Melbourne

Melbourne is a maze of hidden laneways, opulent bars, exclusive restaurants and off-the-beaten-track boutiques. Here you can soak up culture, hit the sporting grounds, taste the dynamic food and wine scene, dance til dawn or wander the parks and leafy boulevards.

Federation Square, the city’s landmark cultural space, is a great place to visit. Enjoy a sunset beer on the St Kilda promenade. Shop till you drop on funky Brunswick Street or upmarket Chapel Street. Wander Southbank’s cafes, bistros and bars and get a world tour of cuisines in Carlton, Richmond and Fitzroy. Take an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens and cheer with a capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The city of Melbourne is set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The city itself, laid out in a large rectangle and boasting a lively and cosmopolitan pulse, sits on the northern banks of the Yarra River, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the bay.

Melbourne is a highly cosmopolitan city of over three million people with sizeable Italian and Greek minorities. Located in Carlton Gardens, on the northern edge of the city center, the ultramodern Melbourne Museum is Australia’s largest museum. Its features include a living Forest Gallery, Aboriginal Center, Children’s Museum and IMAX Theater.

The chilling Old Melbourne Gaol has Ned Kelly’s armor on display. The National Gallery of Victoria on St Kilda Road houses Australia’s greatest collection of international fine art. The NGV: Australian Art is one of the attractions of Federation Square, a city block devoted to culture. Rialto Towers Observation Deck offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas.

Other places to visit include the Royal Botanical Gardens, Parliament House, the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) and the beach-side esplanade in St Kilda with its vibrant cafe culture. Also recommended is a trip to the races, a ride in one of Melbourne’s trams, a cruise down the River Yarra, or a visit to the huge Melbourne Zoo.