Melbourne Lastminute Hotels & Travel Guide
Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, is located in the southeastern corner of Australia, and is the southernmost mainland capital city. As the capital city, Melbourne has become a large urban centre and is home to approximately 80% of the state’s population. Melbourne is one of the world’s most diverse and multicultural cities. Almost a quarter of Victoria’s population was born overseas.
Melbourne has an extensive public transport network. It has one of the world’s most extensive tram networks, one of a kind in Australia. For visitors there is a a free City Circle Tram, which takes in many of Melbourne’s sights.
Shopping
Queen Victoria Market – This huge market is an institution in Melbourne. More than just a shopping meca it is an historic landmark and a popular tourist attraction. It has been serving customers in Melbourne’s heart for 120 years. Taking up a huge seven hectares it is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Over one thousand traders sell almost everything! Closed every Monday and Wednesday and most public holidays
Bourke Street Mall – The Bourke Street Mall is recognised as Melbourne’s shopping heart and has both the Myer and David Jones department stores.
Block Arcade – This is Melbourne’s most stunning shopping arcade. Block Arcade forms a short narrow laneway connecting Collins Street to Little Collins Street, right in the heart of the CBD. Erected between 1891 and 1893 it is one of Melbourne’s most richly decorated interior spaces, from the mosaic tiled fl ooring to the glass canopy overhead and lots of intricate detail in between. An absolutely must for window shoppers.
Animal Attractions
Melbourne Zoo – Melbourne Zoo was established in 1862 and is the oldest zoo in the world. Most animals are housed in spacious, natural surrounds.The zoo is located only 4km from the city centre at Royal Park. Highlights are the butterfl y house, the large gorilla exhibit and the new elephant enclosure. And sleepovers are also possible at Melbourne Zoo.
Melbourne Aquarium – This is a high-technology aquarium stretching over three levels. It features a Barrier Reef exhibit and a walk through tank with sharks that you can dive with if you so feel.
Werribee Zoo – This Zoo has a strong African feel and is only 30 minutes from Melbourne.The animals graze in wide open parklands and can be viewed from a safari bus. The zoo offers an unusual overnight safari adventure where you can stay in a deluxe campsite. New to the zoo are the Kabu River Hippos.
Cultural Events
Its unique, modern design and its size (covers an entire city block) makes Federation Square Melbourne’s newest, major cultural, arts and tourism venue.
The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia has the world’s largest collection of Australian art. Federation Square also houses the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Champions Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, National Design Centre, Melbourne Visitor Centre, Restaurants, Caf´s and Bars, as well as hosting many events and festivals.
Sporting Events
Formula One – Melbourne comes alive every March to the roar of Formula One engines as it hosts the Australian Grand Prix. It is the fi rst race of the Formula One season and is raced on a 5.3km circuit course around the famous Albert Park Lake. The Grand Prix moved from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1996, 401,000 spectators turned out, a record for the event
Australian Open – Melbourne Park is home to the Australian Open every January, the first of the world’s four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. This popular sporting event attracts the best tennis players in the world, with the fi nal being held on Rod Laver Arena, which features a movable roof, making it the only Grand Slam that can be played indoors. When the two main arenas, Rod Laver and Vodafone, are not being used for tennis they host numerous concerts, ice spectaculars, shows and exhibitions. Melbourne Park has four indoor courts and 22 outdoor courts that are available for public hire, except in January.
Restaurants
With over 3,000 restaurants, cafés and bars representing about 75 different ethnic cuisines, Melbourne is always at the forefront of food fashion. Travel in any direction for a meal and you will come across distinctive dining precincts.
Influenced by multinational backgrounds, Melbourne is a paradise for those who love food and wine. Whole streets are dedicated to food, w hether it be Indian, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, or a host of other styles.
Southbank – Dining alfresco is popular at Southbank, you will find a diverse choice of restaurants front the Yarra. You will also find a mix of bookshops, fashion, homeware, music and jewellery in the precint. Cross the river to the bars and award winning restaurants of the striking Federation Square.
For an Asian flavours, head to the central Chinatown precinct and find Australia's most awarded restaurant, Flower Drum, and the iconic Mask of China and Bamboo House.
Museums
Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum – Located in the main entrance of the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), this museum is a sports lover’s dream. It has three levels, all fi lled with sporting memorabilia. The gallery has records of the country’s sporting heroes, from Olympians, to footballers and of course Sir Donald Bradman. Exhibitions include the Cricket Hall of Fame, Aussie Rules Football exhibition and the Olympic Museum.
Melbourne Museum – The Melbourne Museum in the Carlton Gardens and is Australian’s largest musuem. It houses 9 major exhibition areas, including the mind and body gallery, dinosaur exhibits, an indoor rainforest, insect and butterfl y collection including real life insects. The Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre is a living cultural centre dedicated to Victoria’s Koorie people. Bugs Alive enlarges the world of bugs to human scale. The Melbourne museum is also the resting place for Australia’s most famous racehorse, Pharlap. There is also an interactive, very colourful children’s musuem.The complex also houses the Imax Theatre with its eight story movie screen.
RAAF Museum – were operated by the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force are now at Point Cook the birthplace of the Royal Australian Air Force.
