'''Melbourne''' [http://www.visitmelbourne.com/] is the second-largest city in Australia and the capital of the south-eastern state of Victoria, located at the head of Port Phillip Bay.

Melbourne is generally regarded as Australia_fs cultural capital. The city_fs features include Victorian-era architecture, extensive shopping, many cultural institutions such as museums, galleries and theatres, and large parks and gardens.

Melbourne's 3.8 million population is both multicultural (with large Greek, Italian, Jewish, Vietnamese and other immigrant communities) and sports-mad.

Reasons for tourists to visit Melbourne are to attend major sporting events, to use it 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 opera ''Neighbours'' [http://www.neighbourstour.com.au/].

Districts

Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, spreads southwards along the shoreline of Port Phillip Bay, east towards the Dandenong Ranges, westwards towards the city of Geelong and northwards towards the plains of central Victoria.

Like any large city, Melbourne is divided up into many suburbs - not all will be of interest to travellers.

The Melbourne city centre is a beautiful and interesting mix of the old and the new. You can't miss the Eureka Tower and the Rialto stands out as well but look closely and you will notice some intricate buildings from a bygone era.

Inner city

  • '''City Centre'''— Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD) and historical core north of the Yarra River, including the Southbank district immediately south of the Yarra and the new Docklands precinct to the west.
  • '''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.
  • '''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.
  • Outer suburbs

  • '''Eastern suburbs'''— Stretching from almost inner suburbs of Kew, Hawthorn and Camberwell to the outer areas like Belgrave, Lilydale, Ringwood, Glen Waverley and the Dandenong Ranges.
  • '''Northern suburbs'''— Covering suburbs like Tullamarine, Broadmeadows, South Morang, Epping, Bundoora and Eltham.
  • '''Southern suburbs'''— Spread along the coast of Port Philip Bay and covers areas like Brighton, Elwood, Sandringham and Frankston. Its main attraction is the beach along the bay.
  • '''Western suburbs'''— Includes areas like St Albans, Keilor, Altona, Laverton and Werribee, Williamstown.
  • Understand

    Climate

    It is often said that Melbourne has "four seasons in the one day". This is particularly common in late Autumn and early Spring, when the weather is quite changeable, although major extremes are rarely felt in one day. Statistically, Melbourne receives only about half of the average rainfall of Sydney, and generally receives about 600mm (24 inches) of rainfall annually, which is scattered throughout the year - October is usually considered to be statistically the wettest month. You can expect an average summer's day (December, January & February) in Melbourne to be sunny with temperatures hovering around 26-30C (79-86F) with the warmest temperatures tending to be in the inland suburban locations and the coast tempered by a refreshing southerly seabreeze. Heatwaves are common during the summer and daytime temperatures can often exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104F) with hot northerly winds. The highest maximum temperature recorded in Melbourne was 46.4C (116F) in 2009. Despite the warm days Melbourne experiences in summer, humidity is rarely a problem and temperatures at night remain mildly comfortable with an average summer low usually about 16C (61F). Thunderstorms are more common in summer than winter but usually bring refreshing relief from the occasional stifling daytime temperatures. Winter (June, July & August) is usually cool - with a mix of clear, sunny weather and cold & damp conditions. Temperatures in winter can range from chilly overnight lows as low 2C (36F) to daytime highs as high as 19C (66F) at times. The coldest temperature recorded in Melbourne was -2.8C (27F) all the way back in 1869. Light snow has been recorded in and around Melbourne during the winter months only a couple of times over the last century, the hills east of the city however usually see a snow shower or two every winter. It is best advised to visit Melbourne in the autumn and spring - temperatures during these periods are usually very pleasant, without being unbearably warm and daytime highs are usually in the 20s Celsius (70s Fahrenheit).

    History

    The settlement of Melbourne commenced in 1835 when settlers from Tasmania "purchased" land on Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River from the local Aboriginal tribes. The streets of central Melbourne were carefully laid out in 1837, with some streets 30 metres wide. The first British lieutenant-governor, Charles La Trobe, arrived in 1839 ? his cottage still stands and can be visited in the Kings Domain. The year 1851 was a landmark for Melbourne - the colony of Victoria was separated from New South Wales and very soon after, gold was discovered in Victoria, sparking a huge goldrush. Aspects of the goldrush history can be seen at the Gold Treasury Museum, housed in the Treasury Building built in 1858. Gold was the catalyst for several decades of prosperity lasting through to the late 1880s and examples of the ornate Victorian-era structures built during this time still stand. In 1888, the property boom collapsed and Victoria suffered the depression of the 1890s. Throughout the gold and building booms, Melbourne managed to retain its many spacious parks and gardens and these remain to this day.

    In 1901, the British colonies of Australia became an independent federation and Melbourne the ''de facto'' capital of Australia, with the Federal Parliament meeting in the Parliament House of Victoria until 1927 when the new Federal capital of Canberra was founded. After World War II, Melbourne grew rapidly, with its mainly Anglo-Celtic population boosted by immigration from Europe, particularly from Greece and Italy. Today Melbourne has the biggest Greek city population (over 800,000) outside Greece and the biggest Italian city population (over 230,000) outside Italy. The significant pre-war Jewish population was also boosted after the war. From the mid-70s, many immigrants came from South-east Asia, particularly Vietnam and Cambodia. Melbourne has had a Chinese population since the goldrush of the 1850s and Chinatown has existed from that time but the population of Chinese and other East Asians has also been boosted by immigration in recent years.

    New high-rise buildings replaced many of Melbourne_fs interesting old structures in the construction boom of the 1970s and 80s. Melbournians belatedly recognised the loss of their architectural heritage and steps were taken to protect what was left. Construction of the huge Crown Casino (briefly the largest casino in the world) in the 1990s upset some Melbournians with its introduction of a gambling culture. Melbourne_fs development continues in the 2000s with the opening of the Melbourne Museum, Federation Square and the Docklands precinct.

    Culture

    Melbourne is often called the cultural capital of Australia, with its many art galleries, film festivals, orchestras, choral and opera productions, vibrant live music scene, and a strong food, wine and coffee culture. People in Melbourne tend to dress up more than in Sydney, partly due to the colder climate. Many bars and clubs have strict dress regulations, such as requiring collars and dress shoes for men.

    Particular events to note include the Melbourne International Film Festival in August, the International Art Festival in October, and the Melbourne Comedy Festival in April, as well as individual concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. In addition to the Melbourne Museum, there are special museums dedicated to subjects such as science, immigration, Chinese history, Jewish history, sport, racing, film and moving image, railways, police, fire brigades and banking.

    Melbourne nightlife is world famous and justifiably so. It's 24 hours, loud, colourful and anything goes. Door policies are strict but once inside high quality entertainment is guaranteed. DJ's, live music, artists, beautiful people and so much more can be found. There truly is something for everyone and every taste. Gay, lesbian and transgendered party goers are welcome everywhere as Melbournians are on the whole very tolerant and welcoming people. Perhaps the one bad thing is that nothing really starts happening until 12AM!

