Transport Public Bar

Bought through: The Entertainment Book

Voucher for: 25% off the TOTAL BILL - Up to: $30.00 value

Transport Public Bar

My effervescent and exuberant pal Nikki was visiting Melbourne and you know what, I've realised it's been an absolute age since I've seen her. 

She now calls the neighbourhood of Newcastle home with both our East Coast locations a far distance from where we first met at the offices of a not-for-profit in Perth.

She was available for one night only, and I was available for only part of that evening (rehearsal call later). So we decided on the easily accessible, absolutely central and expansively outfitted Transport Public Bar, smack bang in Federation Square.

I had made a booking, but I needn't have bothered, there was heaps of space to sit and set up, either with a beer or the decent menu, and I even managed to find a drink to enjoy (I'm famously a non-drinker about 95% of the time). 

Unfortunately Nikki was catching a cab from Albert Park. In peak hour. And it had been raining. Consequence: the first part of our evening was pretty much catching up via text! 

I managed to beg a little latitude with my director to be a touch late for tonight's rehearsal and so when she arrived we got to gasbag on all things and enjoy a hearty meal. Nikki had insisted on having the same selection as moi and I can say I thoroughly enjoyed our combination of crispy duck shanks with spring onion and cucumber accompanied by a  tidy pot of hoisin sauce parlayed with the intriguing gluten free option of a small yet generous serving of the quinoa, lentil and nut salad with toasted pumpkin seeds, roasted beetroot & feta - crunchily delish.

An easy-going place to head to for after-work drinks with a well rounded pub style menu.

Pros: Fast service with efficient and helpful staff, cool foodie options to try, large space to accommodate big groups, convenience plus being at the heart of Melbourne in the iconic Federation Square

Cons: Can get a little bit noisy due to popularity and a multitude of hard surfaces

The Entertainment Book - Melbourne 2014 / 2015 edition

The Entertainment Book

I'm very excited about this!! 

I recently got an update notice from the crew of the Entertainment Book spruiking their latest 2014/2015 edition. 

Produced nationally but focused locally, these books are a great source of heaps of fantastic vouchers promoting two-for-one deals and 25% off discounts for a range of not just fine dining, cafes and casual eateries; but activities, entertainment options, hotels and even some retailers. The best bit is they are a helpful fund raising tool as they are mainly sold through charities or not-for-profit community groups.

The Melbourne edition, affordably priced at $65, was released in June and is almost twice the size of it's Perth cousin (I guess twice as many businesses to support double the population) and it's filled with many delights to look forward to - I've already spotted vouchers for The Australian Ballet, IMAX Melbourne and Sea Life Aquarium. There are well known restaurants throughout, all sourced with no pay for promotion and great deals for hotels and theme parks, both regional and interstate, with car and motor van hire options as well.

You can contact The Entertainment Book via the link above to find your state affiliate and they will be happy to provide you with the details of a local charity close to your home or work. I got mine from the Wesley Mission in Lonsdale St, right in the CBD and have a whole year's worth of great bargains to try as the vouchers are valid until the 1st of June 2015. There is a digital version should you prefer, and as a member you can buy interstate or international copies to give to friends or families in Australia and New Zealand for further discount prices. Bargain!

Pros: Loads of vouchers, lots of great options for eateries, entertainment, activities and items

Cons: Gold Card for fine dining listed as no longer transferable (so you may have to be one of the diners); some businesses may close during the year so make sure you check online for the latest updates; you'll never get through all the book has to offer! (but that's probably a good thing from a healthy eating point of view).

The Comic's Lounge

Bought through: Groupon Australia
Voucher for: One-Year Unlimited Comedy Show Pass for Two ($25) at The Comic's Lounge (Voucher value: $1560.00)

The Comic's Lounge

Last year I was lucky enough to actually be part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival - hold your horses, I'm in no way a comedienne - for one thing I can never tell jokes, and I laugh way before I get to the punchline...!

It was more that I was working as the Door Pirate to a few friends who had brought their Pirate Church to the Festival from Perth. It was a fun show, I earned a bit of coin, and gained a healthy appreciation for the vagaries of a variable audience when it comes to the indelicate art of being an Australian comedian.

I love a witty punchline and I really admire someone who can make a whole room roar with laughter, so when I saw this deal earlier in the year I thought, "That's a bargain!" and promptly bought it from Groupon.

