It seems like yesterday I was driving to Melbourne in my poo-brown two door gemini back in 1989 with my friend Nicki. Flash forward to 2013 & a long time between visits, we are back in Melbourne minus the mullets and enjoying all that can be touristed in the space of 4 days.

Queueing at the NGV to see the Monet exhibition was well worth the wait. The luminous paintings of the artists famous waterlilies was complimented by a panoramic projection in an adjacent room which revealed his garden in different seasons. It was an immersive experience and at times, I felt nauseous if I did not look away.

Navigating the trams became a little less perplexing after riding the free city circle tram which gives an overview of the CBD. Gaining confidence of our surroundings, we hopped on & off throughout the city to locate various galleries and cafes. Our favourite eatery would have to have been 'VegieBar' on Brunswick Street. We sat at communal tables amongst the throng of vegetarians, vegans, hipsters & fashionistas... looking a tad out of place.

Next stop, St Kilda where we walked the Pier, paid too much for a coffee, peeped inside the cavity that is the mouth of Luna Park, then headed up to the Prahan Markets. All this activity and restless seeking was abated on our final day when a friend who lives in St Kilda drove us to the peaceful Dandenong Ranges where we explored the William Ricketts Sanctuary and the surrounding towns.

Artists visiting Fitzroy need to have a look inside a shop called 'Panelpop' on Brunswick street....

'Panelpop is a new art medium, perfect for printing your favourite photos or unleashing your creativity. Photos can be printed directly onto the smooth stone surface using new generation, UV-cured ink. The image is scratch and weather resistant which eliminates the need for glass to protect it. Or let your creative side go wild and use the panel to paint, sketch, stencil or sculpt. All panels come pre-framed and ready to hang, using recycled timbers and other materials headed for landfill.'