Melbourne

Melbourne is an amazingly friendly, musical, vibrant city. The spirit of freedom, love and pleasure reigns here. It is called the cultural capital of Australia, because it is known not only for its extremely capricious weather, but also for contrasting areas, museums, exhibitions, restaurants, as well as cultural and sports events, such as the annual Melbourne Cup races and the Australian Open tennis tournament.

When I first moved to Australia, my first impression of the city was very, very sad, just because they showed me the "wrong" Melbourne. It seemed to me that I had never met such a village in my life, and now I am very glad that this impression was misleading. Just starting to live here on my own, I realized that this is a real gastronomic paradise, a unique ethnographic and cultural mix - in this city everyone will find not only themselves, but also entertainment, dishes and attractions to their liking and wallet. The main thing is to plan the route in advance, because without even a rough program, you can get bored among the skyscrapers of the CBD business center in Melbourne and even get lost in the central streets surprisingly similar to each other.

When the tourist mood attacks me, I get on tram number 86, get off at Parlament Station and slowly make my way into the Yarra River with pretty lanes, along which you can make an invigorating promenade.

After that I go to the National Gallery of Victoria gallery located on St. Kilda Road, whose undoubted advantage is free entry for everyone and the opportunity to relax on soft sofas (and have a bite to eat in an inexpensive dining room!).
You can feel like an Australian in Melbourne by running into the local Coles or Woolworth supermarket and buying food for breakfast on the grass there, to recover in the nearest park. Locals really love their green areas and do not miss the chance to spend a lunch break, watching the ducks floating in the pond.
By charging your smartphone or acquiring a city map at the tourist information desk on Federation Square, you can wander along the main streets of the City Center: Collins, Swanston, Lonsdale and Elizabeth to admire the old buildings, churches, the public library building, showcases of malls, brand boutiques and pretty facades small atmospheric cafes. In Melbourne, it’s not customary to rush - sit down on a bench and listen to street musicians who daily organize small concerts for passers-by on Bourke Street.

Working in the heart of Melbourne, I love spending my lunch break on walks through tiny streets with graffiti, authentic signboards and tents with sandwiches and Viennese waffles. And every time my beloved city opens something new for me, whether it be a funny inscription, an unusual drawing or a new cafe with delicious baguettes.

Short video about Melbourne


How to get there

About how to get a visa, get to the mainland and move between cities, I described in detail in an article about Australia here.

In order to at least familiarize yourself with the prices of flights to Melbourne, you can look at any aggregator site, for example, here.

By plane

hint: Melbourne - time now 00: October 14, difference in hours: Moscow - 8 Kazan - 8 Samara - 7 Yekaterinburg - 6 Novosibirsk - 4 Vladivostok - 1

When is the season. When is the best time to go?

When planning a trip to Australia, do not forget that Ozzy's new year begins in the summer, and from June to August a real winter rules here - in some regions even with snow! And if in Sydney this season is more favorable to local residents, then even Siberian immigrants freeze in Melbourne. Using heaters costs us hundreds of dollars a month, so the vast majority of Australians prefer such free versions of insulation as wool sweaters, socks and uggs. To make you understand the scale of the disaster, I can only say that sleeping in the Australian winter is comfortable exclusively under an electric blanket. Only in September there are more and more warm days, and less and less rain. And let the winter temperature + 7Cº not mislead you, because coupled with the Antarctic wind, it sometimes feels like all -20Cº. Therefore, if you dare to travel in the Australian winter, feel free to pack light down jackets, scarves, caps, gloves (for touch screens - to take selfies without freezing hands) and waterproof boots.

If you do not like frank heat, I recommend visiting Melbourne in October-November, when the grass takes on its natural emerald color. In these months you can bring home the most beautiful landscape photographs.

In December, I tried to celebrate New Year on Brighton beach in a T-shirt and slippers, but ended the fun wrapped in a fluffy blanket, because, despite the hot days, the nights at this time are still very cool.

Starting in January, summer comes to Mel, and in the red-hot City Center you can escape from the heat in shopping centers and under the umbrellas of street cafes.

