Melbourne guide | Melbourne attractions and things to do
Set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay in the Australian state of Victoria, Melbourne is a multicultural metropolis of four million people, boasting a lively and cosmopolitan heartbeat. The city is home to character-filled neighbourhoods and some of the best art, music, cuisine, fashion, performance, and design in the world.
There is a year-round programme of festivals and cultural events, including major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas, making Melbourne a popular and vibrant city all year round. On top of all that, within easy reach of the city is fabulous natural landscape, including pristine beaches, rugged coastlines and scenic mountains and forests, as well as historic towns, wineries, golf courses and wildlife.
Melbourne Airport is a major hub for domestic and overseas air travel and is also well serviced by rail, bus and shipping connections. Melbourne Airport is the gateway to southern Australia, with a vast number of international flights operating every week.
The Skybus Super Shuttle is the official transit link between the airport and Melbourne city centre, which is 50km away. It departs every 15 minutes from Southern Cross station, a five-minute walk from the Centre.
Melbourne can be visited any time of the year thanks to its temperate climate, with warm summers, mild and balmy spring and autumns, and cool winters. The city is rarely uncomfortably cold or hot, and snowfall is extremely uncommon.
One of the most popular attractions in Melbourne is the bustling Flagstaff Gardens, located in the heart of the city. As well as being an excellent spot for a picnic, the gardens are also peppered with historic monuments and art installations.
Federation Square is one of Melbourne’s most distinctive landmarks, combining open spaces with innovative architecture and engineering. Spread over an entire city block, the square showcases Melbourne’s status as a hub for art, design and events.
For culture vultures, the modernist Melbourne Museum is the largest museum complex in the southern hemisphere. Spread over six vast levels, the museum uses high tech equipment to give visitors an insight into Australia’s flora, fauna and culture.
For shopping and eating, Chapel Street is Melbourne's most vibrant fashion and food strip. This upmarket area attracts young, affluent crowds, with designer stores sitting side by side with fancy bistros.
Indeed, Melbourne’s reputation as a cosmopolitan, multi-cultural city is illustrated by its eclectic eating opportunities. The city’s dining spots offer an impressive spread of the world’s best cuisines, serving meals from the substantial and classic to the truly exotic.
Once you have expended all energy on Melbourne’s cultural sights or shopping venues, you may want to take advantage of the city’s reputation as the coffee capital of Australia. In the central business district, the cobblestoned laneways are filled with the aroma of espresso coming from a vast array of cafes.
For families with children, the Phillip Island Day Tour is a hugely popular attraction, allowing visitors to see some of Melbourne's most attractive suburbs, encounter koalas at the Koala Conservation Centre, and see penguins as they return to their nests with their day's catch.
Sports fans may want to check out some of the trips offered by Melbourne Sports Tours, who offer an in-depth knowledge of Melbourne and its sporting culture by means of personal, guided tours. Local hosts take visitors behind the scenes of the city's world class sporting venues.
Those looking to escape the bustle of Melbourne may consider embarking on one of the world’s most scenic drives, the Great Ocean Road. This 300km stretch of road follows the magnificent coastline of Victoria’s south-west, winding along cliff tops, up headlands, down onto beach edges, across river estuaries and through lush rainforests offering stunning views at every turn.
Also away from the city centre, one place that is certainly worth a visit is St Kilda, which is situated on one of the most picturesque points of the Bay, a short distance from the city, and boasting sandy beaches as well as a huge concentration of bars and restaurants.
Visitors looking for sight-seeing, day trips and excursions in and around Melbourne can book customised, personalised tours through Meridian Tours, a highly-regarded tour company based in the city.
