Melbourne is a young and lively city with beautiful scenery. The city is famous for its many streets and alleys, its cultural diversity, superb places to eat for all budgets, outstanding street art, and world-class baristas. It is a lovely city to visit and these are the highlights of our trip there.
Get a Cup of Really Good Coffee
Melbourne prides itself on being a global leader in coffee and café culture, and its residents are glad to be coffee connoisseurs. Baristas from Australia and New Zealand were apparently the ones to introduce high-quality coffee to London.
They take their coffee very seriously in Melbourne take, and brewing the perfect cup is viewed as an art form so it's nearly impossible to find a bad cup of coffee. Coffee shops are found everywhere, and Melbourne even has a coffee expo. You've found the ideal city if you're a coffee fan like me.
Browse the Incredible Street Art
Street art is a big part of Melbourne's identity, and taking time to view it is an essential part of visiting the city.
As a result of the city council designating specific areas for street artists, the street art in these areas is of consistently high quality and constantly changing. These streets create a stunning urban outdoor gallery for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.
Stroll Through The Botanical Gardens
A short walk from the city center, the Botanic Gardens provide a haven of tranquility and greenery. The botanic gardens have more than nearly 8,500 plant types, so you are bound to see something new. It’s lovely to spend some time in peaceful, natural surroundings. Of course, if you are feeling more energetic there’s plenty of trails and running paths and bike hire. Or you could take a picnic and a bottle of wine and unwind!
Take a Trip On a Tram
Trams used to be common in all Australian cities but now Melbourne is the only major city to still have trams. Melbourne has the world's largest tram network on 250km of double-track and the trams are a fun way to get around. Some of the trams are free and some you have to pay for. If you have rented a car to get around then make sure you know how to perform the unique hook turn that makes it safe to maneuver around the trams.
Find Out How Things Work at Scienceworks
I love science museums, especially ones that let you get hands-on and Scienceworks is a really good example. There’s a fantastic variety of science displays, workshops, and events that let you learn about lots of different aspects of science in a fun way.
Don’t miss the 16m domed ceiling indoor planetarium that has informative and entertaining shows for a wide range of audiences. Make sure you stop by the Lightning Room where a Tesla Coil generates more than 2 million voltages of energy and you can watch 30-minute live shows featuring lightning bolts that reach over three meters in length.
Visit Federation Square And The Flinders Street Station
One of Melbourne's most recognizable landmarks, the main gate to Flinders Street Station has been featured on countless postcards and brochures since it began in 1910. This beautiful building was one of the first of Australia's city railway stations and still very photogenic, especially the iconic clocks. Inside the station is a shopping area with good food options and easy walking accessibility to Southbank.
Fed Square, as the locals call it, is another well-known landmark with a unique architectural design. Overlooked by the Big Screen, you can find the Australasian Centre of Moving Picture, the Ian Potter Institute art museums, the Koorie Heritage Trust, and the NGV Australian collection in the Square.