Last night I went to sammys for a very yum and tasty meal with my husband and my daughter (11). For entree we had a bruschetta pizza which was a nice and light . Then for main my husband and I had seafood pasta (I had an entree size and he got a main size) which was really good and my daughter had a entree size ragu with penne that was full of flavour. Last we ordered a sticky date pudding and a lemon meringue which was delish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will be back soon to have a great meal. Being a BYO I thought the $7 corkage per person was a bit steep.

Approximate cost: $60

We went to the opera at the Art Center this evening, probably the hundredth opera performance we've enjoyed in the last twenty years. The theatres for opera, drama and symphony concerts still look and feel plush. Acoustics are quite good and there are lots of venues inside for everything from formal sit down dinners to light snacks. Not far away is busy Southbank with a huge selection of generally fancy and expensive restaurants if your budget can cope. There is also excellent access by tram and train - with Flinders St station being just a three minute walk away. Visitors to Melbourne could easily spend a whole day enjoying the Arts Center and the National Gallery of Victoria which is next door. If you need fresh air and beautiful landscaping - the Botanical gardens is almost opposite. Its an extraordinarily rich collection of cultural and recreational resources.

Approximate cost: $50