The location is absolutely amazing! You are SO close to Federation Square, Flinders Street Station and the Ian Potter Centre (part of the NGV). It is a perfect apartment if you are attending the Tennis or events at Rod Laver Arena or the MCG - we didn’t bother catching the tram to the tennis centre, it was so easy and quick to walk. It’s also a short walk over the bridge into the Royal Botanic Gardens - beautiful (go to the Ian Potter Children’s Garden if you have children with you). The apartment is within the free tram zone which makes getting around the inner city very easy.
Casey and Daniela are very communicative, make check in super clear and respond quickly to any messages about the stay.
The apartment is clean and has a washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and oven that all work properly. There are instructions around the apartment explaining where things are and how they work. There are loads of board games and they even provide four bike helmets for making use of the local hire bicycles.
The portable air conditioning unit in the lounge does struggle to cool the second bedroom but the hosts have thoughtfully included a pedestal fan for in there. There is cooking oil which seems a small detail to mention but is so helpful when wanting to avoid purchasing bottles of things you won’t use up during the stay! There are tea bags and coffee, some small jars of cereal and a long life milk and with Nandos (hot chicken and chips shop) directly downstairs from the apartment it means you can check in, buy some dinner and know that breakfast is sorted and you don’t have to go for supplies until the following day. There is a Woolworths Metro close by but with the thoughtful provision of a wheeled shopping trolley bag in the apartment, you could do a bigger food shop at the big Woolworths QV (up Swanston Street) and get it all home easily. If you want to eat out there are loads of options near this centrally located apartment.
Of course with the incredibly convenient location you do have to consider there will be some noise. Casey and Daniela have that covered with a bowl of new wrapped earplugs for guests to help themselves to. We did find on weekend evenings it could be loud down in Hosier Lane - one night we were treated to an inebriated rendition of Whitney Houston for a couple of hours below our windows - but it is part and parcel of being in the middle of town and it didn’t impact on our enjoyment. During the week it seemed much quieter after dark.
The graffiti artists in Hosier Lane were friendly and approachable and we got to watch them creating some amazing artworks raising funds for the wildlife suffering as a result of bushfires currently raging around the country. It was a treat to stay above such an iconic Melbourne laneway and appreciate not just the Australian art in the Ian Potter Centre opposite but also the street art by locals.
We found the apartment perfect for our family of two adults and two children and if there was a third child it would also be ideal with a proper trundle bed able to be pulled out from under one of the two single beds in the second bedroom.
We have no hesitation in recommending this apartment to anyone wanting to be close to the action and have a cosy and safe place from which to base themselves. It was a pleasure to stay in this apartment and we hope to come back one day if Casey and Daniela would allow us.
Thanks Casey and Daniela!