Everyone wants to talk about Sydney but it is Melbourne who has won “most liveable city” seven years running!
Melbourne is pumping day and night with countless museums, markets and rooftop bars to visit. There is always something going on in and around the city if you are paying attention.
Make sure you stroll along Southbank and check out the iconic street-art laneways or drive into rolling hills and sip wine in the Yarra Valley wineries. The Great Ocean Road is an overnight road trip you shouldn’t miss and Healesville Sanctuary is always a fun day in the bush with the wonderfully weird native animals.
The sports capital of Australia, Melbourne plays host to the Australian Open Tennis tournament, The Australian Football Grand Final and the Spring horse racing carnival. There isn’t a bad time to visit my home town!
TIME FRAME?
Two to three days is needed to explore the city and inner suburbs but to get a sense of each neighbourhood, which is what Melbourne is all about, you would need closer to a week.
One to two week would allow enough time to tick off the inner city sights and make several day trips down the coast or inland to the bush.
Two to a month is the ideal amount of time to see Victoria properly.
Unless you fly, you won’t be getting anywhere fast, the nearest capital cities are; Adelaide (a nine hours drive), Canberra (seven hours drive) and Sydney (ten hours drive).
You can also catch the overnight car ferry to Tasmania from St Kilda Pier in Melbourne.
WHERE TO STAY?
Ideally you would want to stay in the very centre of the action but sometimes your budget ensures this is not an option. The underground train system is extensive and fairly efficient, as long as your hotel/apartment is walking distance to a station you will be whizzed into the city in no time.
CENTRAL LOCATIONS:
The CBD (Central Buisness District) of Melbourne is a modern and efficient city that has everything a traveller needs. There are several pockets in the city in the centre of the action, search for accommodation near South Bank, South Wharf, Flinder/Collins/Burke Street and nearby Flagstaff Gardens.
Nearby Attractions: Flinders Street Station, Immigration Museum, Burke Street Mall, Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, State Library, St Paul’s Cathedral, Federation Square, National Gallery of Victoria, The Arts Centre.
SUBURBS JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY (with character and worth a trip for great cafe’s and shopping):
I love Brunswick, Carlton, Fitzroy, Richmond, Burnley, South Yarra, St Kilda, Windsor and Port Melbourne.
Nearby Attractions: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Royal Botanical Gardens, Lygon Street, Chapel Street, Shrine of Rememberence, St Kilda Beach, Luna Park, Melbourne Zoo, Albert Park, Melbourne Museum.
Public Transport in Melbourne is now running 24 hours a day but you do need a Myki Card to travel, these are available at any train station, newsagency or Milk Bar (Tabac/corner shop equivilant).
Trams running in the CBD are free, there are signs indicating whether you are in the free travel zone or not. The trains and trams are constantly monitored by ticket officers and don’t take kindly to tourists pretending to not know they need a ticket.
ESSENTIAL SIGHTSEEING?
Click here to read the full list of sights in Melbourne
MY TOP FIVE SIGHTS IN MELBOURNE
Walk East along Flinders Street from the station to Hosier Lane, this is an urban art street covered with colourful grafitti and art installations. Unfortunately everybody loves this laneway and you’ll be hard-pressed getting a photo without someone in the way.
Other city art-streets to check out are ACDC lane, Centre place, Caledonian lane and Duckboard place. If you head over to Fitzroy and Brunswick and Collingwood you’ll find even more.
Tip: Try and get a table at Movida, a spanish restaurant on the corner of Flinders St and Hosier Lane, it is delicious and has lines out the door. Another favourite restaurant near Hosier lane is Chin Chin, check it out!
Effortlessly cool inner city Northern suburbs; Fitzroy, Carlton and Brunswick, are the home of street art, vintage shops and edgy bars and restaurants that have lines out the door seven days a week.
My favourite places/bars to check out on Brunswick street: The Vegie Bar, Rice Paper Scissors, Naked for Satan (great rooftop), and nearby Dr Morse Bar & Eatery.
Brunswick Street runs north of the city parallel to Lygon street and Smith Street which are also hot spots.
Lygon street is the home of authentic Italian restaurants with many Italian families migrating to Melbourne after WWII and settling in the suburb of Carlton. Don’t fall for the tourist traps serving frozen pizza, do some research and window shopping and find the homemade family-style restaurants, where Nonna rules the roost and the waiters speak Italian.