    As a guide: The city centre has a number of pubs, the most famous being the Young and Jackson. Melbourne is also famous for it's many trendy bars in the CBD. Most of these, however, are down narrow alleys and streets, and are therefore hard to find unless you know where you are going. The inner northern suburbs, such as Collingwood and Fitzroy cater for the young, laid-back, and bohemian crowd. Here you will find lots of live music, cheaper prices, and a relaxed atmosphere. Chapel Street/ Toorak Road in South Yarra and Prahran has the most glamourous bars and clubs. Here, expect high prices, strict dress codes, and beautiful people who want to be seen partying with the best. St. Kilda has a little bit of everything. With it's proximity to the beach, it is often regarded as the Melbourne suburb that feels most like Sydney.

    Sport

    Melburnians are sports enthusiasts and particularly passionate about Australian Rules football [http://afl.com.au/], a sport invented in Melbourne. In fact AFL is not so much a sport as a religion in Melbourne with 9 of the 10 Victorian teams being based in Melbourne, the only other being based in Geelong. As a guide, the entire national competition only has 16 teams, meaning over half the league is based in Melbourne. Horseracing is another passion, and the majority of the state has a public holiday on the first Tuesday of November for the racing of the '''Melbourne Cup''' [http://www.melbournecup.com/], one of the world_fs famous horse races. Cricket is the big summer sport and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (the 'MCG') [http://www.mcg.org.au/] is one of the world's leading grounds. Each January, Melbourne hosts tennis' Australian Open [http://www.ausopen.org/], one of the world_fs four Grand Slam championships. In March, Melbourne hosts the first race of the Formula One season, the Formula One Grand Prix[http://www.grandprix.com.au/]. The race is held in Albert Park in South Melbourne. Melbournians have also taken football (soccer) to their hearts in recent times. The Melbourne Victory, playing in Australia's premier competition, the A-League, enjoy enormous crowds and colourful, boistrous support at their home ground, Etihad Stadium (previously known as the Telstra Dome). Melbourne is the unquestioned sporting capital of Australia with the largest arenas and two of the major sporting administrations basing their operation in Melbourne: Cricket Australia is a stone's throw from the MCG, and the Australian Football League games are played at both the MCG and Etihad Stadium.

    Get in

    By plane

    Melbourne is served by two airports, '''Melbourne Airport''' (International and Domestic) 22km north of the city centre, and '''Avalon Airport''' (Domestic), about 60km southwest of Melbourne towards Geelong.

    Melbourne Airport (MEL)

    Melbourne Airport [http://www.melair.com.au/] (MEL)(flights [http://flightmapper.net/flights/Melbourne_MEL.html]), located 22 km north-west of the city centre adjacent to the suburb of Tullamarine, provides regular access from all major Australian cities, as well as many international destinations across Europe, America, Asia and the South Pacific region. Due to Australia's isolation, many international flights go via an Asian hub (for example Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong), a Pacific Hub like Auckland, and/or transfer in Sydney.

    The airport is divided into four terminals, T1, T2, T3 and T4. All bar T4 are in the same building.

  • T1 (the "North Terminal") is used by Qantas [http://www.qantas.com.au/] and Jetstar [http://www.jetstar.com/] domestic services.
  • T2 (the "International Terminal") is used by all international airlines. It is the middle terminal of the airport.
  • T3 (the "South Terminal") is used by Virgin Blue [http://www.virginblue.com.au/] and REX Regional Express [http://www.rex.com.au/] domestic services.
  • T4 is Australia's first ever low cost carrier terminal, used by Tiger Airways Australia [http://www.tigerairwaysaustralia.com.au/] domestic services.
  • All arrivals are on the lower level of the terminals, with departures from the upper level. Unlike many airports around the world, all the terminals at Melbourne Airport are connected and within easy walking distance of each other. However, each terminal has separate security screening, and access between terminals is not available once in the sterile area.

    Taxis between the airport and the city centre cost around $40-$45 and take about 25 minutes in clear traffic.

    Skybus [http://www.skybus.com.au/], tel +61 3 9670 7992, runs a 24/7 shuttle to and from the Southern Cross Station Coach Terminal on Spencer Street at the west end of the Central Business District, just north of Lonsdale Street. The trip takes 20 minutes and is the fastest way between the airport and city by road (it uses an enhanced freeway route with bus lanes). It costs $16 adult one-way, $24 adult return, $5 child one-way (between 4 and 14 years of age). There are also several family ticket options available.

    There are two airport pickup locations. One is outside the Virgin Blue/REX terminal (T3), 50m from the international terminal (T2). The other is outside the Qantas/Jetstar domestic terminal (T1). There are ticket desks at both T1 and T3, and if unattended, tickets can be purchased electronically or from the driver.

    Frequency ranges from hourly during the wee hours to quarter hourly from about 6:30AM-7:30PM (always on the quarter hour). They also run a connection service between the terminal and central hotels/hostels during the day (M-F 6AM-8PM, Sa-Su 8AM-6PM). Book hotel pick-up 3 hours ahead. Bookings are not needed for travel from the airport to hotels.

    It is worth noting that the Skybus will drop you at Southern Cross bus terminal, which is connected to Southern Cross train station, where you can board all suburban trains and country/interstate trains.

    Avalon Airport (AVV)

    Avalon Airport, [http://www.avalonairport.com.au/] (AVV), is situated in the Geelong outer suburb of Lara. The airport is located 55 km to the south-west of Melbourne, and is considerably further from Melbourne CBD than the Melbourne airport at Tullamarine. It is a very basic terminal facility, but it has an ATM and a food outlet, as well as hire car facilities.

    Avalon Airport is serviced by Qantas subsidiary low-cost airline Jetstar from Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. All Jetstar flights from Sydney arrive at Avalon.

    Options to get to the Melbourne CBD:

  • A '''taxi''' from the airport to Melbourne CBD will cost up to $100.
  • SITA coaches [http://www.sitacoaches.com.au/avalon/rates_avalon.shtml] operate a '''coach shuttle service''' to Melbourne's Southern Cross Station at $20 per adult and $10 per child one way. The buses meet every Jetstar arrival. An additional $7 per person charge is made for a transfer to city hotels. Only cash is accepted, not credit cards.
  • Lara station is around 8km from the terminal. '''Trains''' from there to Southern Cross station in Melbourne CBD run hourly, and cost $5.60. Children 17 years and under are half price. During off-peak times up to two children travel free with every adult. You will need to get a taxi to Lara station, as there is no public transport connection. A taxi should cost around $15, so there is no cost or time benefit for a single adult of the train over the shuttle.
  • The road connections are good. Hiring a car for a couple of days will usually be cheaper than a taxi, as long as you have somewhere to park it. It is about 50 minutes drive to the Melbourne CBD. Can take longer in the morning peak, or on Sunday afternoons.
  • You can also use Avalon airport to ''Get in'' to Geelong and the Great Ocean Road. See thoese articles for the transfer information.

    By train

    All intercity rail services from interstate and intrastate destinations operate to and from Southern Cross Station (formerly Spencer Street Station), located on the western edge of Melbourne's central business district. The station has recently been renovated and has excellent links to the rest of the city's public transport network as it is part of the '''City Loop'''.

