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Melbourne Travel & Sightseeing Guide
February 19, 2008 |
View of the Melbourne CBD from The Shrine of Remembrance
With an area of 227,000 square kilometres Victoria is Australia’s smallest mainland state in area but with 5 million people (25% of total Australia) it is the second most populated. It is about the same size in area as England, Scotland and Wales and is slightly larger than the US state of Utah. The gold rushes of the 1850’s were the largest gold rushes the world has ever known. They precipitated rapid growth in population and wealth and established the foundation for the thriving state that is Victoria today. Victoria became a state of Australia when the Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed in 1901. The capital city of Victoria is Melbourne. Other sizable Victorian cities are Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Shepparton.
A Brief History of Melbourne
When you look at the modern metropolis that is Melbourne today, it is hard to believe that just a little over 150 years ago it was little more than a sparsely settled village on the banks of the Yarra river. It was in 1835 that John Batman crossed Bass Strait from Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) and infamously bartered the land on the western shores of Port Phillip Bay for little more than blankets and trinkets from the local aborigines. He travelled up the Yarra River and famously proclaimed, “This is the spot for a village”. (A later variation of this is: ” This is the village for a spot”).
In 1837 the village was named after Lord Melbourne, a British prime minister of the time. Still under New South Wales administration, Charles La Trobe, newly arrived from England was appointed superintendent. A police force, customs office and a lands office were soon established. The colony of Victoria was officially proclaimed on 1 July 1851. Some 20,000 people were living there at the time. Then came the great gold rush of the mid nineteenth century. Alluvial gold was discovered in the Victorian goldfields at towns like Castlemaine, Ballarat, Bendigo (then known as Sandhurst) Clunes and Maryborough. In 1854 sailing ships had arrived from all around the world swelling the colony’s population to 300,000 by 1855. This influx of people and wealth saw many fine buildings created – many of which still stand today. Marvellous Melbourne had begun! Spurred by post war European immigration Melbourne is today a thriving metropolis of about 3.5 million people. It is Australia’s second largest city to Sydney. Melbourne’s culture and cosmopolitan atmosphere is enriched with large Italian and Greek populations while more recently there has been a wave of Asian immigration.
What makes Melbourne Marvelous?
Many things come together to make Melbourne a truly marvellous cosmopolitan city. It is a wonderful mix of bars, cafes and restaurants, fashion and shopping, friendly people, a wide selection of first class visitor accommodation facilities, an obsession with sport, theatre and the arts, beautiful parks and gardens, wide tree lined boulevards, a functional public transport system and a moderate climate with four distinct seasons. In 2003 and 2004 the Economic Intelligence Unit proclaimed Melbourne as ‘the world’s most liveable city’.
Melbourne’s Location
Melbourne is in the southeast corner of Australia on the banks of the Yarra River, only a few kilometres from Port Phillip Bay. It is an hour’s flight from both Sydney to the north and Adelaide to the west. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Melbourne try Thomas Cook.
Melbourne
Melbourne’s Weather
Melbourne’s weather is much maligned. Other states like to give Melbourne the reputation as Australia’s wettest capital city. In fact, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin and Perth all receive much higher annual rainfalls. However there is an element of truth, on average, Melbourne does have the highest number of rainy days per year even though the rainfall is lighter.
Melbourne’s Mediterranean climate is comparatively mild most of the year although it is very changeable. Summers are warm and dry with average daily maximum temperatures in the mid twenties. Summer daytime temperatures are quite variable. Melbourne actually receives more 30C (86F) days each summer than Sydney, but the overall lower average reflects the changeable weather. Hot NW winds may on rare occasions bring temperatures that top 40C (104F). Winter daytime highs are comparatively cool to cold in a range 10 -15C. Periods of lower temperatures do occur with cold SW winds. Snow does not normally fall at sea level. Snow flurries have been known to fall in Melbourne but it never settles. When they do occur it make media headlines. Outlying suburbs to the east around the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges occasionally receive snowfalls that briefly settle. Autumn is the most stable time of the year with long periods of mild sunny days and clear blue skies. Melbourne’s climate is comparable with Athens. Its southern latitude is about the same as Athens’ northern latitude.
Melburnians wryly comment that it is the only city in the world that has the four seasons in one day. This is especially true in summer (November to February) when wind shifts from the north (bringing hot air from the outback in central Australia) change suddenly to southerlies or south-westerlies (bringing cold air currents from the Southern Ocean and Antarctica). When this occurs it is not unusual for the temperature to drop from 40º Celsius to 20º in under an hour. As Australia is in the Southern hemisphere the seasons are the opposite of those north of the equator. This makes it a great place to escape bleak northern hemisphere winters.
