Unseen University Convivium

and Nullus Anxietas: The Australian Discworld Convention

Australian Wizzard Hat

** Complete Virgin **

  1. Reply

    omthetortoise @ 7:38am, 12 Jan 2007…

    • : USA
    • 67

    Well, for these purposes anyhow. Never been to a con… never been to Australia… never even posted on this Forum before. Can’t find a thread to stick my nose into that quite fits, so here goes:

    The Long Version:
    I ran across this website a few months ago while looking for the perfect Christmas present for my mother… who was one of the first casualties of my Discworld obsession after I first discovered the Discworld back in 1994. (I lent her a copy of tCoM while I was home on leave) After much debate, I realized that you only live once (or not, as the case may be) and decided to send her to the convention as my Hogswatch present. Of course, I couldn’t just let her come alone… now could I? So we’re both booked in and will be on the long flight to Melbourne early on the 8th.

    Does anyone have any recommendations on what to do/bring/see while we are there… we expect to be focused mainly on the con… but come on, it’s Australia for Ptracie’s sake! Any rec’s on what we should (or shouldn’t) Do/bring/see/not miss?

    The Short Version: We’re excited, but clueless. Holy crap, now what?

    Of course he was all in favour of Armageddon in general terms….

  2. Reply

    Kelshandra @ 9:25am, 12 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Melbourne
    • 77

    Hi there! Another person who only recently posted on the forum because they were not sure if they would be able to come to the convention (I am no where near as geographically challenged as you though!)

    Australia is a very big place with lots of empty places in between- I believe east coast to west coast it is about as wide as the US. How much you see will depend on how long you were planning on staying. Were you planning on just staying in Melbourne or go to a few other cities as well? Were you planning on renting a car or using public transport? How long are you going to be here?

    If you were planning on staying in Melbourne then a trip to either the zoo or Healsville sanctuary will get you the ‘cute fluffy Australian animal’ fix. I prefer Healsville- located in the hills east of Melbourne, but it is further out (would be a day trip from the city). Riding a tram is easy and something you will probably do anyway to explore (I recommend buying a zone 1 all day ticket if you are planning on exploring the city on public transport for the day anyhow).

    Otherwise, I suggest finding a good website and see what tickles your fancy- there is no point going to a winery if you don’t drink for instance!

    Edited to add:
    Here are a few websites to get you going-
    www.visitvictoria.com/
    www.visitmelbourne.com/
    http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/

    Ask me about stamps!
    http://www.discworldstampfan.info

    Edited by Kelshandra 9:27am, 12 Jan 2007

  3. Reply

    lillythepink57 @ 6:36pm, 12 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Melbourne
    • 278

    In the city, the aquarium, Crown Casino, Rialto Tower, and Melbourne Central are all fun places to visit.
    You should also check out the Queen Vic Market for all of the little australian souveniers for your friends.
    If you are a sci-fi/fantasy nut, Minotaur is an awesome shop on Elizabeth st. (flinders st end, purple sign), which also specialises in comic books and anime.
    There are lots of nice parks too, if you like that kind of thing, and most places to go are accessible by train (theres an underground loop that goes right around the city) or tram.
    Above all, melbourne people are really friendly, so if you do get lost, most people will help you find your way if you ask!

    We’re on a mission from Glod.

  4. Reply

    TheOtherDibbler @ 7:59pm, 12 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Somewhere in NSW
    • 390

    Hmmm… Minotaur sounds like somewhere I might just visit on Friday morning before the con starts. If I can make it.

    Ahem. Oh yeah, advice for overseas visitors. Ermmm… prepare for lots of nasty heat, and cold, and rain, and snow apparently – Melbourne weather is weird. Unlike where I live where you just need to prepare for heat. And fire. And dust. And no rain. Can you bring some rain with you? I’ve been to Healsville sanctuary – from what I remember it’s really good. I think I’ve been to Melbourne zoo too, from what I remember it was a zoo, although I tihnk it had African Hunting Dogs, which are so much cooler than any other members of the dog family. I’m not really familiar with the Melbourne area, so I can’t really suggest any local attractions, but I do recommend taking a few days to visit someplace away from any major cities, if you’ve got time, just to experience non-city Australia. But if you’re gonna be driving through ‘roo country keep extra wary around dusk and sunrise, ’coz that’s when they’re most active and also really hard to see.