    CountryLink [http://www.countrylink.info/ ] operates a twice daily service from Sydney (11 hours away). Great Southern Railway run four services a week from Adelaide (10-11 hours away).

    Services from cities within Victoria are operated by V/Line. These services operate from regional centres such as Geelong, Ballarat, Albury, Bendigo, Bairnsdale. Note that V/Line also operates bus services which connect with these trains.

    VicLink [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ ] is a handy website to manage your state-wide travel on trains and buses across Victoria. Regional Victoria's public transport is controlled by VicLink [http://www.viclink.com.au/ ].

    By car

    From Sydney, the quickest route is the Hume Highway, which takes about 9-10 hours (non-stop). A less popular, longer route is along the coast on the Princes Highway. This adds several hours to the journey as it is longer in distance and there are fewer bypasses.

    Adelaide is slightly closer, and can be reached in 7 hours. Once again, it is possible to go inland or along the coast - the coast is very scenic, but will add a couple of hours to the journey.

    A direct journey from Brisbane takes around 20 hours (non-stop) and takes you further inland along the Newell Highway). This makes an interesting alternative to the more common Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne coastal route.

    By bus

    Bus services to Melbourne from out of state are provided by Firefly Express [http://www.fireflyexpress.com.au ] and Greyhound [http://www.greyhound.com.au ] (incorporating McCaffertys).

    Bus services within Victoria are operated by V/Line, and operate from most major and many minor Victorian towns.

    By boat

    Melbourne can be reached from Devonport, Tasmania by car/passenger ferries run by Spirit of Tasmania [http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/]. The journey takes 10 hours and runs every night (in both directions), departing at 9PM and arriving at 7AM. During the peak of Summer, there are also day sailings (departing 9AM, arriving 7PM) on many days - check in advance.

    Ticket prices depend on time of year and your sleeping accommodation. A seat (no bed) is the cheapest, starting (in off-peak season) from $108 for adults and $82 for children. Bear in mind, the seat is most uncomfortable, equivalent to a cinema seat. Cabins with bunk beds start from $187 adults, $97 children. Peak season costs are about 25% higher. Cars cost $59 all year round.

    Get around

    By foot

    Melbourne is an excellent city for walking and you should have no problems navigating the CBD. Melbourne has a very large metropolitan area, but most areas of interest can be reached within about 20 minutes from the CBD on the train or tram. Maps can be purchased from bookstores such as Angus & Robertson [http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/], taken from Federation Square [http://www.federationsquare.com.au/] or viewed online. If you're planning on taking the train to a specific area and walking the rest of the way, a combination of the afore-mentioned site and a decent printer will serve you well.

    By public transport

    Melbourne has an extensive network of public transport, and connections to most of the major attractions of the city.

    Melbourne_fs public transport system, known as '''Metlink''' [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/], consists of trams, trains and buses: trams service the central city and inner suburbs, trains service the city and the suburbs, and buses where there are no tram or train tracks. A single ticket (called a "Metcard") allows travel on all three modes of transport. Melbourne Trains have been known to be dirty and run-down, but in recent years, a large public transport overhaul means that clean modern trains have replaced most of the fleet.

    The "Met Shop" in the Melbourne Town Hall, on the corner of Swanston St and Little Collins St provides timetables and brochures, and sells tickets, maps and travel merchandise (open 8.30AM-5PM Monday to Friday, 9AM-1PM Saturday). <!--No longer 103 Elizabeth St--> The Metlink Information Centre, ph 131638 (131MET), every day 7AM-9PM, provides information and the Metlink website [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ ] also provides information including maps, fares and zones and all timetables. Metcards are also available from:

  • Many retail businesses (especially 7-Eleven stores)
  • Train stations - less than one-quarter of Melbourne's suburban train stations are staffed. At unstaffed stations, Metcard vending machines are provided. All ticket machines accept coins and will issue a maximum of $10.00 in change. Most stations will also have at least 1 machine that will take notes but little-used railway stations may have just coin-only machines.
  • Trams - all trams have a coin-only ticket machine that issues a limited range of tickets (up to a day-ticket).
  • Metcards are divided into "Zones", with Zone 1 covering the central city and inner suburbs (and consequently almost the entire tram network) and Zone 2 covering the middle suburbs and some outer suburbs. Until recently Zone 3 covered the remaining outer suburbs and the Mornington Peninsula however this has now been incorporated into a 2-zone system. Almost all tickets are time-based; that is, they can be used for the given period of time within the specified zone(s) from the first time you use it. The following are the most useful tickets (and some indicative costs) for travellers (fares as at March 2009):

  • Two-hour (adult Zone 1 $3.70)
  • Daily (adult Zone 1 $6.80)
  • Weekly (adult Zone 1 $29.40)
  • Sunday Saver (travel across all zones, all day Sunday; $3.10 but the ticket is not available at automatic ticket machines)
  • City Saver (a single trip within the CBD only; adult $2.80)
  • Concession Metcards are available for all children aged under fifteen years, but concessions for older students are only available to Victorian residents who are eligible and have paid for a student concession card. Concessions are also available to holders of Victorian Seniors Cards, Victorian Health Care Cards, and Australian Pensioner Concession Cards. A concession Metcard costs roughly half the price of an adult Metcard. Children under 4 years old travel free.

    Before each journey, and sometimes to gain access to the station platforms, a metcard must be "validated" by inserting it into a validation machine. On trams, the metcard must be validated after boarding the tram; however, tickets purchased on the tram (from the machine) are already validated. Note that a two-hour metcard that is validated for the first time at 6:01PM (18:01) or later is valid for the rest of the night, so if you_fre heading out after 6PM for an evening_fs entertainment, don't buy or validate a day ticket. Another hint to know is that 2 hour tickets do not count individual minutes, as such are rounded up the next hour to ensure that the traveler gets at least 2 hours worth of travel. This means for example, that if one validates the 2 hour ticket at 3:01PM then it is rounded up to begin counting down the 2 hours form 4:00PM. Note that you will not be allowed to leave a station with fare gates if you did not validate your ticket before you first got on the train.

    If you are caught using a concession ticket without a concession card, you will be fined. The ticket barriers have a light on the top which flashes if you are using a concession ticket. It has now been written into law that your ticket can be inspected even ''after'' you have left your train, tram or bus. Fines start at $158 and can be as high as $500.

    Services generally operate between 5AM and midnight Monday to Saturday, and after 8AM Sunday morning. After midnight on Saturday and Sunday mornings only there are NightRider buses which run defined routes to the suburbs. Metcards are now valid on Nightrider services, but you should keep in mind that daily and 2-hourly Metcards expire at 3AM - if you're boarding a bus after this time, you'll need to buy or validate a new ticket. If you board a bus scheduled to depart before the expiry time on your ticket, it will be considered valid for your entire journey, even if you don't alight until after it expires.

    Although Melbourne is a reasonably safe city, crime can and does occur on public transport. If you're waiting at a station at night, it would be wise to stand in the designated 'safety area'. These areas are well lit and provide easy access to the emergency intercom. Some outer suburban stations are known to be 'hang-outs' for youths and louts. Generally the stations are still safe and you will not be hassled if you mind your own business and ignore any illegal behaviour that may be occuring. It is particularly safe following sporting events at night when there are lots of people using public transport in particular families.

