Celebrated as Australia’s capital of cool, Melbourne is brimming with world-class restaurants, quirky boutiques and trendy bars. The CBD is the beating heart of the city, with the Yarra River flowing through its centre. Beyond its quirky hipster residents, Melbourne serves up a string of cultural attractions. So jump aboard one of Melbourne’s iconic trams and start exploring.
Things to Do
Melbourne is a shopper’s paradise with most of the action centred around Bourke Street Mall. Find funky boutiques in Melbourne’s revitalised laneways and high-end retail outlets in the heritage-listed Block Arcade. For bargains, head to the DFO South Wharf outlet.
Federation Square is great for people watching, with the magnificent Flinders Street Railway Station and St Paul’s Cathedral just across the tram tracks. For art aficionados, the National Gallery of Victoria showcases a fantastic collection of Australian and indigenous art.
Beyond the city’s vibrant culture, Melbourne is known as Australia’s sports capital. Catch a footy match at the MCG, cheer Melbourne’s rugby and soccer teams at AAMI Park and visit the National Sports Museum. If you love tennis, a tour of Melbourne Park is a must.
Melbourne is also a mecca for foodies, with Queen Victoria Market just a short walk from the CBD. Snag a table at one of Chinatown’s legendary dumpling restaurants, snack on tapas at a laneway eatery, or hit up one of the gastro bars along the waterfront.
Getting Around
Melbourne makes things easy with a citywide tram network, plus free travel within the CBD. Simply buy a myki card and jump aboard. Trains and buses also run in the CBD, as well as outer suburbs. There are plenty of taxis to hail, or you can join the locals and embrace Uber. If you’re travelling to the airport, the SkyBus runs directly from Flinders Street Station.