A vibrant cosmopolitan city, located on magnificent Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is the state capital and cultural heart of Victoria.

Numerous parks and gardens and the winding Yarra River give a pleasant, open feel to the city. Its skyline mixes elegant spires with dazzling modern skyscrapers, dwarfing the elegant Victorian-era buildings that are dotted along leafy streets.

Narrow lanes filled with funky boutiques, bars and alfresco cafes intersect wide streets shared with Melbourne's colourful signature trams. The city has excellent public transport with links to an almost endless string of popular beaches.

Melbourne has thriving Italian, Greek and Asian communities, each with their own quarter. The architecture in the city and sprawling suburbs is often fascinating - a blend of Gothic cathedrals, Victorian iron lace, Edwardian, Australian ranch style and modern contemporary design.

The city hosts a constant stream of festivals, theatre and sporting events, including the Australian Open, the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Formula One Grand Prix and the AFL Football Grand Final.

Travel further afield on a day trip along the stunning Great Ocean Road, sample award-winning wines in the Yarra Valley, or see Fairy Penguins come ashore after dark on Phillip Island. Enjoy a Devonshire Tea then ride the Puffing Billy steam train through the sub-tropical Dandenong Ranges 40km (24 miles) east of Melbourne.

Highlights
• National Gallery and the Victorian Arts Centre
• Melbourne Museum
• Parliament House
• Captain Cook's Cottage
• Melbourne Aquarium
• Royal Melbourne Zoo
• Yarra River Cruise

Melbourne Visitor Centre
Federation Square, corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Street
Tel: +61 (03) 9658 9658.
Website: www.visitmelbourne.com  

Melbourne is a major fashion centre, filled with boutiques and department stores.  The Queen Victoria Market is the place for unusual buys, bargains and fresh produce. Try award-winning wines from the Yarra Valley, or locally produced honeys, jams and chutneys. Many stores sell sheepskin products, Aussie hats and Australian's answer to the raincoat, the drizabone.

Explore the myriad ethnic cuisines for the piquant flavours of Turkish, Spanish, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, French, Middle Eastern and Asian food. Trendy coffee shops and bakeries abound. No visit is complete without an Aussie meat pie.

The city has four distinct seasons and usually enjoys a pleasant, temperate climate. However, winters are usually cold, windy and rainy, and summers see some swelteringly hot days. Indeed, sometimes all four seasons occur in one day.

Australia

GMT + 10.

Australian Dollar (A$) = 100 cents.

English.

Southern coast of Victoria, southeast Australia.

3.7 million.

Parliamentary democracy and constitutional Monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1901.

Mostly Roman Catholic and Protestant, with smaller minorities of all other major religions.

A largely informal atmosphere prevails Shaking hands is the customary greeting. Casual wear is worn everywhere except in the most exclusive restaurants, social gatherings and important business meetings. Most restaurants forbid smoking.

Tipping: 10% is customary for good service, but is not compulsory, as wages in the service industry are considered adequate without tipping.