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Sightseeing in Melbourne

Melbourne is set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The city itself, laid out in a large rectangle and boasting a lively and cosmopolitan pulse, sits on the northern banks of the Yarra River, about five kilometres from the bay.

One glance at a map and it’s obvious that Melbourne is a planned city: a tidy, balanced grid of neatly angled streets. But beneath this sense of everything in its place restraint lies a restless creative energy constantly pushing back at the city’s seeming conservatism.

The CBD is made up of precincts – distinct enclaves each with its own flavour and charm. Some are just a lane or two, while others cover the banks of the Yarra River or a busy CBD street.

Federation Square

Conceived as a tribute to the first 100 years of Australian nationhood, Federation Square opened on 26 October 2002. Standing in the heart of central Melbourne and linking the city centre with the Yarra River, Federation Square fuses art, architecture, hospitality and promenading into a distinct and striking public space. Visitors can stroll around Federation Square's expansive desert-toned plaza, which affords commanding views of Melbourne's riverside and cityscape, or enjoy food and wine at one of the 20 captivating restaurants, cafes and bars interspersed throughout the square.

How to get there:

By train: Flinders Street Station, part of the city loop metropolitan train service, is opposite the square.
By tram: Take any tram along Swanston and Flinders street.

New Quay

Opened in late 2002, NewQuay is Melbourne's newest dining precinct, offering a stunning waterfront location and a bustling harbourside eating, drinking and shopping experience.

How to get there:

By Tram: The free City Circle tram runs along Harbourside Esplanade seven days a week.

By Train: Alight at Spencer Street Station and follow the signs across the Bourke Street footbridge.

By Car: There are 1,100 parking spaces with ticket validation for restaurant patrons.

By foot: Access from the city is along the Collins Street, Bourke Street and LaTrobe Street bridges.

By Ferry: Bay and River Cruises (ph +61 3 9682 9555) operate a ferry service from Southgate, via Crown Casino and the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Weather

Summer

In summer (December to March), there’s usually warm to sizzling temperatures, blue skies, and lots of alfresco eating and drinking. Opportunities for employment, especially seasonal farm work and harvesting, are also plentiful. Prices can sometimes be higher, the beaches more crowded and accommodation harder to find."

Winter

Winter (June to August) is colder and wetter, but as the temperature drops, so do most of the prices. For many, winter is prime time to get outdoors for skiing, snowboarding, and the like. Alternatively, use the cooler months to scope out all the regional pubs with fireplaces, or trawl through some of Victoria’s excellent galleries and museums.

Autumn

As you'd expect from such a leafy city, Melbourne is a kaleidoscope of colours in autumn. Temperatures start to drop pretty dramatically in the lead up to winter, but you can be blessed with lots of crips mornings and sunny days (and days with lots of drizzle, too).

Spring

Melbourne is dazzling in spring, and it's not just the city's beautiful gardens bringing the colours to life. With the local football finals and the Spring Racing Carnival (including the Melbourne Cup) in full flight, Melburnians and visitors don their glad rags and celebrate all things horses. Temperatures can fluctuate widly, so it's worth bringing a selection of warm- and cool-weather clothes.

VISAS, EMBASSIES & SEASONAL ADVICE

Australia Immigration Visa Services will provide you with a comprehensive run-down of Australian Visa information for travel to Australia.

Working Holiday Maker Visa’s

Australia has working holiday agreements with 17 countries. These include Great Britian, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Malta, Malaysia, Japan, Estonia, Canada, Taiwan. New changes to the WHM’s visa come into effect on November 1 2005 allowing working holiday makers to extend there visa for a extra year. For more information please go to the Australian Immigration website.

www.immi.gov.au