never heard of anyone doing that in Melbourne I'm afraid. The best thing I can suggest to do on your own would be to catch a tram into the city and to the Royal Botanic Gardens - lovely.

There are certainly limousine services in Melbourne, handling weddings, corporates and so on (for example,

http://www.corporatecars.biz/).

Others may be able to make a recommendation, but the best I can suggest is to Google on "limousines", "Melbourne" etc. I do know that when a friend was looking for a limo for a function, they talked to a number of providers and found there was quite a range of prices.

-- G

you might like

www.melbournefoodtours.com/Private_Tours.html

Mikala

I suppose part of the problem is that hiring a car and river is not a common thing down here. Yes we have cars/limo services but they are usually like a prestige 'taxi' service more than anything else.

I mean I did a quick search and found this one but I make no recommendation as to quality etc;

http://www.justitours.com.au

Thanks for all the suggestions. The tours mentioned, as well as all the other sites for tours, seem to be on a set schedule and most leave too early for us to be sure of getting off the ship in time.

I did google limos and taxis and have emailed several of them for quotes. Awaiting responses.

I was hoping someone on the forums would have done a similar thing and could recommend. I'd still rather take my chances with an unknown that I feel good about than get on a bus with hundreds of my fellow passengers. Not that I don't like fellow passengers, except in large groups trying to get the "perfect" kangaroo pix for the folks at home.

Hi

- Found this site while planning our own holiday might be of some help.

www.melbprivatetours.com.au

I have found a company that charges $75 AUD per hour and will pick us up and drop us off. We are now thinking of going to Healesville Sanctuary with a brief stop at a winery along the route. We'd then be dropped off in town and make our own way back to ship. We are figuring no more than 5 hours for the drive out and back, allowing 2 hours for Sanctuary and half hour for winery. Similar tour offered by cruise ship will be almost twice as much and several times more crowded.

We know that cruise ships are no way to visit a city. The best they do is give you an idea what to do the next time.

Thanks for your suggestions and would appreciate any advice on our plan.