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Melbourne


Melbourne has often been named as one of the world’s most liveable cities, and it truly does have something for everyone. Ideally located on the shores of Port Phillip Bay and on the banks of the mighty Yarra River, Melbourne is a cosmopolitan lively city, which boasts being the cultural, arts, food, wine and fashion capital of Australia. Just two thirds of Melbourne’s inhabitants were born in Australia, a fact which has led to Melbourne being home to a vast array of different cuisines, from Vietnamese to Greek, Italian to Chinese and plenty in between!  
Getting to Melbourne
Melbourne’s airport at Tullamarine, about 15 miles north west of the city, is well served by international airlines offering direct flights from Asia. It is also served by many domestic carriers flying to and from all over Australia from Melbourne. It is also possible to catch the train to Melbourne from Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, and you can also travel by ferry from Tasmania to Port Melbourne, just a mile or so outside the city.


Getting Around Melbourne
 
Melbourne itself boasts a fantastic integrated public transport network, combining trains, trams and buses, and the same tickets are valid on all three, purchased on the buses or trams, or at train stations, or at selected stores, such as newsagents.   

Melbourne’s metropolitan trains all start and finish at the centrally located Flinders Street Station (intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets, and a Melbourne icon in its own right). 

Most of Melbourne’s main streets have tramlines running down them, and trams continue about 10 miles out of the centre into the suburbs – for example, it is possible to catch the tram out to St Kilda. Also worth knowing about is the free City Circle Tram, which does a half hour circuit of the city, linking all the main tourist sites and attractions – you can hop on and off this service at will. 

Buses compliment the train and tram routes, and also travel to destinations not served by either of them. There are also plenty of taxis in Melbourne, as well as boats which ply up and down the Yarra River, and it is an easy city to navigate by bicycle with a will laid out and extensive network of cycle routes. 

But surely one of the best ways to get around Melbourne is on foot – the city itself is such a manageable size that one of the greatest pleasures of Melbourne is to explore at your own pace, taking your own route


Top Ten Things to See and Do In Melbourne
Melbourne boasts a huge range of visitor attractions catering for all tastes and interests. There are renowned sporting venues such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground, places of historical interest, beautiful botanic gardens, elegant architecture, excellent shopping centres, and of course some of the best dining options in all Australia. Here are just a few of our top tips for things to do and see in Melbourne:
 
1.       Melbourne Heritage
Melbourne’s history is inextricably linked with the Gold Rush of the 1850s, which was when the city expanded hugely and became internationally known. The wealth associated with the Gold Rush meant that Melbourne quickly became known as the “jewel of the Southern Hemisphere”, and today boasts such a large number of stunning buildings, as well as parks and monuments. Melbourne’s most famous heritage buildings include the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Buildings, built in 1880 for the Great Exhibition and home to the first Commonwealth Parliament; Flinders Street Station, a Melbourne landmark; Government House, one of the best Australian examples of Italianate architecture; the Como Historic House and Garden; and Melbourne Town Hall. Older buildings include Cooks Cottage, built in 1755 by the parents of Captain Cook in Yorkshire and then dismantled and transported to Melbourne in the 1930s where it now stands in Fitzroy Gardens. The best way to experience Melbourne’s architectural heritage is to take a walking tour of the city – the Golden Mile Heritage Trail is a 4km long walk taking in many of the city’s architectural highlights. Guided tours are available, alternatively it is possible to do a self-guided tour, looking out for the brass markers on relevant buildings.
 
2.       Museums and Art Galleries
Melbourne has a vast array of museums and art galleries, including a number of innovative exhibitions of cutting edge art. There are more than 100 galleries ranging from large state run institutions such as the National Gallery of Victoria International, the Australian Centre for contemporary Art, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and the State Library of Victoria (which also houses a collection of Victorian art) right through to small artists’ co-operatives and galleries selling works of individual local artists. Museums include the Melbourne Museum, housing the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre, the Scienceworks Museum and Planetarium, the Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, the Gold Treasury Museum and the Australian National Aviation Museum.
 
3.       Shopping
Melbourne is a wonderful place to shop, as the city offers everything from large department stores with international brands to chic fashion boutiques showcasing local designers’ original pieces, and many arcades and lanes bursting with unique stores and stalls. Melbourne is capital of Australia’s fashion scene and many designers have their stores in the city. There are numerous shopping precincts in Melbourne, the best known of which are Melbourne Central (between Lonsdale, Swanston, Elizabeth and LaTrobe Streets), which houses around 300 stores located across two blocks of the city, including numerous international and locally known brands. QV, centrally located between Swanston and Russell Streets, is home to world renowned boutiques and Australian designer labels and is also a great place for eating out. The General Post Office in Melbourne, on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets is now a shopping precinct boasting some of the best designer stores in the city, as well as housing some great restaurants and bars. For a more atmospheric shopping experience, head for Melbourne’s historic network of laneways and arcades where you will find an eclectic mix of shops selling designer goods, arts and crafts and just downright quirky items! Arcades worth exploring include Cathedral, Royal and Block.
 