Melbourne summer

In the summer (December-February), in addition to city attractions, you have beaches and boardwalks where you can bask in the sun, play volleyball, bast shoes or table tennis. Take with you as light clothing as possible and be sure to use hats, the air in the summer months can warm up to 45 ° C. Do not forget to apply sunscreen daily - do not underestimate the sun of the southern mainland!

If you travel by car, leaving it in the parking lot, open the windows one centimeter - all the Australians use this trick to reduce the temperature inside the car by an average of 10 degrees.

In December, be sure to appreciate the beauty of Christmas light installations and decorations on the main streets of the city!

Melbourne in the fall

Autumn is beautiful everywhere, except in Melbourne it is slightly wetter than we would like. Gloomy rains may chase you, so do not forget to get a big and strong umbrella that can withstand the wayward Melbourne weather, and make a list of attractions where you can hide from bad weather.

Melbourne in the spring

Off-season is the most comfortable time to visit the country, and spring in Australia is absolutely charming! However, be prepared to see all four seasons in Melbourne in one day — the weather is so unpredictable!

The temperature varies between 15-28Cº.

Melbourne in winter

Winter Melbourne is extreme. But lovers of romance and “the sea out of season” will definitely like to wander along empty beaches to the accompaniment of wind and the sound of the surf. Above all, do not forget to bring a warm scarf, a thermo mug with tea or twenty dollars to warm yourself in the nearest cafe.

The temperature can drop to 5Cº, and the cold wind can drive you crazy. I warned you!

Melbourne - monthly weather

hint: Melbourne - weather for the months of January January ± 19.0 February ± 19.1 March ± 17.5 April ± 14.4 May ± 11.5 June ± 9.2 July ± 8.6 August ± 9.6 September ± 11.2 October ± 13.1 November ± 12 15.0 December & plus; 17.3

Areas. Where is better to live

The city center is quite small, it is easy to identify by the towering skyscrapers of the business district. Basically, Melbourne is stretched out in space due to the fact that there are practically no multi-storey buildings - Ozzy live in private houses and town houses with their own territory, garden and garage. Apartments, studios and apartments - the lot of the poor and people of creative professions. That is why it makes sense to find a hotel or hostel nearby or in the very center of the city (Melbourne, Southbank, Carlton), so as not to waste time on the road in public transport.

It will be interesting to stay at the hipster Fitzroy, which seems to be doing just that it eats and has fun. From here it is easy to get to the center by tram or even walk on foot.

Having settled here, you will always have something to put on Instagram, because it is Fitzroy that is famous for its chic graffiti walls for every taste. One has only to go into the alley and voila - kilometers of pictures are at your disposal!

To enjoy the ocean views every day, you can choose your accommodation at St. Kilda Beach. From here, a tram will take you to the city center in 15-20 minutes.

Budget tourists can stay in popular hostels that offer not only a bed, but also additional amenities such as a swimming pool, shared kitchen, gym or movie theater. For example, in the Space Hotel, located in the very center of the city, a bed in a room for 8 people will cost you $ 33.

But a separate room with the same magnificent views (but from a private balcony!) Can get travelers resting on a grand scale. A night in a room with a terrace at The Langham Hotel will cost $ 480.

The price of housing in Melbourne does not depend on location, but rather on its quality, so to save money, you should pay attention to what the same Booking offers. Compare prices from different sites here. If you are ready to chat with locals and make friends, you can explore this site ads with offers for renting private apartments.

What are the prices for vacation

The cost of living in Australia is high, but the cost of vacation is even higher. You can always check the prices of entrance tickets on the official website of museums, but on average a trip to the gallery for an adult will cost $ 12-20. Aquarium visit costs $ 40 ($ 32 if you buy a ticket online). Entrance to the Melbourne Zoo zoo - $ 32, climb the Eureka Skydeck tower - $ 20.

Taxis in the city are expensive, but by the standards of local salaries it’s quite uplifting. A trip from St. Kilda Beach to the northern area of ​​Thornbury will cost you about $ 25, but it's almost a half-hour trip.

The bill for potato in a village (Potato Wedges) with sauces and salad, a cup of coffee with cheesecake in an ordinary cafe will be $ 22.

