Multi-award winner Kate Ceberano has been wowing audiences for over 25 years. She entertains with soul, jazz and pop, is a songwriter and actor, charity worker, wife and mother. Somehow she managed to find time to take
Getaway to some of her favourite places in
Melbourne, her hometown.
Collingwood Children's Farm
This is a family favourite — Kate has been taking her five–year-old daughter, Gypsy, there since she was a baby. It covers seven hectares just 5km from Melbourne's CBD is the perfect place to introduce city-dwellers to paddocks, gardens and rustic buildings. The not-for-profit farm has been running since 1979.
There are gentle Guernsey and Ayrshire cows and everyone is welcome to have a go at milking.
There are seven friendly horses that are used in the Young Farmer's Program on weekends, as well as pony rides.
There are Berkshire pigs, a small herd of Anglo-Nubian goats, English Leicester and Shropshire sheep, elegant Chinese geese, and a group of Indian peafowl. The farm has two breeds of duck — Pekin and Muscovy — and five breeds of chicken. Children love hunting for the chook eggs and then bottle-feeding baby animals. The farm cats earn their keep by keeping the rodent population down.
Take some grass or dandelion leaves for the guinea pigs and be rewarded by them allowing you to have a cuddle. Bee hives show children how honey is made and it's for sale. Earthworms process food scraps and the castings are sold to visitors for home gardens.
Family days are held on the first Saturday of each month. There are barbecues, free pony rides and a farmers' market selling seasonal produce.
Make sure you pack the rainboots as farmwork can be dirty work!
Pellegrini's Italian Café
The classic Italian cafe and espresso bar has been described as "a joy and a treasure". The bar is long and narrow and there's a huge table in the kitchen. Its generous servings of pasta, steaming bowls of minestrone and salads have been satisfying Melburnians for more than 40 years. Everything — from pasta to cakes — is homemade.
Kate has been going there since before she was born and is considered part of the family. She and her family love going there for birthdays and other celebrations.
Montsalvat Artist Colony
Kate comes from a long line of artistic people and this place just gets the juices running. Lovers of art, architecture, fine food and wine drive the 26km from Melbourne. It's on almost five hectares of established gardens with roaming peacocks and has beautiful historic buildings, including a majestic Gothic Great Hall with polished slate floor, stained-glass windows, wooden refractory tables and large open fireplace. There's also a beautiful bluestone chapel. The white mud-brick stables are home to some artists.
Founded in 1939, Montsalvat has inspired countless painters, sculptors, instrument makers and jewellery makers. Workshops are very popular. They cater to all ages and all abilities.
One of the five mud-brick and timber houses is the Meeting Pool restaurant. It has a charming courtyard and food is rustic French made from regional ingredients.
It's not surprising Kate, her family and friends love to escape to this special little piece of provincial France.
Studley Park
Another favourite childhood place for Kate, Studley Park has the oldest operating boathouse in Melbourne. It opened on the banks of the Yarra in 1864, and there's nothing like drifting along in a boat, canoe or kayak.
The wooden boathouse has been beautifully restored and is tucked into natural bushland. There are sweeping river views and lots of birdlife. It's hard to believe that the peaceful paradise is just 10 minutes from town.
There's a restaurant, cafe and kiosk and an ice-cream shop built in the 1920s.
Location
Kate's favourite places across Melbourne.
Cost
Collingwood Children's Farm is open every day between 9am and 5pm. The cows are milked at 10am and 4pm each day. It costs $8 for adults, $4 for children and $16 for a family.
Pellegrini's opens between 8am and 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and from noon to 8pm on Sundays. Pastas are around $14.
Montsalvat is open every day from 9am to 5pm. Entry is $10 for adults, $6 for children and $24 for families.
Prices correct at February 3, 2011.
Studley Park boat hire starts at $17 for two for half an hour or $30 for one hour. Five people in a boat is the maximum. Safety equipment, lifejackets and oars are included.
Virgin Blue has one-way flights to Melbourne from:
- Adelaide and Hobart $85
- Sydney $92
- Canberra $106
- Brisbane $129
- Darwin $179
- Perth $255
There are limited seats which may not be available at peak times or on all flights. Fares quoted are one-way booked on the internet. An extra $15 will be charged for phone bookings. A credit card surcharge of an additional $2 per person per one-way flight is applicable. Fares are correct at February 3, 2011 and are subject to change.
Prices correct at 03.02.2011.
Virgin Blue
Ph: 13 6789
www.virginblue.com.au
For further information
Collingwood Children's Farm
18 St Heliers Street
Abbotsford, Victoria 3067
Ph: (03) 9417 5806
www.farm.org.au
reception@farm.org.au
Pellegrini's Café
66 Bourke Street
Melbourne, Victoria 3000
Ph: (03) 9662 1885
Montsalvat
7 Hillcrest Avenue
Eltham, Victoria 3095
Ph: (03) 9439 7712
www.montsalvat.com.au
Studley Park
Boathouse Road
Kew, Victoria 3101
Ph: (03) 9853 1828
www.studleyparkboathouse.com.au
