Melbourne

Tour Guides

Visit Melbourne: Melbourne is a city with something for everyone. From chic fashion stores to buzzing laneway cafés and trendy bars, botanic gardens to sports stadiums, elegant Victorian-era streetscapes to Manhattan-style skyscrapers, film and food festivals to galleries and opulent theatres, Melbourne has an activity and attraction that will interest you.

Enjoy some of Australia’s best eating and drinking, explore historic arcades and laneways lined with cafes and boutiques and see sporting spectaculars, art exhibitions and performing arts productions throughout the year.

City of Melbourne: There is much to love about Melbourne. Just ask the locals. This sophisticated world city in the south-east corner of mainland Australia inspires a deep passion in those lucky enough to live here. They love its vibrant energy, staggering choice of restaurants, funky boutiques, café-filled laneways, cool bars, unbeatable galleries, luscious parks and village-like inner suburbs, each with its own special character.

Melbourne, a relatively modern city which is less than 200 years old, never sits still. New futuristic designs add to the fascinating mix of architecture and ensure the skyline is constantly changing. Melbourne is very much about lifestyle. It is no huge surprise to residents that their city has been named in an international poll as the world’s most liveable city.

Wikipedia: Melbourne is the second most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3.74 million (2006 estimate). Located around Port Phillip Bay in the country's south-east, Melbourne is the state capital of Victoria. Melbourne is a major centre of commerce, industry and cultural activity. The city is often referred to as Australia's "sporting and cultural capital" and it is home to many of the nation's most significant cultural and sporting events and institutions.

Telegraph: Consistently voted one of the world's most liveable cities, Melbourne effortlessly combines a strong sense of tradition with strong contemporary design, entertainment and technology. Exciting new buildings such as the 92-storey Eureka Tower - the world's tallest residential building - Crown Casino and Federation Square have injected new life into a city always known for its elegant boulevards, impressive parks and treasury of Victorian and Edwardian architecture.

Historical Sights

Melbourne Highlights

The National Trust of Australia: The Trust owns and manages some of the state's best-known historic properties and gardens for public benefit and enjoyment. Our properties range in style from magnificent mansions to humble cottages and reflect the fascinating diversity of Australia's rich past. National Trust properties are open to all and members gain free entry. Most properties can only be viewed on guided tours, which are held regularly during open days.

Visit Melbourne: Heritage Walks. Walk ‘Marvellous Melbourne’ and experience how the discovery of gold shaped the city. See the majestic architecture and hear stories from your professional guide about the colourful characters of early boom town Melbourne. Group walking tours departs daily from Federation Square or walk the our on your own with a Golden Mile booklet, available from tourism outlets and museums along the trail.

The RBG Melbourne was established in 1846 but it wasn't until William Guilfoyle was appointed Director that the Gardens took on the design that we see today. Guilfoyle set about creating the Gardens’ world-famous "picturesque" landscape style; sweeping lawns, meandering paths and glittering lakes, magnificient vistas, and offering a surprise around every corner.

RBG Melbourne is recognised as one of the world’s finest botanic gardens. There are over 10,000 species and 50,000 individual plants in the 38 hectare gardens, including trees and plants of great cultural value.

Only Melbourne: What's On is your calendar and guide to events, shows, concerts, fetes and festivals happening in and around Melbourne. Select a month to see what's happening.

Yarra River: Melbourne's lower Yara River is the city's tourism and recreation heart. It hums with activity, on land and water. River boats link the vibrancy of Federation Square, Southgate and Crown. Outstanding dining and shopping opportunities blend with museums, leading galleries, an aquarium, concert halls and theatres to create one of the most diverse visitor precincts in the country.

Federation Square is Melbourne's meeting place and a unique cultural precinct. Federation Square brings together a creative mix of attractions, includingThe Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Champions: Australian Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, National Design Centre and the Melbourne Visitor Centre, along with 15 restaurants, cafes and bars, function centres, guided tours at 11am and 2pm Monday - Saturday and over 2000 events held annually.

Port Phillip: Covering 1,950 square kilometres, Port Phillip is the entrance to Australia's busiest port and is one of Victoria's most popular recreational destinations. Every year millions of people enjoy its vast coastline, world-class swimming beaches and coastal parks. An entirely different perspective however is available to those who explore the Bay by boat. Island, shipwrecks and marine reserves dot the Bay, while scuba diving and fishing reveal the colourful diversity of the Bay's marine life.

