Melbourne: The art of winter

Luxury at the Sofitel. Photo / Supplied

Melbourne. It's not always the first place you think of for a mid-winter getaway. For a start it can be chilly - although within a day it can be chilly, hot, freezing then warm again. But arguably there's no other city in our Pacific backyard that better gets its act together at this time of year. The city is a hive of activity, including sports, shows, cultural events and kid-friendly exhibitions all packaged up as a Winter Masterpieces series. Here's our suggested itinerary for a long Melbourne winter weekender.

Friday morning: Salvador Dali - Liquid Desire, National Gallery of Victoria
Get up early for this one because there will likely be queues but it's a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition worth waiting for. More than 200 Dali works collected here cover the full spectrum of the artist's career, from his stunning impressionist experiments at age 14, through his surrealist and nuclear mysticism phases, to the last painting he ever did, taking in his dabblings in sculpture, film, photography, fashion and jewellery design along the way.

This is a vast exhibition drawn from the world's two largest Dali collections: the Fundacio Gala - Salvador Dali in Figueres, Spain, and the Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg, Florida. So give yourself plenty of time. Make sure you take in the two short films - the infamously dark but impressive Un Chien Andalou, and Destino, the breathtaking result of a collaboration between Dali and Walt Disney. The exhibition also features children's information and activity plaques, and a children's activity area.

Liquid Desire runs at the NGV until October 4. Other exhibitions at the gallery over the next few months include Persuasion: Fashion in the Age of Jane Austen and Dressed to Rule - Imperial Robes of China. For updates on new exhibitions visit www.ngv.vic.gov.au.

Friday afternoon: Eating and shopping
At least half a day is required to absorb the surreal delights of Dali and it's bound to work up an appetite. From the NGV it's only a five-minute walk back across the river, past Flinders Station to Degraves St, famous for some of the best coffee in the world and food to match. From there you can lose yourself among the lanes filled with clothing boutiques and the best shoes money can buy. Alternatively, stay on South Bank and dine and shop riverside.

Friday night: Jersey Boys, Princess Theatre, Spring St
Friday night is the perfect time to take in a show and the undisputed new star of Melbourne's many stages is the musical Jersey Boys. Based on the true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' rise to fame in the 1960s, the musical arrives in Melbourne with a clutch of Tony awards, immense international hype and rave reviews. The Melbourne cast is outstandingly good, imbuing the show and all those familiar songs - Walk Like A Man, Cherry, Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Working My Way Back to You to name but a few - with a new lease of life.

The story is fairly slight but this is really all about the music and you'll need to be prepared to have those catchy numbers dancing around your head for days afterward.

This is a slick, incredibly professional production that's a must-see for musical fans while it's this close to our shores. Oh, and keep a lookout for Kiwi boy Jason Te Patu, who takes on several minor roles. The language is a little earthy or "Brooklyn street" at times so it's probably not one for the kids, but it's a great show for mum and dad to escape to for the night - and for a change it appears to be a musical as likely to appeal to men as to women.

Saturday morning: A Day In Pompeii, Melbourne Museum
This exhibition takes a comprehensive look at the town of Pompeii before and after the Mt Vesuvius eruption of 79AD which destroyed it.

Through household items excavated from the ashes of Pompeii and gathered here, the exhibition builds a colourful, three-dimensional view of urban life in Rome2000 years ago, from the advanced medical practices to the sensible plumbing. There is an innovative 3D film (created in Melbourne) which vividly recreates the 48-hours before, during and after the eruption. The exhibition also features the plaster casts of the ash-covered human bodies discovered in the city ruins. They are an eerie reminder of the eruption's devastation.

The Pompeii exhibition runs until October 25. While you're there take in the museum's Dinosaur Walk, sure to keep the kids happy. And if you time it right, go for a tour of the spectacular Royal Exhibition Centre next door. For more information see museumvictoria.com.au.

Saturday afternoon: Shopping and dining
From the museum in Nicholson St it's about a 15-minute walk to the shops and cafes of Brunswick St - a great place to find souvlaki, more great coffee, rare books and quirky, retro fashion.

Saturday night: Dinner at MoMo, Collins St
Renowned Aussie chef Greg Malouf has refurbished and reopened MoMo in the Grand Hyatt Hotel building at 123 Collins St. The result is a beautifully elegant space perfectly suited to the Malouf's modern Middle Eastern and Mediterranean menu. While you're there try a pre- or post-dinner cocktail at the adjoining Spice Market. Come Fridays and Saturdays it's packed to the rafters, so you might want to go earlier rather than later, or mid-week if you're around. It's a gorgeous, plush spot for a drink with friends.

Visit: www.momorestaurant.com.au or www.spicemarket.net.au.

Sunday morning: Star Wars - Where Science Meets Imagination, Scienceworks Museum, Spotswood
Yes it's aimed at the kids but on my visit there were more than a few child-free adults wandering opening-mouthed, cameras at the ready, posing next to C3P0 and Yoda along with all the key costumes, figures and props from all the Star Wars films.

But the real added value here for kids is the education that comes with the thrills. As well as a chance to ogle R2D2 up close, the exhibition takes a comprehensive look at the science behind Star Wars' gadgets and gizmos; how the same principles are applied to inventions that exist in our world and in many cases lets the kids have a crack at building them - whether it's electromagnets or wiggling robot arms there is plenty here to keep kids (yes, of all ages) intently amused for hours. Scienceworks is the perfect spot to while away a wet Melbourne winter day.

The Star Wars exhibition runs until November 3. As well as Star Wars, Scienceworks' main gallery has plenty of other experiments, games and activities, all based around science and general knowledge to keep kids happy for hours - and it's attached to the planetarium.

Scienceworks is about 5km out of the central city, see the website for public transport options - museumvictoria.com.au/scienceworks.

Sunday afternoon
Maybe a little more shoe-shopping? Or go to an AFL game at either the MCG or the Telstra Dome for a level of fan hysteria the Super 12 teams can only dream of.