Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, located on the southern coast of Australia. As the second largest city in Australia, Melbourne has a population of about three million people. Many of the buildings in Melbourne are from the Victorian-era, which gives the city a distinguished look. Melbourne is renowned for fashion and shopping, as well as its array of restaurant and bars. Melbourne is also considered by many as the artistic and cultural hub of Australia because of its wide variety of theatres, art galleries and art exhibitions, museums, and cultural festivals.
TOURIST ACTIVITIES/DESTINATIONS: Melbourne has a wide range of activities for all types of tourist. Besides the central city's main attractions, there is a plethora of theatres and art galleries to explore. For the fashion fanatic, Melbourne is filled with clothing stores and designer boutiques. Melbourne also caters to sports fans with the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Telstra Dome. At night, Melbourne teems with nightlife in its many restaurants, bars, and clubs.
Federation Square is located in the heart of central Melbourne, linking the city centre with the Yarra River. The Square acts as a cultural magnet, bringing people together in its open sandstone promenade and innovative architectural structures.
Federation Square houses many fine dining restaurants, bars, and art attractions, including the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Federation Square also has the Melbourne Visitor Centre.
The Victorian Arts Centre is one of Melbourne's most distinctive landmarks with its tall, majestic spire rising above the city. The Victorian Arts Centre presents a wide variety of artistic performances and exhibitions year round, including music concerts, theatre, film festivals, dance performances, cabarets, comedy shows, art exhibitions, and much more. There are also a few restaurants and cafes located in the Victorian Arts Centre perfect spots to have lunch or a cup of coffee!
St. Kilda is Melbourne's famous beachside suburb. The area is full of trendy restaurants, cafes, clubs, bars, shops, and hotels. Many backpackers and tourists congregate in St. Kilda, relaxing in the cafes and browsing through the shops. Along the sandy strip of St. Kilda Beach, there is a walking and cycling trail, always full of joggers and bikers. On the east side of St. Kilda is Luna Park, a small but delightful amusement park fashioned after New York's famous Coney Island. On Sundays, the St. Kilda Esplanade Arts and Crafts Market offers a wide range of interesting art, crafts, decorations, soaps, jewellery, textiles, and more.
In the Rialto Towers Building, the Melbourne Observation Deck is an excellent way to get the full 360 degree view of the city. Rialto Tower is the tallest office building in the southern hemisphere, measuring 253 metres in height. Take a high speed elevator to the observation deck and marvel at the spectacular view of cosmopolitan Melbourne. The Rialto Towers Building also has cafe and restaurants, as well as the RialtoVision Theatre, which shows the film Melbourne the Living City.
The Queen Victoria Market is the largest open-air market in all of Victoria boasting 1000 stalls selling everything under the sun. Visitors come not only to shop, but to try the large selection of food and listen to the buskers who perform in the area. The Queen Victoria Markets have a warm, artistic atmosphere, and it's a great place to spend the morning or afternoon. The markets are open everyday except Monday and Wednesday. On Fridays, the Queen Victoria Markets are open until early evening.
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has a diverse collection of international and Australian art. The main part of the National Gallery of Victoria is located on St. Kilda Road. In its impressive iconic building, NGV's collection consists of Asian, European, Oceanic, and American art. Across the street in Federation Square, the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia houses the Australian Indigenous and Non-Indigenous art from colonial days until present day.
Once Victoria's main penal establishment, the Old Melbourne Gaol has been turned into a museum that is guaranteed to raise the hair on your neck. The Old Melbourne Gaol used to hold some of the most notorious criminals in Australian history and was the site of 135 hangings, including the hanging of Ned Kelly. Night performances and guided ghost tours are available at the Old Melbourne Gaol.
The Royal Botanic Gardens are located just minutes away from central Melbourne. You can stroll past the breathtaking lawns and flower beds, exhibiting plants and flowers from around the world. Scattered throughout the Royal Botanic Gardens are theatrical statues and structures and elegant gazebos. In the summertime, Melbourne's Moonlight Cinema, an open-air cinema showing classic, cult, and arty films, takes place in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Phillip Island is an ideal daytrip from Melbourne. Located only 140 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, Phillip Island's main attraction is its sunset Penguin Parade. The Phillip Island Nature Park makes it possible for tourists to see the fairy penguins come to shore after their day of fishing. The Park also has displays of koala and wild sea birds in their natural environment.
Other attractions of Phillip Island are the many swimming beaches, camping grounds, and restaurants. Another draw of Phillip Island is the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, where you can watch live races and learn about the history of motor racing.
For a full list of all destinations in VIC, see the Victoria Destinations Guide ALTERNATIVELY, select from the menu at the top-left of this page.
WEATHER: The weather in Melbourne tends to be a bit unpredictable. The locals say it's common to get "four seasons in one day." During the summer months (December to February), the average high is about 25 degree C (77 degree F). The average low in the summer months is 12 ° C (53 ° F). In the winter months (June to August), temperatures often range from 6 ° Celsius (42 ° F) to 13 ° C (55 ° F).
TRANSPORT: A lot of international visitors choose to fly directly into Melbourne's Tullamarine International Airport. Many domestic flights are received by Melbourne's second airport, Avalon Airport. All of Australia's capital cities offer direct flights to Melbourne. Other ways to access Melbourne is by train, bus, or car. You can also take a ferry to Melbourne from Tasmania.
Melbourne is fairly easy to get around. One of the city's major attractions is the trams, or trolleys, that run through the city and out into the suburbs. You can also travel around Melbourne by bus, train, taxi, car, or even bicycle!
ACCOMODATION: When visiting Melbourne, a lot of people stay in the central business district's many serviced apartments, hotels, motels, and youth hostels. However, many visitors also stay in the Melbourne's famous beachside suburb, St. Kilda. St. Kilda offers a full range of youth hostels, motels, and posh accommodation.
