Everybody needs good Neighbours! (Neighbours Tour (Australia))

Member Name: denise40

Product:	Neighbours Tour (Australia)
Date:	03/09/08 (258 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Got to see the sets

Disadvantages: Not what I expected

Official Neighbours Tour

When I was in Melbourne I decided to go and see the Neighbours sets and areas they film at. When I was younger I loved the show and had got back into watching it in the time I was living in Australia.

**ITINERARY**

We booked the tour in the YHA hostel and I was disappointed they did not pick us up here. Instead we had to walk about 25 minutes down to their offices to check in at the Neighbours reception. In the leaflet we were promised a free souvenir gift which we never received.

We jumped onto a really worn bus with a rather uncomfortable seat. The tour guide informed us they were getting a new bus. Unfortunately this was no advantage to us. Instead we had to sit in the smelly heap of junk they called a bus. On the way to our first destination old footage of the soap was shown via a dvd (which could be purchased), on screens scattered throughout the bus. Even with the very uncomfortable seats and rickety bus we got to our first destination which was Erinsborough High School.

Now Erinsborough High School is a working school, which has young foreign children attending. You are warned that it is a working school and not to any of the pupils. The school itself is much smaller than I expected. Only certain areas where familiar to me as they tend to film in the same spots. It isn't laid out, as you would imagine either. Luckily enough no-one was around and we got to take pictures of the area. An old sign which hooked onto the gate was lying around the back of the bus and before we got back on to the bus the tour guide got everyone to stand behind the sign one by one (if you wanted) and took your photograph at Erinsborough High School.

Back onto the bus then to watch more old footage with cast members telling you of their experiences. Then we were taken to the backlot of a lot of the sets. Here included Grease Monkeys, Carpenters Garage some shops and the bus stop. We were able to get out and investigate closed, taking any photographs we wanted. It was strange as nothing was inside these shops and they were extremely close together which you wouldn't really imagine.

The bus then takes you through an area, which has a trailer/caravan type van which the stars all get ready in. They get dressed and get makeup put on here. Next stop is the allotment, which is off to the side by itself. Right beside it is the main part, which has the Veteranary Clinic, Laisters, Charlie's and the General Store. Again these places are only shells with nothing inside. Also everything seems so crammed together. On the other side of these stores the pond, park and bridge is here.

Once all our photographs were taken it was back onto the bus where a folder was sent around giving you information on the soap. Things like where they lived on Ramsey Street and some of the cast's story lines as well as current news on the stars. It was rather interesting to read. The last stop was Ramsey Street. This is the familiar main circle of houses. Each house is very distinctive and you can tell its them straight away. If you didn't know the location you could drive past so easily without noticing the cull de sac. I have to say again the area was a lot smaller than on screen (this seemed to be the trend). A sign was pulled out of the bus which you could hold up (it was Ramsey Street put onto a pole). Some guests hogged this sign but eventually we got to have our photograph taken holding the sign. You see the actual street isn't called Ramsey Street I am not sure what it is called.

**OVERALL**

This tour didn't last overly long roughly 3 hours but that includes travelling between destinations. It costs $40 Australian dollars to do the tour each, which is expensive enough for what you get to do. One Australian dollar is equal to roughly 0.47 United Kingdom pounds. If you are a Neighbours fan it is worth spending the money. You were told you would receive a free souvenir gift, which I was disappointed we never received. If you wanted you had the choice to leave out the sets (Laisters, General Store, Charlies etc.) and meet a star instead from the show. Personally this did not appeal to me and I didn't want to meet a star and talk to them. I would have felt cheated if I hadn't of seen the sets. I am glad I done this tour as it was nice to see where they filmed however if you have never watched Neighbours before this tour would probably not interest you at all.

Also posted on Ciao under denisekelly40

Summary: A tour for the fans