You could pretty much go every week for a good (usually raucous) night out, there's even the dinner and a show option should you feel peckish throughout the evening - though the voucher is only valid for the show itself.

I've since been a few times (the first trip paid for itself!) and the most recent night out was headlined by Bob Franklin, a sly comic who sets up storied scenarios with a marvellous mastery and tone over his voice.

The Comic's Lounge boasts regulars, boosts up-and-comers and supports out-of-towners, with this evening's standouts being the MC Jason Chong, visiting from RAdelaide, and Dilruk Jayasinha. These guys were absolutely hilarious, with rapid fire puns from the former, and slightly self deprecating humour from the latter. Side stitch inducing!

You can get the Unlimited Comedy Pass deal through The Comic's Lounge too for about $50 - they usually advertise it throughout the night, or you could be lucky enough and actually win one (stage humiliation by MC may or may not ensue).

Pros: a great value deal for many merry and mirthful nights out at a bargain price
Cons: visit too often and you may twig to some of the routines by the regulars (a joke heard for the second, third or twelfth time is usually never as funny as it's debut) 

Golden Ribs House

Bought through: Ouffer

Voucher for: Ribs Wonderland for TWO. Valued at $73

Golden Ribs House

I once went to an awesome ribs restaurant called Tony Roma's, an American multinational whose only Australian outpost appeared mysteriously to be in the Perth CBD. The ribs there were so amazing, I kid you not, I seriously thought about licking my plate clean. 

Thankfully the thick cut fries and a soft bun saved me from that public display of bad etiquette, but I could tell my brother who had accompanied me for lunch was pretty much thinking the very same thing. It had been a birthday treat for him and while the meal wasn't cheap, I did have a voucher... Don'tcha know? ;)

Anyway, I've been keeping an eye out for something similar here in Melbourne, and unfortunately the search continues as the Golden Ribs House in Doncaster East is not going to get anywhere near the standard set by Big Tony *insert Brooklyn accent here*

Our promised ribs feast was perfectly adequate, even reasonably tasty, but it was nothing especial, and the place... Well, I don't think it was an eatery with the interior appeal you could rave about to friends. It's a simple enough diner with black chairs and tables, a mish mash of printed paint canvases, and a small attempt at atmosphere with the tables sprouting plastic florals; however, it's advertised dinner prices seem to have pretentions of a bistro.

I'm sorry, but a bistro would not serve what could only have been frozen vegetables from a packet as a steamed side dish. My SO almost blanched when he saw them - boring baby carrots, with none of the accompanying greens anywhere close to being in-season - it was a bit of a step down from the creative and clever vegetarian feast we had recently enjoyed at Gong de Lin.

Our meal consisted of 250g of pork ribs each, and one additional serve of lamb and short beef ribs liberally doused in BBQ sauce. A bowl of large chips were part of the voucher and they were tasty - thick cut, with that perfect crisp crunch that makes you almost wish for more to share. We ordered a small side dish of vegetables and the waitress appeared surprised we didn't get more, maybe the regulars usually display larger appetites.

Sandwiched amongst similar store fronts at Tunstall Shopping Square, it's probably well trafficked due to it's location and appeared reasonably busy on the night we booked. But you can find better places at better prices... The search continues!

Pros: Good chips; decent amount of parking available
Cons: Doesn't appear to use in-season ingredients; interior not particularly enticing or overly comfortable; would not call this a restaurant, felt like more of a take-away kind of place

The Spot Caffeteria and Tea Room

Bought through: Living Social

Voucher for: High Tea for Two People ($39) with a Glass of French Bubbly Each

The Spot Caffeteria and Tea Room

It's my friend Sarah's birthday! And what better way to catch up with my lovely pal than over a delightful afternoon high tea.

I've actually been to The Spot Caffeteria and Tea Room before - when I first arrived in Melbourne, my bestie Lian had graciously allowed me to land at her apartment in St Kilda, which was pretty much just up the road from the cafe's location in Caulfield North. 

We had a delicious menu then, though the tea room was a little cramped, and it looks like the high tea is still a very popular attraction as Sarah and I couldn't even be squeezed into the upstairs tea room this time!

But fear not, no cancellations or rebookings required, the accommodating staff just needed a small amount of time to make up a little table for us downstairs and as my friend had been stuck in traffic, timing wise this worked out perfectly - we were ready to be seated just as Sarah walked through the front door.