    I suggest you bring a good wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and UVP (UVF, UVPF whatever) 30+ sunscreen, or you can just buy that when you arrive. This is absolutely essential for going outside in the summer, which doesn’t explain why I rarely wear sunscreen. But I should, and so should you. #glares at everyone who doesn’t wear sunscreen#

    ‘If there were more morals about we wouldn’t be crashing into stars’

  5. Reply

    pat @ 8:30pm, 12 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Melbourne, Australia
    • 586

    Personally, I’d recommend visiting Minotaur after the con.

    ie. after the auction at the con :)

    Also, we’ll have other vendors selling various things – Discworld and not – at the con, and their prices will at least be comparable to Minotaur (not known for being cheap, but they do have some things you can’t get anywhere else).

    Beyond that, from a real touristy perspective, I’m not a great person to ask. I can point out a few good restaurants/areas to eat or get a drink, though:

    • Gurkhas Restaurants on Sydney Road (Brunswick – my local), Lygon Street (Carlton), Bridge Road (Richmond), and Flinders Street (City) (and elsewhere, I think) – really nice Nepalese food
    • Lygon Street also has a bundle of Italian Restaurants
    • If you’re after ice cream in the hot weather, Lygon Street also has several ice cream/gelati places – or there’s Trampoline on Swanston Street (City), Brunswick St (Fitzroy), Glenferrie Road (Hawthorn)
    • A nice coffee? Marios on Glenferrie Road (Hawthorn) – don’t bother with Starbucks or Gloria Jeans. Apparently Marios on Brunswick Street (no relation to the one on Glenferrie) is good (I’ve not been there), the Hudsons chain might be decent (and they’re Australian owned, I think). The hot chocolates at Max Brenners (Melbourne Central and QV in the City) are very nice, as are the ones at Koko Black (Chilli Hot Chocolate! Yum!) on Lygon St (Carlton) and Arintji (Federation Square, City).
    • For very nice pastries and hot chocolates, go to Sugardough on Lygon St (Brunswick). So. Very. Yummy.

    freelancing gods

  6. Reply

    pat @ 8:37pm, 12 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Melbourne, Australia
    • 586

    Part two (didn’t all fit in one post – I didn’t know there was limits. My code, my fault)

    • After cheap fried dumplings? Camy Shanghai Dumpling House on Tattersalls Lane, off Little Bourke St in the City in Chinatown. If you like really hot food, get their Dan-Dan Noodles.
    • Need a tasty burger? Some people swear by Danny’s on St George’s Road in North Fitzroy, but personally I think you can’t do better than one with the lot from Andrew’s Burgers on Bridport St in Albert Park.
    • After cakes? Head down to Acland Street in St Kilda.
    • Jazz clubs? Try Bennett’s Lane and Manchester Lane, both in the City.
    • Thai food? Thai Nee on Lygon St in Brunswick is my local favourite.
    • Want to buy books? Please go somewhere other than Borders – support the Australian bookshops – Readings is my favourite (Lygon St Carlton, Bay St Port Melbourne, Glenferrie Road Hawthorn), but most others you find that aren’t Borders are Australian-owned.

    freelancing gods

    Edited by pat 8:40pm, 12 Jan 2007

  7. Reply

    Suzpol @ 10:56pm, 12 Jan 2007…

    • : I'll let you know
    • 383

    Everyone’s replies have been fantastic so far and as for Melbourne I have nothing to add except on the weather. We have a saying about it “if you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes”. I can and probably will be VERY hot, we have had over 40 degrees (105 F) during summer and then the temperature can literally plummet by 15 degrees in half an hour.

    We are in the middle of a drought, so water is very precious. Might not affect you much, but people are being very careful with their water and water restrictions are a reality. I believe it’s actually a worse drought than the one in the late sixties that I can’t possibly remember as I’m only 18 (my kids would be coughing madly in the background if they were here).

    How long will you both be here for? I can recommend lots of sightseeing places outside Melbourne, but it just depends on how long you have. One thing most overseas people don’t understand is the sheer scale of Australia. It is seriously big and most of the population is on the coast. It can take several hours to fly from east to west.

    Must shut up now and go to bed.

    See you next month…see everyone next month.

