Consistently year after year, Melbourne is tagged as 'The worlds most liveable city' - well one of them anyhow. Melbourne is Victoria’s state capital and with 3.2 million people is Australia’s second largest city, and yet sometimes it is overlooked as a tourist destination.
There is some considerable rivalry between Melbournians and Sydneysiders, and Sydney certainly tends to have a higher profile for international tourists but Melbourne gets its vote for liveability for good reason and for the tourist there is plenty to recommend it.
You can easily walk across central Melbourne in an hour, but if you are low on energy levels there is an excellent tram system – but be careful getting out of them. To get your bearings head for the Rialto tower from which you will get excellent views of Melbourne.
There are so many restaurants in Melbourne serving such a varied range of food that you are unlikely to get bored of food. And if you are spending pounds almost everything is of exceptionally good value.
Whether you are cooking for yourself or not, the Queen Victoria market is one of the amazing markets I have ever visited. It has a bewildering amount of fresh foods, art, clothes, souvenirs and more. Get there in the morning though for best pickings.
The market may satisfy all of your shopping urges but if not Melbourne arguably has the best shopping in Australia. I am not much of a shopper – of clothes at least, but I know some avid fans.
A place you can combine shopping and entertainment is the Crowncasino on the Southbank where you can also find bars, cafes and restaurants. Australian casinos are geared towards entertainment and not in the least dingy smoky places , which is my image of casinos in the UK.
Melbourne lives and breathes sport and for the sports mad visitor there is something for everyone. The Formula One grand prix, Australian Opens in tennis and golf, Aussie Rules (which began in Victoria and most of the AFL teams are still based in Victoria) and the Melbourne Cup – a horserace held on the first Tuesday of November which brings the whole city (and much of the country) to a standstill.
There are a wide range of museums and theatres. You can even find the set of the TV show Neighbours at the Melbourne Museum! Highlighting that does Melbourne’s reputation for culture a disservice as there is a huge range to choose from. The Melbourne Museum also had an excellent Forest Gallery which houses living birds, plants and various other creatures.
I would also recommend taking in Flinders Station, the Royal Botanical Gardens for its lovely walks, the Esplanade at St. Kilda for its Arts and Crafts market and the beach – at numerous points around the bay. Not Australia’s most beautiful but relatively safe from sharks. If heading for the beach it is worth noting that Melbourne is renowned for having four seasons in one day, and you may wish to take an umbrella and warm jumper with you.
I travelled throughout Australia years ago and somehow missed Melbourne. Thankfully a Melbournian girlfriend ‘motivated’ me to put this right. I am pleased she did. Melbourne and Victoria, with its fantastic vineyards, mountains, beaches – and the Great Ocean Road, have so much to offer the visitor.
Hopefully I have tempted you enough not to miss out Melbourne
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