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Escape to Melbourne, a culture capital pulsing with the finest wine, food, arts and sports.
Melbourne sprawls along either side of
the Yarra River on the south-east coast of Australia at the northern end of
Port Philip bay. The area was originally home to Aborigines for thousands of
years before settlement by the British.
It is a sophisticated Australian city
with a distinctly European feel. It is
easy to lose yourself in its galleries, museums and lush green parks such as
the Royal Botanical Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and Carlton Gardens. Its trams are
an attraction in themselves; the burgundy-coloured City Tram provides a free
way of exploring the city.
Melbourne’s nightlife is electric and
its entertainment scene is buzzing and will keep you coming back for more. The
best time to visit is during the annual Fringe Festival when the city is alive
with international and local performers turning the streets into a carnival of
theatre, acrobatics and art.
As the capital of Victoria, Melbourne
and its surrounding area are stunning. It is home to some of Australia’s most
beautiful scenery. This is most evident when driving along the Great Ocean Road
or when visiting the Yarra Valley and its vineyards.
Today the city is home to over three
million people and a variety of cultures including Vietnamese, Lebanese,
Chinese and Greek. It plays host to world-renowned sporting events like the
Melbourne Cup, Australian Open Tennis and Qantas Australia Grand Prix.
Melbourne is a stunning city whatever
time of year you visit. With its excellent entertainments, attractions and
shopping you’ll never be short of something to do.
The city has four distinct seasons and usually enjoys a pleasant, temperate
climate. It is probably best visited
in the summer months (November to March) when temperatures are generally warmer.
Winter can be chilly with an average July temperature 13°C.
The average monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
26 |
26 |
24 |
20 |
17 |
14 |
13 |
14 |
16 |
19 |
21 |
24 |
|
Night |
14 |
14 |
13 |
11 |
9 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
The people of Melbourne enjoy shopping
and that is apparent in the number of shopping centres that have sprung up all
over the city. Practically every suburb has a large centre so you are never far
away from a retail fix.
The main shopping street is Bourke
Street which offers a selection of shops selling all manner of goods. One of
the largest shopping centres in the city is Chadstone Shopping Centre (corner
of Princes Highway and Warrigal Road) which is home to many international and
Australian clothes stores.
Bridge Road (Richmond) is great for
bargains with many designer shops and large retail outlets. If you are looking
for shopping that this both sophisticated and expensive, head for Chapel Street
(South Yarra). Just off here is Grenville Street which is home to shops
offering cool, retro items.
Melbourne also has several markets.
Worth a mention here is the Victoria Market (corner of Victoria and Elizabeth
Street) which has become as much a tourist attractions as a market. Plus there
are the Sunday markets at the Victoria Arts Centre (St Kilda Road, South Bank)
which sells local crafts and the Camberwell Market (Station Street, Camberwell)
where you’ll find antiques, bric-a-brac and clothes.
Melbourne is Australia’s theatre
capital with regular shows being performed at venues such as the Victoria Arts
Centre, The Regent Theatre and The Princes Theatre.
Music lovers won’t be disappointed
either with concerts being played at The Victoria Arts Centre, The Concert Hall
and Sydney Myer Music Hall. If you prefer modern music there are a number of
pubs, clubs and other venues around the city that regularly host concerts. The
best way to find out what is happening where is by looking at the gig guide in The Herald Sun Daily or the Friday Melbourne Entertainment Guide in The Age newspaper. Most of the good pubs
are out of the city centre and some names to look out for are:
·
The Depot, Bridge Road, Richmond
·
Birdie O’Reilly’s, Little Collins
Street, Brunswick
·
The Elephant & Wheelbarrow, Fitzroy
Street, St Kilda
·
Star Bar, Clarendon Street, South
Melbourne
·
Molly Blooms, Port Melbourne
There are many nightclubs in Melbourne,
to find the right venue for you ask at your hotel for recommendations. Below
are just a few suggestions to get you started.
·
The Motel, York Street, South Melbourne
·
Metro, Bourke Street
·
Mercury Lounge, Crown Casino, Southbank
·
La di da, Little Bourke Street
·
Seven Nightclub, Albert Road, South
Melbourne
·
Robarta and the Nest, Fitzroy Street,
St Kilda
When it comes to sporting entertainment, you must try and squeeze in a visit to one of the Aussie Rules Football matches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
January
February
March
April
July
August
September
October
November
December
If you want to explore further afield
while in Melbourne, there are a number of local excursions you can take. Your
hotel will be able to provide you with details of local tour operators, however
here are a few suggestions to get you started.
·
Phillip Island (inc. Cape Woolamai and
the Koala Conservation Centre)
·
Yarra Valley Wineries
·
Great Ocean Road
·
Sovereign Hill
·
The Dandenong Mountain Range
·
Ferntree Gully National Park
·
Healesville Sanctuary
·
Ballarat
·
Grampians National Park
Melbourne is a safe city but you are
advised to take the usual precautions with your valuables when out and about,
especially in crowded areas.
Healthcare standards are very high and
therefore very expensive. Doctors and hospitals will require immediate payment
for any treatment provided to overseas tourists. There is a reciprocal
agreement that means emergency hospital treatment is free to UK residents.
However you have to apply for the waiver after receiving treatment.
Any non-essential medical attention
(such as ambulance transport and prescription drugs) will be charged therefore
you are strongly advised to ensure you have sufficient medical insurance in
place before travelling.