Melbourne
Self-organised trips
Melbourne is the capital of the southern state of Victoria and also Australia’s second largest city. It is also considered by many to be the country’s cultural and cosmopolitan capital with a huge array of wonderful attractions for visitors including large parks, museums, galleries, theatres and trendy shops. Melbourne is a beautiful, modern city and a popular destination for all many visitors to Australia.
THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MELBOURNE
- In the city centre you’ll find Eureka Tower, the tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere with fantastic panoramic views over the whole of Melbourne. Nearby the Docklands you’ll find some excellent shops, cafes, bars, family activities and scheduled events from a picturesque waterside setting. To find out all about the history of Australia, there are some great museums on offer. Immigration Museum on Flinders Street provides many moving stories from people who have migrated to Australia.
- Just outside the city centre, you’ll find Carlton and many historical buildings including Melbourne Museum, the largest in the southern hemisphere with many interesting and interactive galleries. The Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s oldest remaining exhibition pavilions. St. Kilda is Melbourne’s beachside attraction and a very popular destination for beachcombers and those looking for either a great place to relax and take in the atmosphere or party the night away in a trendy bar.
- If you’re looking to travel a little way out the city then the Great Ocean Road will take you along the south-western stretch of Victoria and 243km of some outstanding coastal scenery. Some highlights on your way include Split Point Lighthouse, Marriner’s Lookout in Apollo Bay and Otway National park. Philip Island is located at the mouth of Western Port Bay, less than 2 hour’s drive from Melbourne. The island has many attractions but the most famous is the parade of penguins on Summerland Beach where at sunset, you can see the penguins walk up the beach to their nests from the sea.
EATING OUT & NIGHTLIFE IN MELBOURNE
Melbourne is regarded as being one of the best destinations in the world for eating out. Whatever your taste or budget, there will be great tasting food on the menu. You’ll find great eateries anywhere, but some of the more popular destinations include the Docklands and St. Kilda. Melbourne also has a rich coffee culture from the Victorian days and if you’re looking to party, the city is open 24x7.
GETTING AROUND IN MELBOURNE
Walking and cycling are two great ways to get around Melbourne and the city makes it easy by being generally flat and offering an excellent network of cycle paths. Many cycle paths are shared with pedestrians, dog walkers and skaters so it’s worth being vigilant as you travel. The public transport system is known as the Metlink and consists of buses, trains and trams and it’s the trams that offer a great way to see the city at a leisurely pace.
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