Ashley Gardens or Coburg Big4?

[BigSkiddy]

As the 2015 NSW Snow Season is looking pretty miserable at this stage, I'm coming up with a Plan B for a family winter holiday.

Never been to Melbourne so thinking I might give it a go. Have about 5 days to spend in Melbourne with a day or so travel back to Sydney either side.

I have enquired at either staying at Ashley Gardens @ $47 per night or Coburg @ $85 per night.
Can anyone shed any light as to why Coburg is so much more expensive?

From a quick search on here everyone seems to say Ashley Gardens is better.
I've got two kids, 14 and 12. Not interested in jumping pillows and the like.

Thanks

ps. If anyone has any other great trip ideas I'm all ears. I'm hoping my diesel heater arrives in the next day or two, if that happens I'm just gonna start driving and see where I end up.

 

[BigSkiddy]

Also thought about doing the Great Ocean Road (or at least part of it). Is that out of the question in winter?

 

[Crusty181]

Coburg has always been a well known tourist park. Ive never heard of Ashley Gardens. In Coburg you can leave your car locked up at the caravan park. Your spoilt for public transport. We've gone to great and expensive lengths to make our rail system safe. You can also catch the tram from Coburg into the city along Sydney Rd (Been renamed it for you guys, we'll put it back after you leave) The ride into the city on the tram passes through Brunswick (great cosmopolitan cafe culture alternate lifestyle feel), Royal Park (where the zoo is) Princess Park (Carlton FC) and past the Queen Victoria markets (must see) Very pleasant and novel way to travel, and great tourist route to travel into the city.

One of Melbs drive-in theatres is in Coburg which is really cool (even in winter, although not in rain for obvious reasons.) Coburg us also home to the remnants of the notorious Pentridge Prison (or Coburg College as its was known). I believe the equally notorious H Division section, for the extra wayward, remains as a tourist spot.

Great Ocean road can be fantastic in winter. Dont let the winter put you off that. Some terrific caravan parks, priceless views and great towns. Torquay the birthplace of Aust surfing, surf factory outlets Ripcurl, Quiksilver, Billabong, and proximity to Bells Beach. Great Ocean road was provided as a employment opportunity for our returned service men and woman, as remains the worlds largest monument to returned serviceman.

Melb CBD has free old brown W class trams which circle the city all day. The Yarra River precinct is a pleasant stroll along South Bank and around the Casino area. Docklands has also been transformed into a great spot to spend a day.

The Mornington Peninsula is a must see with a list of stuff too long for here. You can drive through the Mornington Peninsula, and catch the ferry (with the van) across "The Rip", the entrance to Port Philip Bay to Queenscliff. The Rip is one of the most treacherous waterways in the world. The ferry leaves from Sorrento, as the name suggests a lovely seaside town. The bottom end of the Peninsula is the former Fort Nepean restricted military area, now Point Nepean and open to the public. Its there at Cheviot Beach Prime Minister Harold Holt went missing (or was taken by a Chinese submarine) Our fort and gun emplacements and tunnels etc are there for the curious. A bit of history, the first angry shot fired by the allies in both 1st and 2nd wars were both let rip from Fort Nepean, the 1st war across the bow of a escaping German ship, and the second across the bow of a ship failing to identify itself

At the other side of the ferry trip across the bay is Queenscliff, and from Queenscliff a very pleasant drive to the Great Ocean Road.

 

[mfexpanda]

Coburg has always been a well known tourist park. Ive never heard of Ashley Gardens. In Coburg you can leave your car locked up at the caravan park. Your spoilt for public transport. We've gone to great and expensive lengths to make our rail system safe. You can also catch the tram from Coburg into the city along Sydney Rd (Been renamed it for you guys, we'll put it back after you leave) The ride into the city on the tram passes through Brunswick (great cosmopolitan cafe culture alternate lifestyle feel), Royal Park (where the zoo is) Princess Park (Carlton FC) and past the Queen Victoria markets (must see) Very pleasant and novel way to travel, and great tourist route to travel into the city.

One of Melbs drive-in theatres is in Coburg which is really cool (even in winter, although not in rain for obvious reasons.) Coburg us also home to the remnants of the notorious Pentridge Prison (or Coburg College as its was known). I believe the equally notorious H Division section, for the extra wayward, remains as a tourist spot.

Great Ocean road can be fantastic in winter. Dont let the winter put you off that. Some terrific caravan parks, priceless views and great towns. Torquay the birthplace of Aust surfing, surf factory outlets Ripcurl, Quiksilver, Billabong, and proximity to Bells Beach. Great Ocean road was provided as a employment opportunity for our returned service men and woman, as remains the worlds largest monument to returned serviceman.

Melb CBD has free old brown W class trams which circle the city all day. The Yarra River precinct is a pleasant stroll along South Bank and around the Casino area. Docklands has also been transformed into a great spot to spend a day.