Return items you don’t like, even if it’s already an open package of milk or hand cream - the Australian customer service policy allows you to be fussy. Rent a bike to travel around the city (and do not forget to take a helmet in the nearest "7 / Eleven"), it will cost less than the metro, bus or tram. Go to dinner at the vegetarian cafe with the pay-as-you-go policy “Lentil as Anything” - there are as many as five in Melbourne: Thornbury, Preston, Abbotsford, Footscray and St. Kilda. Just do not expect a high level of service, all the people working here are volunteers. However, the food there is delicious, and the atmosphere is magical!

If you are a student or haven’t reached the age of 30, bring an ISIC international student ID with you. This card allows you to receive discounts in cafes, restaurants, hotels and museums. A complete list of ISIC host locations can be found here.

Well, of course, find yourself a company - together not only more fun, but also cheaper!

hint: Cost of food, accommodation, transport and other currency: Euro, € US dollar, $ Russian ruble, rub Australian dollar, $ Prices in restaurants and cafes
Eating (lunch / dinner) in a reasonably priced restaurant702 rub
Lunch / dinner for two, 3 course, middle class restaurant3511 rub
McMill at McDonald's or similar combo lunch439 rub
More details

The main attractions. What to watch

The tourism program in Melbourne can be divided into museum, pleasure and nature. If natural is beaches, gardens, zoos and fauna parks, a visit to which can cost a pretty penny, then a walking tour is completely free and includes unpopular tourist routes along tiny side streets, colorful areas and boardwalks.

Top 5

A huge number of attractions in Melbourne cannot be visited in a month of life here. But the next five are a kind of visiting card of the city. And best of all, four out of five are completely free!

  • Flinders station and Federation Square

The building of the old Flinders Street Station is not only an existing station, from which all the lines of the underground metro depart, but also the main tourist attraction. "Meet me at seven o'clock!" - Australians say to each other, referring to this particular place.

And Federation Square is located right across the road!

  • Melbourne museum

To find out about Australia the most interesting, be sure to wander through the dark rooms and corridors of the Melbourne Museum. He will talk about the culture of the natives, the flora and fauna of the continent, the times of migration and the gold rush. Here you can climb into the antediluvian house of an Australian and poke your fingers on the touch-screen talking screen to learn something new about genetics, geography and anatomy. This museum will be interesting not only for adults, but also for children. Therefore, you will not regret about the 14 dollars spent on the admission ticket!

  • Luna Park

The amusement park near St. Kilda Beach is definitely one of the city’s most recognizable attractions. A big head will open its mouth for you in the world of entertainment, photo booths and cotton candy.

  • St. Kilda Beach and Penguin parade

Only after six months of living in Melbourne did I learn that to see the penguins, it was not necessary to go to Philippe Island or buy a ticket to the Melbourne Aquarium. Every evening after sunset, flocks of penguins returning home can be seen on St. Kilda Beach. It’s easy to find a secret place, you just have to go to the very end of the pier, past all the gazebos and the restaurant, where the waves crash against the stones, go down the wooden stairs to the water and wait for the performance with the same enthusiasts as you. Do not forget to bring warm clothes, in the evening it is cold here even in summer!

  • Beach cabins on Brighton Beach

Another place that you will repeatedly see on postcards that are sold in souvenir shops on every corner is Brighton Beach with its colorful beach stalls. At the beginning of the 19th century, they were used as women's changing rooms, now it’s not just garages for storing beach accessories, but an investment and a sign of a high standard of living. Each booth has its own number, and its owner does not have the right to lease, repaint, or use it as housing. However, hardly any of their owners needs this, because the price for one booth can reach $ 260,000!

Beaches. Which are better

I very rarely observe on the beaches within the city bathing Melbourites. Basically, these are tourists spanking barefoot on the foam, or new immigrants who have not yet been fed up with the icy ocean. Water in the ocean warms up to 20 degrees only two months a year - in January and February, so it can be cold to swim even in a wetsuit. But you can sunbathe on a warm sand at almost any time of the year. Locals often go to beaches designed for surfing or bodyboarding away from the city, such as the resort town of Torquay, 90 kilometers from Melbourne. However, all the beaches of Australia are beautiful in their own way! And if you are not a fan of cold baths, then you will definitely enjoy walking to the sound of the surf and the hungry cry of gulls.