My favourite restaurants to check out on Lygon street: D.O.C Delicatessan & Espresso (D.O.C Pizzeria and Mozzarella Bar is on Drummond St, Carlton) , University Cafe, Tiamo and the snobby cafe that’s become an institution, Brunetti.
One of my favourite areas in the city, it is the perfect place to spend a sunny day with a book and a picnic lunch. The Botanical Gardens are off St Kilda Road to the south of the city and an easy walk from Flinders Street station.
The gardens are home to over 10,000 individual species of native and exotic vegetations and was established from a swamp site in 1846. There is a cafe and restaurant overlooking the ‘great lake’ filled with slimy eels and elegant white and black swans. You will always find Melbournians running around ‘The Tan’, the 3.84km running track that runs the circumference of the gardens, join them for a city run!
If you are in Melbourne during the summer months (Dec – Feb) be sure to try and catch a movie at the Moonlight Cinema’s held in the Botanical Gardens at twilight most nights.
Click here to visit the official website of the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Currently the largest open market in the southern hemisphere, the ‘Queen Vic Market’, as it is referred to by Melbournians, is a maze of fruit and vegetable stalls, brick-a-brack craft markets and boutique gourmet shops.
The market is open daily except for Monday and Wednesday. If you are in Melbourne over the summer months head to the Wednesday Night Markets are a bustling array of the best food stalls and trucks in Melbourne with live music and buskers.
Be sure to visit the market’s website as there are often pop up event’s throughout the year.
If you are staying on the south side of the city, head to the South Melbourne Market, my favourite.
The closest beach to Melbourne’ city, St Kilda beach is packed with swimmers, festivals and weekend markets.
During the 1930 -1940s Acland Street was the centre of the Jewish community and there are shops and cafes selling Jewish desserts and delicacies as well as endless restaurants, cafes and gelato stores to discover.
Luna Park, an iconic amusement park build on the beach is perfect for those visiting with children.
For current information, prices and dates, click here to visit the official website of the Luna Park.
ESSENTIAL SIGHTSEEING?
Click here to read the full list of sights in Melbourne
MY TOP FIVE SIGHTS IN MELBOURNE
Walk east along Flinder’s Street from the station to Hosier Lane, this is an urban art street covered with colourful grafitti and art installations. Unfortunately everybody loves this laneway and you’ll be hard pressed getting a photo without someone in your picture.
Other city art-streets to check out are ACDC lane, Centre place, Caledonian lane and Duckboard place. If you head over to Fitzroy and Brunswick and Collingwood you’ll find even more.
Tip: Try and get a table at Movida, a spanish restaurant on the corner of Flinders St and Hosier Lane, it is delicious and has lines out the door.
Effortlessly cool inner city Northern suburbs; Fitzroy, Carlton and Brunswick, are the home of street art, vintage shops and edgy bars and restaurants that have lines out the door seven days a week.
My favourite places/bars to check out on Brunswick street: The Vegie Bar (vegetarian), Rice Paper Scissors (delicious asian), Naked for Satan (great rooftop), Fitzroy Social and Poly bar (great cocktails).
Brunswick Street runs north of the city parallel to Lygon street and Smith Street which are also hot spots. My favourite coffee shop on Smith Street is Burnside (though there’s no shortage of great coffee shops in Melbourne) and my favourite places to eat around Smith Street are; Archie’s all day; Neko Neko (great ramen); Lantern lounge (asian fusion); La Niche Cafe (provincial French) and Friends of the Earth (organic and bulk vegetarian/vegan items).
Lygon street is the ‘home of authentic Italian restaurants’ with many Italian families migrating to Melbourne after WWII and settling in the suburb of Carlton. Don’t fall for the tourist traps serving frozen pizza, do some research and window shopping and find the homemade family-style restaurants, where Nonna rules the roost and the waiters speak Italian.
My favourite restaurants to check out on Lygon street: D.O.C Delicatessan & Espresso (D.O.C Pizzeria and Mozzarella Bar is on Drummond St, Carlton and delicious) , University Cafe, Tiamo and the snobby cafe that’s become an institution, Brunetti.
One of my favourite areas in the city, it is the perfect place to spend a sunny day with a book and a picnic lunch. The Botanical Gardens are off St Kilda Road to the south of the city and an easy walk from Flinders Street station.
