Intel from Melbourne, Australia: Indagare Ambassador Susan Merlin

Indagare Ambassador Susan Merlin shares favorite finds and travel intel from her recent trip to Melbourne, Australia:

Melbourne is such a delightful, small and livable city, and it feels very reminiscent of San Francisco in its heyday. It's characterized by charming, walkable neighborhoods, each with a distinct personality. We went for the Australian Open tennis tournament and stayed at The Langham and United Places Botanic Gardens, and everything was an approximately 10-15 minute Uber from both hotels. The weather was gorgeous but changeable—in the 60s (Fahrenheit) one day and the 90s the next (it was summer, and we assumed it would be hot, but it was equally unseasonably cool, though always sunny!).

The Langham Hotel has the benefit of location and being in the CBD (the local moniker for the Central Business District), but it is somewhat dated. It's located right on South Bank of the Yarra river with an attractive walking path alongside office buildings. A quick 10-minute walk over a bridge brings you to Flinders Street, where there are tons of terrific outdoor all-day dining cafés. Two blocks beyond, you will find Collins Street, which is home to many of the luxury boutiques and chic, trendy restaurants.

The United Places Botanic Gardens is a small boutique hotel with 12 suites, in a tiny neighborhood in South Yarra. While it is not full-service, they do offer pastries at your door in the morning and will bring you a latte or flat white from the café next door. (Though we had no need, because we went downstairs and walked two doors down to a lovely, buzzing café filled with attractive clientele, who were meeting for their morning flat white and avocado toast with their strollers and dogs in tow.) United Places was a last-minute choice, which was not our traditionally preferred style of hotel, but it was an absolutely fabulous alternative to being right in town in a bland urban hotel, and it completely altered our experience in Melbourne. It was sleek and modern, and it felt more like a one-bedroom apartment—with a terrace overlooking the park. It was really lovely.

The restaurant scene in Melbourne is really happening. The culture is very focused on providing farm-fresh, organic foods prepared simply and deliciously, with a variety of culinary influences from all over, showing a lot of ingenuity. Every place we went, we enjoyed.

We loved our morning walks through the Royal Botanical Gardens with a coffee in hand. Unlike Central Park in New York, there are no joggers or bikers allowed inside the gates. They stick to the “Tan” that rings the perimeter of the gardens. Visiting the Rod Laver Arena was also a highlight and is an iconic experience for any tennis enthusiast.

What's one important thing to know about Melbourne?

The Melbourne tram was awesome. Pick up a "myki card" in a 7-11, which are quite prolific, and hop on. It is all free in the CBD, but it's a great way to get to neighborhoods a bit further out, like Armadale (a more active area that feels like Presidio Heights in San Francisco). It is easy to learn and navigate and runs regularly.

What were you happy to have in your carry on?

Sunscreen, a hat and a light puffer vest.

Where to next?

I am traveling to Mallorca on the Indagare Journey with Melissa and also to Scotland, to explore the Highlands.