Why should you choose Melbourne – Australia?

Why should you choose Melbourne?

For Aboriginal people, the city now known as Melbourne has been home since the beginning of time. The sprawling metropolis of this urban city rests upon the ancestral lands of the clans of the Boonerwrung and Wurundjeri people. Founded in 1835, near Philip Harbour, Melbourne is a city that flourishes on creativity and innovation. This city is a maze of laneways with uncover boutiques, galleries and some city’s best dining, just ready to be discovered.

Melbourne, the capital of Victoria district, “the place to be” called by the Aussies, deserves to be visited for at least one of these reasons:

• Melbourne Museum offers a rich insight into Victoria’s fascinating natural environment, culture and history. The museum has eight galleries, which covers the natural, physical sciences, history and technology
• Michael church, completed in 1867, is built on the site of the first permanent church in Melbourne with the largest display of existential-religious stained glass in the Southern Hemisphere. Mingary “The quiet place” is a gem that should be visited
• St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral built in 1892

• The State Library of Victoria is Australia oldest public library with a beautiful heritage building located in the heart of Melbourne. Free entry

• Old Treasury Building is the most beautiful 19^th century building
• Parliament House is one of the oldest and architecturally distinguished public buildings in Australia. Free guided tours are provided on non-sitting days, but also on sitting days you can see Parliament in action

• The Shrine of Remembrance: contemplate the quiet solitude of the sanctuary, explore the memorials in the surrounding parkland and discover the story of Australians in war and peacekeeping. Free guided tours are provided and Remembrance Ray light ceremonies every half hour

• Flinders Railway Station built in 1907 is an important spot of Melbourne, with very used meeting point “under the clocks”, name that is given by the clocks above the main entrance

• At Young & Jackson Hotel there is one of the oldest pubs in Melbourne which hosts the famous “Chloe” painting of Jules Lefebvre. Painted in 1875, sent in 1880 to Melbourne Exhibit where it was considered as obscene, so since then, pub’s customers can admire the painting at the second floor in Chloe’s Bar & Bistro

• Federation Square which hosts Australian Centre for the Moving Image, a museum dedicated for movie, television and digital mass media

• Cook’s Cottage is a unique Melbourne experience located in the heritage listed Fitzroy Gardens. Australia oldest building will captivate you with stories of explorer Captain James Cook, remarkable insights into 18^th century and the evolution of this historical landmark
• Melbourne Bathhouse gives you moments of total relaxation in Melbourne’s Authentic Heritage Day Spa

• Raaf Point Cook Museum, located 25 minutes from Melbourne has free admission and is Australia’s Air Force museum
• Immigration Museum gives you the chance to explore Australian identity
• Melbourne Star offers in a 30 minutes journey many views all the way across the city and bay
• Queen Victoria Market is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere, where you can shop for everything: from fresh produce, and local and imported gourmet foods, to cosmetics, clothing and souvenirs
• A free ride with City Circle Tram offers a historic journey and automated commentary that announces points of interest along the way. The City Circle runs the perimeter of the CBD (Central Business District)
• Colonial Tramcar restaurant offers 2 hours ride while you have lunch or dinner (reservation needed)
• Weribee Open range Zoo is the place where you can experience African Adventure with a guided safari bus across the savannah and discover rhinos, giraffes, zebras, lions, hippos and cheetahs. Here is one of the world’s largest gorilla exhibits. Is 30 minutes away from Melbourne

• Melbourne Zoo is a journey through a world wildlife in the heart of Melbourne
• Melbourne Sealife Aquarium

• Royal Botanic Gardens located in the heart of Melbourne is considered one of the world’s finest gardens offering a calm oasis of beautiful plants and landscapes. Here you can find Governor La Trobe’s cottage and National Herbarium

• Explore Australia’s sporting heart by taking a tour of the mighty Melbourne Cricket Ground (MGG), birthplace of Test cricket in Australia. You will be guided through the inner sanctum of the MGG to walk on the turf and see where legends of the game played. Here you can visit the National Sports Museum
• When it comes to sports you should know that in Melbourne are at least 9 Australian Football clubs, here takes place Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena, the biggest horse race Melbourne Cup and Formula One Grand Prix

• The Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform you can discover at Eureka Skydeck 88. In 40 seconds one of the two dedicated elevators take you to the unforgettable panorama

• Melbourne visitor shuttle is an easy and free way to see many of Melbourne’s attraction. You can hop on and off at any of 13^th stops along the route, including China Town, Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens, Queen Victoria market, Docklands, Melbourne aquarium and Southbank. A round trip is 90 minutes.
• Kilda beach and St Kilda esplanade market
• Luna Park or Wonderland Fun Park are perfect if you want to have fun: spinning, zooming, twirling and screaming as you could possibly want all day long
• Australia means also opal mines so here you can shop jewelry with opals

There are some day tours that you should think about:

• Puffing Billy and Healesville Sanctuary. Puffing Billy is the century old steam train which runs on its original mountain track from Belgrave to Gembrook, providing stunning views of the impressive Dandenong Rangers. At Healesville Sanctuary you can see koalas, kangaroos, platypus and emus
• Yarra valley wineries is a one day tour: visiting wineries and tasting wines
• Around the Bay tours is an alternative of Melbourne, you can see spectacular Port Philip Bay and experience Mornington Penninsula
• Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles
• Philip Island Penguin Parade
• Grampians
• Sovereign Hill

Sneak peek: