Melbourne Holidays

Where is Melbourne?
Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria and is located on Australia’s south-east coast with suburbs expanding around the Port Phillip Bay.

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City Centre
Melbourne city centre has plenty to offer the visitor with a bountiful supply of shops, galleries, theatres and restaurants. It’s a pretty city, where the modern skyscrapers of the Southbank’s entertainment area contrast with the Victorian architecture of Flinders Street Station and the Queen Victoria Market. Boats cruise on the River Yarra through the heart of the city and trams still trundle down the tree-lined avenues as they have done since 1885.

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The Yarra
The River Yarra is often described as the ‘upside down river’ due its brown silty colour. It flows through the centre of Melbourne to Port Phillip and was the reason why the city was established here. You can cruise on the river or walk or cycle the paths lining its banks. Along the Yarra you will find many riverside bars, cafés and restaurants as well as the city’s arts and lively entertainment centre.

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Beaches
Just thirty-minutes from the city centre and you are in the trendy beachside neighbourhood of St Kilda. It’s a wonderful place to walk along the sands or to sit and watch the world go by from one of the waterfront bars or restaurants. Explore the colourful bathing huts that line Brighton Beach or take the 20-minute tram ride to Port Melbourne where you can watch the ferries departing for Tasmania from a beachside café.

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Neighbourhoods
Away from the city centre, it’s worth visiting some of Melbourne’s neighbourhoods, each with their own character. A 10-minute drive from central Melbourne, South Yarra is one of the oldest and most upmarket inner-city suburbs, where you’ll find trendy Chapel Street with its boutique shops and host of independent bars and restaurants. Grab a coffee and cake from one of the Middle Eastern bakeries in Brunswick, sample the fresh produce at the Footscray market, immerse yourself in Aussie Rules Football in Richmond or enjoy a wood-fired pizza in the ‘little Italy’ suburb of Carlton.

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Arts & culture
Head south of the River Yarra to explore Melbourne’s entertainment area where you can visit the National Gallery of Victoria and catch a performance of opera, dance or theatre held at the Arts Centre. The Melbourne Museum is in Carlton and includes the Bunjilak Aboriginal Cultural Centre as well as displays of fossils and dinosaurs. The East End Theatre District attracts internationally acclaimed musicals and plays year-round and is also a good place for some pre-theatre dining.

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Eating & drinking
Some of the city’s best eateries are in Melbourne’s cool labyrinthine laneways, where unassuming spaces have been transformed into high-end dining, street food stalls and hidden cocktail bars. There are plenty of places to tempt your taste buds whether you want to stay in the city centre or explore the nearby suburbs. Head to Bourke Street for Chinese, the suburb of Oakleigh for Greek food, Brunswick for Middle Eastern cuisine and Carlton for Italian. Characterful pubs, sophisticated wine bars and innovative gin lounges complement the choice of restaurants on offer in Melbourne.

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Getting around
Melbourne has an excellent tram, train and bus network and, like any major city, taxis are widely available. Travel within the CBD on the tram is free, but if you wish to travel to the suburbs or further afield then you need to purchase a myki card from a station or designated shop that can be topped up as required. The main railway station is at Flinders Street, worthy of a visit in its own right to see its impressive architecture. If you wish to explore the city under your own steam, there are a series of marked paths and cycle routes throughout.

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