The capital of Victoria. Australia’s second biggest city. A city of style, of Victorian architecture, of trams, of fashion, food, theatres, art galleries and leafy gardens. Population 3.8 million. See Melbourne Tourism for more information.

City Highlights

Melbourne is known internationally for its famous Melbourne Cup horserace and the centre of Australian Rules Football - but it offers so much more: a city of Victorian architecture, parks and gardens, fashion, food, theatres, a very extensive rail and tramcar system that includes the Circle City and the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.

See the historic Flinders Street Railway Station, spend a day at the Flemington Racecourse and take a punt on the horses. See Australian Rules football and the MCG featuring the Australian Gallery of Sport. View the panorama from the Rialto Tower, the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. See Captain Cooks Cottage at the Fitzroy Gardens and the Royal Botanical Gardens or visit the National Arts Gallery and the Victorian Arts Centre.

Don't miss shopping the Bourke Street Mall where you will find Melbourne's two most prominent department stores, David Jones and Myers/Grace Bros.

Outdoor Fun

See Puffin’ Billy - Trip to Upper Ferntree Gully to ride this restored steam train through the Ferns, flora and fauna of the Dandenong Mountains.

The Victorian Arts Centre - the premier performing arts venue.

Visit Como House, Melbourne's historic houses, history and architecture

Tour the National Art Gallery, housing Australian, Aboriginal, Asian, European and Pre - Columbian art.

See the Old Melbourne Jail, learn about Australia’s bushranging and convict past

Restaurants and Pub Eateries

Chinatown is where you can enjoy a delicious Banquet or Yum Cha. If your preference is for seafood, Italian, Greek and many other ethic cafes. Visit St Kilda by night. Lygon Street Carlton is the best authentic Italian place of cafes and restaurants bistros operated and staffed by the many Italian immigrants who now live in Melbourne. If you like a high elevated view, dine at Southgate. Fitzroy offers off-beat café culture and there are many comfy pubs and bistros throughout the city that you can find good, dinky di Aussie tucker that you can wash down with a tinny or two of Fosters or Carlton draught or a good quality but inexpensive Australian red or white wine.

Melbourne Restaurant Tramcar
If you wish for something different, you can wine and dine on the Melbourne Tramcar Restaurant  that you can hire to tour the city while you enjoy a different style of dining

Spirit of Melbourne Cruising Restaurant
If you prefer a Yarra Yarra River dinner cruise, you can see Melbourne at night from the river while enjoying gourmet fare.

Melbourne cuisine is renowned as one of the world’s most ethnically diverse cities. They say an epicurian can savour the world at night in Melbourne and its suburbs that boasts to house the largest Greek community anywhere excepting Athens. Love to go shopping? Catch a surburban train to South Yarra & Toorak, both upmarket city shopping suburbs or play a game of golf on one of Melbourne’s famous sand belt courses nearby.

Vacation Australia recommends The Langham 5 star, The Old Melbourne Hotel, The Walnut Tree; Leo’s Spaghetti Bar (bistro) St Kilda, Carlton Lygon Street, Crown Casino, Chinatown, the international Wentworth Hotel in beautiful Collins Street, The Windsor Hotel - Spring Street City, Fisherman’s Catch - St Kilda, France-Soir - Toorak Road South Yarra and for the academics and intellectuals, try Thresherman’s Bakehouse right outside the Melbourne University.

Nightlife

Do not expect the array of “all night” clubs and places such as Kings Cross in Sydney. Melbourne is conservative compared with Sydney. Visit the theatre, attend a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Concert. You will find live music and comedy clubs such as the Last Laugh and the new, very impressive Crown Casino where you can while away the night and most of the early morning hours.

Sports to see: Caulfield Race Course - See the 1.5 mile Caulfield Cup Flemington Race Course - See the Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) - Home of Aussie Rules Grand Final and international cricket Melbourne Park - Australian Open tennis. Melbourne City - Australian Grand Prix (formula 1) Sand Belt - Play golf on some of the world’s best courses such as Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne, Metropolitan, Victoria. Go to Melbourne & Mornington Peninsula Golf

Events
There is something on every month. From the renowned Grand Prix to the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival — whatever the genre, you can expect a festival, exhibition, carnival, parade or game to salute the object of your affection.

Getting Around

There is an extensive city and suburban tram, bus, and train network. One of the best ways to see the city is aboard a tram. The Circle City Tram, recognized by its gold and burgundy colours, circles the city every ten minutes and is free. The Melbourne City Explorer links major attractions - Day Tickets are available.

Budget Rental Car - Used and recommended by Vacation Australia

Beyond the City

Places of interest

Victorian Alpine Region - Mt Buffalo, Snowy River. 250 mile trip.
The Grampians - Encounter Aboriginal heritage in this bush walkers paradise. Mornington Peninsula - Deep Sea fishing charters, first class links golf. This is Victoria’s summer holiday place of boutique wineries, golf links and beaches. Ballarat - Visit Sovereign Hill, a historic, Gold miners and Goldfield township. Sunraysia - Founded by the Chaffey Brothers from California, a gateway to the vast outback 21 miles/34 km south west from the junction of Australia's two biggest rivers - The Murray and the Darling. Dandenongs - Lovely forest scenery, arts and crafts galleries and shops, Devonshire teas, Bavarian restaurants and the Puffin Billy that departs hourly from Belgrade. Yarra Valley - excellent wineries open to the public. Healesville - Home of the Healesville Sanctuary, a leading wildlife reserve. Phillip Island, 85 miles/137 km southeast of Melbourne, is known chiefly for its nightly parade of fairy penguins, but it is also home to koalas and seals. Great Ocean Road - 62 miles southwest of Melbourne, one of the most spectacular coastal drives in the world. Visit Torquay - Home of the Bells Beach Surf Classic and Lorne, a popular holiday destination. On your way, see the National Wool Museum at Geelong.

Go to drop-down window on left side-bar to see Victorian Highlights beyond the city.

Go to Enquiries & Quotation to request your custom planned, competitively priced itinerary

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