St Kilda Beach: St Kilda is a remarkable place. It is situated on one of the most picturesque points of the Bay a short distance from the city and has safe sandy beaches. This bayside suburb is now one of the main tourist destinations and is renowned for its picturesque bayside setting, close proximity to the city, beaches, music venues, restaurants and cafe lifestyle.

Activities

Melbourne, Australia: Offering a unique blend of arts, culture and attractions along with an abundant array of outdoor activities and adventures ensures that Melbourne offers something for every one.

Jump on a tram, which are fun, cheap and Melbourne's unique trademark. The City Circle tram, which is a distinct maroon colour, is a free service that gets you around the CBD and within reach of major attractions.

Cruise on one of the many tourist boats departing from Princess Bridge that takes you on a wonderful journey down the Yarra River. It is one of the best ways to see and learn about the city as the riverbanks are home to many of Melbourne's treasures.

Visit Melbourne: Victoria’s breathtaking scenery and diverse natural environments are a great excuse to head outdoors. Experience the adrenalin rush of white-water rafting, have a gentle walk through tall forests, play a round of golf on a championship course, or set up camp for a longer stay to enjoy the state’s wide range of outdoor activities.

Tours

River Country Adventours have been serving the tourism industry with well-organised, quality day and extended coach tours since 1993. We cater for both small and large groups throughout Regional Victoria, and beyond. Most of these tours depart from Melbourne and are fully escorted by accredited tour operators who have a good knowledge of the history and heritage of the regions.

Melbourne Tours: Melbourne's Best Tours is a small family operated tour company. When it was established several years ago we aimed to provide a different, and in our opinion better, style of day touring. Our experience indicated that many people preferred the more personal service of a smaller group size where they could actually relate to the driver and fellow travellers.

Melbourne Tour Company: Melbourne isn't dubbed the 'world's most livable city' for nothing. On this tour you'll see the stunning architectural heritage of Melbourne's gold rush days, world-renowned sporting venues (including the home of the Australian Tennis Open), the parklands which have made Melbourne's reputation as the 'Garden City' and shopping and cafe centers that are second to none.

Melbourne Sport Tours: Melbourne is home to some the finest & most perfectly situated collection of sporting venues in the world. Major facilities include the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Telstra Dome, Rod Laver Arena, Vodafone Arena, Olympic Park, Flemington Race Course, Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre (MSAC) and Albert Park Grand Prix Track....all within 6 kilometres of the city centre. Melbourne Sports Tours offers sports sightseeing product based around our favorite Melbourne attributes - taking you behind the scenes of Melbourne's sporting venues and to the games we play. Taking you to the heart of Melbourne.

The Haunted Ghost Tour: Come face to face with Melbourne's haunted past on an informative, fun-filled 2 hour historical walking tour conducted by Haunted Australia TV presenter, Drew Sinton. Spooky fun!

Holiday Company Descriptions

Freedom Australia: The capital of Victoria, quite fittingly, has a grand Victorian atmosphere, with its elegant architecture, tree-lined boulevards and its historic tram system which harks back to a bygone era (although it's wonderfully efficient). It's a cultured and cosmopolitan city, with a number of galleries and a world-class theatre district. There's a thriving street café scene, superb restaurants and excellent shopping. Southbank is a lively riverside art and entertainment area you shouldn't miss.

You'll find plenty to do in Australia's second largest city. Explore the Botanic Gardens, see Captain Cook's cottage in Fitzroy Gardens, enjoy a cruise down the Yarra River, picnic in one of the beautiful parks or take the tram down to the beach. St Kilda is great fun, has a lovely beach and is only 15 minutes from the city centre.

Melbourne Holidays: Melbourne is one of Australia's premier holiday destinations and attracts millions of visitors each year. Melbourne is the gateway to Victoria and sits astride the Yarra River at the very top of Port Phillip Bay. It is Australia's second largest city, with a mix of modern high rise towers, preserved historic Victorian era architecture and magnificent parks and gardens.

The cosmopolitan Melbourne restaurants precincts, the mix of modern and historic, the lively entertainment, boutique shopping and non-stop cavalcade of festivals and events all combine to make Melbourne holidays a wonderful experience for all ages. Travel is simple on the excellent network of Melbourne transport consisting of trams, trains and buses that criss-cross the city and surrounding areas.

