Travel Destination: Melbourne
About Melbourne
Melburnians advise you to “lose yourself” in their city. The swirl of activities that you can enjoy, the flavours of the city that you can savour, the multicultural influences that bring one to the edge and the cosmopolitan yet laid back vibe characterise Australia’s second largest city and sets it apart from the rest.
A city of almost four million residents, Melbourne makes a good first impression without the overwhelming feel despite being one of Australia’s major centres for culture, arts, tourism, commerce and education and a global city no less. Known as the garden city, Victoria being the garden state, manicured and historical gardens and relaxing parks abound, from the inner suburbs to just about anywhere.
It’s easy to enjoy Melbourne. The long list of major events is enough to keep your hands full, winter, spring, summer or fall. The Moomba waterfest, Food and Wine festival, Fashion Festival, Queer Festival, Formula 1 Grand Prix, International Film Festival, Writers’ Festival and the Midsumma Festival are just some of their delicious celebrations.
The vibrant lifestyle and love for art make this city brimming with pride. Aside from mainstream art, street art, independent music and alternative cultural institutions make it a pulsating destination for artists not only from around Australia but also from around the world. Known as the cultural and sporting capital of Australia, Melbourne’s energetic vibe is welcoming and very attractive to visitors.
As one of the world’s most liveable cities, Melbourne is easy to navigate even for first-time visitors. Buses, trains, tram ride, car hire, motorcycle, and bicycling can take you to nearby destinations and inner suburbs as you enjoy the view along the way.
Dip into Melbourne’s historic sites and heritage areas. Start the journey with the Golden Mile Heritage Trail to see the majestic architecture of the old boom town. You may join a group for a fee or take the tour on your own using a Golden Mile booklet which you can buy in any tourism offices. Be ready to have a fill of 19th century buildings, aboriginal walks and Chinatown experience.
And of course you wouldn’t want to miss the gardens. Native wildlife and diverse plant collections are found in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the serene lakes and impressive vistas are irresistible to some 1.4 million annual visitors. King’s Domain is also a nice park in the inner suburbs across the Yarra River. You may also head to the Carlton Gardens to the north eastern edge of the Central Business District. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Royal Exhibition Building which is found inside the 26-hectare site. The Victorian era landscape and its collections of European and Australian trees make it a must-see for every visitor. The Royal Building is one of the last remaining major 19th century exhibition buildings.
Shopping, night life, entertainment and other leisure activities are also big in Melbourne. Jewellery, customised shirts, wines, fine art, local designer labels and fabulous finds, name it, they have it in their expansive shopping strips and malls. One of the most popular locations is Chapel Street, a real shopper haven, stretching several blocks through Prahran and South Yarra. Royal Arcade, the Block and the laneways and arcades of CBD offer fashion, food and anything that you can think of while Richmond’s Bridge Road is sprawling with factory outlets. Don’t forget to drop by the Queen Victoria Market, an open air market that spans seven hectares offering anything from fresh produce to deli foods, gourmet, clothing, jewellery, handmade items and arts and crafts.
There are many things to see and do in Melbourne, no doubt you will enjoy every minute of it.