Cosmopolitan Visit Melbourne for the Most Luxurious, Kangaroo-Filled Adventure of a Lifetime

From: Cosmopolitan - Sunday Jun 23, 2019 04:02 pm

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Visit Melbourne for the Most Luxurious, Kangaroo-Filled Adventure of a Lifetime

Listen, I haven't taken a real vacation in more than three years. (I don't count four-day weekends here and there to visit my parents in Florida.) So imagine how excited I was to take a weeklong road trip throughout the gorgeous outskirts of Melbourne, Australia.

I couldn't wait: Kangaroos! Koalas! Other creatures! What I didn't fully realize was just how stunning the country would be. From sprawling vineyards and rocky hot springs to the most breathtaking beach I've ever seen, Melbourne, Victoria, was so much more than I expected...and believe me, I got to see a lot of it.

Usually, this is where I'd talk about where I stayed, but we popped over to a new spot pretty much every night. (More on that later.) Instead, I want to talk flights. If you fly from New York, like I did, you've got a six-hour journey to LA before you even begin your 15-hour ascent to Oz. (That's what my friend who studied abroad in Sydney tells me the locals call it. IDK, take it up with her.)

I traveled on Qantas, an Australian airline, and flew economy, premium economy, and business class. My advice? Fly premium economy if you can—it's a step up from the most basic seat and totally worth it if you're spending almost two full days of your trip dedicated to air travel. It's got lots o' legroom and personal-care packages with everything you need to stay comfy. Also: Wine. Freakin'. Service. Although you can get free local Australian wines in all classes (huge plus), it feels much more bougie and less I need a drink if an airline attendant is practically waiting on you hand and foot. Plus, the food is much better (in all cabins) than any other flight I've taken (partnering with chef Neil Perry will do that).

Once you touch down, though, here's everything you'll want to see, eat, and do in Melbourne.

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