    Melbourne's public transport system regularly experiences delayed and cancelled services, especially during peak hour. If you you have an important appointment to attend, it is advisable that you take the train, bus or tram that is scheduled before one that is supposed to take you to your destination on time.

    The free '''City Circle''' [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/city_circle/] trams run around the CBD perimeter, covering Flinders St, Spring St, Nicholson St, Victoria St, La Trobe St and Harbour Esplanade. It is an older style tram, easily recognisable by its maroon colour. The tram stops along the route are sign posted with City Circle. They run in both directions every 12 minutes every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day from 10AM-6PM, and until 9PM Thursday-Saturday during daylight savings. Several of the trams on this service are equipped with recorded commentary about attractions passed. Tourist information is often available on board either from brochures or from a city guide person. These trams are geared to visitors and provide access to sites of interest to the tourist. They are a great introduction to central Melbourne and a free way to have a tram experience.

    The free '''Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle''' [http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=308&pg=2701] bus service stops at key tourist destinations in and around the city. The buses run at 15 minute intervals between 9:30AM and 4:30PM every day. A complete circuit takes 45 minutes, and there is onboard commentary.

    By bike

    Melbourne has an excellent network of bike paths, plus a generally flat terrain, making pedal-power a great way to take in the city. Most paths are "shared footways" under the law, although the majority of users in most places are cyclists. This means cyclists should expect to share the path with pedestrians, dog-walkers, rollerbladers, joggers, prams and tricycles. Some trails contain on-road sections (in marked bike lanes). It is legal to cycle on footpaths only when supervising cycling children or when the path is marked or signposted as allowing bikes. Helmets are required by law, and care should be taken when cycling near slippery tram tracks.

    The main paths of interest to travellers are:

  • The '''Yarra River Trail''' [http://www.bv.com.au/inform.php?a=5&b=27&c=343] runs from the mouth of Melbourne's iconic Yarra River, through the city and onwards to Westerfolds Park in the outer suburbs.
  • The '''Capital City Trail''' [http://www.bv.com.au/inform.php?a=5&b=27&c=352] runs a circuit through Melbourne's inner suburbs, the Docklands precinct and the city. It's a good way to see a slice of day-to-day life.
  • The '''Bay Trail''' [http://www.bv.com.au/inform.php?a=5&b=27&c=356] is a pleasant trek around Port Phillip Bay, running from Port Melbourne, through the bustling beachside precinct of St Kilda, past the famous bathing sheds of Brighton, all the way to Carrum. A punt operates under the West Gate Bridge on weekends and public holidays allowing a start at Altona Meadows along the ''Williamstown Trail'', across the punt, and joining with the ''Bay Trail''. There is no cyclist access permitted to the West Gate Bridge.
  • Detailed maps of the bike path network can be found online [http://goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/hav/articles.nsf/pages/bicycle_maps_metropolitan_melbourne?open].

    Bikes can be hired from '''Hire-a-Bike''' near Federation Square at Vault 14 Princes Walk, Federation Wharf on the north side of the Yarra, ph 0417 339 203.

    By car

    Mid-range rental companies give good value. Try:

  • '''Alpha Car Hire''', [http://www.alphacarhire.com.au/melbourne-car-hire.asp].
  • '''Airport Rent A Car Melbourne''', [http://www.airportrentacar.com.au/melbourne].
  • '''Bargain Car Rentals''', [http://bcrentals.com.au/car-rental/victoria/melbourne-city/]. 69 Whiteman Street, Southbank.
  • '''Snappy''' [http://www.snappy.com.au/ ], 225 Franklin St, Central Melbourne or 79 Matthews Ave, Airport West.
  • '''Crown''' [http://www.crownrentacar.com.au/ ], 371-379 King St, Central Melbourne or its affiliate Abel [http://www.abel.com.au/], 247 Mickleham Rd, Tullamarine.
  • '''Turnbulls Hire''' [http://www.turnbulls.com.au/hire/ ], 8 Racecourse Rd,Pakenham, VIC 3810.
  • The more pricey major chains are well-represented. These include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty.

    Most hire cars should come with a detailed 'Melways' or 'UBD' street directory; which will be much needed.

    Drivers should watch out for "hook turns" in the Melbourne city area. Hook turn intersections are in the vast minority and all are well-signed.

    Normally, a driver would have to be in the right-most lane of a multilane street in order to legally perform a right turn. When a hook turn is indicated by a sign "Right turn from left only", the driver must go as far as practicable into the intersection, staying on the left. When the light of the street you are turning ''into'' turns green, you complete the turn. Lots of Melbournians are confused about this, but you should not complete the turn until you get a green light on the street you are turning into. The point of hook turns is to keep all turning cars away from the tram tracks, as it is an offence to delay a tram by trying to turn right across traffic. Check out Wikipedia's description of the hook turn :WikiPedia:Hook_turn.

    Check out CityLink's [http://www.citylink.com.au/] site for details of Melbourne's T-shaped tollway which links the Westgate, Tullamarine and Monash (formerly South-Eastern) freeways. It is a fully electronic road with no manual toll gates. You can buy a day pass in advance, or within 3 days of having driven down it, giving your registration and car details. You can do this by phone, internet, or at some Shell petrol stations. The registered owner of the car will get a fine in the mail if you do not buy a pass within 3 days. The tolled sections are indicated with blue and yellow signs, rather than the standard green and white. CityLink can cut a worthwhile amount of time from your journey, especially if you are driving from, say, the south-eastern suburbs to Melbourne Airport. Motorcycles are free, cars are around $11/day. Larger vehicles are more.

    In progress is the EastLink tollway. Formerly called the Scoresby, then the Mitcham-Frankston freeway, it will link the Eastern, Monash, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula freeways.

    In the CBD, parking at meters and ticket machines can be as much as $3.50 per hour.

    Motorcycles and scooters are well catered for as footpath parking is both free and legal (providing the footpath is not obstructed). Scooters are becoming very common, however for all size scooters a motorcycle license must be held.

    See

    <!--Please only list MAJOR ATTRACTIONS here. Full listings and minor attractions all belong in district articles-->

    Melbourne attractions are here listed according to their respective districts. See the district pages for full details.

    City Centre

    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.

  • '''Docklands'''— An entire new precinct filled with shops, bars, restaurants and 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.
  • '''AFL World'''— A great introduction to Australian Football.
  • '''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.
  • Carlton

    The attractions in '''Carlton''' are mostly historical as it houses the Melbourne museum, and cultural with its strong Italian heritage.