Accommodation
Whatever your accommodation preference and budget you can choose from world class five star hotel accommodation, all classes of motor-inns, serviced apartments and inexpensive backpacker accommodation. Most of the five star hotels are situated in the CBD and surrounds. International chains represented in Melbourne include, Hilton, Novotel, Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Radisson and Parkroyal. Australian chains with Melbourne hotels are: Metro Hospitality Group, Rydges, All Seasons, and Country Comfort. Melbourne caters for all tastes and budgets.
Public Transport
The Melbourne CBD and inner suburban area is well served by an integrated public transport system comprising trams, trains and buses. Metcard users can buy one ticket, which can be used on all three services. Trams are a Melbourne icon and boast the third largest network in the world with 245 kilometres of track. The best way to get around the CBD is by City Circle tram which is a free service running around the perimeter of the city. A running commentary highlights the many points of interest along the route. An efficient lightrail service runs to the popular tourist localities of St Kilda and Port Melbourne. Trains are the main mode of transport throughout the metropolitan area while buses crisscross the city and suburbs. Flinders Street station the main terminus for metropolitan rail services, while the spectacular newly rebuilt Southern Cross station in Spencer Street is the main hub for country and interstate rail services. Taxis are reasonably efficient throughout the city although somewhat expensive. There are ferries operating along the Yarra River. There is no rail system to Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport but buses and taxis serve it reasonably well. The taxi fare from the airport to the CBD is around $40.
Parks and Gardens
Melbourne is renowned for its vast areas of beautifully maintained parks and gardens. They offer a wide variety of facilities for residents and visitors alike with sporting fields, jogging tracks, bicycle paths and picnic and barbeque facilities. Some of the more notable gardens include Royal Park, the Carlton Gardens with the majestic Exhibition Building (included in the World Heritage list in 2004), Flagstaff gardens, Queen Victoria gardens, Treasury Gardens, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park, the Domain and the vast open spaces along the banks of the Yarra River including Melbourne’s newest park Birrarung Marr which is a popular place for many of Melbourne’s public events and festivals. Many of the parks including those along the Yarra bank have picnic and barbeque facilities.
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria was founded in 1861 just ten years after Victoria had been an independent colony. In the wake of the gold rush, it received generous gifts from wealthy citizens who made it possible to purchase an extensive collection of overseas works by old and modern masters. Today the gallery is hosed in two magnificent buildings - The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square, home of Australian art, and NGV International at St Kilda Road, the new redeveloped building dedicated to the gallery’s magnificent international artworks. The two sites are an easy stroll from the other across Princes Bridge on the Yarra River. With more than 20,000 works, the NGV’s collection of Australian art is one of the oldest and best known in the country. It includes many examples of Australian aboriginal art. The breadth and depth of the NGV’s collection of international art reflect a philanthropic tradition of which Melbourne is justly proud.
The Arts Centre
Just across the Yarra’s Swanston Street Bridge and alongside Southbank you will find The Arts Centre - Melbourne’s primary home to the arts, music and theatre. A 162-metre spire dominates the complex. Illuminated at night, the spire has become a familiar Melbourne cultural symbol. Immediately beneath the tower are three venues: State Theatre, Playbox Theatre and the George Fairfax Studio. The magnificent Hamer Hall is located in a second adjoining building. The Arts Centre presents a diverse range of performing arts from opera and ballet to orchestral concerts and musical theatre. It has become a Melbourne institution with an excellent program of productions and concerts all year round.
St Kilda Road
St Kilda Road is much more than a four-lane thoroughfare. It is a magnificent boulevard flanked by some of Melbourne’s most beautiful buildings including historic Victoria Barracks, the Shrine of Remembrance, interspersed with luxury high-rise apartments, office buildings and prestigious schools. Magnificent poplar trees form an arch across the boulevard. The best way to explore the area is to travel by tram one way and take a leisurely stroll back to your starting point.
The Shrine
The Shrine of Remembrance is Victoria’s largest and most visited war memorial and is one of Melbourne’s most recognised landmarks. More than 120 ceremonies are held at the Shrine annually including the famous dawn service each ANZAC day. It was built between July 1928 and November 1934 in remembrance of the 114,000 men and women of Victoria who served in the Great War of 1914-1918 of whom 19,000 did not return. Although the country was faced with appalling unemployment and financial difficulty in the late 1920s and the 1930s, so great was the gratitude of the people that the huge amount required to build the Shrine was raised within six months from the opening of the appeal. Prince Henry, the Duke of Gloucester and son of King George V, officially opened the Shrine before a crowd of 300,000 people in November 1934. Since then, it has been a growing monument, with other memorials added to the site to mark the service of successive generations, such as the Second World War Forecourt with its sacred eternal flame and the Remembrance Garden – Post 1945 Memorial. It is well worth climbing the stairway to the balcony for wonderful views of the city and surrounds.
