Melbourne, Australia
Marvellous Melbourne is Australias best-kept secret. Often voted the most liveable city in the world, it prides itself on its culture and diversity. With its population of Greek, Chinese, Italian, Lebanese and Vietnamese Australians, Melbourne is a truly international city. Stately European architecture stands alongside modern developments, making it a city of contrasts too. Visit Melbourne and youll see why it is fast becoming one of the busiest tourist spots Down Under.
How To Get There
Tullamarine Airport is Melbournes connection to the rest of the world, although the newly built Avalon Airport eases Tullamarines busy schedule. Tullamarine is quite a distance away from the city centre, but a taxi or 24-hour Skybus will take you there quickly and cheaply.
Travelling Around
Melbourne is very to drive in. Its grid style makes for a slightly confusing city centre, but makes the rest of the inner and outer boroughs easily navigable. Trams, trains and buses are readily available. See Metlink for details.
When to go
Despite Melbournes tourism boom, the crowds are nothing compared to Sydneys. Youll find traffic to be manageable, and the attractions are never swarming with tourists. Weather-wise, Melbourne is fantastic. Spring is when the citys flowers and trees come into bloom. Summer brings the festivals and the heat, while autumn enjoys pleasant sunshine and changing colours. The only reason we dont recommend visiting during winter is that it can get quite chilly.
What To See
Melbournes centre is where youll find many of the citys historical and cultural attractions. Within the seven square miles of its grid system lie Flinders St. Station, St Pauls Cathedral, Town Hall, and State Library, along with the City Baths and Federation Square.
Federation Squares edgy architecture has a powerful effect on Melburnians and visitors you either love it or you hate it. A cultural hub built of imposing sandstone and glass, the complex houses restaurants, cafes and shops.
Venturing out from the city centre, Carlton, Fitzroy, and Richmond districts are definitely worth a look. Each has beautiful architecture, great restaurants and friendly people, but differ in atmosphere. Carlton is very Italian. Youll find everything from pasta bars to Gucci and Armani outlets. Richmond is noticeably Vietnamese, while Fitzroy is the focal point for the younger generation, dotted with cool hangouts and chain coffee houses.
The south bank area of Melbourne holds the Victoria Arts Centre and the National Gallery of Victoria.
If youre travelling with children, take them to Luna Park in St Kilda. This classic theme park has a heritage-listed roller coaster, carousel, ghost train and pirate ship among its treasures. The Royal Melbourne Zoo in Parkville will also go down well with kids, particularly the butterfly house. On a similarly wild theme, head to the Royal Botanical Gardens in South Yarra for an insight into native flora and fauna.
Hotspot
Youve seen Melbourne from street level. Now find out how it looks from 250 metres up. The Rialto Tower was the highest building in the southern hemisphere when it was opened in 1986. Whether you take the 1254 steps up to the observation deck or use the lift, youre sure to be impressed by the 360 degree view of the city. Binoculars are provided free of charge, and theres a twenty minute film called Melbourne The Living City.
Night Life
Melbourne is well known as a cultural hub. Theres plenty on offer, from comedy and experimental theatre to opera and live music. Its packed with the usual metropolitan array of bars, clubs and restaurants too.
Quick History
The area that is now Melbourne was home to the Kulin Aborigines before British settlers arrived in 1835 via Tasmania. In 1836, Governor Bourke made Melbourne administrative capital of the Port Phillip District of New South Wales, and laid the street plan out on a system called the Hoddle Grid. Queen Victoria declared Melbourne a city on 25 June 1847.The name comes from British Prime Minister William Lambs home town of Melbourne in Derbyshire. The state of Victoria was established as a separate colony in 1851 with Melbourne as its capital. The city grew quickly during the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s, and became a major finance centre with several banks and Australia's first stock exchange. During the 1880s Melbourne was one of the largest cities in the British Empire, and possibly the richest city in the world. The Victorian architecture seen in Melbourne today is a product of this era. Before Canberra was made capital of Australia, Melbourne was the temporary seat of government for over twenty years. During World War II the city was a lucnh base for Pacific campaigns, and industry thrived. Post war, the prestige of the Olympics, the mining boom and the influx of immigrants saw the city growing even more. The Victoria economic slump of the early 90s hit Melbourne hard, but regeneration established it as a thoroughly modern metropolis and popular tourist spot. It enjoys the highest population and economic growth rate of any city in Australia.
Money
Up-to-date exchange rates can be found on this currency converter.