    Suzie

  8. Reply

    omthetortoise @ 11:44am, 14 Jan 2007…

    • : USA
    • 67

    Wow! It’ll take me a few to assimilate all of this, but here’s our itinerary: We should arrive in Melbourne around noon the day before the convention… and our flight will take off around 1:00 PM on the Tuesday after the Con… no specific plans yet other that the con. We are both Discworld nuts, so didn’t want to plan anything during the con itself… and I’d hoped to make friends with enough folks at the convention that we could fill in the extra hours with an interesting thing or two. On the flip side, I don’t want to come back and find out we’d missed something that you just have to see if you happen to be in Melbourne.

    Just because of the time and expense in getting there, I doubt if either of us will be up to any flights to other cities while we are there. (And I don’t think there will be time.)

    See you all in a few weeks!

    Of course he was all in favour of Armageddon in general terms….

  9. Reply

    pat @ 3:11pm, 14 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Melbourne, Australia
    • 586

    Om, with that short timeline, I’d definitely not bother with any cities beyond Melbourne.

    freelancing gods

  10. Reply

    omthetortoise @ 8:30am, 16 Jan 2007…

    • : USA
    • 67

    I signed us up for the Penguin Parade tour on Monday… that should take care of the cute and cuddly animal fix. (Supposed to have the opportunity to hand-feed kangaroo’s)

    Other than that, I’m definately interested in trying out the different restaurants that Pat has recommended… although I may have to try to talk oen or two new friends into coming along… assuming we can squeeze it in. We’ll be there around nooon the day prior to the con, so if anyone wants to get together for food and drinks to get an early start, we’d probably be up for it Thursday evening.

    BTW – We have a debate going here… rent a car or public transport? If I rent one, should I get one big enough to shuttle some of you lot around too… haven’t been to a con before, but at most large gatherings of slightly wacky people (included myself in that btw) a big car usually comes in handy… usually at 1AM when it seems like a really good idea to take everyone out to ____?

    Of course he was all in favour of Armageddon in general terms….

  11. Reply

    omthetortoise @ 8:37am, 16 Jan 2007…

    • : USA
    • 67

    We’ll definately want to check out the minotaur and the Queen Vic market as well.. I’ve got souvenier requests from all sides…

    Of course he was all in favour of Armageddon in general terms….

  12. Reply

    pat @ 9:21am, 16 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Melbourne, Australia
    • 586

    Hmm, re: car versus public transport — Melbourne has a very good public transport network (although, not as good as, say, London or Asian cities for the frequency of services). If you’re planning to do much travel outside of Melbourne, it’d be tough getting around — Phillip Island would have tourist buses running down there, though, I’m certain. Everything in my list before was in Zone 1, as is Queen Vic Market — Public transport means you won’t have to worry about parking (which is usually hellish or expensive in the city — or both).

    Parking at the Crest is $11.00, Daily Zone 1 Full fare is $6.10 — not a large difference — that doesn’t factor in things like petrol and wearing costumes on public transport. If you get a 5xDaily, it gets cheaper for public transport: $26.70 by 5 days is $5.35 per day. The Crest’s parking prices are quite reasonable — some car parks in the city will charge way more than that (and some metered parking spots could be cheaper — I’m not sure).

    And to explain the Zones — Zone 1 is Melbourne and the suburbs closest to it, Zone 2 is most of the rest, and Zone 3 are the furthest out suburbs (although Zones 2 and 3 are combining in March). A map which highlights this is the train network map

    In short, the choice is up to you. I’d go public transport personally, but I’m biased and I can’t drive.

    freelancing gods

  13. Reply

    pat @ 9:28am, 16 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Melbourne, Australia
    • 586

    Oh, and I forgot to mention – a public transport ticket is valid for all trains, trams and buses. So a daily ticket lets you travel as much as you want on all public transport for the entire day (within the Zone limits, of course).

    The only shorter period of time is the 2-Hour tickets – but they’re always a bit more than half a daily in price, so if you’re travelling to and from one place and it’ll take more than two hours, get a daily.

    freelancing gods

  14. Reply

    Sgt Colon @ 1:28pm, 16 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Gold Coast, Qld
    • 653

    Also don’t forget that we drive on the wrong side of the road as far as you are concerned

    “Experimental animals, under carefully controlled conditions, do what they damned well please”.

    Harvard Law of Animal Behaviour.

  15. Reply

    pat @ 1:33pm, 16 Jan 2007…

    Normal
    • : Melbourne, Australia
    • 586

    Ah, good point Sarge… with that in mind, I definitely think public transport is the best option (I know I struggled to stay on the right side of the road when I went riding in San Francisco).

    freelancing gods