawkner St.), South Yarra. & 03/9820 2707. Main courses A$13-A$19 (US$8.45-US$12).
MC, V. Tues-Sat 6-11:30pm. Tram: 6, 8, or 72 from Swanston St.
5 Seeing the Sights
Melbourne's attractions may not have quite the fame as some of Sydney's, but
visitors come here to experience the contrasts of old-world architecture and the
exciting feel of a truly multicultural city.
If you'd like to see the city aboard a leisurely cruise, call Melbourne River
Cruises ( & 03/9614 1215 Mon-Fri, or 03/9650 2055 Sat-Sun). This com-
pany offers a 2 1 2 -hour round-trip cruise on the Yarra River costing A$17
(US$11) for adults, A$8.80 (US$5.70) for children 3 to 12, A$13 (US$8.45)
for students, and A$42 (US$27) for a family.
THE TOP ATTRACTIONS
Federation Square Touted as “Melbourne's civic and cultural hub for the
21st century,” Federation Square is a conglomerate of attractions centered
around wacky architecture and a large open piazza-type area cobbled with mis-
shapen paving. Here you'll find the National Gallery of Victoria: the Ian Potter
Centre—Australian Art (p. 553), the new Australian Centre for the Moving
Image (ACMI), and the new one-stop Visitor Centre (see “Visitor Information,”
earlier in this chapter). The three-level Nation Gallery of Victoria building is
huge and hosts the largest collection of Australian art in the country, including
many works by Sidney Nolan, Russell Drysdale, and Tom Roberts, as well as
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The Gallery is already a major focus for
art festivals and special events. Numerous cafes and coffee shops operate
throughout the precinct. The ACMI center includes two state-of-the-art cine-
mas and large areas where visitors can access movies, videos, and digital media.
It's worth visiting the square though just to see the extraordinary architecture,
made up of strangely reflective geometrical designs, and the impressive glassed
Atrium. Lots of events are planned for the square's 450-seat amphitheater,
including theatrical performances and free concerts. Other events will take place
on the plaza and along areas of the banks of the Yarra River.
Runs north-south from Flinders St. to the Yarra River (near Flinders St. Railway Station, to the left as you look
at it). www.federationsquare.com.au. Outdoor spaces open 24 hr. Free entry (though charges for some spe-
cial events and exhibitions). Tram: City Circle.
Gold Treasury Museum Designed by the architect J. J. Clarke (when he was
only 19) and built in 1857, the Old Treasury Building is an imposing neoclas-
sical sandstone building, which once housed precious metal from the Ballarat
and Bendigo gold rushes. The gold was stored in eight thick-walled vaults
underground and protected by iron bars. The “Built on Gold” Exhibition within
the vaults is a high-tech multimedia show featuring videos and displays showing
how the gold was dug up, sold, transported, and housed. In the basement are
 
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