Melbourne is a city full of life, with a thriving art scene, delicious cuisine, and limitless opportunities for entertainment. The uniqueness of Melbourne, however, lies in the fact that it combines old-world appeal with the adrenaline of a modern city.
Every corner of Melbourne offers something new to discover, whether it is the historic buildings that line the streets or the trendy eateries and nightclubs that seem to open every week. As a result, Melbourne is the place to go if you want to visit a city with character.
1. Unity In Diversity
Melbourne is considered one of the most socially diverse cities in the world, with over 100 language groups spoken and roughly half of its residents born overseas. It is also home to Australia's oldest Fuzhou, the largest Cypriot population outside of Europe, and European Lygon Street, where the introduction of the coffee maker to Melbourne kicked off the city's love of coffee.
The mean age of a Melbourne resident is 28. Change, however, is on the horizon, and young professionals and students are paving the way by providing a nightlife that's worth checking out. The city's vitality is matched by the momentum created by its citizens, who are all eager to learn new things and launch exciting new ventures.
In one of Britain's greatest progressive cities, you may honour the struggle for the freedom to be yourself. Melbourne's homosexual community enjoys a welcoming and thriving environment. This city has the largest gay and lesbian film festival in Australia and the first gay and lesbian radio in the world (Melbourne Queer Film Festival),
pride event with lots of activities and places to party And as of the year 2016, it had held that distinction for a total of six years. When considering factors like healthcare, economy, stability, culture, environment, and infrastructure, Melbourne comes out on top with a score of 97.5.
2. The Food and Drinks
3. The Places You Can Visit
Queen Victoria Market
The southern hemisphere's largest open-air market is a sensory overload. Hundreds of vendors sell an array of goods, from fine cheeses and wines to fresh fruits and vegetables and a wide variety of meats. Although Vic Market has stood for 130 years, it's best not to dwell on the fact that it was formerly a cemetery and is now perched above the graves of more than 9000 people.
Market has been available to the public for for 140 years, having first opened on March 20, 1878. As a result of its historical significance to the seventeenth century population of Melbourne and its preservation of the essential features of a metropolitan produce market in the 19th century, this market, which has undergone numerous alterations, was added to the Heritage List of Australia. in 1988.
Queen Victoria Market, or simply Vic Market or Queen Vic, has been the beating centre of Melbourne for over a hundred years. A monument that spans two city blocks and is steeped in history. There are more than 600 different stores selling everything from Australian fresh fruits and vegetables to local and imported gourmet delicacies to clothing and souvenirs, making this a lively and bustling inner-city Market.
Fitzroy and Collingwood Neighborhoods
Queen Victoria Market, or simply Vic Market or Queen Vic, has been the beating centre of Melbourne for over a hundred years. A monument that spans two city blocks and is steeped in history. There are more than 600 different stores selling everything from Australian fresh fruits and vegetables to local and imported gourmet delicacies to clothing and souvenirs, making this a lively and bustling inner-city Market. – the Telegraph recently ranked Fitzroy as one of the top 25 most hipster neighbourhoods in the world, and nearby Collingwood isn’t far behind.
Close enough to hop on a tram to the CBD, Yet far enough to have developed its own character, here is a place where the street walls and beverages are works of art and where unsuspecting visitors have been known to show up for the weekend only to find themselves two years later. They've grown stylish beards, inked on some new designs, and are contemplating eloping with an Aussie in order to secure their legal status in the country.
Federation Square
Butted up against the Yarra river Federal Square occupies a whole city block and functions as a big public gathering place, equipped with a TV square for viewing athletic events, art galleries, movie theatres, and a wide variety of food and drink options.
Federation Square, located in the centre of Melbourne and conveniently close to multiple public transportation options, is always bustling with people. Federation Square's odd and very distinctive design is evident and unforgettable, drawing visitors to its galleries, cultural sites, restaurants, and pubs.
Union Square is a hub of activity and a popular area to congregate in Melbourne, Australia, especially for large-scale events.
Parks and Gardens
As the "garden city" of Australia, Melbourne is home to rare as well as indigenous plant collections, as well as beautiful locations to relax over lunch. Some of the city's oldest parks include the Fitzroy Gardens & Royal Botanic Gardens.
Victoria is known as the "garden state" for good reason. Some of the world's most stunning parks and gardens may be found in this state because of its favourable climate and strategic location. The Royal Botanic Gardens is no exception.
Many rare and endangered kinds of plants and animals find refuge in these gardens. In addition, the parks are a wonderful spot to unwind and take in the scenery while going for a stroll or enjoying a picnic.
Situating right outside the downtown core, the Fitzroy Gardens about two million local, out-of-state, and international tourists find attractive every year. Fitzroy Gardens is home to a somewhat important and distinctive elements, and its stunning natural beauty makes it a point of pride for the people of Melbourne Cooks' Cottage, a memorial to Captain James Cook. The east coast od Australia was discovered by him before any other European.