Royal Exhibition Building
This magnificent building is classic example of 19th century opulent architecture. The building was completed in 1880 for Melbourne’s first International Exhibition. It was a showcase to the world of Melbourne’s prosperity arising from the world’s richest gold rush. It was chosen as the site for the opening of the first Commonwealth Parliament of Australia on 9 May 1901. The building to this day remains a functional venue for trade shows and exhibitions. A soaring dome complimented with an ornate interior and long spacious galleries dominates the building. Set in a beautiful garden setting it was the first building in Australia to be classified as a World Heritage listing.
Parliament House Melbourne
Parliament House is the seat of the Parliament of Victoria. It commands a prime position on eastern hill in Spring Street visible from the length of Bourke Street, the main shopping thoroughfare of Melbourne. Construction began in 1855 and was completed in stages between 1856 and 1929. It features a classical colonnade and portico, which gives the edifice a monument persona. The original plans included a dome but this was abandoned during the 1890’s depression and was never built. The Victorian Parliament has occupied it since 1855 except for the period 1901 to 1928 when it was the seat of the Parliament of Australia while the new capital city of Canberra was being developed. It was the scene of many of the milestone events of the early federal period including the formation of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor party. It is reputed to be one of the finest examples of civic architecture of the British Empire. It comprises chambers for the Victorian Legislative Assembly, and the Victorian Legislative Council.
Government House
Situated on a commanding site adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens and surrounded by King’s Domain, Government House Melbourne, is a fine example of Victorian period Italianate architecture. It was the official residence of the Governor General of Australia from 1901 to 1927. The house has been occupied continuously by the Governors of Victoria since 1934. The 145-foot belvedere tower rising from the building is a Melbourne landmark. The garden is reputed to be the most intact 19th century remaining garden in Melbourne.
Melbourne Museum
Situated in the Carlton Gardens adjacent to the historic Royal Exhibition Building, the Melbourne Museum displays a mixture of the old and new from dinosaur remains to the very latest in modern technology. You can explore a rain forest, see a taxidermy reconstruction of Phar Lap, Australia’s most famous racehorse, and even walk on to a set of the TV show Neighbours. The museum features permanent and touring exhibitions, dynamic performances and an IMAX theatre. Attractions include the Te Pasifika gallery celebrating the great maritime traditions and the indigenous cultures of the Pacific Islands. The Bunjilaka exhibition displays historic and contemporary perspectives of Aboriginal culture in Victoria. Other galleries are dedicated to Mind & Body, Science & Life, Evolution, Forest, Australia, Design and Children. Admission is only $6 for adults while children are admitted free.
Old Melbourne Gaol
Established in 1841 the Old Melbourne Gaol was the setting for135 hangings. The most infamous person to meet their end here was Ned Kelly– the famous Victorian bushranger who was hanged in 1880. His death mask is on display along with those of many other criminals who met their grisly demise here. A replica of Ned Kelly’s armour is on display with his colt revolver. The gaol was closed as a penal facility in 1926 and is today a museum rich in history and atmosphere. The ambiance is palpable in the bleak old bluestone buildings. Reports of strange sights and sounds occur – especially at night. It is operated by the National trust of Australia (Victoria).
Scienceworks
Children of all ages delight in the many fascinating exhibits at Scienceworks near the mouth of the Yarra. There are dozens of interactive displays exploring the mysteries of science and technology. The complex includes the Melbourne Planetarium where the shows take you to the moon, the stars, the planets and beyond. The Lightning Room is another highlight where you can witness live lightning demonstrations. You can also visit the historic Spotswood Pumping Station on the same site.
Melbourne Aquarium
This popular Melbourne attraction was opened as recently as 1999. It features an overhead shark exhibit, and many diverse species of marine life with some 10,000 aquatic exhibits over four levels. It displays many different habitats from billabongs to rock pools, mangroves and coral atolls. There are daily animal feeds and presentations where you will see sharks, giant stingrays and turtles. Its prime location is on the banks of the Yarra River opposite Crown Casino.
Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens was established in 1846, after Lieutenant Governor Charles La Trobe selected the site on the southern banks of the Yarra River. At the time of its foundation, the Gardens’ site was an uninspiring mixture of rocky outcrops and swampy marshland, but it was not long before the foundations were laid for one of the great gardens of the world. In 1857, the Gardens’ first full time Director, Ferdinand von Mueller was appointed. He became one of the most acclaimed botanists of the 19th century, and was ultimately awarded Knighthoods by over 20 countries. Mueller established the Gardens’ scientific centre, The National Herbarium of Victoria, and amassed an extraordinary range of plants from every corner of the world. When William Guilfoyle was appointed Director in 1873, he set about creating the Gardens that we see today. His legacy is the world-famous landscape style with great sweeping lawns, wondering paths and glittering lakes, with magnificent vistas, and a surprise at every turn. Guilfoyle had the benefit of Melbourne’s mild climate, which allows an exotic mix of tropical and temperate plants to be grown, as well as the outstanding collection of plants already established by Mueller. Today, the Gardens are home to more than 51,000 individual plants, representing over 12,000 different species, and have become a natural sanctuary for native wild life including black swans that grace the ponds. It is well worth a visit to enjoy the rich collection of botanical species in such a beautiful, tranquil setting.
