Artsy, cosmopolitan Melbourne attracts nothing but warm words from all who visit (not to mention live in) it – shopping, restaurants, bars, clubs, cafes, theatres, art galleries, parks, bays, sports stadia – it really does have the lot. Sometimes seen as London to Sydney’s New York, it’s a bit classier and more laid back than its neighbour to the north, but no less culturally rich nor hedonistic.
Things to see and do:
- City centre – the central suburbs of Richmond, Carlton, Fitzroy are all worth getting to know – chic by day and party by night – while the Southbank houses the Victorian Arts Centre and the National Gallery of Victoria.
- Federation Square – opened in 2002, architecturally-striking Federation Square was conceived of as a social focal point of the city, and is home to the Ian Potter Centre of Australian art, the Australian Centre for Moving Image and the Melbourne Visitor Centre.
- St Kilda – a favourite recreation area for Melburnians, St Kilda is yet another place to eat and drink to your heart’s desire, and to enjoy views of Port Philip Bay.
- Neighbours – soap devotees can rack off to Ramsay Street – the series is filmed in the Vermont South suburb, 7 miles south east of Melbourne city centre.
- The Yarra Valley – outside of the city lies this beautiful area which is great for outdoor pursuits, and of course famous for its vineyards.
Getting there:
Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport serves both international and internal flights, and is 14 miles north-west of the city centre; the 24 hr Skybus service shuttles between the two.
Location and weather:
Melbourne is in the south-east corner of Australia, with Adelaide to the north-west, Canberra and Sydney to the north-east, and Tasmania due south across the Bass Strait. Although you can fairly safely assume there will be sunshine and high temperatures in the summer months (November to February), Melbourne’s weather is notoriously fickle – Crowded House’s song ‘Four Seasons in One Day’ is said to have been written with the Victorian capital in mind.
Top tip:
Every March, the Formula One world championship arrives in the city and it’s completely impossible to find any accommodation without booking months in advance – if you’re not there for the racing, it’s probably best to stay away till the storm passes. |
