Melbourne, Australia's second largest city, is a chic and diverse mélange of people, delectable foods, entertainment, couture fashion and shopping.
Rialto Towers Observation Deck offers panoramic views of the city and surroundings. Other places to visit include the Royal Botanical Gardens, Parliament House, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Melbourne Zoo, famous for its carefully recreated animal habitats, also warrants a visit.
The Melbourne Museum is Australia's largest museum. Its highlights include a living Forest Gallery, Aboriginal Centre, Children's Museum and IMAX Theatre. The National Gallery of Victoria is home to Australia's greatest collection of international fine art. The NGV: Australian Art is one of the attractions of Federation Square, a new city block devoted to culture.
Restaurants offering specific cuisines can be found in sectionalised districts: Lygon Street for Italian, Little Bourke Street for Chinese, Lonsdale Street for Greek, Victoria Street for Vietnamese, Sydney Road for Turkish and Spanish, and Acland Street for Central European. Melbourne is home to a very vibrant nightlife. From ballet, classical concerts and opera to plays in Melbourne's ornate theatres, entertainment seekers will easily find something exciting to do. Unusual buys and bargains can be found at the Queen Victoria Market.
St Kilda has a nice seaside feel to it, with it's colourful amusement park, beachfront and cluster of restaurants. Nearby is Albert Park, scene of the F1 Grand Prix.
The hills of the Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne, are covered in vineyards, banks of flowers and distinctly Australian gum trees. The Great Ocean Road is a spectacular drive along the coast to Adelaide, passing through Cape Otway and Port Campbell national parks to the dramatic rock formations known as the Twelve Apostles.
Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport services both domestic and international flights. While many international airlines have direct flights into Melbourne, most flights still stop off in Sydney. Domestic flights run between Melbourne and all Australian capital cities, plus some regional centres.
More details on Sydney.
www.visitmelbourne.com
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