Mildura & AIME 2011
February 17, 2011 | Filed under Australia, Food, Travel, Uni/Work
Sorry guys, I’ve been too busy drinking endless rounds of champers and stuffing my face with free food to blog.
As part of my attendance at AIME 2011 over the past three days, an expo for event planners, I had the option of going on a free pre-expo famil (tour group) to an iconic Victorian location. I chose to go to Mildura, which is well known as a major agricultural food production centre in rural Victoria. Other options included Phillip Island, the Yarra Valley, the Great Ocean Road, etc. – all of which I had visited before, so I chose Mildura as somewhere different which I wouldn’t normally visit!
I loved it. My tour group was pampered at every stop, with glasses of local wine and produce available everywhere we went. Amongst the iconically Mildura things we did were:
- Stayed overnight at the Grand Hotel (historic hotel)
- Visited the Mildura Lawn Tennis Club for a game of tennis (former site of the Davis Cup and Federation Cup). The surfaces are reputedly better than Wimbledon’s lawns!
- Lunched at Stefano’s cantina (Stefano is a famous celebrity chef)
- Visited Varapodio Estate – home of award winning olive oils and vinegars
- Relaxed at Trentham Winery on the banks of the Murray River
- Visited the Mildura Beer Brewery and sampled a dozen local beers each
- Dined on a paddle boat (Mundoo) with a group of fifty prominent Mildura business men and women
- Went kayaking in the early morning in a billabong
- Lunched on a five star houseboat going up and down the river (spa deck? hell yes!)
I honestly couldn’t have had a better time on the weekend. I’m getting to a stage in life where I get more excited visiting wineries and trying gourmet local produce than I do when out partying. There are photos available on my Facebook page if you’re one of my friends.
The weekend was followed up with pampering at AIME 2011. In between appointments with exhibitors and finding out more about event management in Australia, I:
- visited the Old Melbourne Gaol, Melbourne Aquarium and Eureka Skydeck. I live in Melbourne, but never actually do these touristy things!
- had a half hour massage every day (I’m very tense apparently!)
- had homemade gourmet strawberry icecream
- had my photo taken with Jacinta Campbell (2010 Miss Universe Australia)
- got a heap of freebies (I’ll never have to buy a USB stick again!)
- had endless glasses of champagne (again!)
- had my caricature drawn and my fortune told
All for free mind you! Oh, and I made a whole heap of useful contacts and learnt a lot as well which I guess was the whole point of attending!
One Response to Mildura & AIME 2011
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I lived on a billabong just outside of Mildura, I did enjoy it there but there’s no careers or work or life that isnt just relaxing and spending money…. But we took dan on a tour of mildura too he gave it 10/10 so must be good for a holiday.
Reply: Oh, I couldn’t live and work there permanently, but I think it’s great for a holiday! I’d love to go back and spend a full week on a houseboat with a bunch of friends.
Adam on February 22, 2011 #