Visiting Melbourne

Being the second largest city in Australia, Melbourne offers many sites and attractions to visitors. Melbourne is considered the capital of Australia’s culture, one of the reasons is that it is home to the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere, the Melbourne Museum. The museum has seven main galleries as well as a children’s museum, and an IMAX theater. The Melbourne Zoo is a great spot to see some of the native species of Australia, and also is a popular Jazz spot during the weekends of the summer months. For something a little more historical, travelers should visit the Parliament House of Victoria in City Centre, where they can take free tours of the first site of the Australian federal government.

Melbourne is not all about galleries and museums, the sport fans in Melbourne are some of the most enthusiastic you will find anywhere in the world. Since Australian Rules Football was invented in Melbourne, and 9 out of the 10 AFL Victorian teams and half of the entire national AFL league are found in Melbourne, winter visitors should check out an AFL football match at MCG or Etihad Stadium. During the summer, focus shifts to cricket and matches can be viewed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Melbourne is a large metropolitan area and most of the sites are about a 20 minute tram or train ride away. Metlink is Melbournes public transit system and consists of trams, buses, and trains. Like all cities, Melbourne hotels come in various price ranges for the budgetary needs of all visitors. For those on a major budget, the Melbourne Metro YHA is a quality hostel that is close to the Zoo as well as the Victoria Market. Mid range hotels include the Travelodge Southbank Melbourne, which gives visitors a comfortable hotel, while staying at affordable prices. Those that want to spend a little more on their accommodation should look into The Blackman – An Art Series Hotel. This 5 star hotel was named after the artist Charles Blackman, and actually incorporates the historic Airlie Mansion in the hotel.