Childrens Activities

Discover Australia: Melbourne, Victorias capital city is located on the banks of the Yarra River where it meets Port Philip Bay and is a friendly, multicultural city, home to people from over 140 nations. Melbourne is all about a social lifestyle - eating out, superb shopping and a plethora of entertainment from sports to concerts to plays and exhibitions. When night falls, live music, live comedy, concerts, theatre and films are all close by. Secret gardens can be discovered throughout Melbourne because more than a quarter of the city is green.

Qantas: Combining cool elegance, glorious architecture and artistic endeavors with a distinctly delicious Australian flavor, Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital. Its magic can also be experienced in its fine restaurants, a myriad of festivals and international sporting events.

Bon Voyage: A vibrant, multi-cultural city that is passionate about the arts, sport, food and wine, Melbourne is known as the cultural capital of Australia, with glorious tree lined shopping boulevards, arts and cultural centres, bustling markets, old fashioned trams and outdoor cafés. In the evening there is plenty to do, from the magnificent Crown Casino and entertainment centre along the river, to theatres and cafés, as well as an array of excellent restaurants.

A few minutes drive from the City, discover South Yarra for elegance and style, an area of endless cafés and chic designer shops. Or take the tram to St Kilda Beach - a lively cosmopolitan seaside playground. One of the most spectacular drives in the world is the ‘Great Ocean Road’. Starting in Melbourne weaving along Victoria’s inspiring coastline to Adelaide.

Hotels B & B Camping Melbourne Airport

Car Hire Taxi Tram Metlink

Holiday Accommodation

Oz Hotels: Ozhotels is a group of independently owned and non-related hotels, motels and serviced apartments providing accommodation located across Melbourne Australia. Oz hotels is not an internet travel agent. Oz hotels allows you to deal directly with the hotels with absolutely no agent involvement giving you the best possible rates for these Melbourne hotels.

Melbourne Hotels and Accommodation: Melbourne is renowned as a international favourite destination, among the best in the world for the relaxing enjoyment of visitors on any budget. Highly regarded for its active cultural life, sporting events and leisure past times, Melbourne invites families and travelers alike who wish to experience the ready enjoyment of one of Australia’s most culturally diverse and exciting cities.

Hotel accomodation, family rooms and tourist class lodging offer all the comforts of home whilst marinating exceptional value to help push your travelling budget further. Finding your home away from home is essential to making any occasion memorable for all members of the family, or for any visiting tourist wanting to taste some of Australias friendly and exciting lifestyle. Hotel room features include convenient services such as internet access, in-house movies or cable TV for children, direct dial phones, while the properties may also offer on-site restaurants and bars, room service, daily maid service or weekly service, 24 hour reception, tour desk, parking, fitness centre and swimming pool.

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne Hotel is located at the top end of prestigious Collins Street in the heart of Melbourne's central business, shopping, theatre and restaurant district and is within walking distance of many of Melbourne's tourist attractions. Ideal for both business or leisure, our hotel in Melbourne is just 30 minutes drive from Melbourne Airport.

Manor House Hotel and Melbourne Serviced Apartments offers exclusive 1,2 and 3 bedroom accommodation in Melbourne South Yarra. For those relocating to Melbourne we can cater for both short & long term stays including your own exclusive three bedroom luxury towhouses in South Yarra.As part of this luxurious lifestyle, your amenities include a heated indoor pool, spa and gym equipment to meet your exercising needs. The Manor House Serviced Apartments/ Hotel Accommodation have been synonymous with luxury for many years and with our enviable South Yarra location our apartments are sure to please.

Welcome to HolidayCity Melbourne reservation service! We provide a wide selection of properties - budget, business, tourist, luxury, bed and breakfasts and apartments accommodation. HolidayCity Melbourne hotels offer comfort, quality and great value for the money, ideal for leisure and business travellers.

Parkville Hotels: Book your Melbourne hotel accommodation now from our wide range of major hotel chains and independent hotels. Why not organise a getaway with the family, take a break with friends or arrange an offsite business meeting to get the creative juices flowing. Try the Skybus Hotel Connection Service a 24/7 Melbourne Airport Transfer service that offers substantial savings when compared to typical taxi fares into the city and direct to your hotel.

Only Melbourne: Looking for Melbourne accommodation? There are a wide variety of places to stay in Melbourne including hotels (2-6 star), serviced apartments, motels and guest houses.