Inner City Melb (Sth Warfe/South Bank extension)

“My Mother-in-law organised this swap for us at Noel's home as I was travelling with my son to Melbourne from Perth to celebrate his 14th birthday. Noel was gracious in allowing our stay and was very friendly and welcoming. He met us on arrival and took us through the apartment, and stayed to ensure that we could connect to the wifi and the wireless Sonos speakers throughout (very important items for an early teen)! Noel's apartment was fantastic! It is modern and spotless and in a great location overlooking the Yarra River. It is located directly across the River from Marvel stadium, so was easy for us to catch a footy match and just a short stroll from several fantastic cafes and restaurants located along the River. My son and I had a fantastic weekend, thanks Noel for allowing us to stay in your home.”

“Noel was an amazing host. He met me at the station and gave me an orientation of the location. He was then kind enough to drop me at the theatre as I was running late for a show. The apartment itself was fantastic, super comfortable and in a great location. It had everything I needed for a 4-night stay. I was able to walk to most places, but the tram is nearby as well. Thanks Noel for a great home-swap experience!”

“What a terrific location and perfect apartment. Highly recommended for a base for exploring Melbourne. Great host. Great city. Great holiday. ”

“Had a wonderful stay at Noel's apartment. What a view. I could sit and watch the rowers on the river all day. The balcony was a great place to sup on a glass of wine and ponder where to head for dinner! The apartment was very clean and Noel was the perfect host, communication was spot on. ”

“I enjoyed my time at Noel’s. It was lovely, especially as I became ill and so I spent a lot of time there enjoying the view from the couch. I have only to say that the trip was sullied by the fact that when I returned home to my own place after the swap, I was unable to access my laundry as the bi fold doors were jammed. Noel passed this off as a maintainance issue and claimed that it was like it when he arrived. If this had been so, he would not have been able to wash the linen ( which I might add I appreciated/ we had agreed to do that for one another.) I believe that Noel was resting on his laurels regarding his concern and care for the abodes of others and I found him rude. I do not know whether to continue down the path of home swapping as a result of this experience. ------------------Host's Response----------------- Firstly, when I went to complete the washing at Donna’s house I found the double bifold door jamming on the floor on the left hand side. I was able to open the doors as I knew to both hold the bifolds parallel to the floor and lift a bit to minimise contact. I gently opened the doors, completed the washing, and closed them the same way. I used this door once only and left it exactly as I found it. I suspect it had simply popped off its railing or dropped a little somehow. Secondly, I certainly was not rude in any way. Upon arriving home I sent a message to Donna thanking her and seeing if she was home ok. She was immediately accusatory and short. I carefully explained what had happened a number of times and in different ways. She wouldn’t accept or understand and proceeded to call me both a “fool” and “arrogant”. I continued to try to explain. Donna was repeatedly rude. Finally, I most certainly did not rest on my laurels. At first contact it was clear Donna was very new to swapping and unsure of the process and how to use the site. I was supportive and patiently talked her through a number of concerns and questions. To further alleviate her uncertainty I went to the trouble of taking pictures of the building entrance doors, swabs, lifts, front door lock etc. I carefully formatted and attached additional pages to my apartment manual to explain entrance and emailed it in advance to Donna. I took the trouble to water the gardens, numerous pot plants and the vegetable garden twice in the four day stay as requested, carefully rolling up the long hose. I separated and put out all the rubbish, very carefully hung the washing as it was over gardens and a small pond, washed and put away all the dishes, replaced some eggs, cleared the junk mail, bought in a delivery, cleaned the kitchen, kept the house as tidy as when I arrived. I gave absolute care and concern to her abode. I was as careful and respectful as I have been on more than 40 stays across three different platforms. And of course there have been numerous little issues over the many stays at my house – scrapes, scratches, luggage marks on walls, broken door stoppers and once a broken front loading washing machine door that needed to be replaced – a real issue that was expensive. I just fixed them as I believe no one does anything like that deliberately, and most times it’s very hard to tell why and how anything happened – houses have wear and tear, and things go wrong - as in this case. I am sorry Donna feels aggrieved, I enjoyed my stay in Hobart. ”

