Trips to Melbourne
Culture and big sporting events in Melbourne
With a population of around five million, Melbourne in Victoria is a bustling city that is sure to offer something for every traveller. Considered Australia’s cultural capital, it offers live music, quality theatre and art exhibitions. In addition to its cultural offerings, Melbourne is also known for its great restaurants, cafés and a wide range of sporting events.
Major sporting events in Melbourne include the Australian Open tennis tournament in January, the Melbourne Grand Prix formula in March and the Australian Football League (AFL) matches throughout the winter.
Melbourne’s downtown area is located along the Yarra River, with a wide range of restaurants, cafes and attractions on both sides. The city skyline is dominated by a series of tall skyscrapers, with more rising all the time.
Just outside the city you will find a wealth of wine regions, mountain ranges, stunning coastal scenery and beautiful nature. From Melbourne, it’s easy to take a day trip to the wineries, the beach or relax in the hot springs.
Dreaming of a perfect
trip to Melbourne?
Contact us and we can help you plan a successful trip that suits you.
Shopper’s Melbourne
Melbourne’s city centre is an interesting mix of modern and Victorian buildings, but for the best experience, head outside the Central Business District. For example, the bohemian Fitzroy area is full of characterful shops and impressive restaurants, and shoppers there should at least visit Brunswick Street.
You’ll also find all the familiar brand names, smaller boutiques, shopping centres and department stores on your way to Melbourne. Along Bourke Street you’ll find two large department stores, Myer and David Jones, as well as several smaller shops.
Behind these department stores are the large shopping centres, Emporium and Melbourne Central, and they are all connected, making shopping convenient.
Local traders in Melbourne
If you’re keen to sample the local grocery selection, you’ll also find several grocery stores in the city centre. Coles and Woolworths are Australia’s largest grocery chains, while smaller Woolworths Metro stores can be found around the city.
For a taste of local produce, visit the Queen Victoria Market. There you’ll find a wide range of fresh produce, including fish, meat and vegetables. The market also has cafes, food stalls and a deli area where you can buy treats to take away for a nice picnic lunch. You can also find souvenirs, clothes, handicrafts and much more in the outdoor halls.
There are many ways to explore Melbourne
Federation Square and Flinders Street Railway Station are among Melbourne’s most famous landmarks. As a tourist in Melbourne, it’s worth coming here to get a sense of the local atmosphere, as Federation Square is a meeting point known to everyone in the city. Here you can enjoy cafes, restaurants, galleries, museums and a wide range of events.
If you want to admire Melbourne’s scenery from high above, the best views of the city are from the Melbourne SkyDeck observation deck, located in the Eureka Tower at 285 metres. It’s a good idea to visit at the beginning of your Melbourne trip to get a better sense of the city.
Although Melbourne is not commonly thought of as a beach resort, there is plenty of coastline along the beautiful St Kilda beach, where you can relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If you’re looking for some fun in a traditional amusement park, head to the famous Luna Park in the same area to end your beach day.
Art lovers should visit the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), one of Australia’s largest art collections. It includes both Australian and international works, and admission is free except for temporary special exhibitions.
While in Melbourne, be sure to visit the historic and still-operational steam train called the Puffing Billy. Located just an hour’s drive from Melbourne, seeing it is like stepping back in time to a very different world two centuries ago.
Beautiful scenery and history just a short drive away
The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most famous landmarks. It’s an ocean road that winds its way along the coast of Victoria, and as you drive along it you can see the spectacular rock formations of the coastline. You can hire a car and do the tour on your own or choose a guided day trip with a group. The Great Ocean Road is a long drive, and it’s worth setting aside a whole day from early morning to late evening.
If you decide to go for a drive on the Great Ocean Road, it’s handy to stop off at Grampians National Park, which is located in the same direction. It’s a popular place for hiking or mountain walking, and offers a number of walking trails and accommodation options.
Peninsula Hot Springs, Ballarat and Sovereign Hill
Peninsula Hot Springs is a great place to relax for the day. Just about 90 minutes from the city, you can enjoy over 50 different pools. Their hot water comes from hot springs and contains lots of healthy minerals. You can also stay overnight and take advantage of the relaxing treatments on offer in the area.
Melbourne is also a convenient way to explore the state’s gold mining history, as the gold town of Ballarat is located inland, about an hour and a half’s drive from Melbourne. The historic Sovereign Hill Museum Village is also worth a visit, where you can learn about the history of Australia’s Wild West.
Experience Australia’s animals from Melbourne
The Gold City of Ballarat is also home to the Wildlife Park zoo, where you can meet Australian animals such as kangaroos, koalas and wombats.
The Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is one of the most popular day trips from Melbourne. There you can meet the adorable penguins that return from the sea every night in large flocks. You can also stay overnight on Phillip Island.
A trip to Melbourne for food and wine lovers
Melbourne has it all for foodies, as it is home to the Masterchef TV programme. The city’s Greek and Italian roots are also evident in its restaurant offerings. Melbourne also has an abundance of Asian restaurants.
The state of Victoria is known around the world for its wines, and some of its wine regions are just outside Melbourne. The Yarra Valley is one of Victoria’s most famous wine regions and is just an hour’s drive from central Melbourne. The wine region offers a number of organised day trips to the Yarra Valley and local wineries.
The charming Mornington Peninsula wine region lies further south, about 1.5 hours drive from central Melbourne. If you don’t want to drive yourself, there are also a number of organised day trips available. A trip to the Mornington Peninsula can easily be combined with a visit to Peninsula Hot Springs. This way you can see beautiful nature and stunning scenery and relax after your tour.
Melbourne’s public transport works well
Melbourne has the largest tram network in Australia. Tram travel is free in the Central Business District (CBD), but in other areas you will need a myki card. It’s a rechargeable card that you can load money onto for a day’s travel. Cards can be bought conveniently from vending machines or at larger stations. Melbourne also has an extensive commuter rail network, which makes getting around the city quick and easy.
Taxis and Uber rides are also readily available in Melbourne.