Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of more than 4 million.
Melbourne is Australia’s fastest growing city and was recently voted as Australia’s most livable city. Arguably seen as Australia’s culture capital, Melbourne’s city centre has been built on the edge of the Yarra River.
There are plenty of things to do and see in Melbourne without spending too much money. To get view of Melbourne you can take the free City Circle Tram from the Central Business District (CBD) to the soundtrack of an informative commentary, or the free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle which runs between many of Melbourne’s top attractions.
At Melbourne Zoo you can see lions, tigers, bears and some of Australia’s unique endemic animals close up. During the summer period the Zoo has late opening hours, and even hosts jazz nights.
If you want to see more wildlife you should visit Melbourne Aquarium on the banks of the Yarra in central Melbourne, where you can watch all sorts of marine life and where, if you are up for it, the aquarium can even let you swim with the sharks.
Melbourne has many lovely parks throughout the city which on a sunny day can be the perfect place for some time-out. The Royal Botanic Garden is close to the CBD and a great spot for a picnic, and the Birrarung Marr park across from Federation Square is also a pretty spot for a walk.
For a really good birds-eye view of Melbourne you can go to Hotel Sofitel at 25 Collins Street, catch an elevator up to the 35th floor and get an amazing view of Melbourne’s south side.
When it comes to shopping, you are be pretty sure to find an outlet that are specializes in what you are searching for no matter what the style.
Shopping in the city
On the corner of Lonsdale and Swanston you will find QV, a huge building which has several levels of bars, restaurants and retailers. Across the road is Melbourne Central which has young and funky labels like Dangerfield, Ghetto, Kookai and many more.
If you are searching for outdoor gear, camping, computers, cameras, hi-fi etc then Elizabeth Street is a good choice. Little Collins Street is great for men and woman’s designer boutiques.
A great tip to remember when you are out shopping in Melbourne is to always remember to look for the hidden, secret and less obvious streets, because it is often there, where the local designers are hiding, that you can find the best stuff.
Shopping Fitzroy
At Gertrude Street you will find great retro fashion and secondhand stores, Johnston Street silver and gemstone jewelry. Smith Street is great for camping and fitness supplies.
Shopping Richmond
Along Swan Street and Bridge Road is where most of Melbourne’s largest factory outlets for retail are located.
An important thing to remember when you are out shopping - rest your feet in some of the many amazing cafes there are. Melbourne has a deserved reputation for its coffee!
Get around
Public transport is a dream in this city, with trams rolling down the streets running every 5 to 10 minutes to most destinations and a good train service. You can buy a week or day pass if you plan on regularly using them to get around and save yourself a few bucks.
There seems to be endless parks on the south side of the city as well as museums and art galleries.
Melbourne is also known as the capital for sports with the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the most famous sporting venues in the world and the spiritual home of Aussie sporting culture, just 15 minutes walk from the city. Nearly every weekend there is a cricket match, a rugby match or an Australian Rules football game happening. There is a really a great atmosphere at these games, although drinking and eating at the venue can be quite expensive. Melbourne is also home to the Rod Laver Arena, where the Australian Open tennis tournament takes place in January.
China town in the Central Business District is a good spot to pick up a cheap lunch if you look around for the lunch specials. During the Chinese New Year especially it has an amazing atmosphere. (In 2011 it started February 4th and continues about two weeks). Find the pizza shops near Flinders St Station for cheap pizza slices 24 hours a day.
St. Kilda is the central beachside area of Melbourne. Here you can find the famous theme park Lunar Park with old rides and loads of games to play. The beach itself is always busy on a summer’s day when people escape the heat of the city, and when it is windy there can be hundreds of kite surfers performing acrobatic aerial tricks. When you are at the beach take a walk by the marina and jetty to see some local fishermen.
Find your accommodation in Melbourne
Find your transport in Melbourne
