Destination Guide to Melbourne, Australia

The capital of Victoria and the second biggest city in Australia, Melbourne is a city of art, culture, entertainment, and expansive parks and gardens. Melbourne also has a distinct blend of contemporary and Victorian architecture which can be seen in several Melbourne hotels.

Where to Start

A unique and fascinating way to get your bearings before exploring Melbourne is to head up to the Rialto Towers to the Rialto Observation Deck. Built in 1982, the deck offers unrivalled panoramic views of Melbourne hotels, the CBD, and gardens.

Federation Square is a prominent meeting place that can hold up to 10,000 people. Some of the biggest draws to Federation Square include the Melbourne Visitor Centre (MVC) – which provides comprehensive information on almost every sight of interest in the Victoria area, the impressive glass and metal structure of The Atrium, and the many Melbourne hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants which line the square.

Top Attractions

Queen Victoria Market is both a cultural shopping Mecca and a historical landmark. Attracting tourists and locals alike, the seven-acre market is the largest of its type in the southern hemisphere, and has been open for business for over 120 years. It is relatively accessible from most Melbourne hotels and boasts over 1,000 stores to choose from.

Museum Victoria runs four separate museums around the city, of which Melbourne Museum is the largest, containing over 16 million items relating to Australian society, Indigenous history, science and technology. Scienceworks Museum, Melbourne Planetarium and the Immigration Museum make up the quartet, all easily accessible from most Melbourne hotels.

Animal lovers are spoilt for choice in the city, with both the Melbourne Zoo and the Melbourne Aquarium fine examples of their ilk. The former is Australia’s oldest zoo and contains over 350 species from around the world, while the aquarium is ideally positioned just a short distance from Melbourne hotels in the city centre.

The capital of Victoria and the second biggest city in Australia, Melbourne can almost match Sydney in terms of attractions, accommodation, and places of interest. The city is one of art, culture, sports and entertainment, and is notable for its expansive parks and gardens, and its distinct blend of contemporary and Victorian architecture. Here we take a look at just a few of the many recommended tourist attractions in Melbourne.

Where to Start

A unique and fascinating way to get your bearings before exploring Melbourne is to head up to the Rialto Towers to the Rialto Observation Deck. Built in 1982, the deck offers unrivalled panoramic views across the CBD and beyond, all from 234 metres up the tallest office building in the Southern Hemisphere. Tourist information and tour booking facilities can also be utilized in the towers.

Federation Square is also a great place to start exploring Melbourne, and was recently voted the city’s most visited tourist attraction with over seven million visitors every year. A prominent meeting place that can hold up to 10,000 people, the square brings together an array of historical, educational and entertainment attractions in a unique cultural precinct. Some of the biggest draws to Federation Square include the Melbourne Visitor Centre (MVC) – which provides comprehensive information on almost every sight of interest in the Victoria area, the impressive glass and metal structure of The Atrium – which hosts many art exhibitions and other displays, and the many cafes, bars and restaurants which line the square.

The Top Attractions

Queen Victoria Market is both a cultural shopping mecca and a historical landmark. Attracting tourists and locals alike, the seven-acre market is the largest of its type in the southern hemisphere, and has been open for business for over 120 years. Local fruit and vegetables, gourmet foods, meat, fish and poultry, clothing and souvenirs can all be picked up here at bargain prices – and with over 1,000 stores to choose from exploring the colourful market can easily eat up a whole day. Shoppers really are spoilt for choice in Melbourne.

Museum Victoria runs four separate museums around the city, of which Melbourne Museum is the largest, containing over 16 million items relating to Australian society, Indigenous history, science and technology. Scienceworks Museum, Melbourne Planetarium and the Immigration Museum make up the quartet.

Museums and art galleries go hand in hand, and the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) displays works of Australian and European artists from the 19th and 20th Centuries, as well as a respectable display of Aboriginal art. The NGV is one of two public art galleries on St. Kilda Road, the other being the NGV International. These are not to be confused with the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia (which is back at Federation Square), or any of the other eight art galleries in the Melbourne metropolitan area.

Animal lovers are spoilt for choice in the city, with both the Melbourne Zoo and the Melbourne Aquarium. The former is Australia’s oldest zoo and contains over 350 species from around the world, including kangaroos, dingoes, koalas and many other native species, for those that do not have the time to venture outside of the big cities. Like the zoo, the aquarium is ideally positioned just a short distance from the city centre. Spread over four levels, a one-way self-guided tour of the aquarium brings visitors into contact with sea dragons, Japanese spider crabs cod and other unusual species of the deep.

Sports enthusiasts are also spoilt for choice, with many top events being held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – better known simply as the MCG. The iconic sporting venue is located in Yarra Park, an easy walk from the city centre. The MCG was the main stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games, and is the current home of the Grand Final of Australian Rules Football as well as international rugby, soccer and cricket. Guided tours are available on a daily basis.

