The weather in Docklands is pretty good considering ...

The weather in Docklands is pretty good considering ...

When people talk about the weather, it is usually because there is not much else to talk about! I can’t help notice that when people talk about Docklands they always want to talk about the weather. That and parking of course!

So it is then, that with the onset of winter, I thought I might talk a little bit about the weather! In particular the April weather conditions in Docklands.

Good News Bill’s assessment of April weather conditions in Docklands:

“Mostly sunny days with generally windy conditions causing no more than a few twigs to fall off trees. There was only four days of any significant rain. So weather-wise, GNB reckons that April was not a bad month to be in Docklands.”

Now to turn my attention to what did happened in Docklands during April ...

The National Dragon Boat Championships came to Docklands and just about took over Harbour Esplanade and Victoria Harbour. To me, Harbour Esplanade is the logical focal point of Docklands. So it may have seemed to a curious onlooker that for one crazy week in April the dragon boat folk brought Docklands to life – and guess what? During the week they were here, there was 0.4mm of rain, 46 hours of sunshine and wind speeds ran between 24-29kph (moderate). There were two days when speeds of 61 and 63 kmh (near gale) were recorded. The dragon boaters chose a great time to visit Docklands and they had a fantastic week!  This is the very essence of what Docklands has to offer as part of the most liveable city!

April also saw the arrival of James Cook’s HMB Endeavour to Docklands. She stayed in Docklands from 18-29 April and set up as a maritime museum at Waterfront City Marina, where she was open for school groups and the general public.  

The Endeavour is currently nearing the end of her 2011-2012 circumnavigation of Australia. When she leaves Melbourne she will spend five days in Eden before finishing her year-long circumnavigation and returns to Darling Harbour where she normally resides.

It is worth subscribing to the Endeavour newsletter if you are interested in future planned voyages. Her next voyage, for which bookings have closed, is a 13-day trip to Lord Howe to observe the Transit of Venus – an event when the planet Venus moves across the sun on June 6, 2012. This is the same day as the D-Day Normandy landings of 1944 – coincidentally! The next time this celestial event will take place is December 2117 – so not long!

Other events that have been quietly bringing in the crowds to Docklands can be found in and around Harbour Town. The Flea Market operates every Saturday down near the film studios in Docklands Drive. There is a Sunday Market operating along NewQuay Promenade and the Piazza.

The Wonderland Fun Park has been running a number of highly successful events at its new Spiegeltent. This is a great corporate venue available for hire. If you are interested contact the Wonderland Fun Park. Also down at the Waterfront City Piazza in the great white tent you will find the Ancient Roman Exhibition full of fascinating Roman replicas of war machines and other fantastic devices the Romans used to stamp their early civilization on the world. You will all remember what the Romans did for us – roads, aqueducts, irrigation – that sort of thing.

For those who missed April; never mind. There is always May. And there is plenty to see and do. With winter approaching look out for the Melbourne winter campaign coming to Docklands. Look out too for the many great deals that can be had.

James Squire Brewhouse runs a trivia night every Wednesday and on Thursday nights they have their Locals Night with special deals on their celebrated beers. Look out too for Super Tuesday dining specials in NewQuay. Participating restaurants offer you a second meal free. Bob’s Steak and Chop House’s Unlimited Business Breakfast is not to be missed. These are only the tip of the Docklanders Deals iceberg!

Talking of deals, if you are not already a member, get yourself a Docklander Deals reward card! It is free and opens you up to many great deals available at participating Docklands retailers. Check the website and sign up online. Make it your mission in May to challenge Docklands retailers to tell you what their Docklander Deals are for May. You will be surprised what you can get when you ask.

Ever fancied yourself as a bit of a handy person? They are looking for volunteers down at Shed 2 where they are restoring the Alma Doepel. The Alma Doepel is a three-masted topsail schooner, Australian-built and operated, with more than 100 years of history behind her and with more history yet to be written. They are open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and they have a fantastic set-up down there. If you go down and introduce yourself, you will be given something interesting to do and you too can become involved in the Alma Doepel history.

I can’t believe how much there is to do in Docklands! Who has time to talk about the weather!

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