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Melbourne is often considered the cultural capital of Australia and it certainly lives up to the label. There is much to see, and things to do and experience in this cosmopolitan city on the banks of the Yarra. With beachside casual and inner city sophistication, Melbourne Australia offers it all and this travel eGuide provides full Melbourne information for Melbourne tourism.
Melbourne attractions are extensive with museums, art galleries, and many places to visit close to Melbourne, easy as part of a Melbourne tour. Melbourne transport is well organised making Melbourne an easy city for the visitor to move around in and explore all that Melbourne has to offer.
Melbourne is on the Yarra river and Melbourne runs inland from Port Philip Bay to the south.The central area is oblong with Flinders Street to the south, Latrobe Street to the north, Spring Street to the east and Spencer street to the west. Running north to South are Swanston and Elizabeth streets. The main Melbourne shopping street is Collins Street
Melbourne offers a line of pleasant beaches stretching round the bay. Melbourne is a good base for day trips to the Mornington Peninsula, Great Ocean Road and the Yarra Valley.
Melbourne is internationally famous for its comedy festival, which is held every year around Easter time, but there are laughs to be had in the city every night of the week at the Comics Lounge. Catch a show after an early dinner in the city and see some of the funniest people in Australia performing their acts.
If you are not in the mood for a comedy there are plenty of other nightly theatre, shows and events that are held throughout the city. If you fancy your luck, then a shot at cards or dice may be in order across the river at the Crown Casino at Southbank. Even if you don’t fancy playing your luck, wandering along the river bank by night is a charming experience and you are often entertained by impromptu buskers and performances too.
Evening brings plenty of entertainment with bars, restaurants, theatres and cinemas in abundance. Choosing where to eat in Melbourne is not an easy task with so many different bars, restaurants and cafes offering fare from ever corner of the globe. If you want to catch bite to eat before the show, a safe and scrumptious bet is to head to Lygon Street where some of the city’s best Italian restaurants are nestled.
Melbourne continuously surprises and you might find a performing artist down a side street or a juggler in the park. That relaxed culture factor is one of the reasons we think the city is “uber” cool. There are plenty of museums, art galleries or show houses that offer unique shows that will be sure to “blow your mind”. There are the obvious attractions and events for different types of people, like a tour around the MCG for sports fans, galleries for art lovers and the parks for the strollers. But with a city like Melbourne, the sports fan will never be disappointed! The Australian Tennis Open and the Grand Prix, does it get much better than that?
The city of Melbourne enjoys a temperate climate with warm-hot summers and cool winters. Spring and Autumn both tend to be mild and sometimes balmy. Melbourne weather though suffers extremes with some unbearably hot days - the record high is 46.4C (in February 2009) - and some really cold ones.
This is the result of Melbourne City standing on the edge of a hot land mass, bordered by a cool southern ocean. And the city has been dubbed a rainy city - and records show that not to be the case. Melbourne receives only half of the average rainfall of Sydney.
Melbourne weather is distinct in that it does have four very clear seasons, although Summer starts later than many other cities - often not until mid-January.
There are many Melbourne tours to escape the city. The breathtaking ocean views will captivate you along the length of the Great Ocean Road, renowned as one of the most scenic coastal drives in Australia. At around 600km return from Melbourne, there are plenty of things to see and do along the way. Admire the power of nature at the mighty geologic formations known as the 12 Apostles, or the huge natural rock span known as the London Arch.
Take a helicopter ride past the awe-inspiring cliffs and their sheer drop into the pounding surf below. Explore the rugged beauty and diversity of the Grampians National Park Its mountainous ranges are home to some of Australia’s most famous wildlife –see if you can spot a kangaroo, a koala or even an emu out in the wild!
Penguin alert! Phillip Island is home to one of the largest penguin colonies of its type in the world These cute little fairy penguins parade up the beach in groups of 300-750 nightly to roost - with a choice of viewing options you’ll feel like you’re part of the action! Visit the Seal Rocks Sea Life Centre for an up-close and personal experience with the seal colony inhabitants, and round off your wildlife experience spotting koalas along the treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation Centre.
The Eureka Skydeck boasts the highest public viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere. Nestled on the 88th floor of a residential tower building, the Skydeck offers fantastic views of Melbourne both day and night. If you need a bit more thrill in your attraction, step out on “The Edge”- a glass cube jutting from the edge of the building – the only thing between you and the ground 285m below is a piece of glass!
All aboard! The Puffing Billy historical steam train is still running daily on its original track – which is now over a hundred years old. Specialty tours are offered throughout the year, including dinner and lunch rides, themed nights out at the Nobelius Packing Shed, live jazz – there is even the chance to drive the train yourself!
Just 3 hours drive from Melbourne, Mt Buller is the closest ski resort to Melbourne. Take a day trip up during the winter and hit the ski slopes, snow shoe, toboggan or just enjoy the après-ski hospitality of the mountain village. In summer, Mt Buller offers challenging hiking and mountain biking trails – as well as intensive clinics to get your tune up your riding skills (and your bike) before you head out.
Australia’s largest sports stadium is also one of the most famous cricket venues in the world. Embrace your love of sporting history by taking part in a full, all-access tour of the grounds led by guides with a passion for sport and a knack for story telling.
Melbourne is referred to as the garden city, and the state of Victoria is officially known as the garden state with parks and gardens in abundance. Melbourne is one of the world's most diverse and multicultural cities. Melbourne is referred to as the garden city with parks and gardens in abundance.
To make it easy to find Melbourne information please use our navigation on the top of the page, the search box or the Melbourne site map.
Melbourne has an extensive public transport network. It has one of the world's most extensive tram networks, one of a kind in Australia. For visitors there is a free City Circle Tram, which takes in many of Melbourne attractions.
We do suggest that you book your Melbourne accommodation as soon as you can and if you are coming for the Melbourne Cup do it now!
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A Rough Guide to Melbourne
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