Melbourne, something for everyone.....

Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, is a city with something for everyone.

Vibrant laneway cafés to trendy bars, botanical gardens to sports stadiums, elegant Victorian mansions to huge modern skyscrapers, film and food festivals to art galleries and opulent theatres.

In Melbourne you can enjoy some of Australia’s best eating and drinking, you can explore historic arcades and laneways lined with wonderful cafes and boutiques and you can see sporting spectaculars, art exhibitions and performing arts productions throughout the year.

In fact, whatever turns you on, you’ll find it in here.

We don’t call it “Marvellous Melbourne” for no reason.

Here you’ll find a healthy dose of hedonism masquerading as high art and you’ll find Melburnians are equally passionate about football as they are about ballet, about fashion as they are about great food.

It's a smorgasbord of a city that you may never want to leave.

The city is, by turns, cosmopolitan, suburban, cultivated, conservative and an avant-garde haven.

Visitors come for its shopping, restaurants , nightlife and sporting calendar and most agree that it's one of the world's most liveable cities.

If you’re a shopaholic, Melbourne has long been recognised as Australia’s shopping capital and if fashion is your thing...well, what can I say?

The city’s funky laneways and tree-lined streets are a haven for small boutiques specialising in Australian designers, jewellery, accessories and international fashion.

If it’s leading international fashion labels you’re after you can stroll down Collins Street, home to Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, Bulgari and Louis Vuitton, as well as such icons as Miss Louise and Le Louvre.

Nearby, Little Collins Street has a great selection of cutting-edge and sartorial menswear including Kenzo, Declic, Chiodo, Roy, Arthur Galan and D. Inc.

All fashion tastes are catered for by our iconic department stores, David Jones and Myer, both in Bourke Street Mall, and for a wide range of designers and retailers under the one roof you can’t go past our retail centres such as GPO, Melbourne Central, QV, Collins two3four, Australia on Collins and Collins Place.

Whatever your 'thing' you'll find it right in the heart of the city.

The network of lanes and arcades are host to some of Melbourne’s most intriguing shops, which sell everything from coins to spells and antique books to model trains.

The city is also a great place for buying fresh food.

Queen Victoria Market is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere and considered a mecca for foodies.

For the gourmet traveller, David Jones Food Hall is a must while chocoholics will be torn between Haighs, Max Brenner, Koko Black and The Chocolate Box.

Most stores are open seven days, and many stay open late on Friday.

As a general rule, trading hours for the City shops are:

Saturday to Wednesday: 10.00am - 5.00pm

Thursday: 10.00am - 7.00pm

Friday: 10.00am - 9.00pm

Don’t like shopping?

Melbourne is a city where people see, breathe and live the arts.

It hosts some of the premier Festivals and Events in the nation, as well as a diverse collection of galleries.

To find out what’s on in Melbourne just follow the link.

Perhaps great food and cocktails are more you, well, we can do that too.

Visit The National Gallery Victoria to discover an outstanding collection of international artworks including a permanent display of celebrated artists such as Monet and Rembrandt, as well as the gallery’s extensive Australian art collection.

Wander down Flinders Lane and pop into one of the many independent galleries, or take time out to explore the plethora of public art.

If quirky art spaces and cultural hot spots is more your style, discover the city’s creative underbelly with 52 of Melbourne’s most unique gems featured in the new "Culture Secrets".

Available at bookshops, selected specialist stores and the Visitor Centre for only $9.95, or online at www.deckofsecrets.com

Come and explore the attractions of the Docklands, Victoria’s new waterfront destination.

Located just minutes away from the CBD on glorious Victoria Harbour, Docklands is fast becoming one of the world’s most exciting urban domains

Being developed in stages over a 20 year period, Docklands already has a dynamic mix of residential, commercial, retail and leisure activities.

Melbourne Docklands is a buzzing destination for residents, workers and visitors.

With its spectacular harbour and 3 kilometres of Yarra River frontage, stunning views, unique urban art, promenades, historical wharves, new marinas and parkland, there is so much to explore.

There is also a great selection of award winning restaurants, stylish bars and relaxing cafes to enjoy.

Year round the Yarra River precinct is bustling with locals and visitors alike, soaking up the lively atmosphere and taking in the stunning views.

Melbourne’s waterfront combines river cruises, fine dining, shopping and attractions with world class sporting, arts and botanical venues.

Birrarung Marr, Federation Square, Southgate, Crown Entertainment Complex and Melbourne Docklands are the centrepieces of Melbourne’s waterfront offering.

Whilst the northern states, particularly Queensland take the brunt of tourism down under, Melbourne is a best-kept secret year round.

While Melbourne's spring is a sight to behold, with multitudes of gardens in bloom and the festive Spring Racing Carnival heralding summer, any local will tell you that mid-autumn sees Melbourne at its most stunning.

A good warm coat never goes astray at this time, but a little cold is worth bearing for the strolls through the amber and ochre.

Melbourne's climate has a reputation for being wet, windy, unpredictable and liable to extremes, very hot or very cold and often both on the same day!

On the plus side, Melbourne's multitude of parks makes it a beautiful place to witness the changing seasons.

It is rarely unbearably cold (unless you come from somewhere warm), in winter the average temperature ranges between 6°C (43°F) and 13°C (55°F), and the temperature rises above 35°C (95°F) only a few times each year.

Melbourne's soggy reputation also outstrips the reality, it receives only half the average rainfall of Sydney or Brisbane.

Most international tourists will arrive via Melbourne's Tullamarine airport which is is 22 kilometres (14 miles) northwest of the city centre.

There are a few ways of getting into the city from the airport but a taxi or the 24-hour Skybus are the most convenient modes.

A second airport, Avalon Airport is southwest of the city; the Sunbus service meets all flights that arrive there.

There is much to love about Melbourne.

Just ask the locals.

This sophisticated world city in the south-east corner of mainland Australia inspires a deep passion in those lucky enough to live here.

They love its vibrant energy, staggering choice of restaurants , funky boutiques, café-filled laneways, cool bars, unbeatable galleries, luscious parks and village-like inner suburbs, each with its own special character.

Melbourne, a relatively modern city which is less than 200 years old, never sits still.

New futuristic designs add to the fascinating mix of architecture and ensure the skyline is constantly changing.

Melbourne is very much about lifestyle.

It is no huge surprise to residents that their city has been named in an international poll as the world’s most liveable city.

Melburnians embrace three things in particular:

• sport (Australian Rules football is almost a religion);

• fashion (the look is chic with a dash of quirky); and

• festivals (the calendar is packed year round).

They even embrace their notoriously changeable weather.

A standing joke in Australia is that Melbourne can experience four seasons in a day.

But, really, it’s just another example of how they have it all!

Sometimes, the best part of visiting a new city is when you unexpectedly depart from the tourist trail and glimpse the city’s “real” side.

While the big attractions can be great fun, often it’s the more subtle “insider” experiences that leave you feeling really satisfied.

The City of Melbourne has 15 distinct ‘Precincts’, small pockets of the city with their own unique character, colour and charm.

Find out more about the ‘Precincts” here, or for a map of Melbourne suburbs follow this.

One last thing, if you intend to see as many of the wonderful attractions in and around Melbourne as you can then you really should investigate a See Melbourne & Beyond Smartvisit Card.

Visit over 60 of Melbourne's top tourist attractions for one low price.

The card includes entry and guidebook to attractions such as Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Aquarium, Old Melbourne Gaol, Telstra Dome, Cook's Cottage, Melbourne River Cruises, and so much more.

You only need to visit as few as two to save!

As I said before, Melbourne is a city with something for everyone………….enjoy.

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