“Fabulous location, magnificent views, excellent communication, spotlessly clean and comfortable. Thank you to a wonderful host. ”

“What a great place to spend our week. So close to all the restaurants and bars and a view that’s breath taking. Thanks Noel for allowing us to experience your home. ”

“In April we enjoyed five days in Noel’s lovely apartment. The building stands alone in its own park on the south bank of the Yarra river. We loved sitting on Noel’s balcony and experiencing his remarkable view - at night the lights and reflections of the city and its fairy-tale bridges; by day, families barbecuing in the park, joggers and dog walkers on the river path, lycra-clad groups exercising - even a movie being shot! Noel’s apartment was extremely comfortable and convenient – a large combined kitchen, dining and living area, all well-appointed with the best of furniture and equipment, and separate bathroom, and a bedroom with a comfortable bed. And of course, his very special balcony, accessed from both the living area and bedroom. We were grateful that Noel provided a huge selection of pamphlets and books about Melbourne – covering the surface of a large sideboard. The information made it easy for us to explore Melbourne’s streets and lanes. We were also grateful to Noel’s housekeeper and her partner, who generously offered their help and advice. Thank you, Noel. We had a great holiday in your wonderful apartment ”

“My wife Cheryle and I spent a lovely 5 days in Noel’s cosy apartment. The location was superb and the view spectacular. Noel was very obliging and communication with him was outstanding. We hope to spend more time in this great apartment in the future and recommend it highly. Pieter & Cheryle ”

“A great and quiet location for visiting Melbourne. Accommodation was perfect with great views over the Docklands harbour. Bikes for hire (only 100 metres away) were a great way to get around. Some very nice cafés and restaurants two minutes walk. We were very pleased with our stay and Noel was helpful. We can highly recommend this home for a swap. Thanks Noel.”

“Noel’s apartment is in a fabulous position with views of the river and city that are continually changing. We made great use of the Melbourne city hire bikes which were located very close by and enabled to pedal all over the city and combine them with trains and teams. Noel was very easy to communicate with and made sure we had everything we needed. Many thanks Noel. ”

“We had a great stay at Noel's apartment. It was modern, clean and in an amazing position to enjoy all that Melbourne city had to offer. The view is fabulous and the apartment extremely comfortable. We utilised the bike rental station (which was located directly opposite the apartment) to get around. If you are comfortable on a bike it is the best way to get around the inner city and it was so enjoyable riding along the Yarra river. Noel has extensive information in his apartment relating to things to do in Melbourne and how to get around. Noel was easy to communicate with before and during our stay. I would highly recommend Noel's place if you are considering a Melbourne visit. ”

“This was a true delight. Great views over Yarra and park with boats, bikes, picnics. Very comfortable and we quickly felt at home and with all mod cons. Easy walk to city and places for guests to park at reasonable prices. Thankyou Noel for your generosity and welcome. ”

“Noel's apartment has a distinct wow factor! I honestly believe the view from his deck on a lovely evening is equal to any - and we've just returned from another 8 weeks in some pretty stunning spots overseas! The location is splendid for access to all the city delights of Melbourne....theatres, restaurants, shops...as well as bike and walking trails. The apartment is delightfully presented and we had a memorable time. It was my husband's birthday - one he won't forget! Thanks Noel. ”

“I had a really lovely stay at Noel’s and every part of organising the exchange was quick and smooth. The apartment is really well located with a great view over the Yarra and Melbourne Star (especially in the evenings!). I couldn’t recommend Noel’s more and will definitely be back when I return to Melbourne. Thanks Noel :) ”

“Noel’s fantastic appartment is perfect for access to all that Melbourne has to offer. A short stroll to the Tram system and boom you are there. Noel is a wonderful host and a pleasure to deal with. ”