A High Tea is a feast for the eyes, so here are some photos of the luscious pastries and desserts on offer. 

The Spot is a charming cafe located on Balaclava Road with a steady clientele for their front cafe and a very busy upper tea room on the weekends. Each table in this section is picture perfect and reminiscent of an English garden party with lace tablecloths, floral imprinted tea cups and a tower of food topped with scones enveloped by jam and cream. My voucher also included some champagne which promptly buzzed right up my nose when I took a sip - though I'm not much a drinker, I think Sarah did enjoy hers.

There was an even amount of savoury and sweet fare, more than enough for a filling meal and it afforded a delectable dining experience for our Sunday lunch.


My favourite item would have to be the cloud shaped chocolate meringues topped with strawberries and cream.... swoon! So light and airy and utterly melt in your mouth! I also loved the sausage rolls and the mini quiches, and downed a whole pot of tea during our two hour gab fest. I'll be hitting the gym for the rest of the week!

The Spot are friendly to the group discount crowd and have had this deal a few times in the past, so keep your eye out for happy high tea bargain.


Pros: Wonderful presentation; delicious food; friendly and accommodating staff

Cons: Very busy on the weekends, book early to avoid disappointment! 

Zanzibar Touch Massage and Yoga Studio

Bought through: Our Deal
Voucher for: Indulge in 90 minutes of pampering with a full body brush, exfoliating massage, body wrap, facial, foot treatment & full body massage. HUGE $231 off!

Zanzibar Touch Massage and Yoga Studio

Part of the reason I love vouchers is that you can live a champagne lifestyle on a soft drink budget, and since I've moved to Melbourne relatively recently, they give me the opportunity to not only try out new experiences and eateries, but also explore the CBD and surrounding suburbs.

I've never been to Brighton before, but this tony location has a pretty fancy strip shopping district, a flagship Coles (very impressive) and cafes galore - I think one even spruiked pupcorn treats for your doggie darling.

Zanzibar Touch is located opposite the Palace Cinemas up a couple of flights of stairs and indicated mainly by a simple sandwich board on the footpath.

My recent Body Pump classes had left me with slightly sore upper shoulders so I was really looking forward to the massage portion of this pamper session. 

My SO (Significant Other) and I had booked in for the session together and we were about to embark on a 90 minute indulgence that would have the following: a 15 minute Full Body Brush to relax the surface of your skin (value $25); a 30 minute Exfoliation Massage (value $90); a nourished 15 minute Fresh Fruit Body Wrap (value $90); a Facial and soothing Foot Treatment (value $70); which would finally be completed with a 30 minute full body and scalp massage (value $25). 
All of this for a very affordable $69 each. Bargain!

After taking our details, Christina and Catherine, our two therapists ushered us into a medium sized and gorgeously warm room where there were two massage beds set up draped with large towels and then further topped with thin plastic sheeting. At first I wondered what this was for, but I soon discovered their purpose as we were about to be coated - liberally - in the all natural products and potions used for the various treatments. 

We were gently instructed to take off all clothing and jewellery and put on some disposable underwear. I was fine with that as I've done this before, but I think it was a new experience for my SO. Wrapped in a towel, we lay back down on our respective massage beds and Catherine and Christine popped back in after politely knocking. 

The Body Brush was nice and just a touch ticklish for me, pretty much around my feet, but I could feel it prepping my skin. That was followed by an AMAZING exfoliation massage which I think used coconut, cloves, mango and almond oil and it flooded the room with the heady smell of all spice - I felt like I was being in the middle of a Christmas cake! The smell was delicious and I've read that Zanzibar Touch use natural fruit, oils and spices blended and mixed every day to keep them fresh.

The tropical concoction was left to coat my body as we were wrapped in the plastic sheet (aha!) to relax for a short period of time. Some of us went to sleep, hardly surprising as soothing music had been playing throughout. Ahhhhh.....

Christina came back in after 15 minutes and helped me to a shower in the next room, the oil seemed to bead up the water, but after drying off with a fluffy towel my skin felt utterly moisturised and toned. As I headed back to the massage room, my SO made his way soon after to the shower with the help of his therapist Catherine (remember, we're covered in large exfoliation granules and wrapped in a thin plastic sheeting).

A fresh facial and nourishing foot treatment soon followed, with the spa session concluding after the final treatment - a thorough body and head massage. So spoilt!

