Melbourne City

Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, is located in the south-eastern corner of Australia, and is the southernmost mainland capital city. As the capital city, Melbourne has become a large urban centre and is home to approximately 80% of the state's population. Melbourne is one of the world's most diverse and multicultural cities. Almost a quarter of Victoria's population was born overseas.

Melbourne has an extensive public transport network. It has one of the world's most extensivetram networks, one of a kind in Australia. For visitors there is a a free City Circle Tram, which takes in many of Melbourne sights.

Melbourne is referred to as the garden city, and the state of Victoria is officially known as the garden state with parks and gardens in abundance.

Melbourne is on the Yarra river and Melbourne runs inland from Port Philip Bay to the south.The central area is oblong with Flinders Street to the south, Latrobe Street to the north, Spring Street to the east and Spencer street to the west. Running north to South are Swanston and Elizabeth streets.

Melbourne Shopping information at http://www.shoppingsales.com.au/

Bayside
The coastline area between Brighton and Beaumaris with water based living and small shopping villages.

Bourke Hill
An enclave of bookshops, music stores and theatres.

Carlton
Carlton to the north of the centre and the home of Lygon Street. If you walk along this street for a while you will find Melbourne's Italy, particularly a number of Italian restaurants.

Chinatown
Little Bourke Street. This area is conspicuous for itsChinese restaurants and grocery stores, and for the Chinese gate at the end of the street.

South Bank
The area on the southern banks of the Yarra river opposite Flinders Street Station. On the Southbank Promenade is the Crown Entertainment Centre and numerous restaurants and smaller shops.

South Yarra
An upmarket part of Melbourne what boutiques, cinamas, galleries and nightclubs.

St. Kilda
St. Kilda was apparently named after a yacht which was anchored here just as development of this seaside suburb began, the yacht presumably being named after the Scottish island. As a look at some of the housing will reveal, St. Kilda has, through the last century and a half, been a fashionable place to live. Now it is something of an enigma. It has some handsome housing, the stately Fitzroy Street, the fashionable Acland Street, the scenic Esplanade, appealing beaches and parks, but yet it has a distinctly seedy feeling in parts. It is a location very popular with the young, and with backpackers in particular, so there are several hostels here. Luna Park is here too. From the city, it is six kilometres to St. Kilda, a tram ride which takes half an hour.  

West End
The West End is where Melbourne started and the legal precinct.

Williamstown
Williamstown is the terminus for one of the suburban rail routes. This was the first place in Port Phillip Bay to be surveyed and it was originally thought that it might be the main area for settlement. It was named William's Town in 1837, after the King of the day. Now it is for its old buildings that it is worth visiting, for these have survived in this interesting port area, while they have long vanished in the more progressive city of Melbourne. There is a Heritage Trail, with maps available from the Information Centre, and there are also good views of the city and across the bay. There is a ferry to Southbank in the city centre and one to St. Kilda at weekends only.

Melbourne Cup - 3rd November 2009

Victoria Wineries - Australia Guide

The diversity of the climate and wines found in Victoria has resulted in more than 460 wineries in 22 distinct wine regions.

With its state’s rich winemaking history, Victoria has become one of the great wine destinations on the Australian food and wine trail and the world.

Victoria Winemakers

With it, comes the chance to meet the winemakers, while inspirational chefs are working closely with local food producers to continue to showcase the freshest of regional produce to match local wines.

Wine and Festivals

Throughout the year, a rich and diverse program of regional events sees food and wine celebrated. Combined with the wide range of tours to Victoria’s wine producing regions, it is all part of a wonderful recipe for the good life.

Melbourne Winery Tours

The diversity of Victoria’s wine industry is almost matched by the number of ways you can travel it - by car, bus, train, tour, limousine, on the back of a Harley Davidson motorbike, on horseback, or even by hot-air balloon. Most of the wine regions are within a 90 minute drive from Melbourne.

Melbourne’s inclusion in the global Network of Great Wine Capitals, along with the world’s other great wine cities, such as Bordeaux, Bilbao, Cape Town, Florence and San Francisco puts Melbourne and its surrounding wine regions in good company indeed.