A vibrant city, located on the magnificent Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is the state capital and cultural heart of Victoria and showcases the best of Australia.
Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city, and the capital of the south-eastern state of Victoria, located at the head of Port Phillip Bay.
Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital, with Victorian-era architecture, extensive shopping, museums, galleries, theatres, and large parks and gardens. Its 4-million residents are both multicultural and sports-mad.
Eureka Skydeck 88
Eureka Skydeck 88, located on the 88th floor of Eureka Tower, is a stunning observatory deck. It takes just 40 seconds in the lifts to reach the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform boasting breathtaking 360-degree views of Melbourne and its environs including the CBD, the sports precinct, Port Philip Bay and Docklands. Thrill-seekers will delight in The Edge experience, a 3m (9ft) glass cube that juts out from the side of the building and is suspended nearly 300m (984ft) above the ground. The Terrace also offers an outside opportunity to view the world far below and is the perfect place to photograph aerial views of the city. Certainly not for the faint-hearted.
Federation Square
Designed as an architectural icon in a city that loves modern architecture, Federation Square, or Fed Square as it is commonly known, is a city block which has just passed its first decade to become one of the most visited attractions in the city, bringing together social, cultural and commercial activities. Highlights include The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, which showcases works of art by Australian artists (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art), and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). The odd-looking geometric-designed buildings and the extensive rolling-hill sandstone paved plaza are attractions in themselves. Plenty of eating and drinking options are available here, including Chocolate Buddha, Taxi Dining Room and Transit Cocktail Lounge
Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
As the only major 19th-century Palace of Industry Exhibition building in the world to survive substantially intact, the Royal Exhibition Building was designed in 1878 for the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880-1881. Following Australia cutting its apron-strings from mother England in 1901, this grand building hosted the inaugural opening of the Australian Federal Parliament. It was also the site of the inaugural unveiling of the Australian flag, which was first flown atop the building’s magnificent dome. In 2004 it became the first building in Australia to achieve a World Heritage listing. Guided tours are available (booking is essential).
Immigration Museum
The Immigration Museum gives Melbourne’s multicultural vibrancy a human face. There are six permanent exhibitions detailing immigrant stories, journeys and timelines, the history of the Customs Gallery and thought-provoking presentations on identity and leaving home. With a Discovery Centre and a range of educational guides, the museum re-creates the real-life stories of arrivals to Australia in fascinating ways. Given Melbourne owes its cosmopolitan vibe to the many waves of immigration, this is a must see on any itinerary. Allow a few hours at the museum.
Melbourne Museum
Australia’s largest museum boasts an indoor rainforest, the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, a complete skeleton of a blue whale, an IMAX theatre and permanent collections in eight galleries including one specifically for children.
The museum also houses temporary exhibitions and is the place to explore life in Victoria from the past to the present with assorted displays highlighting natural environment, culture and history. Located behind the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, the museum is just a short walk from the free city circle tram stop number 10.
National Gallery of Victoria International
Australia’s oldest art gallery, founded in 1861, the National Gallery of Victoria International showcases Australia’s finest collection of international art, housing over 68,000 works of art, from those by the European old masters and also those by contemporary artists.
Among the paintings usually on display here are offerings by Gainsborough, Constable, Bonnard, Delacroix, Monet and Rembrandt. There are also excellent temporary exhibitions (see website for current details). The building is a work of art in itself.
State Library of Melbourne
Variously described as a stately jewel, this historic building is an architectural wonder with marble staircases leading to the Queens’s Hall and La Trobe Reading Room – which is covered by a huge dome and where you can take your pick from 32,000 books in this one area alone.
The library is a heritage wonder and with free artwork exhibitions across three galleries as well as a games room (offering games from chess to Wii to Xbox and PlayStation), this is a great place to explore Melbourne’s past and have fun.
FOOD
Melburnians are the most passionate foodies you would ever meet – they take immense pride in the coffee they brew, the ingredients they source and the food they prepare. Recently, the most liveable city on earth also emerged as champion for having the world’s best coffee
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The city has four distinct seasons and usually enjoys a pleasant, temperate climate. However, winters do get cold and summers see some swelteringly hot days. Indeed, sometimes, all four seasons occur in one day: welcome to Melbourne. The high season of summer is still the best time to visit with a good range of festivals and sporting events taking place as well as the opportunity to enjoy a good variety of excursions and attractions, particularly the beaches.
Travel guide to Melbourne
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