Melbourne Zoo
Dating back to 1870, the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens usually referred to as the Melbourne Zoo ranks with the worlds best. Its series of habitat or bioclimatic zones and more than 350 animal species from Australia and around the world gives visitors a feeling of viewing the animals in their natural environment. An African Rainforest features gorillas, mandrills, pigmy hippos and parrots. An Asian Rainforest features tigers and otters while the Australian Bush zone displays Koalas, echidnas, wombats and many other Australian marsupials. The Butterfly House at the Melbourne Zoo is a large tropical glasshouse in which visitors can mingle with twelve species of tropical Australian butterflies. The house is maintained at a high temperature and humidity and gives the butterflies ample room in which to spread their magnificently coloured wings.
Werribee Open Range Zoo
This is a zoo with a difference only half an hour from the city. You will find an amazing array of African animals living in a wide-open savannah. Cheetahs, monkeys, lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras and hippos are all there in the open. A safari bus takes you on a wildlife adventure tour. Local grasslands animals can be seen there too in a large open exhibit including eastern grey kangaroos, wallabies and emus.
The Sporting Capital of Australia
Melbourne is often referred to as the sporting capital of Australia. The reputation is well deserved. Melburnians flock to major sport events in tens of thousands. Some of the more famous events on the Melbourne sporting calendar are:
The Melbourne Cup
If you love horse racing, Melbourne is a great place to be during the Spring Racing Carnival – arguably the greatest racing carnival in the world. It is much more than sporting event. It is also a fashion and party spectacular in which milliners and designers have a bonanza and champagne flows freely throughout the five-weeks of the carnival. The centrepiece of the carnival is the Group 1 Melbourne Cup – when some of the best thoroughbreds from around the world compete for some of the richest stakes anywhere. It is said that Australia comes to a standstill for the running of the race! The Melbourne Cup is always held on the first Tuesday in November. Other famous races in the carnival are Derby Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day.
The Australian Open Tennis Championships
This great tournament is the first of the great four Grand Slam titles in the year followed by the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. More than 500,000 spectators flock to Melbourne Park in the two weeks the tournament is run. The championships regularly attract the best men and women tennis players in the world. The Melbourne Park venue is one of the most modern tennis stadiums in the world and is within easy walking distance from the CBD. The complex includes the Rod Laver arena, which has a roof that can be opened or closed according to the weather. The tournament is held each year from mid to late January.
The Australian Grand Prix.
The roar of engines and the smell of burning rubber are part of the action each year at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. The 5.3km purpose-built Albert Park Lake track is only minutes from the centre of Melbourne. The four-day event is a kaleidoscope of glamorous grid girls, fashion, colour, race fans from around the world and almost non-stop partying. The event is usually run in March of each year to kick off the Grand Prix season.
The AFL Grand Final
The grand final is the culmination of each Australian Rules football season. The prize is the highly sought after Premiership Cup. “Aussie Rules” as locals call the game is uniquely Australian and is arguably the fastest and most spectacular of all football codes. The competition is comprised of sixteen AFL clubs from Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia. AFL football is more than a game to its fans - it is more a religion. The grand final is held on the last Saturday each September. The mighty MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) is home to the Grand Final. The season runs from April to September. You can also see Aussie Rules during the season at Telstradome – another magnificent stadium within easy walking distance from the CBD.
The MCG
The “G” as it is affectionately known to Melburnians is one of the most spectacular stadiums in the world. It is steeped in folklore and tradition. The 1956 Olympic games and the 2006 Commonwealth Games were held here. Test cricket is played here in summer including the famous Boxing Day test. In winter, it is home to AFL football. It is also the venue for international soccer and rugby matches from time to time. The newly redeveloped stadium comfortably accommodates 92,000 spectators. Tours of the stadium are conducted on a regular basis.
Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, at Victoria’s Phillip Island, is three days of non-stop racing action and off-track entertainment. This event showcases the world’s best riders in three Grand Prix classes. The on-track excitement is matched by off-track entertainment. Fans from all over the country gather here each year to experience the sights, sounds and smell of the MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc bikes on the scenic circuit.