Almost every major Australian city seems to have some botanic gardens, but the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne are some of the very finest of them all. Developed by German botanist Ferdinand von Muller in 1852, the 40 hectare gardens contain over 12,000 different species of plants. Nature lovers will also be right at home in the greenery of the newly developed Birrarung Marr, which connects the CBD to the MCG, and is the home of regular events and festivals.

Some of the finest eating and drinking options can be found in the Docklands district, where contemporary bars mix with classic cafes and top-class restaurants, all to the stunning backdrop of Victoria Harbour. Further dining and even more shopping can be enjoyed just a short walk across the river in Southbank. This is also where you will find the Crown Entertainment Complex. Although the casino draws more than its fair share of visitors, but with a huge range of accommodation, retail, entertainment, eating and drinking options within the complex, it is not just for those who fancy their chances at roulette or a dabble on that famous icon of Australian culture – the pokies.

Melbourne boasts a huge range of events and festivals, covering every month of the year. The Melbourne International Comedy and Film Festivals and the Australian Grand Prix are the ones that immediately spring to the mind of any visitor, but on closer examination there are many more, covering every interest and creeping out of the CBD and into almost every corner of the city’s suburbs. Here are some of the best Melbourne events:

Sporting Events

Australians love their sporting events, at various times during the year you can witness top-quality cricket, tennis, Aussie rules football, soccer, rugby league, rugby union and much more in Melbourne, with the local teams often making the event finals, with many of these being held at the MCG.

In terms of one-offs, the Australian Grand Prix is the traditional opener to the Formula One season, and has been held at the Melbourne Grand Prix circuit since 1985. The street-based track lies just a short distance outside of the CBD, around Albert Park Lake, and the race brings with it all the glitz and glamour that is associated with the multi-million dollar world of F1. The race is usually held at the start of March.

Those who prefer racing of the equine variety will be in heaven during the week of the famous Melbourne Cup. Australia’s top thoroughbred event is also the richest and most prestigious of its type in the world, and is held at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November. The day is also a public holiday for those that work in Melbourne, and is the climax to a long weekend of celebration and build up quite unlike anywhere else in the world.

Art and Film Events

Art and film events can also be found in abundance in the city, with many being held in the latter part of the year when the weather is starting to improve. The Melbourne International Film Festival is a large annual event which showcases works from around the globe. Many event and parties and held in conjunction with the festival, which is the largest of its type in the country, attracting nearly 200,000 people every year. Those that struggle to wait until late July also have the 15/15 Film Festival a few days prior to the big one.

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week runs during the first week of September, and is one of the biggest and most popular events of its type in the country. Parades, parties, exhibitions and workshops are held throughout the week, celebrating fashion, design and shopping. A couple of weeks later, the Melbourne Fringe Festival is the cumulative name for around 300 shows put on across the city by almost 4,000 artists. Dance, cabaret, visual arts or circus, almost anything goes from late September to early October.

The biennial Big West Festival is held for days in late November every odd-numbered year, and is a contemporary arts and cultural event held in the city’s western suburbs. The festival features performing arts, music and visual acts to redress issues of social isolation and highlight the sheer diversity of local cultural activity in the region.

Music & Comedy Events

With Melbourne boasting such top-class facilities such as the Rod Laver Arena, top comedy and music acts frequent Melbourne throughout the year. On top of this, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is the third largest of its type in the world, and the largest annual cultural event in the country. Typically opening on 1st April (April Fool’s Day, of course!) performances are held at various venues across the city for a period of three weeks, with stand-up, cabaret, sketch shows, plays and improvised theatre just some of the comedy angles to choose from. With shows to tickle all taste buds and a laid-back party atmosphere this is an excellent time to visit the city.

Just a few short weeks after the comedy leaves town, the jazz arrives – in the form of the Melbourne Fringe Jazz Festival. Now a leading event in the city’s cultural calendar, the festival sees a number of innovative and groundbreaking music acts perform at various locations across the city. If jazz is your thing, make sure you visit Melbourne during mid-May. Music lovers will also enjoy Parklife and V Festival, which both tour Australia every year, landing in Melbourne during late September and early April respectively.

Family Events and Public Holidays

Held in early March, Moomba Waterfest is Australia’s largest free community festival, and has been running for over 50 years. Various locations are used for this social event, but mainly the waters of the Yarra River and the nearby streets. Music, sideshows, street performers and water sports displays are just some of the family attractions on display.

Anzac Day (25th April) is a national day and a public holiday, marking the anniversary of Australian and New Zealand forces’ first military action in World War I. Ex-servicemen and women parade through the streets of Melbourne, and there are a number of ceremonies held at the various war memorials across the city.

Christmas is always a special time in Australia, and Melbourne is one of the finest places in which to celebrate it. The City of Melbourne puts on a comprehensive program of festivities, usually including a Christmas tree and light show in City Square, choirs in Federation Square and free children’s shows at various locations dotted around the city.