4. Ten Things You Can Do Only In Melbourne
Pat dogs
As one of the oldest showcase pavillions still in use today, it was built to accommodate the first official World's Fair in the Southern Hemisphere. During special events like the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and the Dog Lovers Show, the Great Hall's ornate furnishings are on exhibit.
See penguins incredibly close to the CBD
Did you know there's a thriving population of fairy penguins at St. Kilda beach? Just six kilometres from the central business district, you can meet some tiny finned pals. The St. Kilda colony has made their home on the breakwater, the large island at the pier's end past the kiosk.
The greatest vantage point is from the boardwalk; the penguins nesting on the cliffs below will flee if you disturb them. Guests are welcome to take photos but must adhere to the guidelines set forth by the volunteer penguins guides. Even St. Kilda is undergoing a facelift so that visitors may feel safer when viewing the penguins.
Visit a pink lake near the CBD
Located less than a 15-minute drive away from the CBD, the lake at Westgate Park
has a history of taking on a rosy hue by summer's end. Since the july of 2012/13, when high temperatures, algae, a lack of rainfall, and an abundance of sunlight joined together like a bubble gum pink witch's brew, it has done so every year.
Images of the purple lake posted online may make viewers feel as if they are witnessing a bizarre scene, as if someone had actually poured dye into the water. You'll have to see for yourself that this is not the case, but be assured we're not lying.
Nibble on hot jam doughnuts from a 70-year-old van
Let's pretend you've got a full day to spend at the Queen Victoria Market. In such a circumstance, the day's menu might consist of the following items: Because what is a visit to the always bustling Queen Vic Market without even a stop at the always-popular Doughnut Time? American Doughnut Kitchen van? A huge mistake.
For $6.50, you can get a bag or five fresh-from-the-fryer, mouthwatering jam doughnuts. These doughnuts are museum-worthy in every way: they have the perfect amount of greasy crunch, are filled with a thick and sweet crimson dollop of raspberry cherry jam, and are generously coated in sugar. It'll take hours of licking your fingers clean, but it'll be well worth it.
Pay a visit to Ramsay Street and the set of Neighbours
Aussie soap Neighbours has aired for almost three decades, during which time it has won the hearts of countless Australians. So if you're a fan of the show, the Official Neighbours Tour will fulfil any and all of your Ramsay Street fantasies.
The tour takes place in Melbourne's suburbs, where visitors can take pictures in front of the real-life inspirations for the iconic homes on Ramsay Street and stroll on the outside sets of Neighbours studio. There is a 90% probability that you may run into a current or former Neighbours actor while on your trip Dr Karl Kennedy.
Eat a burger on a train that has been abandoned on a roof and coated with graffiti.
Melbourne chose to stack several Hitachi trains atop a Collingwood office building just when you thought the city couldn't get any crazier. The outrageous burgers and artery-clogging fried nibbles at Easey's may be the place's claim to fame, but the craft beer selection and panoramic views of Richmond aren't half bad, either. It's best to arrive early to ensure a seat upon that trains.
See the Southern Hemisphere’s only production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Production of the two-part Harry Potter sequel by J.K. Rowling opened in Melbourne, Australia, third after London and New York, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Jack Thorne adapted Rowling's original story for the theatre. It is split into two sections that can either be seen on a single day or on separate nights.
It's a hefty read, but everyone agrees it lives up to the Potter canon and Rowling's vision with flying colours. We give it four stars, and you can read our review right here (no spoilers! or find out how to get tickets for under $40 here.
See a match at the home of Australian Rules footy
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is without a doubt one of the best stadiums in the world. It was the first of its kind when it was completed in 1853 and it has been a success ever since cricket test match was held in 1877, the Olympics of 1956 were hosted by this city, and the greatest sporting event in Australia takes place here on the final Saturday of September each year, the AFL Grand Final, fill the 'G with a hundred thousand yelling sports fans. Melbourne's four AFL teams all play their home games at the MCG, making it the ideal place to watch Melbourne's favourite sport.
Tram
Melbourne isn't the only place you can make a hook turn, but doing it next to some really aggressive trams is. For the uninitiated, a hook maneuver is when a car makes a right turn by aligning up on the left. Cyclists in every country utilise this technique. These swerves are necessary for cars in Melbourne because of the city's trams.
To make a right turn, cars don't have to bank back over the tramlines, which means other vehicles, including bikes and trams, may keep going in a straight path. While waiting for the traffic signals on the other side of the highway to turn green, there is a certain sense of accomplishment that comes from having successfully completed a hook turn.
‘70s Airstream on top of an inner-city carpark
It appears that we can't get any of Melbourne's lofty vistas. Six luxurious Airstream trailers from the 1970s form Nortel, perched atop a parking garage in Flinders Lane. There are office buildings on either side of the cabins, and once inside, it's as if you've entered another world. Surprisingly roomy, the rooms have a queen-sized bed, free minibar stocked with gourmet cocoa and chips, high-end bathing amenities, and an own deck. Fancy.
