Catch up with the Aussies you miss

Missing someone who lives in Australia? You’re not alone. The ties have long been strong between Britain and Australia. Kids, grandkids, cousins, best friends and old flames – they're all here waiting for your next visit. Remember, Down Under is only a plane-ride-with-a-stopover away.

Start planning how you'll catch-up with loved ones and old acquaintances on a visit to Melbourne and Victoria.

We know many of you are missing a beloved offspring (or two) who's now set themselves up in Melbourne. Come on, parents – you need to start trip planning.

Suggested activity: There’s no shortage of things to do with kids of any age in Melbourne, whether five or 50. Brunch in the city is a good place to start: we like Higher Ground and Hardware Societe, followed by a wander through the city’s laneways and perhaps a street art tour. If your kids have kids, explore what's on at Melbourne Museum – it’s an easy and engrossing day out for the whole family.

The average Brit has 38 first and second cousins. We haven’t crunched the numbers, but the odds are pretty good that at least one of them lives in Australia and calls Melbourne home.

Suggested activity: the Great Ocean Road. Definitely. Pack the car full of cousins, load up on snacks, then head down the highway for one of the world’s truly great coastal drives. Built by returning soldiers after World War I, the Great Ocean Road stretches all the way from Torquay to the 12 Apostles. Bonus points if you keep going to Port Fairy, the end of the road. Theoretically you can do this stretch in a day, but we’d recommend breaking it up over three or four nights.

Australia has been a popular place over the decades for Brits to attend university. Chances are you've left a handful of study mates and incredible uni friends behind after graduating.

Suggested activity: Pay tribute to the many late nights spent together in the uni library, caffeinated to the gills, with a visit to the State Library Victoria. Play some chess on the big board outside, or a smaller board in the La Trobe Reading Room. Sigh at the magnificent domed ceiling, and peruse the paintings in the Cowan Gallery. Sit down for a coffee and panini at Mr Tulk, and afterwards browse the bestsellers (perhaps your own or your uni mate's?) at Readings bookshop, just inside the Russell Street entrance.

Chances are you'd like to reunite with friends who live in Melbourne. If anyone’s worth a long-haul flight, it’s an old mate. Plus they may have a couch you can crash on for a night.

Suggested activity: Friends are the best for letting you in on local secrets. Spend some time exploring the neighbourhoods where they live, work or play. Prahran, Windsor, Collingwood, South Melbourne and Richmond are all good places to start. When you get peckish, head to the city centre and visit Queen Victoria Market, the largest – and most delicious – open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s been feeding the city since 1878.

Zoom is great for connecting families, but there's nothing like having your Aussie grandchildren crawl all over you in person. You may even be meeting them for the first time.

Suggested activity: Melbourne has plenty of kid-friendly activities. The Collingwood Children’s Farm is an excellent choice, with cute animals, a bucolic setting and a lovely cafe alongside the wending Yarra River. Pop next door to the Abbotsford Convent to explore, too, and top up on refreshments at Cam's Cafe if you need. In the city our top pick is of course the National Gallery of Victoria. NGV International often has a great line-up of hands-on kids exhibitions, and there’s plenty of rooms to explore. Don’t forget to allow time for family snaps in front of the iconic waterwall – little ones love it.

Keen to visit a former colleague who now lives in Melbourne? We’re guessing there’s plenty of office gossip to catch up on.

Suggested activity: There’s no need for fancy activities with an old work friend. We recommend lunch and a strong latte in one of the city's many (many) cafes. Our pick of locations are Degraves Street and Centre Place, Melbourne’s answer to Diagon Alley. Around the corner on Flinders Lane, Journal is one of the best spots to feel the pulse of the city, Dukes does stand-up coffee, and Jungle Juice does a mean club sandwich. Sit back, catch up, and watch the world walk past.

Brits and Aussies share a love of travel, so it’s not surprising if there's an Australian you've met elsewhere around the world who you're keen to reunite with. Honestly, you find us everywhere.

Suggested activity: Re-live youthful adventures and memories of hostels and long nights at the pub on a hot air balloon ride at dawn. Head up above the city on classic Melbourne mornings when the air is cool, crisp and clear, or watch the sun blast its rays over lush Yarra Valley vineyards below. It’s a pretty amazing way to start the day. This is an iconic Melbourne experience, but it is naturally weather and season-dependent.

Stayed friends with an old Aussie flame? The heart knows no distance!

Suggested activity: A romantic dinner is undoubtedly on the cards – let’s see if we can rekindle the spark. The most difficult part may be narrowing down the range of suitable candlelit bars and restaurants in the city. We're here to help. Shoot your cupid's bow in the direction of Nick and Nora's. It’s got the mood lighting just right, intimate booths, and a cocktail selection that's second to none. Other delightful spots for a date include Siglo, Gimlet at Cavendish House and Curious at The W Hotel – even if the bond has cooled to platonic, the meal will ensure it's a night to remember.