“Noels City Pad is perfect for that quick getaway and the View out of the lounge room and bed room are to die for. stunning sitting in the side chairs in the evening wiht a glass of wine and watch the city come to alive with all the colours that Melbourne has to offer, short stroll to DFO a couple of coffee shops and the Tram is just around the corner. Great place to come back to at night time and just chill out. Very private and secure. Thank you Noel”

“My daughter and I were very fortunate to be able to stay in Noel's lovely apartment in October 2018. It is beautifully appointed and has fantastic views up the Yarra River to the city. It was hard to tear ourselves away from sitting on the balcony to go sightseeing. Noel is a very organised and considerate host and provides a good range of maps etc, so don't worry about packing a guidebook to Melbourne. The apartment has everything you need for an enjoyable stay in a safe and beautiful location. Trams into the city are a few hundred metres away over the footbridge and there are dozens of restaurants between the apartment and St Kilda Road. I hope we will be able to stay at Noel's apartment again in the future. Thanks Noel! ”

“Noel was a great host and welcomed my daughters and I upon our arrival to show us around his lovely apartment. He had everything organised to make our long weekend very comfortable and information about Melbourne available for us to read including a map to show us how to get to the trams etc. The views from his lovely modern apartment were great and I would definitely consider a swap for points with Noel again in the future.”

“Noel has become a regular swapper with us and our place in Bali. That is a testament to how much we enjoy his place and dealing with him. Everything is just perfect - a clean and airy fully-appointed apartment in a great location. Noel is a perfect host with both high attention to detail and real flexibility along with quick and clear communication.”

“Noel’s place is in a great location, quiet and right on the river but very close to the heart of the city. A bus from the back of the building takes you into Southern Cross Station in 10 minutes or further on to the fabulous Victoria Market. Uber is easy too - too easy! Noel left 2 loaded Myki cards for public transport which was great. The apartment itself is clean, tidy and well-appointed. Noel is an excellent and well prepared host with always a quick response. Melbourne is a great city and we look forward to going back and staying at Noel’s place again”

“We stayed 3 wonderful nights at Noel's apartment at South Wharf, Docklands. The very well appointed apartment was located perfectly. With magnificent views across open grasslands only about 100 metres to the Yarra. We could happily have sat and just looked at all the motor cruisers moored close by. Of course, the casino, various live shows, restaurants and sights of Melbourne city could not be ignored so we ambled along the banks of the beautiful river, used the free city trams and enjoyed a brief taste of all Melbourne has to offer. The apartment was very well furnished with 2 wide screen TVs,pay TV, sound system, comfortable bed and lounge furniture and many other great features. Noel, had left a mountain of literature, maps and discount vouchers for restaurants, etc. He also left other useful items like MYKI cards for use on public transport. Noel's vocation as a deputy principal was evidenced by his great communication skills, keeping us informed well in advance of all aspects of the apartment and local area. The apartment was exceptionally clean and well maintained. Thanks again Noel, especially for the lift to the station. We hope we can reciprocate if you would like to holiday at Kings Beach Qld. We certainly hope and intend to return to your apartment very soon. Drew and Chris”

“Beautiful apartment and an outstanding host. Noel's hospitality and attention to detail made this a trip to remember. The apartment's superb interior is matched by stunning views by day and night over the river and the city - without doubt one of the best locations in Melbourne. On top of this, Noel's comprehensive and extremely helpful instructions and guide (including a book of free and discount coupons for restaurants and attractions) helps visitors get the most out of their stay. A thoughtful welcome pack of 'essentials' to avoid going to the shops immediately after a long haul flight was much appreciated. An exceptional LHS experience. Thank you. John and Wendy ”

“Noel very kindly agreed for my daughter Saskia to stay in his apartment for a short stay. Saskia absolutely loved the apartment - the fantastic view, the central location and all the luxurious trimmings such as the huge TV in the bedroom and the surround sound. She found it spotlessly clean. Noel even gave her a lift to a friends house when she handed back the keys. Very good communication. Thank you Noel for allowing me to give my daughter such a wonderful treat.”