The Tan
Whether you are a visitor to Melbourne or one of the locals and you are looking for a good place to jog, power walk or just stroll with a pram you can’t go past the Tan. This 3.83 kilometre circuit is ideal for lunchtime joggers and professional athletes alike. As it is in parklands there is no traffic to worry about. Parts of the circuit are uphill and challenging while other sections are flat and less arduous. Regardless, the entire track is scenic and peaceful as it circles the Royal Botanic Gardens and the beautiful parklands of the Domain. Originally it was a horse track for the well to do but now it is an egalitarian facility to be enjoyed by everyone. Many famous Australian and overseas athletes have trained here. Australia’s Craig Mottram with a time of 10:12 holds the record time for a circuit. If you can get around in 20 minutes or less, you are doing well.
Shopping and Fashion
The term ’shop til you drop’ was surely invented just for Melbourne. This city is blessed with an amazing array of fashion stores and designer boutiques that you will ever find in one city. Melbourne ranks with the great ‘must see’ fashion and shopping capitals of the world. You will find chic boutiques, big emporiums and fascinating shopping arcades in the CBD and nearby Southbank and also in the mega shopping malls located throughout the greater metropolitan area. You will also find other trendy fashion stores in stylish shopping strips like Chapel Street, South Yarra. The Myer Emporium and David Jones in Bourke Street are both excellent department stores renowned for an excellent range of merchandise.
Australian designers have really come to the fore. In Melbourne you will find designs from such internationally renowned names as Wayne Cooper, Collette Dinigan, Akira Isogawa, Mariana Hardwick, Easton Person and Lisa Ho. Melbourne is also the centre for the Mercedes Australian Fashion weeks Autumn/Winter collections in October and November showcasing Australia’s top designer collections and fashion accessories. The Melbourne Fashion Festival in March is where you will find glamour and excitement in the many catwalk shows, parties, and product launches, exhibitions and industry events attended by many celebrity guests and international models.
Restaurants and Bars
Whatever your taste in fine cuisine and wine Melbourne offers an eclectic range of excellent restaurants, bars, bistros, pubs, wine bars and cafes throughout the city. French, Italian, Greek, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese and seafood cuisines are all in abundance throughout the city. Some of the most popular eating precincts are to be found in China Town, Chapel Street, Fitzroy Street, Acland Street, Lygon Street, Southbank and Docklands. The most widely acclaimed restaurant in Melbourne is the world famous Flower Drum considered by many as one of the finest Chinese restaurants in the world. A feature of Melbourne is the many BYO (Bring Your Own wine) restaurants where you can enjoy great cuisine without having to pay inflated prices for your favourite drop of wine. If you are looking for a restaurant that is uniquely Melbourne you cannot go past the 1927 Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. Specially fitted out historic trams glide through a leisurely tour of Melbourne while you enjoy sumptuous silver service three-course meals with vintage Australian wines in comfort and style.
Crown Casino
Conveniently located on the southern bank of Melbourne’s Yarra River, Crown offers much more than gaming. It is also a vast live entertainment complex, with a Five Star hotel, a cinema complex, designer shops, fine restaurants and food courts, bistros, bars and and elegant public spaces. There is something for everyone at Crown.
Queen Victoria Market
The Queen Victoria Market (or ‘The Vic’ as Melburnians affectionately call it) is an historic Melbourne landmark dating back to 1878. Within easy walking distance of the CBD it is sited on seven hectares over two city blocks. Like most great open air markets it is more than just a place to buy great fresh produce, souvenirs and speciality goods at bargain prices, it also offers free entertainment in the form of carnival rides buskers and spruikers, and a great selection of cafes and cheap eats. Prahran and South Melbourne markets are also well worth seeing for cheap produce and other goods not to mention local colour.
Melbourne Town Hall
The Melbourne Town hall is a magnificent heritage building in the heart of the city. Built in 1870. It has a magnificent clock tower and a huge auditorium which has been the scene of many orchestral concerts. A richly carved Grand Organ with more than 10,000 pipes is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The building also has an impressive portico where many VIP’s are presented with keys to the city by the Lord Mayor.
Luna Park
Luna Park is one of Melbourne’s most loved landmarks. It is an ‘old world’ amusement park on the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay in St Kilda. Dating back to 1912, it has been operationg continuously ever since. The moons ‘open mouth’ which serves as the main entrance is truly a Melbourne icon. One of its most famous attractions is the Scenic Railway, the oldest continuously operating wooden framed roller coaster in the world. The Scenic Railway (which affords excellent views of Port Phillip Bay) was installed when the park opened in 1912. Luna Park’s pride and joy is the Carousel – a truly magnificent carousel as old as the park itself. It is a visual delight for young and old delight with its seventy horses and chariots all individually painted by hand and decorated with intricate bric-a-brac.