  • '''Melbourne Musuem'''— It is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere and home to seven main galleries, a children's gallery and a temporary exhibit gallery on three levels, Upper, Ground and Lower Level.
  • '''Lygon Street'''— Crammed with Italian restaurants, gelatarias and coffee shops, which all serve some of Melbourne's best hospitality.
  • '''IMAX Cinema'''— Right next to the museum. It shows movies, usually documentary films, in 3-D format.
  • '''Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens'''— UNESCO World Heritage site (tours available through the museum).
  • Parkville

  • '''Melbourne Zoo'''— Usual assortment of zoo animals in a natural-like setting with lots of Australian native species too. Jazz at the Zoo is a popular weekend evening function over the summer months for a picnic, music and evening stroll around the animal enclosures.
  • '''University of Melbourne'''— The premier university of Victoria, and internationally recognised as a leading university, it is a hub of students, fine Victorian architecture and gorgeous sprawling gardens.
  • St Kilda

    '''St Kilda''' is Melbourne's beachside suburb and is tremendously popular area for beachcombers and those looking to grab a bite or sip on a latte by the sea.
  • '''Luna Park'''— Historic amusement park built in 1912.
  • '''St Kilda Pier'''— Popular spot for fishing and walking.
  • '''St Kilda Esplanade'''— Fine place for walking, skating, sunbathing and on Sundays, discovering new treasures at the Esplanade Sunday market.
  • '''St Kilda Botanical Gardens'''— With the first trees planted in 1859, the Botanical Gardens are a sprawling oasis of tranquility and greenery.
  • '''Jewish Museum of Australia'''— Depicts the history of the Jewish community in Australia.
  • South Yarra

    Greenery and high-end living are the main draws to '''South Yarra'''.
  • '''Royal Botanic Gardens'''— Water restrictions limit traditional floral gardens. It does have nice old trees, drought tolerant displays, a cafe and grassy places to loll about. In summer you can see outdoor movies and Shakespeare plays.
  • '''Chapel Street/Toorak Road'''— Kilometer-long strip of fashionable but often unaffordable shops plus some top end restaurants to match.
  • Prahran

    '''Prahran''' lies to the south of the city and shopping is the main draw.
  • '''Chapel Street'''— Famous for its street cafes and designer fashion boutiques. Cheaper stores are found at its southern end.
  • '''Prahran Market'''— Smaller version of Queen Victoria Market with excellent quality, albeit slightly pricey, fresh food.
  • '''Commercial Road'''— Known for its gay-friendly eateries, shops and clubs.
  • Northern Melbourne

    '''Tullamarine'''— Home to Melbourne's International airport.

  • '''Woodlands Historic Park'''— Immediately north of Melbourne Airport, contains an 1840s homestead and a nature reserve.
  • Southern suburbs

    '''Brighton'''— Melbourne's prime bayside suburb featuring excellent upmarket cafes and boutique shops.
  • '''Brighton Beach'''— One of Melbourne's favoured beaches, be sure to check out the infamous 'bathing boxes', brightly coloured boxes that are dotted along the sand.
  • Fitzroy

    '''Fitzroy''' - Trendy 'bohemian' area north of the CBD, filled with eclectic, edgy cafes and stores.
  • '''Brunswick St''' - Long and lively cafe/bar strip with cheap and decent eats.
  • '''Smith St''' - Slightly run down yet charming street with cafes, bars, and unique clothing (and other) shops.
  • Do

  • See interesting films at the Art Deco-styled '''Astor Theatre''' [http://www.astor-theatre.com] in Windsor. There are several moonlight cinema programmes in summer. The Melbourne International Film Festival [http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au ] is on in August.
  • Visit a comedy club. The '''Comic's Lounge''' [http://www.thecomicslounge.com.au/ ] has shows for $10-25 including a show filmed for Channel 31 on Mondays, or dinner and show for $45. The Comedy Club [http://www.thecomedyclub.com.au/] has dinner and show for $32 and shows only beginning at $7 (discount ticket price).
  • Watch the mesmorising process of personalised hard candy being hand-made at '''Suga''' [http://www.suga.com.au/]. Around lunch time is a good time to see (and sample!). There is a store at Queen Victoria Market, but if you visit the Royal Arcade location, you can also watch chocolate making next door at Koko Black [http://www.kokoblack.com/].
  • Watch a game of '''AFL football''' at the MCG or Telstra Dome during the winter, or a '''Cricket Match''' during the summer. AFL Fixtures [http://www.afl.com.au] and Cricket Fixtures [http://www.cricket.com.au], bookings at both the MCG and Telstra can be made through Ticketmaster [http://www.ticketmaster.com.au ], however for most games you can just turn up and pay the rates at the gate: this is the most authentic way to experience the game.
  • Kick back at one of Melbourne's fantastic '''cafes''' in the CBD (Degraves St, The Causeway, and other laneways are fantastic for this), South Yarra (Chapel Street) or Fitzroy (Brunswick Street, Smith Street).
  • Melbourne has an exceptionally vibrant live music scene. Many bars and pubs will have copies of the free magazines "Beat" and "Inpress" which provide local gig guides. Fitzroy, Collingwood and St. Kilda are generally your best bets for seeing some of the great local talent Melbourne has to offer. Venues where you generally can't go wrong include: "The Tote", "The Evelyn" and "The Espy".
  • Learn

  • You can take language classes, join a cafe book group, learn to draw, sign up for historical or foodie walks, study for your Victorian Certificate of Education or take computer or business classes at the Council of Adult Education (CAE) [http://www.cae.edu.au/]. The CAE is also home to the City Library [http://www.citylibrary.org.au/] where you can sign up to borrow books or just read magazines in their cafe.
  • Work

    The most popular industry for a working holiday is to work in hospitality jobs around the St. Kilda area. The wages in all other industries are usually much better than working in hospitality but require a certain kind of skills. At the moment there are a lot of job offers for nurses etc and craftsmen.

    Fruit picking is a possible source of income but in the greater Melbourne area there are not many jobs are offered. You will find better chances are in the dairy business but you should have some basic experience. Grape vine tending is another possibility in the near by Yarra Valley.

    Buy

    Shopping hours in metro Melbourne are typically 7 days a week, 9AM-5:30PM weekdays and 9AM (maybe later)- 5PM weekends. Shopping centres such as Chadstone have later closing hours on Thursdays - mostly up to 9PM. Supermarkets have extended hours 7 days, most opening at 7AM and closing at midnight. There are a lot of 24 hour supermarkets around. Alcohol in Victoria can only be bought at licensed shops/venues and supermarkets often have an adjacent bottle shop, which close earlier than supermarket hours. You need to be over 18 years old to purchase alcohol. Most bottleshops close by 10PM or so (even on weekends), but there is a bottleshop open until 3AM on Riversdale road in Hawthorn, and 24-hour bottleshops on both Chapel and Lygon streets, in Prahran and Carlton respectively.

    City Shopping

    Melbourne is known as the fashion capital of Australia with numerous malls and boutique lined streets.

    In the CBD itself, '''Little Collins Street''' is home to some of the world's top designers and fashion houses; '''Collins Street''' also boasts other high end shops such as Louis Vuitton. '''Brunswick Street''' (Fitzroy), and the southern end of '''Chapel Street''' in Prahran/Windsor, have clusters of stores selling an eclectic mix of vintage, rave, retro and alternative gear.

    '''Melbourne Central''' is another shopping mall based in the city, adjacent to the underground station of the same name. The '''Bourke Street Mall''' with the department stores Myer and David Jones is another city-central shopping hub.

    For the bargain shopper, there is a DFO Outlet Malls located on Spencer Street, Melbourne city, just north of Southern Cross Railway station.