“This was our second stay at Noel's lovely home and we enjoyed it even more than the first time. The unit is very comfortable, has the best views up the river and is within easy access to the city and the many eateries on the South Wharf. We indulged in our favourite music on the surround sound music system, watched Netflix and sometimes opted for a delightful evening on the balcony watching the city lights. Noel is an excellent host and a good communicator. It's all done in a very relaxed, no-fuss, effective manner. We've now been house swapping with him since 2016 and only have the highest accolades for his approach to swapping, both at his home and ours. We highly recommend a house swap with Noel.”

“This is a great place with excellent views along the Yarra river. It's a very comfortable, modern unit with all mod cons uncluding a built-in sound system. Noel is easy to communicate with, and provides lots of information on what to do in the area. He generously left bread, beer and bubbly for us. Highly recommended.”

“Noel's luxuriously appointed apartment was perfect for our kid-free break. Location, comfort, every mod con and a generous host - couldn't have asked for more! Everything was exactly as described and communication with Noel was seamless. And views of the Yarra River and Melbourne - stunning!! Noel went above and beyond to ensure our stay was comfortable and left us with added extras which made for a most enjoyable stay. Thanks Noel!”

“Noel's place is perfect for a great city experience, we enjoyed our stay there very much, the apartment has everything you need & Noel was very helpful to make our stay perfect. The weather in Melbourne wasn't so great for getting out and about for the first few days so we really appreciated all the comforts of the apartment - including a really great pizza resto downstairs, highly recommend this & also the fish and chip shop along the docklands just over the bridge. Highly recommend Noels place for a perfect inner city stay.”

“We had a lovely week at Noel's, everything we needed was there, a great location and a cosy, warm apartment. We highly recommend Noel's place for getting out and about in central Melbourne.”

“My first home swap was perfect. Noel had a very in depth instruction manual for everything in the house and about the house so there was no confusion. The house was lovely, beautiful view, modern facilities, and convenient location. It was a great base for exploring Melbourne, with free trams within 15 minutes walk. ”

“We spend a great time at this place. Very good location, great comfort and wonderful views of the river, as much in the daytime as at night, and proximity of the restaurants and public and free transport. We had found the location very safe and calm. Noel's home had everything you needed. Noel was super quick to communicate and thoughtful, provided us super helpful guides with tourist information, restaurants and everything that was needed to make this a wonderful stay. We'd like to spend more time in this vibrant city, and the Noel' s house is the perfect place for this. We recommended this place.”

“A wonderful stay in a fabulous apartment! Terrific location meant we could walk and get the free city tram to access many of Melbourne's main attractions. Very close to CBD. Spectacular view from the very comfortable apartment is a 24/7 attraction. Noel was super helpful with info and left lots of brochures along with tram/train cards for us plus we were in communication throughout the stay. His brother-in-law very kindly met us from the airport hotel. Easy to cook in with good supermarkets nearby or lots of nearby restaurants for great food out. Thank you! ”

“In nutshell : stunning apartment and very generous host. Noel met us with a car at the seaport, and even dropped us off at the airport at the end of the stay. The brand new apartment itself has very modern design, terrific river view and is stocked with all possible amenities, electronic or otherwise. Noel even left for us fresh bread, beer and loaded transportation cards (Opal). The location is in very nice new development neighborhood, 10 mins away from a free tram going around the city center. You can also have a nice 30 mins stroll to the historic center along the river, passing numerous restaurants, shops and what else. I wish we stayed more than 5 days to fully enjoy the place.”

“Noel's unit was excellent, spotlessly clean and well equipped ,beautiful views of the city day and night. He is a very helpful host,making sure everything is ok. I really enjoyed my stay and would go back anytime.”