Melbourne Observation Deck at the Rialto
One of the best places to get your bearings in Melbourne is from The Melbourne Observation deck on the 55th floor in the Rialto Towers in the CBD. Here you can get spectacular 360-degree views every day of the year from 10am until late. On clear days, you can enjoy views of the surrounding countryside up to 60 kilometres away. A spectacular 20-minute audiovisual presentation is included in the admission, which gives you an account of some of the attractions you can enjoy in Melbourne and other parts of the state.
Federation Square
Federation Square is a popular meeting place opposite Flinders Street station running down to the banks of the Yarra. Featuring stunning (and controversial) architecture, Federation Square, brings together the National Gallery of Victoria, home of Australian art, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Champions: Australian Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, National Design Centre and the Melbourne Visitor Centre. Federation Square also offers restaurants, cafes, and bars and a giant video screen.
Southbank
The Southbank promenade along the Yarra River has become one of Melbourne’s most popular dining precincts. With its riverside setting it offers spectacular views of the city skyline. The promenade has a plethora of cafes and restaurants – many with outdoor terraces and balconies where you can dine alfresco while watching buskers and the passing parade. The views of the city skyline are particularly stunning at night. You can catch water taxis and ferries from here as well.
Docklands
This is one of Melbourne’s newest waterfront precincts. Located to the west of the CBD on the magnificent Victoria Harbour. The area has been reclaimed from what was previously a largely derelict wharf area. Docklands offers stunning views, unique urban art, grand promenades and marinas. Melbourne Docklands has fast become a focal point for the city with a great selection of restaurants, bars and cafes to enjoy. Docklands is home to Telstradome the great sports stadium with its unique opening and closing roof. A giant Ferris wheel similar to the famous London Eye is among the next stages of development.
Tourist Attractions in Country Victoria
The Great Ocean Road
This scenic road is one of the world’s most spectacular coastal drives as it winds around golden beaches, spectacular cliff tops, eucalypt rainforests, fern lined gullies, picturesque townships and fast flowing mountain streams. The road passes through some iconic surf beaches including Bells Beach revered by surfers throughout the world. Further along is the ‘Shipwreck Coast’ with its awesome limestone cliffs and where the spectacular Twelve Apostles stand like sentinels rising majestically from the sea. You can visit historic Loch Ard Gorge where the sailing ship Loch Ard foundered with tragic loss of life in the nineteen century. The Great Ocean Road was completed in 1932. Returned soldiers from the First World War 1 built the road by hand with picks, crowbars and shovels. It stretches for 75 scenic kilometres.
The Penguin Parade and other Phillip Island attractions
Less than two hours by coach from Melbourne is Phillip Island – one of the top nature and wildlife regions in Australia. Each evening at dusk you can view hundreds of Fairy penguins emerging from the surf after a day’s foraging for food in the cold Southern Ocean. You can watch them waddle across the beach to their rookeries in the dunes where they feed their waiting young. It is one of nature’s most enthralling experiences. Phillip Island abounds with wild life. There are also excellent facilities on the island where you can get close up to cute koalas from treetop boardwalks. There are also kangaroos, pelicans and colonies of mutton-birds on the island. There are spectacular ocean views from the boardwalk at the Nobbies and the grandeur of Cape Woolamai is truly a sight to behold. One and half kilometres offshore from the Nobbies are Seal Rocks, home to Australia’s largest Fur Seal colony. You can view the seals through powerful binoculars or if time permits you can take an organised boat trip from Cowes, the main township on the island, to see the seals up close as they bask on the rocks and cavort in the swirling sea with their pups.
Funfields Family Fun Park
Established in 1985, Funfields is one of Victoria’s most popular family fun parks. Attractions include the longest stainless steel toboggan ride in Victoria, two great water slides, crash and splash Bumper Boats, the Thunderdome Go Karts track, Crocodile Creek 18-hole Mini Golf, Children’s Adventure Playground and Funfields Kidszone featuring Formula Fun Electric Go Karts, the Jungle Express train ride and Mini Bike Track. There are picnic shelters, electric barbeques and an excellent kiosk. 2365 Plenty Road, Whittlesea. Tel.(03) 9716 1078 www.funfields.com.au
Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary
Healesville Sanctuary is Australia’s premier wildlife park, nestled in the misty blue foothills of the Yarra Ranges just one hour out of Melbourne. For a truly inspiring outdoor experience, escape to the beautiful Yarra Valley and get close-up to some of Australia’s most captivating wildlife including koalas, kangaroos, wombats and tassie devils. Delight in the curious behavior of the platypus, be enchanted by the creatures of the night and find out the truth behind the myths of some of Australia’s most dangerous reptiles. Meet the dingoes on their daily walk and watch the magnificent raptors soar overhead in the exciting Birds of Prey presentation. Take a journey like no other through the world-class Australian Wildlife Health Centre and see unprecedented views into the operations of wildlife care. Experience the plight of injured wildlife from rescue and treatment to recovery and release. Talk to the vets as they work and see first-hand the remarkable connection between veterinary staff and the wildlife in their care. For amazing insights into a working wildlife Sanctuary join a behind-the-scenes Working Sanctuary Tour or simply immerse yourself in the unspoilt beauty and eucalypt scent of the bush land surrounds.