    It is also worth noting, for Backpackers, that Elizabeth Street has plenty of Bargain backpackers stores, for example Mitchell's Adventure (255-257 Elizabeth Street), which can offer outdoor products for bargain prices.

    Suburban Shopping

    Bridge Road [http://www.bridgerd.com.au/home.asp] in Richmond is a strip where warehouse direct outlets rule and no one pays recommended retail price. '''Chapel Street''' in South Yarra is a favourite among the locals, with its spread of exclusive boutiques, cafes and well established chain stores. There are also several huge shopping complexes in the outer suburbs, such as Chadstone and Southland (Cheltenham) in the South-East. Doncaster Shoppingtown, Eastland (Ringwood) and Knox City are in the outer East. Northland in the north, Highpoint in the west.

    Melbourne is also home to many of Australia's largest shopping centres; including Chadstone (which is currently undergoing redevelopment to become Australia's largest shopping centre) which has over 450 stores, Knox City Shopping Centre which has 350 stores, and Fountain Gate Shopping Centre which includes approximately 330 stores.

    Looking for something in particular?

    For those in the bridal market, '''High Street''' in Armadale and '''Sydney Road''' in Brunswick are the two main clusters for bridal apparel and accessories. For those who are looking for local, aspiring designer creations, try '''Greville Street''' in South Yarra or '''Smith Street''' and surrounds in Fitzroy.

    Eat

    For the culinary traveller, Melbourne is one of the best destinations in the world. There is an abundance of affordable, high quality restaurants representing almost every cuisine. Eating out is cheaper than in Western Europe but not as affordable as North America. The service in Australian restaurants may be more discreet than many North Americans may be used to. Although service staff in Australia are paid considerably more than their North American counterparts and tipping is not compulsory, it is customary to give a 10% tip for good service in high-end restaurants.

    Excellent eateries can be found sprinkled throughout all of the inner (and some outer) suburbs, while certain neighbourhoods have become magnets for residents and restaurants of particular countries. A large range of restaurants and cafes offering high quality food, and representating various cultures and countries, are scattered through the central city, Southbank, Carlton (mostly Italian and touristy), Victoria Street in Richmond (many low cost popular Vietnamese and South East Asian restaurants), Docklands, South Yarra and Prahran. Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg is known for its many Middle Eastern, Lebanese, Greek and Turkish restaurants. The popular tourist area of St Kilda offers a large range of good quality restaurants and cafes, especially on Acland Street, and Fitzroy Street.

    English-style fish and chip shops are scattered through the suburbs - particularly in bayside areas. Souvlaki and gyros are very popular in Melbourne and outlets are plentiful through the inner and outer suburbs. Japanese nori rolls and sushi is very popular and many stores through the city and suburbs sell these items.

    African

    There is a concentration of African cafes in Racecourse Road, Flemington. Most serve a small range of meals and coffee and are frequented by the local African residents; The Abyssinian is popular for locals and tourists for a more elaborate dinner. The broth or curry dishes are served on a large pancake in the middle of the table. Everyone eats with their hands which is messy but fun. Footscray also has some outlets, and there is also one restaurant in Fitzroy.

    Australian

    "Australian cuisine" is a nebulous concept that may include traditional native foodstuffs and more modern cafe infusions of international influences. Items such a emu and kangaroo meat are unusual, and are most likely to be found only at the high-end fine dining restaurants as a speciality item.

    Meat pies are available from bakeries and convenience stores.

    Cafe/Delicatessen Food

    High quality delicatessen style eating available in many of a cafes in the small lanes of central Melbourne. Many high quality deli style diners can be found outside the city, in Acland Street, St Kilda.

    Chinese

    Chinese cuisine has a long tradition in Melbourne and a large number and range of quality restaurants exist. Many are in Chinatown in Little Bourke Street, City centre. They are also dotted through the inner and outer suburbs, with concentrations in Richmond, Footscray, and suburban Box Hill and Springvale.

    Most of the food is from the Southern (Cantonese) school of cooking, although Northern favourites like dumplings are also available. Eating dim sum, which is consumed either during breakfast or lunch (called yum cha or "drinking tea" in Cantonese) is an extremely popular Sunday pastime for Australians of all ethnic backgrounds.

    Greek

    Lonsdale Street in the City Centre is Melbourne's Greek precinct with bars, cafes and restaurants, and cake shops. Greek restaurants and food outlets can be found in Sydney Road in Brunswick, Swan Street, Richmond, Coburg and Oakleigh in the south eastern suburbs which have alot of Greek cafes which specialise in frappe, cake shops and good souvlaki.

    Indian

    Indian restaurants can be found throughout Melbourne, particularly in the city, North Melbourne, and inner eastern suburbs such as Richmond and Hawthorn. There are also numerous Indian snack bars in the city that serve cheap but tasty curries and samosas, cafeteria-style.

    Nepalese food is also popular in Melbourne, and some restaurants feature both Nepalese and Indian cuisine on their menus. An increasing number of Indian restaurants offer home delivery.

    Indonesian

    Befitting its large number of Indonesian students, Melbourne has many Indonesian restaurants. One of the most famous is Blok M on Commercial Road, Prahran, which many famous Indonesians have visited. Another popular restaurant is Nelayan with two restaurants on Swanston Street and Glenferrie Road, Agung on Glenferrie Road, Bali Bagus on Franklin Street, Es Teler 77 on Swanston Street, Nusantara in Caulfield and Bali Bowl on Flinders Lane. There is also Warung Gudeg, specialising in Jogjakartan local cuisine in Caulfield. Warung Agus in West Melbourne serves Balinese cuisine on a rather upscale atmosphere.

    Italian

    With its large Italian population Melbourne has countless Italian restaurants, mostly offering food from the southern regions of the Italian peninsular. Pizza outlets are very much part of the Melbourne landscape. Spiga in Melbourne Central and Pizza Meine Liebe in Northcote are just two of many great pizza places in Melbourne.

    Italian cafes and restaurants are plentiful throughout Melbourne but are in the greatest concentration in Lygon Street, Carlton, just north of the city centre. Lygon Street is where Melbourne's coffee culture originated. Suburban Italian restaurants are often large and family orientated and tend towards the pizza, pasta, seafood and steak formula. Most are reliable and good value, if somewhat predictable.

    Japanese

    A quick "sushi" take away lunch can be bought on almost every block where there is food. In and out of Chinatown there are also plenty of places that have good bento, udon and donburi as well.

    For dinner, many of the inner city suburbs have Japanese restaurants, but in the city itself there is a long an interesting Japanese restaurant history that continues to this day. Both Melbourne's oldest, Kuni's (which has been around since 1978) and it's sister restaurant Kenzans are known for a very authentic, if expensive, meal. There are a plethora of choices for those on stricter budgets as well.

    Jewish/Kosher

    St Kilda East and Caulfield are home to vibrant Jewish communities and kosher bakeries and cafes abound most situated on Carlisle Street in Balaclava, Kooyong Road in Caulfield North and Glenhuntly Road in Elsternwick.

    Malaysian

    Malaysians and Singaporeans feeling homesick will find host of restaurants and foodcourt outlets offering items like roti canai/paratha, nasi lemak, prawn noodles, laksa. Many are in the City Centre; there are Malaysian restaurants scattered throughout Melbourne.

