Melbourne
For decades, it lived in the shadow of its more famous cousin, but now Melbourne is aiming to become Australia's new jewel in the tourism crown. Without an iconic Harbour Bridge or famous Opera House to call its own, the Victorian city was often by-passed by visitors on trips Down Under but having undergone extensive changes, Melbourne has a soul all of its own.
As the number of UK travellers going to Australia on return visits increases, Melbourne is fast becoming a tourist hotspot in its own right. It's little wonder. Home to soap Neighbours, pop princess Kylie Minogue, the Australian Tennis Open and the Grand Prix, the city has lots to brag about. Comedian Barry Humphries, actress Cate Blanchett, singer Olivia Newton-John, and feminist Germaine Greer were born here too, while the city is also preparing to host next year's Commonwealth Games. Add in the city's changing facade - there's new developments on every corner, such as Federation Square and the impressive new Docklands - and it's easy to see why this is fast becoming Australia's must-visit destination. Getting to Melbourne is straight forward with it being a major Australian gateway served by direct flights from the UK by a choice of airlines.
It's fair to say Melbourne is the most European looking of Australia's big cities, with restaurants and bars stretching along a river front, trams trundling along the main thoroughfares, and cafes on every street corner. However, its superb street-scapes reflect both old and new architecture; with its network of hidden lanes you can discover eye-opening galleries, fabulous theatre, funky boutiques and lively bars.
Take a stroll past the grand hotels and boutique shops of Collins Street, or listen to the myriad of buskers as you window shop down Swanston Street. Remember to stop and take a picture of the colourful yellow brickwork of Flinders Street Station, which has been the hub of Victoria's railway system since it was completed in 1911.
The Yarra River runs through the heart of the city and links the parks, art venues, sporting arenas and Docklands waterfront precinct. Dotted along the water's southern edge, on Southbank Promenade, you'll find an array of upmarket restaurants and fashionable bars which tend to be popular with the after work crowd and at weekends. Indeed, it's the place to be and be seen when the sun sets on a Friday or Saturday night. The boardwalk extends as far as the $1.6billion Crown Entertainment Complex, a sprawling Las Vegas-style hotel-turned-casino-turned-shopping mall. Gamble and drink the night away on one of the many roulette tables, drink some local Carlton beer in the sports bar, shop, or watch a movie - it's all here.
Weekends are what the city's 3.4 million residents live for and you'll find they really let their hair down on Saturday and Sunday. They are usually crammed into one of the many vast sports stadia by day before unwinding with a schooner – a uniquely Australian measure of roughly two-thirds of a pint - or two in the nearest pub, or immersing themselves in more cultural pursuits.
Melbourne is sports mad and it's no surprise given that the city is home to the Australian Tennis Open, the Australian Grand Prix, and the famous Melbourne Cup, the country's premier horse race and the only event to be given its own public holiday.
You'll also find the Melbourne Cricket Ground (the MCG), one of the world's most impressive venues with no fewer than 100,000 seats, while most locals are fans of Aussie Rules Football, since the game was invented here in 1858. If all that's not enough, Melbourne will also host the 2006 Commonwealth Games in March.
For the less active, why not visit the set of Aussie soap, Neighbours, with one of the official bus tours that leave throughout the day, enjoy a long lunch with a glass or two of local wine, or wait until night falls for a sumptuous candlelit dinner on the famous Colonial Tram which slowly trundles its way through the city. Melbourne is also noted for being the cultural heart and soul of Australia with some of the best museums and exhibitions in the country. The National Gallery of Victoria is impressive, featuring famous European works of art as well as exhibitions on ancient Egypt and Aboriginal life.
Melbourne also stakes its claim as a veritable culinary capital too, with a vast choice of vibrant restaurants, cafes, bistros and bars, representing about 75 different cuisines offering excellent variety and fine wine. The restaurants in China Town are well recommended. No trip would be complete without a visit to St. Kilda, a beach suburb famous for its cafes, cake shops and tree-lined avenues. Once one of Melbourne’s most downtrodden areas, it is now very fashionable and there are a host of top-end restaurants, such as Donovans, all of which are worth more than a passing glance.
Diverse and dynamic, fantastic shopping and unbeatable cuisine, it’s easy to see why Melbourne appeals to so many, enticing visitors back time and time again.