The Yarra Valley
Just 50 kilometres to the east of Melbourne you can visit the picturesque Yarra Valley where you can sample some of the finest wines produced in Australia. The region specialises in sparkling wines, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignons. The beautiful region is home to more than thirty wineries, some offering wine bars and fine restaurants. Some of the most notable wineries in the district are Domaine Chandon, Yering Station and Yarra Ridge. The more adventurous can go on a sunrise hot air balloon flight, taking in the breathtaking rolling hills and vineyard views followed by a sumptuous champagne breakfast.
Ballarat and Sovereign Hill
Ballarat was scene of one of the main goldfields of the gold rush of the 1850’s when fortune hunters descended on the region from all over the world. It was also the scene of the Eureka Stockade – a miners’ rebellion that arose from the imposition of unfair mining licences and their enforcement. Today you can visit Sovereign Hill, which faithfully recreates the goldfields of that era. It is where history literally comes to life where you can see the diggings and actually pan for real gold! There are shops, hotels, schools, a theatre, a confectionery and steam driven machinery all faithfully recreated in the context of the time. Here, you can have your photo taken with one of many colourful costumed goldfield characters as a great souvenir of your visit. At night you can thrill to a spectacular light-and-sound show – Blood on the Southern Cross – which dramatically re-enacts the story of the Eureka rebellion.
The Mighty Murray River
Take in heritage rich Bendigo – another gold rush boomtown of last century on the way to the port of Echuca the hub of Murray River country. The Murray/Darling is the fifth largest river system in the world flowing more than 3,000 kilometres across this great southern land. A large part of Australia’s history was created here when paddle steamers plied their trade supplying the early pioneers. Today you can recreate the era cruising on one of the recreated paddle steamers. You will be able to take in sandstone cliffs and great rivergum trees while spotting cockatoos, pelicans, kangaroos, goannas and other quintessentially Australian wildlife.
Victorian Ski Fields
Most people do not associate Australia with snow skiing, yet some of the finest ski resorts in the world are found in Victoria’s high country. One of the best things about it is the ski season runs from June to October here when it is summer in the northern hemisphere. Mt Buller is one of the most popular resorts and is only about three hours drive friom Melbourne. The resort offers a wide variety of accommodation options and package deals. You can enjoy cross country and downhill skiing, toboggan trails and snow tubing with slopes for beginners and advanced skiiers alike. You can even go on snowshoe walking tours if that is more your style. At night you can continue partying in the many bars, cafes and restaurants.
Dandenong Ranges
For more than a century, the Dandenong Ranges have been an idyllic retreat for the citizens of Melbourne wanting to take in the mountain air and escape the bustle of city life. Located past the outer eastern suburb of Narre Warren Dominating Melbourne’s horizon, the bluish hue of the Dandenong Ranges beckons visitors to enjoy cool temperate rainforest scenery with beautiful views of the City and Port Phillip Bay. Often referred to as Melbourne’s playground it is only about an hours’ drive from the city. The Dandenong Ranges National Park is the home of spectacular mountain ash forests, with 300 kilometres of walking tracks meandering through lush fern gullies to magical places such as Sherbrooke Forest, Dongalla Homestead and the Thousand Steps. Beautiful Sherbrooke Forest teems with bird life including the majestic and rare lyrebird, crimson rosellas, cockatoos and kookaburras It is also home to magnificent rhododendrons, azaleas, daffodils, native birds, and spectacular panoramic views of the Yarra Valley and distant ranges. You can delight in a relaxing afternoon browsing through the many art, antique and handicraft galleries and sampling a famous Dandenong Ranges Devonshire cream tea with scones and strawberry jam. For those looking for a romantic getaway, choose from one of the many B&Bs hidden amongst the hills, garden-fringed guesthouses and self-contained cottages with spa baths, open fires and panoramic views of city lights, and lush forests and valleys.
Puffing Billy
Victoria’s much-loved Puffing Billy is Australia’s best-known restored steam train tourist service. The narrow gauge track winds its way through the Dandenong Ranges through lush fern valleys and towering eucalypts. It is popular among adults and children alike. It is Australia’s oldest steam railway, winding its way through thick forests, fern-filled gullies and past picturesque villages with poetic names such as Belgrave, Gembrook and Emerald.