    Middle Eastern

    Lebanese, Moroccan, Arab and Turkish restaurants are concentrated in Sydney Road in Brunswick and Coburg to the north of the city centre. These restaurants can also be found in the outer suburbs that are home to those communities, including Dandenong.

    Thai

    Thai restaurants are ubiquitous in Melbourne: even dining precincts mostly known for Italian or Vietnamese food boast Thai restaurants. An excellent thai restaurant in the city centre is Melbourne Lanna Thai on Exhibition Street 287-293. Order to share or try one of the set menus to sample several of their amazing dishes.

    Vegetarian

    Vegetarian food is widely available in Melbourne, and you can expect every restaurant or cafe to have a few vegetarian or vegan options. There are also many vegetarian restaurants: Vegie Bar in Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Gopals in Swanston St and Shakahari in Lygon St, Carlton are just some of the options. Crossways at 123 Swanston St. serves a very popular $5 all you can eat vegetarian lunch, Mon-Sat.

    Vietnamese

    Melbourne's Little Vietnams are in Footscray, North Richmond and Springvale out in the far eastern suburbs. The streets in these areas are lined with ''pho'' (noodle) shops and restaurants offering other Vietnamese favourites. Many outlets have also appeared along Swanston Street in the City Centre.

    Others

    Spanish, Argentinian, Burmese and Polish restaurants can be found in the Richmond/Collingwood/Prahran area.

    Melbourne has some Cajun/Creole restaurants and one or two faux-American 'diners', but US cuisine is otherwise absent: Foods like Southern-style barbecue and clam chowder are nearly impossible to find.

    There are several Korean restaurants in the city centre.

    Drink

    Coffee

    Melbourne has a long and rich coffee culture beginning with Victorian era coffee palaces and further enhanced by Italian migrants arriving in the aftermath of World War II.

    Perhaps the most famous Italian style cafe is Pellegrini's, 66 Bourke Street, Melbourne city. Fitzroy is known for funky, bohemian-style cafes. Collins Street features many elegant cafes. Many Italian style cafes are found in Carlton; '''Brunetti's''' is open late and always packed.

    Serious espresso connoisseurs would enjoy visiting St Ali cafe/roastery in South Melbourne, or the Maling Room cafe in Canterbury.

    Atomica cafe (268 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, tel +61 3 9417 4255) serves a strong, but well-balanced mix of coffee and silky smooth milk. Atomica also has seats on the footpath, if the upbeat music is too much for your coffee buzz and, on a warm sunny day, it is an ideal spot to mix it with the Brunswick Street crowd.

    Easy to miss, but better you don't, The Green Refectory, (115 Sydney Road, Brunswick, tel +61 3 9387 1150), serves great value homemade food, and quality Illy coffee to accompany it. The crowd is eclectic mix of the Brunswick artsy crowd, university students and young professionals pushing prams. Despite its non attendance in 'Signage 101' (look for the 'Illy' coffee sign that juts out from the front windows), the difficulty of locating this place hasn't affected its popularity at all.

    7 grams (505 Church Street, Richmond, tel 9429 8505) has a 'best in show' coffee (check out the shelves housing their trophies, including the 2006 Pure Latte Art winner and 2007 Barista of the Year finalist). Despite these grand accolades, the cafe itself is unpretentious, with an understated decor and a row of black-topped, chrome-legged stools along a mirror bar.

    Bars

    The past decade has seen a revival of Melbourne's inner-city bar scene, with dozens of weird and wonderful watering holes opening up within forgotten alleyways and anonymous lanes of the City Centre (CBD). Melbourne also has its fair share of stylish places to drink, although the better ones can be hard to find. The theory seems to be: the harder your bar is to find, the more people will talk about it. Secrets are tucked around areas like Prahran, South Yarra and many other areas. However there are plenty of alleyway bars, once you find one they seem to pop up everywhere you look. Melbourne's clubs often market a members only rule which can upset your more upmarket traveler. The rule is in place to prevent fighting and unappealing groups of men entering a nice club and destroying the atmosphere.

    Australian licensing laws are very similar to those in the UK, i.e. you are not allowed to be drunk on licensed premises. In practice though, Melbourne venues and bouncers draw the line <i>very</i> low. Ejection from a premises can be expected for fighting, vomiting, or frequent falling over. Some pubs and clubs are quicker to eject patrons than others, but it's only ever a short walk to another. Licensing is more liberal then what one may be used to, as you can still expect to find a drink past 2AM. This has lead to a culture of late night drinking where some venues won't get busy until some time after 11PM, especially true during summer.

    Melburnians often draw a distinction between 'bars', meaning the small watering holes described above, and 'pubs' which are larger establishments in the usual Australian or British sense of the word. Melbourne's pubs, particularly those in the city and inner suburbs, usually serve restaurant-standard food and a wide range of local and imported beers. Pubs usually offer lunch from approximately midday to 2PM, and reopen their kitchens for dinner from approximately 6PM to 9PM.

    King Street, Melbourne city, is the nightclub and strip club centre.

    Sleep

    Budget

    Melbourne's budget accommodation options can be found in two main areas, namely in the City Centre and in thse seaside suburb of St Kilda. However, outside these two areas, there are also several popular budget options in bohemian Fitzroy, South Melbourne, and Windsor.

  • '''Melbourne Metro YHA''' is an award winning hostel located on the city fringe, close to major attractions including the Queen Victoria Market and Zoo. This funky hostel is a great place to stay when visiting Melbourne.
  • '''Melbourne Oasis YHA''' is an oasis in a bustling city, with no bunk beds you are guaranteed a good nights sleep. Enjoy the sunny gazebo garden, regular $2 pancake breakfasts and weekly activities.
  • Please note that around the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix (early March) and other international events, hostel accommodation is booked out and some hostels raise their prices. Be sure to book ahead.

    Mid-Range

    Accommodation in this price bracket can mostly be found in the city centre. There are however options scattered throughout the suburbs.

  • '''Jika International Motel - Melbourne''' - Fairfield, Melbourne 3078. Located just 6km from Melbourne CBD. [http://www.jika.com.au] Phone +61 3 9481 2822 Fax (03) 9489 8819 [http://www.jika.com.au].
  • '''Golden Chain Motels - Melbourne''' has many locations in Melbourne and surrounding area serving quality accommodation at affordable prices. View a of Melbourne Victoria''' [http://www.goldenchainmotels.com.au/vic/category?layout=map&cid=265'''Map] [http://www.goldenchainmotels.com.au/vic/category?cid=265]
  • '''Stephanie's Bed and Breakfast in Williamstown''' has both B&B accommodation and self-contained accommodation. Suited to corporate travellers looking for something special as well as Romantic Melbourne Getaways. Williamstown is 20 minutes from Melbourne CBD by train and 40 minutes by ferry. 154 - 160 Ferguson Street, Williamstown VIC 3016 Phone +61 3 9397 5587 View a of Williamstown Victoria''' [http://www.bandbatstephanies.com.au]
  • Splurge

    The City Centre remains the main area for this category of accommodation.

