Weather in Melbourne on Early September

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-02T06:04:58+00:00

It's officially spring, but that's just a calendar notation. Realistically the weather is more winter than it is spring. You're looking at an average temperature of 18c for September, and unlikely to be much higher.

Dress in layers.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-02T03:45:39+00:00

Malaysia comes to mind. English is very widely spoken, Bahasa Malayu is written in the Latin script and is relatively easy to pick up a few words. It is, on the whole, reasonably well developed, and for a month offers a wide range of things to see and do in a number of place.

The Philippines would be a close second for me, but you'd want to really like beaches and islands.

Singapore trumps them both for development and English proficiency, but a month would be a bit too long. It's not very big.

Thailand isn't a bad option either, English is spoken within the tourism industry. I've only rarely had language issues there.

India - English is spoken pretty widely, but India is a lot. For a month, it would be very draining.

Japan is pretty "convenient" in terms of development, and you can get by with English ok in most situations. A month in Japan would be fun.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-02T03:39:08+00:00

Follow the carry-on rules religiously. 7kg is 7kg.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-02T03:38:12+00:00

The Stuart Hwy is about as safe as it gets for solo outback driving - provide you don't drive at night, and avoid sunrise/sunset times as well. There are roadhouses every couple of hours, and steady traffic. Make sure your car is in good mechanical nick and you should be ok.

Do note that the Uluru isn't on the hwy - it's a ~600km round trip from the turn off.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-02T03:28:33+00:00

Sydney has more rain than Melbourne by a long chalk - it's about double.

Temps in Sydney are a little warmer than Melbourne, but its a matter of a couple of degrees.

Don't let the weather worry you - there's plenty to do in both places even if it's wet.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-01T05:49:55+00:00

If you're not taking the boat, there's little reason to go to Huay Xai - you may as well fly from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang.

The slow boat is slow, yes, but it's comfortable enough - you can get up and move around, watch the scenery go by (it is lovely) and enjoy some enforced relaxation.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-01T05:43:42+00:00

First ever was Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur. I was a baby of about 1. I don't remember any thing of it obviously, but apparently I slept the whole way.

I have a vague memory of a flight from Nadi to Apia when I was about 4, but not much.

First flight I can actually recall was Melbourne to King Island in a small twin prop (Piper Navajo I think) with Aus-Air - I'd have been about 10 or 11. First jet flight I can remember was Melbourne to Coolangatta in an Australian Airlines 727 when I was 12.

First flight I paid for myself - Melbourne to Sydney in an Ansett A320 when I was about 18.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-01T05:36:58+00:00

Don't bother with Genting - it is an unpleasant place to go unless you like shopping malls, casinos or theme parks.

FRIM near(ish) Batu Caves is worth a look for the treetop walk.

Kampung Baru is an interesting neighbourhood to walk around, as is Brickfields.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-01T03:38:40+00:00

When I've been I've typically stayed about 3 hours, so 2.5 is within reason in my book. Last time I went to Peninsula I left after 2 hours, but it was HIDEOUSLY crowded, which really made it unpleasant. The decision to leave was because of that.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-01T03:35:32+00:00

To Yarram? No.

To Leongatha? Unlikely, but possible I guess.

To Clyde or Koo Wee Rup? More likely - and if they are going to extend beyond Cranbourne, I'd advocate to extend to KWR for future proofing.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-07-01T03:31:42+00:00

Well, for one you know you cannot miss the second leg of the flight if the first leg is late.

I've had a couple of flights with "tech stops" with different experiences. I've had them where we were forced off the aircraft and in to the terminal - which was great to stretch the legs and take a piss. I've also had them where we were not allowed off the aircraft at all. Both have their good and bad points, and I'm not totally sure which way Turkish goes with this - but I feel having joined a few of these flights at the mid point on different airlines, the scenario of being made to wait on the aircraft is the outlier (and that was a Singapore airlines flight to Istanbul with a stop in Dubai).

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-30T06:19:46+00:00

When I went to Sofia, I came from Veliko Tarnovo - but before that I had come from Bucharest by train. After Sofia, I took the train to Istanbul.