Travel by ferry to Tasmania
If you would like to break your stay in Melbourne you could enjoy a voyage across Bass Strait in Spirit of Tasmania. The ferry terminal is just a few kilometres from the CBD in Port Melbourne. As you sail down Port Phillip Bay towards the heads, you can inhale the fresh sea air while enjoying a drink or snack at the bar or an excellent meal at the a-la- Carte restaurant. During summer daytime crossings you can soak up the views from one of the upper deck bars. All classes of accommodation are available up to luxury cabins and for a little extra you can take your car with on the voyage.
The High Country
The high country in Victoria’s northeast is a kaleidoscope of magnificent scenery, snowfields, mountain cattlemen and historic townships. In winter, the region is the location of Victoria’s premier snowfields including Mount Buller, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek. In the warmer months, it is the perfect place for horse riding, four wheel driving and hiking on the high plains. You will find cattlemen’s huts, wildflowers and great snow gums. The high country is also the home of acclaimed wineries such as Brown Brothers, Gehrig Estate and All Saints. It is the place for festivals, country music and bush poetry. It was here that Australia’s most famous bush poet Banjo Patterson wrote his classic work The Man from Snowy River. The movie epic of the same name was also filmed here. It is also Kelly Country where Ned Kelly and his infamous gang of outlaws once roamed the foothills. The Great Alpine Road –one of Austria’s most notable scenic routes winds its way through the region from Wangaratta to the Gippsland Lakes. The high county beckons.
The Mornington Peninsula
Only an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula takes you to another world reminiscent of the Mediterranean. You can explore Westernport Bay here with its beautiful islands and inlets. At the southern end of Port Phillip Bay there is more to explore with its magnificent bay and ocean beaches, piers and boating activities. The region is also noted for its famous wineries with more than fifty cellar doors. Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are found here in abundance. If hiking through national parks is more your style you can’t go past historic Point Nepean with its magnificent bay and ocean vistas. Above all the Mornington Peninsula is unparalleled for water sports of all kinds. Surfing, sailing, fishing, diving with the dolphins and swimming with seals are all here for you. If golf is more your game, there are 18 magnificent courses from which to choose. While you are here do not miss a visit to Arthur’s Seat with its magnificent views of Port Phillip Bay, a chair lift ride, gardens and quaint mazes to explore.
Wilson’s Promontory Marine National Park
This great national park is at the southernmost point in the Australian mainland. It is 15,550 hectares in extent and covers some 70 kilometres of rugged mainland coastline. The “prom” is the northernmost link in a chain of Granite Mountains that extends across Bass Strait into eastern Tasmania. The scenery is spectacular on land and underwater. Huge granite boulders and towering cliffs running down to pristine white and yellow sandy beaches are a feature of the landscape. Underwater, the deep reefs are a treasure trove for divers with multi coloured seaweed, kelp, seagrass and sponges teeming with many species of fish and molluscs. Nearby islands are home to penguins, seabirds and Australian Fur Seals. At breeding time in November and December, Great White Sharks are frequent unwelcome visitors.
The Grampians
The Grampians are a series of spectacular sandstone mountain ranges and national park 235 kilometres west of Melbourne. Named after the Grampian Mountains in Scotland, they are also known by the aboriginal name Gariwerd. The peaks and pinnacles offer stunning views of the surrounding area. It is a popular place for rock climbing and bush walks. Many parts of the Grampians are steep and spectacular. The beautiful wildflowers attract many nature lovers when they bloom in spring. You can also spot many types of native wild life here.
Lake Eildon
Lake Eildon is a popular holiday playground for Victorians. Camping is popular here or if you prefer you can hire houseboats with comfortable amenities as you explore the many arms of the lake. The lake was created by the construction of the Eildon Weir on the Goulburn River. In recent years Lake Eildon has rarely approached fill levels owing to sparse rainfall and the demand on its water from irrigators in the Goulburn Valley system. However there is still much to enjoy. Water activities include boating, water skiing, fishing and swimming. There are great walking tracks and nature trails, and there are areas suitable for mountain and trail bikes and four wheel driving.
Gippsland Lakes
The Gippsland Lakes system is comprised of three magnificent waterways that cover a distance of 60 kilometres. Lake Wellington at the western end is connected to Lake Victoria via McLennan’s Strait. Then it adjoins Lake King which flows into Bass Strait by a man made entrance at the popular tourist town of Lakes Entrance. The major contributing rivers to the huge water catchment area are the Latrobe, Thompson, Avon, Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo. The lakes are a popular place for swimming, boating and fishing. It is a great place for camping, viewing native waterbirds and wildlife and bushwalking. The magnificent Ninety Mile Beach on Bass Strait adjoins this beautiful nature playground.
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