    Contact

    Post

    After a fire gutted the original building in 2001, most of Melbourne's grand General Post Office (250 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne; Phone: 13 13 18; Fax: 9203 3078; Mon-Fri 8:30AM to 5:30PM, Sat 9AM to 4PM, Sun 10AM to 4PM; [http://www.australiapost.com.au]) has now been turned into an upmarket retail precinct, but it still has a range of postal services including a post restante.

    Phone

    Telstra payphones are easily found through the city, but many are being phased out due to growing mobile phone ownership. These phones are coin-operated or use prepaid Telstra Phonecards, which are available from most convenience stores or newsagents. International calling cards are also available at these outlets.

    Mobile phone coverage within the CBD and surrounds is usually good-to-excellent. Melbourne's area code is 03 (internationally dial +613).

    Internet

    Internet cafes are dotted throughout the city, especially near the backpacker enclaves of St Kilda and Flinders Street. Speeds are usually excellent and rates range from $2.50 - $12 per hour, the cheapest usually found in combination market/internet cafes in the Asian parts of town. Some of the best include:
  • The store "mag nation" on 88 Elizabeth St has a free wireless network.
  • '''e:FiftyFive''' (''55 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne'') is like a huge basement lounge room that feels more like a bar than an internet cafe. Great DJs, comfortable couches and dirt-cheap $2/hour internet access when you buy a drink attract plenty of travellers and will make writing that email home an enjoyable experience.
  • '''VA''' ''(Bourke Street, Melbourne)'' is one of the countless but arguably the best internet/LAN gaming cafes in Melbourne, which is packed full of "hardcore gamers" on Sunday afternoons (sponsored competition day). Non-member rates start at $3.50/hour while membership costs a mere $15 (includes $12 credit) and benefits include play offers such as $4/2 hours, $5/3 hours and $6/4 hours, as well as day and night packages.
  • '''Cydus''' ''(Victoria Street, North Melbourne)'' takes pride in providing fast internet access with a large range of internet usage services, and maintaining the best computer gaming facilities for our customers - every day and at any time (including most public holidays). Non-member rates start at $3.00/hour while membership costs $10 (includes 2 hours free play) and membership rates are $2/hour while member offers include "Endurance Pass" (5 hours play + $2.80 snack voucher) and "Survival Pass" (10 hours play).
  • The '''City Library''', (''253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne'') [http://www.citylibrary.org.au]. Offers free internet access to members - temporary membership is available. The service will soon have charges.
  • The '''State Library''' [http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/ ]. Offers free internet at many workstations and does not require membership. You can get a free membership for access to free wireless web access, however, the wireless access is limited and you may not be able to access some sites and services.
  • Melbourne Central shopping centre (corner of Swanston and La Trobe St) has free wireless internet access.
  • Australia on Collins shopping centre (on Collins St) has free wireless internet access.
  • You'll also find, as of March 2009, that virtually every Mc Donald's in the city has a free Wifi Hotspot. These hotspots have an idle time limit of 10mins and a down/upload limit of 50mb. There are also some browsing limitations, as Maccas is trying to keep this a 'family friendly' service. You can access MSN and most web-based e-mail services from these hotspots, but all peer2peer services are disallowed by the terms of service (which you have to agree to before you can get online).
  • Stay safe

    While Melbourne is a very safe city for its size, the usual precautions still apply as for any large city, including keeping valuables hidden, and travelling with a friend or companion on the street or a train late at night, if possible. Certain areas which are fine during the day can be unsafe at night if you are alone, including the Collingwood and Footscray areas. However these areas are also heavily patrolled by the Victorian Police Force, so provided you stick to main streets (eg: for Collingwood - Smith Street), you should be fine.

    Melbourne's red-light districts include King Street in the CBD and Grey Street, St Kilda, but you're more likely to face drunken revellers and unwelcome approaches from street walkers than any major threat. Melbourne City Council has also recently established all-night "Safe City" taxi ranks with security guards on King Street, outside Flinders Street Station and on Bourke Street.

    If travelling by train at night, travel in the front carriage close to the driver's area and note emergency buttons. If a problem occurs, push emergency buttons on the train or railway station to attract attention. Stay in '''Safety Zones''' while on stations at night. These are marked with yellow lines and are usually well lit and have emergency buttons as well as about 4 cameras pointed at the area. Robbery does happen on the train system, especially at night, though, this kind of occurance is rare. Railway police patrol most services.

    If you are driving your own car or rented automobile, car theft or break-in is possible. Avoid temptation by hiding valuables out of sight, and always lock the car and leave the windows up before you leave. If you are waiting in your car, it is only sensible to lock the car as well. A police officer will always show ID before asking you to open your door or window.

    Pickpocketing is rare in Melbourne, but be aware of your belongings out the front of Flinders Street Station and the first block of Swanston Street (between Flinders and Collins Streets).

    Beggars frequent the southern ends of Elizabeth and Swanston Streets, Bourke Street Mall, and the intersection of Bourke and Russell Streets. Very rarely are they threatening or aggressive however.

    Although '''scams''' are rare in Melbourne, be wary of '''real estate agents''' (especially if you have newly arrived and plan to stay only for the short term). There have been many cases of real estate agents preying upon overseas students in particular. Common scams include charging tenants for costs that don't exist (eg. charges for 'advertising' when tenants move out) and deducting costs for non-existent reparations and cleaning from the bond. Be sure to consult the Tenants Union of Victoria [http://www.tuv.org.au/] and know your rights when you are charged for anything and move in and out.

    The infamous '''Melbourne gangland war''' which claimed many lives is now over and anything you see on the media to do with it is very rare to see now and it is dramatized and over the top anyway, as long you aren't involved with Melbourne's underworld you will not have anything to worry about.

    As with any large metropolis, be vigilant but not paranoid, as Melbourne is generally a very safe city.

    Get out

    Melbourne is more-or-less centrally located on the coast of Victoria, and there are many natural and manmade attractions close enough to easily visit in a day's return drive. Another way to visit regional Victoria is utilising the '''VicLink''' public transport system. Regular train journeys leave from Southern Cross station. Regional attractions include:

    Melbourne Area (less than an hour's drive each way)

  • Werribee— Historic mansion & open-range zoo.
  • Dandenong Ranges— National park, gardens, historic steam railway.
  • Wine-tasting in the Yarra Valley, Healesville and the Healesville Sanctuary.
  • Port Phillip Bay scenic drive and the Mornington Peninsula.
  • Mount Donna Buang (winter sightseeing snow).
  • Kinglake National Park.
  • Sorrento, Portsea, seaside resort areas at the end of the Mornington Peninsula offering both bayside and surf beaches.
  • Northern Victoria

  • Echuca-Moama.
  • Mount Buller (skiing and sightseeing).
  • Southern Victoria

  • Twelve Apostles
  • Eastern Victoria

  • Mornington Peninsula.
  • Phillip Island.
  • Lake Mountain (cross-country skiing).
  • Western Victoria

  • The Victorian Goldfields - Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Maldon.
  • Macedon Ranges and Spa Country.
  • Geelong.
  • Bellarine Peninsula.
  • Great Ocean Road with its many scenic vistas.
  • Grampians National Park.