I can understand why some people can get addicted to going to the spa, the therapies can feel heavenly - I kept touching the skin on my arm and marvelling at how soft and moisturised it was. While the prices are not cheap, I think I'll definitely be back for a treat to Zanzibar Touch every once in a while (my SO enjoyed it heaps too, so men do not be afraid, your skin will thank you for it!)

Pros: professional and friendly service; delicious smelling treatments; easy to get to location with a train stop close by and a reasonable amount of parking in surrounding area; good range of opening hours especially by appointment
Cons: website a little clunky on desktop with some typos belaying a good business; a bit pricey

Gong de Lin Vegetarian Cuisine

Bought through: Scoopon

Voucher for: Scrumptious 7 Course Chinese Vegetarian Banquet in the CBD - Just $39 for 2 People! Rated 82% on Urbanspoon!

Gong De Lin Vegetarian Cuisine

What do you think when you consider vegetarian food? Salads? Lentils? A whole lot of yummy greenery but secretly you think you may still crave something mouth filling and dare I say it, meaty?

As an omnivore, my preferred form of protein is usually animal based - meat, eggs, cheese and fish, with a quick grab of nuts or kernels like almonds for snacking.

However, I and my SO (Significant Other) were intrigued to try out this seven course vegetarian banquet at Gong De Lin Restaurant, located on the third storey in the heart of Swanston St (entry through Noodle Kingdom). 

The elevator is a bit ramshackle and with the ground floor entrance sporting a live cook making yummy noodles, you might not get very far if you're hungry, but have faith, the food awaiting you upstairs will be worth it.

Though I had requested a booth overlooking the street earlier in the week (great for people watching), the two male staff on the floor that night just shrugged when I queried my booking and said it was unavailable - hmmm... first come, first choice I suppose. We did manage to get a booth sans window, and this meant we could feast our eyes on the food.

Included in the banquet was a potpourri of tea choices or a jar of plum juice. My SO chose a Pu-er tea and also opted for a hot soy drink. Having never had it before, he found it surprisingly delicious - a warming Asian choice for a chilly Friday evening in Melbourne. I had chosen a flower tea that tasted lovely but visually was stuck in an upside down half bloom (you can kinda see it in the photo below).

We had some small bowls of soup to start - I think they were the bean sprouts in Sichuan Style Sauce? And hoo-ey were they spicy! (But delicious). 
The vegetarian spring rolls soon arrived, accompanied by vegetable dumplings in a bamboo steamer (we both proceeded to dip the dumplings in some of the remaining hot sauce to enhance the steamed pillows.) 
Then I think everything arrived at once - the sweet and sour vegetarian "pork" (they tasted just like the real thing!), the sauteed diced vegetarian "chicken", and two serves of baby corn soup, glutinous rice balls in sweet sauce, and sides of rice.

My SO found it all very tasty and most importantly filling, and announced that if this was what vegan and vegetarian food could be like all the time, where could he sign up? 

I know mock meat is not to everyone's taste, after all, a lot of vegetarians have made their choice due to ethical reasons, but this is a great banquet option for dining out that should satisfy the taste buds of everyone who likes appetising Asian food in general.

Pros: tasty vegetarian/ vegan menu with lots of choices; central city location; competitive prices

Cons: quite popular, may have problems getting a table during peak eating times without a booking; staff service not overly friendly or patient

Sparadise Spa & Massage

Bought through: LivingSocial
Voucher for: Trim down with 5 slimming packages plus one detoxing foot spa

Sparadise Spa & Massage

So I bought this voucher back in May when I was determined to ignore all the delicious food and restaurant deals and focus on healthy experiences that might help me tone up (it was the start of winter and I was feeling a bit... round).

As I needed to enjoy it by September, I thought why not try this now? I have some busy evenings coming up working on a play and might not have the opportunity to devote five concurrent visits in the future, especially as Vermont South is a good half hour drive from me via the freeway.

The location is residential, off Springvale Road and not too hard to find. The house is a large two storey on the corner and displays the Sparadise signage just below the doorbell. My first visit was on Sunday, 13th of July and I met Manager Judy Li who got me to fill out some general forms and then introduced me to the acupressurist, a kindly looking older woman who was smiley but didn't speak much English. Ms Li referred to her as a doctor and while I didn't ask to see any qualifications, I felt as I wasn't getting anything too invasive, I should be fine with a little poking and prodding - no needles thankfully!