4.       Nature and Wildlife
Melbourne may be a bustling city with the shops, bars and restaurants to prove it, but it also boasts a large number of outdoor attractions, including parks, botanic gardens, a zoo and aquarium. The 89 acre Royal Botanic Gardens on the banks of the Yarra River in South Yarra, an easy tram ride from the centre of Melbourne, are home to over 12,000 different plant species, as well as native wildlife.    Visit the Australian Rainforest Walk, the Old Melbourne Observatory and the National Herbarium of Victoria, or take the Royal Botanic Gardens Walking Trail. Other gardens within the city include Fitzroy Gardens, Carlton Gardens (home to the Royal Exhibition Building), the Queen Victoria Gardens, the Kings Domain, Alexandra Gardens, Flagstaff Gardens and the Treasury Gardens. All of the above are within easy walking distance of Melbourne city centre, and all are free to enter. The Zoo and Aquarium in Melbourne are worth a visit, or alternatively see if you can spot native wildlife in their natural habitat – Melbourne’s parks and gardens are homes to creatures such as the brush-tailed and Ringtail possums, parrots, lorikeets, black swans, cockatoos and kookaburras. Or board the Penguin Express and cruise to the Penguin Colony and view the smallest penguins in the world as they return to their burrows after a day at sea. Weribee Open Range Zoo, a 30 minute journey from Melbourne is a safari park where you can also opt for a overnight “slumber safari”.
 
5.       Walking and Cycling Trails
Melbourne has so much to offer the outdoor enthusiast – choose from river, beach, bay or the many parks, and you are bound to find something to appeal. Both walking and cycling are popular pastimes amongst both Melburnians and visitors to the city alike and there are numerous walking routes and cycling trails around the city – take the Heritage Trail through the city streets, or follow the Yarra River as it wends its way through the city; take the Bay Trail, a 3¾ mile coastal path (40 minute bike ride or a two hour walk) that skirts round the bay from St Kilda to Brighton, taking in Luna Park and St Kilda marina, which will give you some stunning views back towards the city ; the Botanic Gardens Trail is a beautiful walk two to three hour walk through a range of landscapes – take in rainforest, woodland, fern gullies and immaculate lawns as you cross this stunning park, which incorporates over 50,000 plants belonging to 12,000 species; the Main Yarra Trail is a 20 mile long riverside path that links the eastern suburbs of the city with the CBD, passing ancient gum trees and billabongs, which takes around five hours one way; the Capital City Trail takes in the famous landmarks of the city, and is an easy four hour ride (18 miles). Starting and finishing at Southbank and following the course of the Yarra, landmarks en route include the Botanic Gardens, the MCG, Como House, the Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne Zoo, and the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. To really appreciate the architectural splendour of the city of Melbourne, take the Golden Mile Heritage Trail, starting at the spot on the Yarra River where the city’s founder, John Batman, first landed, to the seat of the First Parliament in Australia. It takes around two hours to walk this 2½ mile trail, and highlights along the way include the huge Gothic interiors of the banking chambers, European style hotels, and the most significant buildings in the emerging Australia, including Parliament House, the Old Treasury and the Town Hall. Other popular routes, for both cycling or walking include the Bayside Trail from Williamstown to Brighton, the Maribyrnong River Trail  and the Homestead – Gellibrand Hill Trail. 
 
6.       Sports
Sports play an important park in Melbourne life, and there are countless opportunities to indulge in any number of different sports, including golf, sailing, tennis and canoeing. Melbourne is home to a number of the top 100 Australian golf courses, including the country’s most famous course, the Royal Melbourne. There are also the private sandbelt clubs (some international clubs offer reciprocal deals to play at these courses, or you may be able to book through a golf operator to play at one of these). There are also plenty of public courses, catering for golfers of all standards. A must for any tennis fan is to have a game at Melbourne Park, home to the Australian Open – there are 22 outdoor courts, as well as four indoor ones, which can be hired every day of the week, except during January (when you might find there are some better players out there…!) There are numerous other courts around the city. Melbourne is ideally placed on the Great Southern Ocean, and the onshore winds make it a great place for windsurfing, sailboarding and kitesurfing, the most popular beaches being Middle Park and Elwood. If you don’t fancy the waves but still like getting out on the water, then head for the Yarra Valley and go canoeing or kayaking, and ensure the views. If you fancy combining the two, then sea kayaking in the bay is also popular. Melbourne has a number of swimming and surfing beaches on Port Phillip Bay, though the waters can be a bit chilly between November and March. The most popular beaches include St Kilda, Port Melbourne, Middle Park, Elwood, Brighton, South Melbourne, Hampton, Williamstown and Sandringham. 
 
