Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital of the garden state, Victoria.
In terms of size, the city comes second only to Sydney, although a visit to Melbourne will let you know that these are two very different parts of the country.
Whereas Sydney has a more intense city feel, Melbourne has a far more laid back vibe about it.
Melbourne is also known as the cultural capital of Australia. It has a European-style pub and café culture and is the centre of the Australian music scene, with live bands playing at dozens of venues around the city every night.
Because of the different licensing laws to Sydney it’s easier for small quirky bars to operate in Melbourne.
It is also home to the arts, hosting the Melbourne Fringe Festival and the Melbourne Film Festival, both of which are major global events. Melbourne also boasts a fantastic comedy circuit, with many world-class comics flying in for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in March and April.
Melbourne is also famous for its weather. This is a city known for having all four seasons in a day, as Crowded House famously sang. It is still hot in the summer months, of course, but can certainly be a refreshing escape from the baking sun further north.
Sitting on Port Philip Bay, Melbourne is not your typical Aussie beach city.
However, although it lacks surf and sand, the bay does provide a whole host of aquatic pleasures.
The clean and calm coastline offers great swimming and some top diving spots, along with other sports like kayaking and windsurfing. If you are missing the sand, just a few kilometres down the road there are a number of top spots for anyone looking to catch some waves.
CBD
The CBD in Melbourne is an ultimately busy district, yet survives without all the hustle-and-bustle that can be found in other cities. There are many pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants in the quaint little alleyways that deviate off the main drag.
The area runs around Collins Street, between Spencer Street and Parliament, with the shopping drag on Bourke Street.
There are also some top tourist attractions such as the Old Melbourne Jail, where Ned Kelly was hung, the Melbourne Museum and the Melbourne Aquarium.
St Kilda
St Kilda is a remarkable place. It is situated on one of the most picturesque points of the stunning Port Phillip Bay, just outside the city.
That means that if city life is not your thing, this is a great place to get away from it all, yet still it’s spitting distance from Melbourne’s heartland.
It also boasts the city’s principal beach, as well as a buzzing bohemian nightlife.
Southbank
Restored from a dilapidated eyesore, Southbank is now Melbourne’s stunning city waterfront, stretching along the southern bank of the Yarra River, from Flinders Station to the Crown Casino. The Southbank is lined with top restaurants and bars and is one of the best locations in all of the city for fine dining, with the great Melbourne skyline as the backdrop.
Quick Fact:
Residents of Melbourne are called Melburnians or Melbournites.
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