I entered a small room set up with two massage therapy beds and was invited to lie on one of them. Little sockettes were put on my feet and the doctor proceeded to use some wooden acupressure tools to in turn tickle, poke, prod and massage my feet. This probably went on for close to 10 minutes and the doctor made an observation to Ms Li that I had some upper shoulder tension (which is true - computers and the cold of a Melbourne winter can give you a screen shrug). 

I also received a small massage on the front of my calves, with a little light slapping; some pressure pushing on my left hand and finally some poking at various points on my back with light palm slaps around my spine to finish off.

Ms Li then invited me to step on the scales and also measured me very loosely with a tape at my bust, waist, hips and one thigh.

She advised me to try not to eat 30 minutes prior to the session, and 30 minutes after, and if possible, not to eat anything after 4pm on the day of the treatment. Eeek. Please also no ice-cream (sure), watermelon (?) or grapes (high in sugar?) If I do feel hungry, try to aim for a small salad or some fruit.

She mentioned that this treatment had the potential to drop between 5 - 10kgs, which I think is a lot and potentially just water weight, but sure, let's see how this goes.

We booked in my remaining sessions for the rest of the week as it was suggested to run them as close together as possible, so I have since swapped my current gym visits after work to long walks on my lunchbreak.

My second visit on Monday, 14 July was superfast. Ms Li was away that evening so I just got the doctor directing me to the massage room and a similar acupressure as the day before. It barely seemed worth the drive. I think the acupressure is supposed to suppress my appetite, but unfortunately it didn't seem to have worked as I felt quite hungry that evening and though I didn't eat a full meal, I did have a couple of small bread-y items.

My third visit on Tuesday, 15 July had a nice detoxing foot soak after the acupressure session. Directed by Ms Li through to a covered outdoor area, I had one of those lovely cedar wood foot buckets primed with some detoxing herbs and a small pot of herbal tea to keep me warm for the 30 minute relaxation. I had initially felt a little chilly, but having my feet fully immersed in warm water (the bucket also came with a wooden lid to keep the tonic temperate) I was pretty cosy.

The remaining two nights were a repeat of Monday, albeit with a slightly longer session of acupressure. Ms Li asked me on both nights as to whether I was still hungry in the evenings. I admitted I was, though I had been mindful to only have snack sized meals. 

I had my final session tonight - Thursday, 17 July - and my end treatment weigh in. I had dropped about 2 kilos, and while that's quite a good amount for 5 days, it's not the promised 5 - 10 kilos. I also feel my current good eating habits probably contributed to that weight loss as did averaging close to 10,000 steps every day.

Ms Li felt she had to defend the program a little by saying that fasting prior to the session would have seen a much steeper drop in the scales as the acupressure could have concentrated on my belly, but she never said this at the beginning of my treatment, only that I should stop eating after 4pm (which was a good two and a half hours prior to my appointments at 6.30pm). She encouraged me to come back in the future, when the weather was warmer. She didn't even bother to measure me again, obviously eager to finish up my consultation.

So, that was a bit of a disappointment, but to be honest, not unexpected. I would have been very surprised to shift that much weight in such a short period of time, and I think fasting while being told it's okay to exercise might be a little impractical. Your body and metabolism needs fuel to burn, or even just function well, especially in winter.

I found this treatment to be a bit of a waste of money and I'm unlikely to try Sparadise's other offerings, especially as evening sessions seem to be a bit rushed.

Pros: a lovely foot soak; relaxing acupressure sessions
Cons: evening sessions feel rushed; exterior of home salon dark and a little unwelcoming on arrival; advertised treatment didn't meet predictions; restrictive diet and eating suggestions only disclosed once treatment was started

The Glam House

Bought through: Living Social

Voucher for: Rock a Stylish 'Do with Six Months ($49) or One Year ($99) Worth of Blow Waves plus $20 Off Your Next Massage - Exclusive Aveda Salon

The Glam House

I absolutely LOVE the feeling of a salon blow wave. Sure, I can do a fairly passable job of it myself, but I can never quite get the back of my head to resemble that perfect cascade of layered smoothness that a professional hair stylist does with experienced ease. Sigh.