The gardens are home to over 10,000 individual species of native and exotic vegetations and was established from a swamp site in 1846. There is a cafe and restaurant overlooking the ‘great lake’ filled with slimy eels and elegant white and black swans. You will always find Melbournians running around ‘The Tan’, the 3.84km running track that runs the circumference of the gardens, join them for a city run!
If you are in Melbourne during the summer months (Dec – Feb) be sure to try and catch a movie at the Moonlight Cinema’s held in the Botanical Gardens at twilight most nights.
Click here to visit the official website of the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Currently the largest open market in the southern hemisphere, the ‘Queen Vic Market’, as it is referred to by Melbournians, is a maze of fruit and vegetable stalls, brick-a-brack craft markets and boutique gourmet shops.
The market is open daily except for Monday and Wednesday. If you are in Melbourne over the summer months the Wednesday Night Markets are a bustling array of the best food stalls and trucks in Melbourne with live music and buskers.
Be sure to visit the market’s website as there are often pop up event’s throughout the year.
If you are staying on the south side of the city, head to the South Melbourne Market, my favourite.
The closest beach to Melbourne’ city, St Kilda beach is packed with swimmers, festivals and weekend markets.
During the 1930 -1940s Acland Street was the centre of the Jewish community and there are shops and cafes selling Jewish desserts and delicacies. There are endless restaurants and cafes to feast at and gelato stores to discover.
Luna Park, an iconic amusement park build on the beach is perfect for those visiting with children.
For current information, prices and dates, click here to visit the official website of the Luna Park.
MY BEST ADVICE…
Melbourne is known as the sports capital of Australia and one of the most popular sports is our home grown game of Australian Rules Football known as ‘A.F.L’ or ‘footy’.
There are multiple weekend games in Melbourne from March to September, the most famous sports venue is the Melbourne Cricket Ground – better known locally as the ‘MCG’ which can hold close to 100,000 supporters. You haven’t experienced a Melbourne winter night until you eat a pie at the footy and scream ‘ball’ with the passionate supporters!
Go tigers! 🙂
Tourists and locals must have a MYKI card to travel on public transport in the city, paper ticket’s are no longer sold. These cards can be bought at train stations, milkbars/tabacs/corner stores and 7-Eleven stores.
Working like London’s Oyster Cards they are charged when you touch on-and-off the gates and can be topped up as-you-go.
Launched at the start of 2015, Melbourne has a free Tram Zone covering the CBD, Docklands and up to the Queen Victoria Market. If you are on a tram that will continue out of the free tram zone you would tap on-and-off as usual. Don’t touch if you are only travelling in the free area as the pass will charge you the minimum zone 1+2 fare.
There are now 24-hour running trains, trams, buses and V-line trains running from Melbourne, there can be a long wait time between each service in the early hours of the morning but at least you don’t have to run for that last train anymore.
The best way to get to the City from Tullamarine Airport is on the Skybus. Unfortunately the promised train line to the airport is still a work-in-progress and a taxi fare will cost around $50 – depending on where you are headed.
The Skybus’ run every ten minutes or so, express to Southern Cross Station on Spencer Street. This station is a major hub with train lines across the city and to the surrounding suburbs easily accessed from here.
I can’t tell you how many tourists arrive in Australia and end up walking around as red as a lobster. Not only are extreme sunburns painful, they are bad for your health and wellbeing.
Australia’s sun is extreme and during the summer months you should be rubbing on that sunscreen, drinking plenty of water and wearing a hat. I apologise for sounding like a safety monitor… but there is nothing worse than having to be checked into hospital for sun stroke on your Aussie holiday! It happens more than you think!
INTERESTED IN BUYING PRINTS?
I have been on the road for ten years accumulating an absurd number of images that I would love to share.
Head over to my photography site, IndiaParishPhotography.com to browse prints from across the globe.
VISITING SYDNEY?
NEED MORE ADVICE? KEEP READING…
So who am I…? Hi! My name is India.
I am a nomadic Australian who has wandered the world full time exploring over 60 countries and 5/7 continents.
After ten years on the road, I have launched my own website – Travelling Notebook – to share the knowledge I have gained on the road and the images I have collected over the years with fellow adventurers. Keep reading…
I am a freelance travel writer, photography and videographer, based in London. If you need specific travel advice or would like to collaborate please send an email my way!
Always say yes to adventure!
x India
Leave A Comment