Melbourne

Nestled on the south eastern tip of Australia, Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria, and one of Australia’s most bohemian, and easy-going cities. Boasting a distinctly European feel, this is Oz’s second-largest city and also one of its most intriguing.

Situated on the banks of the Yarra River, Melbourne was a planned city, with every inch of the city’s grid and wide boulevards designed in detail by Robert Hoddle - and he did a good job. Melbourne is a city with room to breathe and even today the streets aren’t choked with traffic, and there are plenty of parklands and greenery to allow you to fully embrace the Aussie al fresco lifestyle.

Culture is not an after thought here either. Galleries and theatres boast the latest shows and exhibitions, while contemporary craft centres, sculpture parks and bohemian bars pepper the expansive streets of this trendy city.

Getting around Melbourne is also a novelty, as the easiest and best way is to hop on one of the many trams that traverse the tidy network of streets - streets which are flanked with Victorian stone edifices, interspersed with soaring glass and steel skyscrapers. The Rialto Tower is the tallest.

Melbourne Facts

Melbourne boomed during the Gold Rush of the 1880s, and this is when its rivalry with Sydney developed. Today Melbourne is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia, and is catching up with Sydney in terms of its rapidly expanding population, which now stands at 3.8 million people. A multicultural metropolis, a whopping 43% of the population were born overseas, a figure that is reflected in the wide array of global fare that can be found here, from dim sum and dumplings to meze and Mexican.

Melbourne does funky really well, and the famous laneways which were once the back entrances to the city’s grand buildings are now the home to the city’s creative lifeblood - art galleries, record labels, bistros and bars and Melbourne’s coolest clubs line this tiny lanes.

Away from the restrictive laneways is the Yarra River waterfront, the centre of Melbourne’s pulsating entertainment district. Here you’ll find the futuristic Federation Square, the South Bank, home to the Australia ballet and Symphony Orchestra, and the Malthouse Theatre - not to mention the network of waterfront bars, cafes and restaurants.

While it may sound cliched, Melbourne really is the city that never sleeps, and the people who live here thrive in this chic and exciting environment. Creative, arty and sophisticated, despite the 24-hour rush of blood that Melbourne has to offer, you can also enjoy a relaxed, lazy kind of life. Take the suburbs of St Kilda and Fitzroy. Here life passes at a different pace, with retro stores, sandy white beaches and vintage hippies offering an alternative take on city living.

While this is the home of soap opera Neighbours, you’ll find there’s certainly more to Melbourne than red brick cul-de-sacs, the trouble is deciding where to start. So, the question you have to ask yourself is what will your Melbourne be? Discover more of Melbourne by visiting the official Melbourne tourist site.

Love Melbourne? Thinking of emigrating to Australia? Read our guide on moving to Australia and also our in-depth guide to moving to Melbourne. It’s crammed full of useful information like the best places to live in Melbourne, house prices, education and healthcare.

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Melbourne City Skyline and the Yarra River. Courtesy of Tourism Australia

Melbourne CBD viewed from Federation Square. Courtesy of Tourism Australia

Melbourne Skyline. Courtesy of Tourism Australia

Melbourne Dining, Lygon Street. Courtesy of Tourism Australia

Federation Square. Courtesy of Tourism Australia

Melbourne CBD viewed from Federation Square. Courtesy of Tourism Australia