So when I saw this fabulous deal on Living Social for a year's worth of blow waves, I thought, "Is there a catch? Do I have to buy a wash and condition for my hair?" I even called up Living Social to find out more details about the promotion and while they were nice, they didn't have the full details themselves and suggested helpfully that I should contact the salon directly. 

I spoke with Marie, the owner and she said no, you didn't need to buy a wash; you could book in and come by just for the blow wave (which actually included a shampoo and condition to prep your hair). Very cool!

I have since been a few times to the salon from my initial booking in late May, and while I sometimes just duck in for a blow wave, I've also started to try out a few of the other treatments while I'm there (which is canny customer service). The staff don't necessarily upsell me on what The Glam House offer, but I guess having already prepaid for pretty much unlimited blow waves through to May 2015, I'm comfortable requesting an additional service while I'm being pampered.

I had a gorgeous 1930s style dry for a Lowicz Black & White party I attended a couple of months ago and most recently a lash, brow tint and shape which garnered some admiring oohs and ahhs from everyone I saw that day.

The Glam House have a lovely waiting area in the middle of their establishment which is warm, welcoming and relaxing, and you can help yourself to a tea, coffee and a biscuit. The hair salon is at the entrance of the shopfront, easily located on Bridge Road and conveniently close to a tram stop. The treatment rooms are upstairs and the staff  are approachable and friendly if you have any specific queries about anything. 

Guys needn't miss out with specialised waxing services for men and a full menu of services available for all sexes.

All in all, a great bargain and an awesome voucher from this business.

Pros: a beauty salon that has a good menu of services for hair, face and body; a message reminder via text so you never lose track of your appointment; easily accessible via public transport; good customer service
Cons: might be hard to get a booking after work

Fernwood Gyms

Bought through: Our Deal
Voucher for: $29 for 4 weeks' full Fernwood Fitness membership. Enjoy full club access, unlimited classes & breakfast daily! 67 participating locations Australia-wide!

Fernwood Fitness Carlton

I have been thinking about joining a gym for a while, as I'll admit, I was finding the dark Melbourne mornings of winter quite a demotivating factor.

While I boast quite a good collection of recordings - from HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) with Jillian Michaels to yoga and barre workouts, when my alarm would sound off in the early a.m., it would unsurprisingly still be pretty damn dark, and my body would rouse just enough to dismiss the klaxon, then promptly sock back to sleep due to lack of sunlight. 

I had been enjoying an Unlimited Pass to The Yoga Social during June, and while I loved those classes, I felt I needed more diversity in my exercise week - a bit more cardio and definitely more weights to get my metabolism pumping.

Obviously Fernwood was thinking this too as I didn't even have to call them for an appointment - they proactively got in contact in late June and booked me in for my trial month just in the squeak of time for EOFYS.

While my initial appointment had been made with Moyra, I got another girl entirely when I turned up at the gym. She was fine, running me through the join-our-great-gym script and showing me around the facilities of Fernwood Carlton.

Not bad for a location close to the CBD, it had a good amount of floor space devoted to treadmills, stationary bikes and other large equipment, with breakout sections for free weights, mat work and the like. There were at least two personal trainers on the floor working with clients during my tour, so no excuses if you really wanted to focus on your transformative fitness goals (for a fee). 

Unfortunately, Fernwood Carlton wasn't as expansive as I would have liked, and only had one studio for group fitness classes (which is the main reason I would join any gym). You may be out of luck if you wanted in on some of the more popular Les Mills workout options. Fernwood also didn't appear to have an online booking system, though I was assured that you could usually find a place in most classes.

Breakfast is included as part of your membership for those who prefer to exercise before work (more power to you), and overall the staff there seem quite helpful and supportive. Fernwood also run empowering fitness campaigns, with the latest being the Fernwood Angels 28 Day Breakthru - designed to "...help you break through bad habits and kick start healthier ones."

I've tried a few classes since the start of July, dashing after work for the 5.30pm start times (thank you No. 96 tram!); and staying back for a couple of the 6.30pm workouts. My favourites so far have been Body Pump and Body Balance, and it feels great to be challenged by my exercise regime again. I feel stronger and leaner!

However, I think I might need to consider a gym closer to my workplace which would also sport more group fitness options. Fernwood Carlton is a decent enough gym though if it's in your area.

Pros: Reasonably close to the Melbourne CBD with a tram stop right next to the entrance; newish facilities and friendly staff
Cons: Only one group fitness studio