So when I announced to my husband that I was farewelling Hobart for a solo weekend in Melbourne – Australia’s shopping mecca – with only a small piece of carry-on luggage, eyebrows were raised … he was clearly sceptical.

But I was confident I wouldn’t be shopping. Because there would be far too many other great things to do.

Like indulging in the luxury of my lavish Pan Pacific hotel suite at South Wharf, complete with panoramic views of the city skyline. Or delighting my tastebuds with many fantastic dining options, including a decadent high tea with some of the most amazing sweets I’ve ever tasted. Or wandering The Lume – one of the world’s largest digital art galleries – to enjoy the vibrant colours and sounds of Australia’s talented First Nations artists. Or to simply enjoy a leisurely bubble bath, or a sleep-in, without children to interrupt me.

And I did do all of those things during my amazing stay at Pan Pacific Melbourne – I even explored parts of Melbourne I’d never seen before.

But I also managed to shop (of course I did – the hotel is right next to South Wharf DFO and an easy stroll to the shopping centres and department stores of Melbourne’s CBD) and I found myself making a mercy dash to Kmart on day two of my three-day stay, buying a cheap suitcase so I could bring my shopping haul home with me (fortunately my airline ticket included checked baggage … just in case!)

But that’s the great thing about a weekend in Melbourne – the city has so many enticing offerings, and everything is in easy reach, so it’s possible to eat, shop, relax, and explore, all in a relatively short time frame.

And, as I discovered, Pan Pacific Melbourne is the perfect base for a getaway.

The luxurious vibe was evident from the moment I stepped into the grand foyer, and it continued as I flung open the door to my Panoramic Suite.

The name doesn’t lie – it is most certainly panoramic, with large windows taking in views of the Yarra River and city, visible when you’re lazing in the spacious loungeroom, while tucked up in the comfy kingsize bed, or while relaxing in the bathtub.

I loved watching the view change from day to night, when the city lights popped against the dark sky. I also enjoyed seeing how different the city looked as various weather patterns rolled in – from blue skies and sunshine one day, to grey, moody, overcast skies the next.

I felt like I was staying in a luxury apartment rather than a hotel – and I felt spoilt having such a spacious abode to myself.

I appreciated thoughtful touches throughout the room – white potted orchids growing in the bedroom and living area, sachets of bath salts inviting guests to take a lazy soak in the tub, a Dyson hairdryer, an evening turndown service with champagne and strawberries, two 55-inch flat-screen TVs (one in the living room and one in the bedroom), free soft drinks from the mini bar, and access to the hotel’s Pacific Club Lounge.

After checking in, I spent time enjoying the view, before heading downstairs for a quick inspection of the DFO. I returned to my room a couple of hours later to discover a welcome plate of housemade cakes – the perfect inclusion for a sweet tooth like me – featuring a magnificent assortment of macarons, mini meringues, chocolates, fresh raspberries, a citrus tart and another fruity dessert dusted with gold flakes.

Then it was time to cross the road for my first visit to The Lume, an audio visual delight of colour, sound and movement.

I’d seen photos from the previous van Gogh exhibition – friends surrounded by a sea of sunflowers posting holiday snaps on Facebook. But I knew little about the latest exhibition – Connection – showcasing First Nations artists, which opened in June. So it was nice to step inside without any expectations.

And what a joy! As a lover of all-things colourful, I loved being surrounded by an-ever changing backdrop covering 3000 sq/m of immersive gallery space, with projections spanning four storeys high and imagery set to a musical score featuring Indigenous musicians including Yothu Yindi, Archie Roach, Emily Wurramara, Gurrumul and Baker Boy.

It was great to spot Tasmanian names in the credits too, with palawa photographer, artist, filmmaker and cultural adviser Wayne Quilliam a curator of the project, while his brother, palawa artist Mick Quilliam, was also involved.

Attending a Friday night session at The Lume was perfect – it wasn’t crowded and it was only a quick stroll back to the hotel for in-room dining where I enjoyed a chicken curry and an Eton mess dessert while admiring my panoramic view.

Day two began with a breakfast buffet in Pan Pacific’s Dock 37 restaurant, where I piled my plate high with fresh fruit, granola and pancakes, washed down with freshly-squeezed juice and marshmallows dipped in the hotel’s impressive chocolate fountain which I – and plenty of other guests – found impossible to resist, despite it being only 8am.

I wandered through South Wharf and Southbank precincts and into the city, stopping to admire the street art that the Hosier and AC/DC lanes are famous for, before spending much of the day shopping (hence the need for a suitcase) and people watching – highlights included a man shopping with an exotic parrot perched on his shoulder, and a woman taking her elderly pooch for a stroll in a pimped out doggie pram.

I was a frequent visitor to Melbourne pre-kids (and pre-Covid) and last visited in January with my family, so a solo trip was a great opportunity to reacquaint myself with the city before returning to the hotel for complimentary canapes and cocktails in the Pacific Club Lounge, followed by dinner at Dock 37, where the highlight was a Valrhona Chocolate Marquise dessert, sprinkled with gold.

I slept beautifully in my enormous bed, with blockout blinds ensuring total darkness, and woke to the sight of hot air balloons drifting over the city as the sun rose.

The breakfast buffet was a lighter affair today – as high tea was booked for midday – so I set off on foot to explore parts of Melbourne I’d never visited before. I strolled through the Royal Botanic Gardens, which unexpectedly led me to the Shrine of Remembrance war memorial. I also discovered a floral clock, a water fountain, a cheerful display of daffodils and several statues (including Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop, wearing a red poppy) as I wandered towards the National Gallery of Victoria and browsed stalls at the weekly Arts Centre Sunday market before working up an appetite for high tea.

This new Pan Pacific offering features three tiers of delectable savoury and sweet treats curated by award-winning director of Food, Beverage and Culinary Operations, Deepak Mishra.

I loved that there was a good mix of savoury and sweet treats, and both warm and cold savouries – highlights were the cauliflower and sebago petite pie with whipped goat’s curd, the serrano ham croquette, and a torn burrata and baby pea tart with candied macadamia. There was also a mini lobster roll, plenty of smoked salmon and caviar for seafood lovers.

Warm buttermilk scones were served with jam, cream (and my personal favourite) lemon curd, and a selection of delicious teas from TWG, one of finest luxury tea brands in the world.

But my favourite part of the experience, of course, was the plate of amazing patisserie creations (again, sprinkled in gold) – a calamansi and mango tart, a black sesame and almond praline ring, a coconut and passionfruit parfait and a green tea sphere with milk chocolate cremeaux, treats made even more mouth-watering thanks to the careful inclusion of native ingredients like lemon myrtle, Davidson plum, wattleseed, strawberry gum and Geraldton wax.

With a full tummy I headed to the airport in my luxury Eurocar transfer, flying into Hobart at 6pm.

My excited children welcomed me with handmade signs and my husband was happy to have me home, although he was not one bit surprised by my newly-acquired pink suitcase.

The author was a guest of Pan Pacific Melbourne

MAKE A NOTE

Pan Pacific Melbourne is located at 2 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf – close to South Wharf DFO, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and The Lume. Rooms start from $228 per night for a Deluxe Room or $249 for a Family Queen Room, while the Panoramic Suite (including Pacific Club Lounge access, buffet breakfast and evening canapes) starts from $643 per night. High Tea is available from Friday to Sunday, 12-4pm, $75 for adults ($95 with Veuve Clicquot Champagne) and $35 for children. panpacific.com