Where To Start A Rumpus In Melbourne, Australia

October 19, 2009 at 1:28 PM | by cmb | 0 Comments

Director Spike Jonze chose to film "Where The Wild Things Are" on location with puppets, rather than in front of a blue screen; an expensive gamble that paid off, considering the movie brought in 32.5 million dollars this weekend. To get the location just right for his adaptation of the beloved children's book, Jonze considered locations in Argentina, Hawaii, New Zealand and California before settling on Melbourne, Australia. Here's a look at where you can go "wild" in Melbourne.

What to Do:
Jonze took full advantage of Melbourne's unique surroundings for the film. He used a burnt-out forest near Gembrook, just outside of Melbourne, as the movie's primary location. He also filmed scenes at the cliffs of Bushrangers Bay in Victoria and among the boulders of the You-Yangs. The You-Yangs are a series of granite peaks that rise dramatically in the Werribee lava plains and can be explored on foot or by bike. The You-Yangs Regional Park is perfect for a day of hiking, biking or picnicking off the beaten path. The park is open daily until sunset, mountain bikes can be rented via All About Mountain Bike Tours.

Where to Stay:
The Westin Melbourne is offering a spring deal that let gives you a $100 hotel credit if you stay a minimum of two nights. The credit can be used towards a room upgrade, dinner in the hotel's restaurant or a renewing in-room spa treatment. The spa treatments are available in 60, 90 and 120 minute sessions and start at just $125 per person. The hotel is centrally located too and is within walking distance to several galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Currently, standard room rates start around $300 a night.

Where to Eat:
While they were filming in Melbourne, Spike Jonze and his crew would drink and dine on Fitzroy Street in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda. Fitzroy, located just steps from St. Kilda Beach, is lined with restaurants and bars where Spike always seemed to run into a late night fight. He told The Press, "There was actual blood on the pavements! I've never seen that in the US!" For something a little less "wild", One Fitzroy Street serves breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Their specialties include Char Grilled Lemongrass Chicken and Pesto Crusted Lamb Rack, all entrees start around $35. Reservations are recommended and can be made online.

Related Stories:
· Fun Film Trivia from Where The Wild Things Are [Suite 101]
· Filmed in Melbourne [Official Site]
· Movie Set Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Think Hero]

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