The Mornington Peninsula is a must see with a list of stuff too long for here. You can drive through the Mornington Peninsula, and catch the ferry (with the van) across "The Rip", the entrance to Port Philip Bay to Queenscliff. The Rip is one of the most treacherous waterways in the world. The ferry leaves from Sorrento, as the name suggests a lovely seaside town. The bottom end of the Peninsula is the former Fort Nepean restricted military area, now Point Nepean and open to the public. Its there at Cheviot Beach Prime Minister Harold Holt went missing (or was taken by a Chinese submarine) Our fort and gun emplacements and tunnels etc are there for the curious. A bit of history, the first angry shot fired by the allies in both 1st and 2nd wars were both let rip from Fort Nepean, the 1st war across the bow of a escaping German ship, and the second across the bow of a ship failing to identify itself

At the other side of the ferry trip across the bay is Queenscliff, and from Queenscliff a very pleasant drive to the Great Ocean Road.

Great write up @Crusty181 except the princess park bit

 

[BigSkiddy]

Thanks @Crusty181 , you actually make Melbourne sound appealing

Ashley Gardens is at Braybrook and just under 2km from Tottenham Station. Is this area safe for a Caucasian male with his wife and kids?

 

[Crusty181]

Great write up @Crusty181 except the princess park bit

I did only mention the tram goes past it .... i stopped well short of suggesting they go in and become members. Although it couldnt hurt. Bloody Collingwood supporters, everythings a conspiracy. Your 20 percentage points and 11 spots ahead .... looking at Princess Park wont result in a colliwobble, that happens without outside input. :faint:

 

[mfexpanda]

Thanks @Crusty181 , you actually make Melbourne sound appealing

Ashley Gardens is at Braybrook and just under 2km from Tottenham Station. Is this area safe for a Caucasian male with his wife and kids?

I don't think all trains stop at the Tottenham station all the time

 

[mfexpanda]

I did only mention the tram goes past it .... i stopped well short of suggesting they go in and become members. Although it couldnt hurt. Bloody Collingwood supporters, everythings a conspiracy. Your 20 percentage points and 11 spots ahead .... looking at Princess Park wont result in a colliwobble, that happens without outside input. :faint:

You mentioned it again

 

[Crusty181]

Thanks @Crusty181 , you actually make Melbourne sound appealing

Ashley Gardens is at Braybrook and just under 2km from Tottenham Station. Is this area safe for a Caucasian male with his wife and kids?

Sorry ... did I over do the Melb sales pitch; there is some truth in there. We got a lot more than that ..... i stopped only because i was getting RSI on my phone

 

[BigSkiddy]

Sorry ... did I over do the Melb sales pitch; there is some truth in there. We got a lot more than that ..... i stopped only because i was getting RSI on my phone

Haha, that was a pretty long reply for a phone.

 

[Crusty181]

@BigSkiddy would you mind terribly surfing over to

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au and driving past Olympic Park. Or closing you eyes as you tram it past Princess Park
(Just saying you have would help)

The Olympics were in 1956, but we havent upset them with that bombshell. (Theres a real Princess in Princess Park by the way)

 

[Crusty181]

Haha, that was a pretty long reply for a phone.

I took great skill to find and correct all the errors on the tiny screen, thats why i made some of it up

 

[davemc]

Just back from the Coburg Drive in tonight $25 a car load.. with 4 kids its the best way to watch a move ok cheapest he he
No idea about the Big4 its not cheap.. I assume $'s as close to tram etc.
You also have http://www.cbtp.com.au/ in Doncaster/Warrandyte
or a couple out Healsville way
or a lot down the Mornington Peninsula.
Really depends where you want to go and base yourself..

Not sure I say Docklands is great spot.. Worked there for 6 months did my head in.

 

[mrsmfexpanda]

Just to put a spanner in the works have you thought about staying in Ballarat or Bellarine Geelong and doing day trips into the city by train and then you are already half way to great ocean road both ashley gardens and coburg would be noisy at night with traffic noise and at least you could have a relaxing ride home on the train for the next hour and not caught in bumper to bumper city traffic

 

[Bluey]

Also thought about doing the Great Ocean Road (or at least part of it). Is that out of the question in winter?

hey every one why don't we start a quick meet to meet up with @BigSkiddy where eva he is just for the weekend do you know your dates the vic snow is pretty good I hear I hate the snow to cold but anyway we could all meet up with you

 

[BigSkiddy]

hey every one why don't we start a quick meet to meet up with @BigSkiddy where eva he is just for the weekend do you know your dates the vic snow is pretty good I hear I hate the snow to cold but anyway we could all meet up with you

Could be a goer @Bluey . I should have a plan sorted in the next day or two, will let you know.

 

[BigSkiddy]

Looks like the snow is coming! :soap:

Melbourne might have to wait.

 

[Bluey]

we are not going anywhere but let us know when eva your coming and we will get a fire going on a Saturday night and have a chat with a heap of us