Melbourne Travel Guide
Travel guide to Melbourne , Australia with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Melbourne sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
Melbourne Overview
Melbourne lies on the beautiful Port Philips Bay on the southern coast of Australia, and is home to just over three and a half million people. The city has a reputation for friendliness, and a genuinely cosmopolitan air about it due to the number of different cultures that make up the population.
The capital of the state of Victoria offers plenty of different attractions nearby including the chance to go skiing in the mountains, tour the excellent scenery of the famous wine producing areas and the Great Coast Road - one of the most rewarding drives in the world. There is lively nightlife to enjoy in Melbourne, and plenty of beaches nearby where you can sunbathe in the summer.
Melbourne is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Australia, after Sydney, and Ayers Rock.
Top Melbourne Attractions
Melbourne is a great city to explore at leisure, with so many different cultures and people living there, almost every street you walk down has a secret or two to share. Some of the best-known attractions include Lunar Park, Yarra Park - where you can see the famous MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), and the Melbourne Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
For a different perspective head to the 55th floor of 525 Collins Street and enjoy the views over the city from the Melbourne Observation Deck - a stunning place to look down from.
One of the city's most famous attractions can be found in the suburb of Vermont South, which is in the north of the City. For more than twenty years, Pinoak Court has been the set of the popular Neighbours television series, and is instantly recognisable as Ramsay Street to any fans.
Shopping in Melbourne
As one of the largest cities in Australia, it comes as no surprise that Melbourne offers an excellent opportunity to indulge yourself in a number of major shopping centres. Melbourne Central is the largest mall in town, with more than 200 shops to choose from offering almost anything you might want. Crown Entertainment Complex has more upmarket shops, while the main designer clothing areas can be found on Toorak Road.
If you prefer to browse through markets, check out the Victoria Market on Victoria Street, Melbourne, where low priced clothes are available alongside arts and crafts.
Melbourne Sporting Events
Throughout the year, Melbourne hosts a number of major sporting events including the Australian Grand Prix in Formula One, the Australian Open Tennis, and the Melbourne Gold Cup horse race.
If you would rather get involved in sport, why not try surfing or scuba diving on the coast, or head inland for the chance to try rock climbing and skiing in the mountains or trekking through the outback.
The home of Australian cricket - the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) can be found in Yarra Park, and plays host to regular test matches.
