About Melbourne

 Melbourne is a city with endless options. Modern architecture and design is juxtaposed with heritage buildings reflecting Australia's cultural history. But beneath the city's impressive façade, lies the true heart and soul of the city; lane ways which snake the city grid to reveal cafés and bars, fashion houses, boutiques, innovative cuisine, galleries, theatres and museums. Coupled with luscious parks and a vibrant waterfront atmosphere it's easy to see why Melbourne has been voted The World's Most liveable City on a number of occasions.

Climate and Clothing

April is a pleasant month, with spells of fine sunny weather lasting several days during which the temperature occasionally exceeds 25c. The nights are quite cool with temperatures often falling below 10c.
It is recommended that visitors bring clothing suitable for mild days and cold nights.

Restaurants

Melbourne's melting pot of cultures is reflected in its diverse range of restaurants, cafés, bistros and bars. Fashionable, eclectic and eccentric - Melbourne's dining spots offer a dizzying spread of the world's great cuisines, serving meals from the substantial and classic to the truly exotic. 
In the city, you can enjoy afternoon tea in the genteel surroundings of a nineteenth-century hotel, watch and be watched in buzzing lane way cafés and bars, or hand pick a boutique bottle of Yarra Valley wine at the latest user-chic hangout.

Don't miss the late-night bustle of Chinatown, the Aegean delights of the Greek Quarter, Richmond's cheap and cheerful Vietnamese dishes, Fitzroy for tantalising Spanish tapas and Lygon Street, Melbourne's 'Little Italy', where the speciality is pizza and pasta. And if the weather is good, dine alfresco beside the Yarra River at Southgate, or at the bustling harbour side New Quay precinct.

Shopping

Melbourne is famous for its great shopping, from the cutting edge to classic, boutique to big time, Melbourne's vibrant retail scene is alive with alluring labels, products and shopping experiences - some home grown and others world-renowned.

Discover Melbourne's best-kept shopping secrets in its network of historic arcades and lane ways, and pick up international labels at boutiques along the leafy boulevard Collins Street. Preview the latest collections at Chapel Street, South Yarra, or head to Acland Street in St Kilda or Fitzroy's Brunswick Street for local designers, street fashion, and groovy bars and cafés. And bargain hunters should check out Bridge Road in Richmond, where many of Melbourne's most successful retail stores have their warehouses and factory outlets.

Most shops in Melbourne are generally open from 0900 to 1700, Saturday to Wednesday and 0900 to 2100 Thursday to Friday. In all stores and shopping centres major credit cards are accepted and tax-free shopping is possible within the city.

Attractions

Melbourne is a city of striking public spaces, state-of-the-art museums and gold rush architecture. To experience the heart of the city head to Federation Square , a dynamic mix of bars, galleries and open public spaces. Linking the city to the Yarra River, Federation Square houses the Melbourne Visitor Centre, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, featuring a comprehensive collection of Australian art. Discover the underwater world at the Melbourne Aquarium, a 2.2-million-litre oceanarium; see Australia's most famous racehorse Phar Lap at the Melbourne Museum; or wander through the NGV International for a cultural fix. Take in spectacular 360-degree views of the city from the Melbourne Observation Deck on level 50 of the Rialto Towers Building in Collins Street or step out onto the glass viewing deck of Melbourne's tallest building, the Eureka Tower.

Art and Culture

Melbourne hosts a non-stop program of theatre, ballet, music and art exhibitions at world-class venues located along an easily navigable 'cultural corridor' that winds through the city. Take a show at the Victorian Arts Centre, or cross the Yarra River to Federation Square, then continue to the Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building. The National Gallery of Victoria has two homes - The NGV International on St Kilda Road and the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square, which holds a superb collection of Australian indigenous and non-indigenous art. Melbourne has one of the highest concentrations of commercial art galleries of any city in the world and thriving performance spaces, including historic theatres such as Her Majesty's, the Princess, and the Athenaeum.

Travel

Most visitors base themselves in the city centre, the buzzing commercial heart of Melbourne that's also home to museums, theatres, restaurants, bars and shops. The city's layout makes Melbourne an easy city to navigate, and almost everything is within walking distance - if it's not, you can simple hop aboard a train or tram.

Travelling between Melbourne's CBD and inner suburbs is best done by tram or jump on the city's free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle Bus or City Circle Tram.

Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport is located approximately 25km from the central business district; access to and from the airport takes approximately 25 minutes (by taxi) via the Tullamarine Freeway. Skybus offers a shuttle bus service that operates 24 hours per day 7 days per week, transporting passengers from the airport to the city area and city hotels.

Useful Websites

Only Melbourne, Melbourne What's On Guide
That's Melbourne, Tourist Guide
Metlink, Guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria
Beat, Melbourne music and arts guide, also available as a free street magazine every Wednesday.