7.       Entertainment
Melbourne is a vibrant, pulsating city with nightclubs, theatres, concert venues, bars, and restaurants to rival any capital city. There are numerous theatres showing both mainstream productions including internationally known musicals and big budget plays, and more fringe or experimental works. Blockbusters are shown at the Regent, her Majesty’s Theatre, or the Princess Theatre, and the Arts Centre and Malthouse are good venues for lower budget local productions. There are also plenty of cinemas – and in summer, there are outdoor cinemas dotted around the city showing both blockbusters and cult classics. There are also art house cinemas and atmospheric drive-ins. Melbourne is home to an annual International Comedy Festival, which attracted both experienced and breakthrough acts, though there are plenty of venues for comedy performances year round. Live music plays an important part in Melbourne’s entertainment scene, and there are some huge venues around the city that attract both established and budding acts. Melbourne Park, the Festival Hall, and Melbourne Concert Hall are the main venues, though there are plenty of smaller venues dotted around the city. Whatever your taste in music and mood, you are bound to find a nightclub to suit you in Melbourne, some of which attract international DJs.   There are of course too many bars and pubs to mention, ranging from high class venues to rough and ready cheap local bars – again, whatever your taste, you won’t be disappointed.
 
 
8.       Activities for Families
If you are travelling with children, then there are numerous attractions in and around the city that will appeal to families. These include outdoor sporting activities, interactive museums and exhibitions, and attractions such as Melbourne Zoo and Aquarium.   Melbourne Aquarium is the most modern in the country, and includes a 360 degree oceanarium which is home to stingrays and giant sharks, which you can watch being fed twice a day. There is also a Great Barrier Reef exhibit. Melbourne Zoo is another favourite for children, which is home to more than 300 species of animal from Australia and around the world. One of the newest attractions is the Elephant Village, and other must-sees include the orang-utan sanctuary, meet the keeper presentations, feeding times, and zoo twilights during the summer. Museums with interactive exhibits which children will enjoy include the Melbourne Museum (with its Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Forest Gallery, Children’s Gallery, Bugs Alive! Exhibition, and IMAX theatre), Scienceworks and Melbourne Planetarium (incorporating the Lightning Room, Sportsworks, House Secrets, and Nitty Gritty Super City), and Old Melbourne Gaol, which is sure to appeal to bloodthirsty kids! And for a fun day out for all the family, head to St Kilda’s Luna Park, one of Melbourne’s most popular attractions. There are 17 rides and attractions, including old favourites like the carousel and the Scenic Railway, as well as modern high speed thrill rides. And when the children have had their fun, then head for one of Melbourne’s many spas for some pampering and relaxation!
 
9.       Day trips from Melbourne
During your stay in Melbourne, there are plenty of places outside of the city that are perfect for a day trip. Some of the favourite day trips (and more details may be found under the relevant Victorian regional sections) include the following: Phillip Island is just a 1½ hour drive from Melbourne and is home to the famous Fairy Penguins, who parade nightly for visitors. The island also has some lovely beaches, picturesque villages and some beautiful walks. The Mornington Peninsula is a two hour drive from Melbourne, and is a stunning region, home to some of the best coastal scenery in the state, wonderful wineries, golf courses, spas and picturesque villages.  Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula is less than a one hour drive from Melbourne, and is home to some great wineries, an attractive coast and historic Queenscliff, well known for its Victorian buildings, excellent restaurants and galleries. Geelong is the largest regional city in Victoria, and has some beautiful gardens, wonderful waterfront restaurants and some great walking routes. The Yarra Valley is perhaps Victoria’s best known wine producing region, and is just a 1 ½ hour drive from the city. Best known for its pinot noir and sparkling wines, there are more than 50 wineries here, most of which offer tastings and cellar door sales – you may decide to join a tour rather than drive yourself so you can take full advantage of the tastings! The Yarra Valley is also home to the Healesville Sanctuary, which more than 200 species of Australian wildlife call home. The Dandenong Ranges are around a two hour drive from Melbourne, and is a popular day trip destination for both Melburnians and visitors alike. The main highlights of the region include the Puffing Billy Steam Railway, antique shops and some beautiful gardens.
 
10.   Events
Melbourne is Australia’s Events Capital, and hosts a huge number of international events, both sporting and cultural.   Here is a list of the main events that take place in Melbourne each year:
 
Sporting Events
AFL Finals
Spring Racing Carnival
GMC Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
Melbourne Boxing Day Test
Australian Open Tennis Championships
Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
Rip Curl Pro
Warrnambool May Racing Carnival
Equitana Asia Pacific
Australian International Airshow
 
Cultural Events
Melbourne International Arts Festival
Wangaratta Festival of Jazz
Queenscliff Music Festival
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show
 




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