Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Directory A-Z
BOOK YOUR STAY ONLINE
For more accommodation reviews by Lonely Planet authors, check out
http://hotels.lonelyplanet.com
. You'll find
independent reviews, as well as recommendations on the best places to stay. Best of all, you can book online.
Accommodation
Accommodation across the state ranges from camping and caravan parks to youth hostels, motels, boutique B&Bs, hotels
and resorts. Many tourist offices offer a free accommodation booking service; check out the comprehensive
Accommoda-
tion Guide
published by the
RACV
( 13 72 28;
www.racv.com.au
)
.
Accommodation prices tend to be seasonal, especially along the coast and the Murray River. Peak times are the Christ-
mas school holidays (from mid-December to the end of January) and the Easter long weekend, when you'll need to book
well in advance and prices skyrocket at popular beach resorts. Winter (June to August) is the cheapest time to travel
around most of the state - except at the ski resorts, where July and August represent peak season. Places at popular get-
aways such as the Mornington Peninsula and Daylesford often charge more for weekend stays. Accommodation prices in
Melbourne are generally steady all year, but peak for major events such as the Australian Open (January), the Grand Prix
(March), AFL finals (September) and the Spring Racing Carnival (November). Midrange to deluxe hotels publish 'rack
rates', but always ask for current specials.
Throughout the year, prices in many regional towns (where business travellers outnumber tourists) rise from Monday to
Thursday and can drop considerably for the weekends.
PRACTICALITIES
»
DVD: Region 4
»
Emergency: 000
»
Newspapers: The
Age
(
www.theage.com.au
), long Melbourne's broadsheet, covers local, national and interna-
tional news. The
Herald Sun
(
www.heraldsun.com.au
)
is a big-selling tabloid strong on sport, especially AFL.
»
Radio & TV: The
Australian Broadcasting Commission
(ABC;
www.abc.net.au
) is the national TV and radio
broadcaster; commercial TV networks Seven, Nine, Ten and SBS all have more than one digital channel.
»
Weights & measures: Australia uses the metric system.
Camping & Caravanning
Camping holidays are experiencing a resurgence in popularity in Victoria, with some outstanding national park camping
grounds and privately run caravan parks to choose from. The only place where camping or caravanning isn't viable is
central Melbourne.
