Melbourne has the BEST shopping.
The flights to Europe have to be the worst thing about living down under. I just came back from Greece and it took me 3 hours to fly to Frankfurt (because there were no flights straight from Athens to Bankok – thanks Gulf/Olympic airways for not flying out of Sydney anymore). I was stuck in Frankfurt for 11 hours. Then 12 hour flight from Frankfurt to Bankok. Stuck in Bankok airport for 6 hours then 9hr50min flight from Bankok to Sydney. Wasted a whole day just getting home. Not to mention the extended time in the plane.
I’m sure it would be worth it to see all the faces in Barcelona though!
Have fun in Melbourne!