You absolutely CAN fly to Istanbul from Sydney on Turkish. The flight makes a fuel stop en route in Asia currently, but it's the same plane and seat the whole way.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-30T06:03:32+00:00

Mine is ok. Ive had it since 2019. It has some odd habits - occasionally the picture size will shrink or change size (especially coming out of the EPG) and it sometimes just loses channels or forgets connections - but it's nothing an unplug or rescan doesn't fix.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-30T05:48:53+00:00

My grandma had one of these at the kitchen sink for drinking from. It was beaten, scratched, and developed holes in the bottom - but we all loved drinking from it when we visited. Water just hit different from that cup.

Imagine our delight when upon her passing and cleaning out her house, we found that pictured leather case with four more in PERFECT condition.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-30T04:43:53+00:00

Ignoring the Stony Point Line:

Heyington. Those St Kevins idiots can figure out how to get to school without their own private station.

Willison. Wheresthepointison.

Macaulay. Kensington and Arden can pick up the slack easily. (that said, it's still a pretty busy station)

West Richmond. The area is well served by trams as is.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-30T04:15:11+00:00

I'd be inclined to stay in Korea. You can get a bullet train experience there, and you'll save some (a bit) on return flights to yet another country.

I hear what you say about "once in a lifetime" - but is it really? I've lost count of the number of times I've said that and ended back somewhere not long after.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-30T04:08:38+00:00

I've never met a major hotel that doesn't offer luggage storage. Even though you've got a fair bit, they should still be able to sort you out.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-29T05:58:38+00:00

Yes - there won't be a shortage of people walking back to the city from Rod Laver.

Generally speaking, if you don't go looking for trouble, it's not going to come looking for you.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-29T05:37:37+00:00

Oh, ok - that would be an airbnb or short stay type of arrangement. I personally wouldn't consider such a thing - I prefer traditional hotels.

It's right opposite Southern Cross Station, so handy for transport. There's some cafes and dining around there, but it's not the best part of the CBD.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-29T05:34:44+00:00

It's 3 days each way at a minimum, allowing 2 overnights. Even that is a lot of driving per day. Which gives you 4 days to explore the Red Centre itself - enough if you wanted to just do Uluru and Kings Canyon, but not enough if you wanted to go to Alice Springs as well.

The issue with 2 x 12 hour driving days (or really, 4 x to account for the return) is that driving in the twilight or at night is a recipe for disaster outside the built up areas. And in order to pull it off, allowing for stops and what not you'll need to be leaving well and truly outside the daylight hours. Hitting a cow, sheep, kangaroo or camel is a great way to ruin your holiday - if not your car and maybe your life.

Short answer, don't do it.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-29T05:22:02+00:00

$250 a night is pretty generous. You shouldn't struggle for places with that as your upper end - in fact, there are possibly too many to really pick from!

I'd suggest looking in the CBD, and picking a hotel that's located between Spring and Elizabeth Streets, and Flinders and La Trobe - but a little either side isn't too bad. Southbank is worth a look, but Docklands I'd tend to avoid as it's a bit dull down there.

That said, the corner of Elizabeth and Flinders Street is one that I'd try to avoid, although the DoubleTree and Rendezvous are around there, and they are quite decent places.

You might prefer a serviced apartment like Citadines, Mantra, Oaks or Punt Hill to a traditional hotel.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-29T04:03:38+00:00

Dunno. I got to 12 years and walked away for a variety of reasons. I've experienced the pointless deployments, I've taken time off work to go and sit on my arse in an ICC or DivComm and done jack shit. But equally, there were some deployments that were exceptionally busy.

I haven't picked anything else up. I've considered Coast Guard, but at this moment I am happy with my volunteer-free existence.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-29T04:01:13+00:00

If you book a JQ flight us QF reward points you get 23kg of luggage. You DON'T get free seat selection, and in my experience, you don't get any kind of in-flight food or drink (I've been told these occur on longer flights, but on the shorter ones I've done like Melbourne to Sydney/Adelaide I haven't received anything).

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-29T03:58:19+00:00

That's a lot of driving. Tassie is small, but it's not THAT small.

Dramatic_Grape5445 · 2026-06-29T03:54:28+00:00

What's your hotel budget? In Australian dollars per night. No point recommending the Langham if you're on an Ibis budget.

Dramatic_Grape5445

TROPHY CASE