Melbourne travel guide
Meet MelbourneMelbourne weather reportGetting into MelbourneTop attractions in MelbourneGetting around MelbourneWhere to eat in Melbourne Page 2: More information on Melbourne
Meet Melbourne
With the Laid-back attitude of LA, and the cosmopolitan, never-ending possibilities of London, Melbourne is the Southern Hemisphere's hotspot of culture. Tiny galleries can be found on narrow side-streets, designers fill street markets, hotels and burst with the best of tomorrow's music.
Melbourne is clean, Amicable, and beautiful. Despite being such a young city, a lot of its original Victorian architecture still remains, giving the streets a certain charm. For those seeking a slower place, the pacific beaches are lined with restaurants serving hearty, rustic food Alongside local beers, winery tours and nature can be found quite cheaply.
The best times to visit are Melbourne in April, when locals are celebrating the end of the warm season and the legendary Comedy Festival is in town, or November, when fares are cheap and the atmosphere is full of anticipation summer. If you can stand the heat, January sees many world famous musicians visit the city for its festivals, and to hold intimate sideshows.
Melbourne weather report
Due to being at the southern tip of a huge country, Melbourne does not enjoy the same year-round mild weather and Sydney. In the summer, temperatures can get up to 45c and very humid, but in winter, they are more Likely to match Europe's near-freezing levels. Some areas will even get snow, Which has created a modest skiing industry. Weather in spring and autumn can be temperament, and it is OFTEN said that Melbourne can experience four seasons in one day.
For the latest weather info use the Pampo weather forecast tool.
Getting into Melbourne
Most major international carriers (eg Virgin, British Airways, Qantas) will fly to Melbourne. For bridge, journey time will be at least 24 hours (around half that if you live in West Coast U.S. or Asia), with one or more stopovers, Which many use as an excuse to turn two into one holiday.
Budget airlines Jet Blue and dry serve cities around the country, and there are also excellent intercity train and bus links, but bear in mind that Australia is big, to take these options for the scenic route only!
Although taxis are not terribly overpriced, by far the most economical way to get into the city is to take the Skybus, Which takes you straight into Southern Cross station in the Central Business District in 20 minutes.
Top attractions in Melbourne
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National Gallery of Victoria - Split into two parts (Australian and International) this huge institution holds paintings by Bacon and Picasso, and OFTEN holds special exhibitions that are Unlikely to tour, and therefore worth the visit. Entry is free.
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ACMI (Australian Centre of Moving Image), CCP (Centre for Contemporary Photography) and ACCA (Australian Centre of Contemporary Art), although small, are also worth spending time in. The central location of ACMI makes it ideal for killing time between appointments, and its gallery holds hundreds of free-to-view short films.
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Philip Island - See 'little penguins' come to shore at dusk on the South-Western coast. Cameras are not allowed, but the memory of the experience will not fade. Many tours will include wine tasting for a reasonable price.
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Wine Tasting - Victoria's wines are world-famous, visiting with a few Wineries is a must. Several tours are available through viator.com, and cater from the novice to the advanced palate.
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Excursions - Whether you want history, nature, or culture, there are several excursions from Melbourne to cater to your tastes. Take a trip along the winding Great Ocean Road to see some Geographical wonders, go into the Yarra Valley to see some native animals, or take a cruise to Williamstown for its charming colonial architecture and craft market.
Getting around Melbourne
Melbourne's Central Business District is extremely compact, and easy to navigate on foot. The streets are set out as a grid (although they are not named and numbered) Which makes map-reading very simple.
The city also has a very Comprehensive tram network, although the network map May take some getting used to! Fares are comparable to most cities, and both drivers and passengers are usually happy to help a lost tourist.
Where to eat in Melbourne
Locals will tell you that you could write a book on Melbourne's restaurants. It is a melting pot of world cuisine, given its European history, and current popularity among Asian cultures. A few favorites are listed below:
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Pizza by the Metre - Located near Melbourne Museum, this place Serves cheap, tasty pizza in a presentation that is ideal for sharing. If pizza is not your thing, nearby Lygon Street is Crammed with good restaurants.
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Nudel Bar - May As the name suggest, this restaurant Serves noodle dishes from around the world for a reasonable price. Its location is excellent, being close to bars, theater, and transport.
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Crossways - Vegetarian restaurant on Swanson Street. Serves a very popular $ 5 all you can eat menu.
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Afghan Village - although this restaurant is a little way out from the Central Business District (in Camberwell), there are very few Afghan restaurants around, Particular and this one is well-priced, with excellent service.
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Cheap Eats - if you are desperate for a snack on-the-go, there are several takeaway sushi Kiosks around the city that serve Maki rolls for $ 2 The Australian version of Burger King is called Hungry Jacks, although there are bound to be far better alternatives anywhere.