As the year draws to a close, Melbourne has one last festival up its sleeve – and the New Year’s Eve is one of the finest. Music, street performances, family entertainment and children’s activities can be enjoyed at any of the six official entertainment venues: Alexandra Gardens, Birrarung Marr, Federation Square, Southgate, Waterfront City and Victoria Harbour Promenade. A medium-sized firework display is held at 9.15pm, and then everything leads up to a spectacular display to bring on the New Year.

Melbourne is a diverse city, meaning that a diverse range of eating options are available. Many of the top restaurants, hotels, snack bars and cafes are in and around the CBD, with further great food choices in popular suburbs such as St. Kilda and Southbank. Here we take a look at just a selection of Melbourne’s best options for eating out.
CBD

The CBD is the place to head for the busiest eateries, with a huge range of cafes and snack bars for those fancying a light bite, whilst those seeking something a little more substantial can find almost any variant of restaurant imaginable.

Restaurants

Whatever type of restaurant meal you crave, there will be at least a dozen matches within Melbourne CBD. Simply listing all of the Melbourne restaurants would fill this article several times over, so the best advice is to simply search around. Probably the most common type of cuisine on offer is described as ‘Modern Australian’ – traditional dishes that have been heavily influenced by Asian and European ingredients. Restaurants of this type can be found all around the CBD – try crocodile fillets on a bed of saffron rice at Feddish on Swanston Street, or the chicken, tiger prawn and shitake ravioli at Dish on St. Kilda Road.

Asian dishes are also extremely popular in this part of Australia. BBQ King (Lonsdale Street) seats a whopping 420 people, and is known as something of a local legend when it comes to cheap and delicious Chinese food. Several other recommended Chinese options can be found along on Little Bourke Street, including Shark Fin House, Shanghai Noodle House and Golden Orchids – which also offers an excellent range of Malaysian curries.

If Asian or Modern Australian are not your thing, don’t fret – Italian, Indian, Spanish Tapas, Mexican and Seafood restaurants can also be found in abundance.

Food Courts

Food courts can be found all across the city, offering excellent portions at budget prices. Simply head inside, pick from a number of eating options such as Chinese, sushi, pizza, pasta, and chain outlets such as McDonalds, Hungry Jacks and Subway, then sit down to eat in the communal area. These are an ideal option for larger groups that have a number of different opinions on what they fancy. Ong Asian Food Court at 265 Little Bourke Street and the food courts in the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre are two of the most popular options.

Cafes

Cafe culture is thriving in Melbourne, with many now offering far more than just a cup of coffee. It is hard to walk for more than a few metres without stumbling across a coffee-related variant, whether it be a branch of the traditional big chains of Starbucks, Hudson’s Coffee or The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – where you can enjoy a snack and catch up on your e-mails via the Wi-Fi – or one of the thriving independent coffee shops, which have an ever-increasing amount of themes, such as the specialist chocolate café Max Brenner Chocolate Bar on Lonsdale Street, the salads, rolls and fresh quiches at Wedge Café on Swanston Street, or the bookshelf-lined Journal Canteen on Flinders Lane.

Fast Food

Of course eating out does not always mean sitting down with a knife and fork, or even sitting down. Fast food outlets can be found in abundance in Melbourne, the majority of which offer take-away and dine-in options. As well as the usual suspects of McDonalds and Hungry Jacks, don’t forget the healthy sandwiches at Subway, the fresh roast chicken on offer at Red Rooster, and the Australia-based pizza chain Eagle Boys. Also expect to see several branches of Noodle Box – the stir fried noodle chain has its headquarters in the city.

Pub Grub

It is almost criminal visiting Melbourne and not sampling a counter meal in one of the city’s many watering holes. You can expect pies, steaks, and in general huge portions for good prices wherever you go, but some of our favourites include The Mitre Tavern on Bank Place and James Squire Brewhouse, which has its own micro-brewery and an ideal marina location at Waterfront City. Also In the heart of the CBD lies Melbourne’s ‘coolest’ venue, the Chill On Ice Lounge, where cocktails and light meals can be enjoyed at minus 10 degrees.

Outside of the CBD

There are many more restaurants outside of the CBD, in suburbs such as St. Kilda and Southbank. Southbank lies just across the water from the CBD, on the banks of the Yarra River, and possesses a great array of eating options such Melba – which has open kitchens and a variety of dishes from around the globe, and Bear Brass – which serves good old fashioned pub grub.

Don’t forget St. Kilda! Many visitors head straight into the CBD and neglect this attractive suburb that lies just 6km south of the city centre. Café lifestyle is in full swing here, particularly along Acland Street, which is home to a number of famous cake shops and bakeries. Fitzroy Street has more café-bars and restaurants, and leads visitors down to the bay area, where seafood is the order of the day at popular establishments such as Claypots Seafood Bar (Barkly Street) and Donovan’s (Jacka Boulevard).

And Finally…

If you are struggling to choose, and fancy doing a little exploring whilst you eat, the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant operates from a fleet of three vintage trams, and runs along selected trams routes through the city and suburbs, providing quality food and unlimited alcohol along the way. The trams are boarded from near the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, and tables should be booked well in advance for this extremely unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.