Melbourne Australia Travel Guide

Melbourne (Australia's second largest city) is the capital of the SE state of Victoria, located at the head of Port Phillip Bay. The city itself, laid out in a large rectangle and boasting a lively and cosmopolitan pulse, sits on the northern banks of the Yarra River, about five kilometres from the bay. Melbourne is recognised as Australia’s cultural capital, with Victorian-era architecture, extensive shopping, museums, galleries, theatres, and large parks and gardens. The 4-million residents are both multicultural and generally sports-mad.

Melbourne is an ideal destination for experiencing major sporting events and to use as a base for exploring surrounding regions such as Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and to visit Phillip Island to view the penguin parade. Many UK visitors come to Melbourne for tours of filming locations of soap operas such as Neighbours. Melbourne is sophisticated and slick, edgy and rough and is the cutting-edge for urban developments such as the Federation Square which is enigmatic and contemporary in style. Despite the city gearing itself to a jet-set pace, the locals still keep their urban frenzy to a delightfully slow pace. Trams lumber back and forth on routes radiating out like spokes from central Melbourne, and cycling is a common way to get from A to B.

The Central Business District is easily navigable by foot, and for those looking for a time-out from the numerous sightseeing opportunities and the extensive shopping options, there are numerous parks nearby, such as the Royal Botanical Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and Carlton Gardens.

Melbourne's population of almost four million is made up of a variety of cultures. Chinese, Italian, Vietnamese, Lebanese and Greek residents all contribute to the ambience of this vibrant city.

The City Centre probably has the most to attract the traveller, including cafes, boutiques, department stores, and Victorian architecture, which can all be sampled on foot.

Within the city centre, the following sites are popular:

• Docklands— An entire new precinct filled with shops, bars, restaurants and things to do for all the family as well as a stadium with a waterside setting.
• Eureka Tower— Tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere, panoramic views of the whole of Melbourne.

• Parliament House of Victoria— The first seat of the Australian federal government, free tours are available on week days.
• Queen Victoria Market— Huge and colorful, with an assortment of fresh and dry produce and tonnes of souvenirs and other interesting things.
• State Library— Worthwhile if you're into books, city architecture and free internet.
• Southgate— Pretty promenade on the south bank of the Yarra, with lively restaurants, bars and a Sunday art & craft market.
• Federation Square— Modernistic and popular meeting space to see Melbournians enjoy life whilst sitting down at cafes and bars.
• Immigration museum— Located on Flinders Street, Explore the moving stories of people from all over the world who have migrated to Australia
• Police Museum— Also located on Flinders Street, See over 150 years of stories and displays of crime, justice, courage, forensic techniques and examples of how police are making Victoria a safer place to live.

Outside of the centre, the following areas are popular tourists:

• Albert Park— Home of Melbourne's F1 Grand Prix circuit
• Brunswick— Inner northern suburb. The "new" Fitzroy.
• Carlton— Traditional home of Melbourne's Italian community and the University of Melbourne.
• Collingwood— Working class suburb with funky shopping on Smith Street.
• Fitzroy— The Bohemian quarter filled with interesting restaurants and trendy boutiques.
• Footscray— Working class, cool, multicultural, cheap markets, dozens of Vietnamese and East African shops and restaurants.
• Prahran— Favourite shopping district with Chapel Street as its main attraction.
• Richmond— North Richmond is Melbourne's Little Vietnam while the southern part of the district, Bridge Road, is famous for low price fashion outlets.

• South Melbourne— Home of the shopping strip known as Clarendon Street, South Melbourne also has the popular South Melbourne Market, which first opened in 1867 and features food, clothing, footwear and much more.
• South Yarra— South of the river, with high-end shopping and dining, it covers South Yarra and Toorak.
• St Kilda— Suburb on Port Philip Bay with its famous Sunday art market, and home to many backpacker hostels and cafes.
• Williamstown— Old, maritime-styled suburb with many cafes situated along the foreshore.
• Yarraville— Quiet, inner-western suburb with well-preserved Victorian architecture and a funky, artsy vibe.