  • St. Kilda

Not so much a beach as a place of power. This is one of the most popular places to relax: from morning till night people ride roller skates, skateboards, bicycles, cut waves under the sails of kites, play volleyball, bast shoes, walk, sunbathe and sit in a cafe with ocean views. And in February, a huge free music festival takes place on the beach with two stages and dozens of popular bands and artists. St.Kilda is Melbourne's number one beach!

  • Brighton

Named after an English town on the English Channel, Brighton is Australia's favorite place for sunset walks on the warm sand. Located 11 kilometers from the business center, it offers a view of the carved outline of skyscrapers against the sky. A narrow paved path stretches along the coast all the way to St. Kilda Beach. This 10-kilometer route between the beaches will appeal to lovers of skates and skateboards. Once I even walked on it, forgetting to anoint myself with sunscreen. Do not repeat my mistakes, because the sun in Australia is merciless!

  • Half moon bay

Crescent Bay is a very peaceful beach with bare cliffs, small waves and a curious marine life. Therefore, there are often not only lovers of bronze tan, but also snorkeling. Half Moon Bay is not only a beach, but also the location of the famous Black Rock yacht club, which occasionally holds championships and celebrations. It is located only 17 kilometers from the city center, and its beauty is absolutely worth the time spent.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

  • St. Paul's cathedral

Gothic architecture in Melbourne is infrequent, so St. Paul's Cathedral, towering among an island of skyscrapers and office buildings, always attracts the eyes of tourists. It is located opposite Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, and admission is free. Take a peek into this Anglican Cathedral if you are looking for a peaceful place to catch your breath and relax from the noisy stream of rushing passers-by and admire the decoration of the Gothic exterior.

  • St michael's uniting church

St. Michael's Church, on the corner of Collins and Russell Street, draws a three-century history of creation and reconstruction. The main attraction of the building is the organ, which you can listen to for free every Thursday at 13:00.

  • St. Patrick's cathedral

Melbourne's main cathedral is one of the wonders of the city's architecture. It is beautiful both outside and inside. As with all of the above churches, there is no entrance fee, so you can evaluate the magnitude and magnificence of the Catholic Cathedral at any time from 7 am to 4 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to 5:30 pm on weekends. And at the Sunday evening mass you can not only admire the decoration of the cathedral, but also enjoy the singing of the church choir.

Museums Which are worth a visit

  • Melbourne museum

The Melbourne Museum, which I wrote about in the Top 5 Sights section of the city, is the coolest museum in Melbourne, which gets 10 out of 10 points from me. I recommend visiting all of its guests and residents of the cultural capital of Australia!

  • National Gallery of Victoria (Ian Potter Center)

NGV has two buildings (St Kilda Road and Federation Square), located close to each other, represented by Australian and international art objects. Ian Potter Center holds about 20 thousand works of Australian art, including paintings, sculptures, photographs and prints. This collection is one of the oldest, most famous and valuable in the country.

  • Immigration museum

From the first settlements of British convicts to the civilized system of protecting the borders of today - immigration occupies a large place not only in history, but also in the culture of the southern mainland. Every Australian citizen has repeatedly heard numerous stories of legal and illegal immigrants and has his own views on the country's immigration policy. For $ 14, the Immigration Museum will shed light on the history of the country's development and demonstrate the harsh living conditions of the first settlers.

  • Royal exhibition building

The Royal Exhibition Center is located in Carleton Gardens and, in addition to its favorite venue for wedding photo shoots, is a pavilion that hosts dozens of events and exhibitions annually. History buffs can purchase a guided tour that starts every day at 2 p.m. Ticket price per person is $ 10.

Parks

  • Royal botanic gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens extend over 38 hectares and are akin to Central Park in New York. Unless without such a dense human traffic. Green, neatly trimmed lawns, blue lakes with ducks, swans and pelicans, shady arbors, asphalt paths and a rich variety of plants - there are all the attributes of a good outdoor recreation.

  • Carlton Gardens

Carleton is a quiet park three steps from the city center with fountains and walkways for walking, where you can take a breath for lunch, take a morning run or indulge in contemplation of ducks in a pond.

  • Fitzroy gardens

The main attraction of Fitzroy Gardens, in addition to 26 hectares of greenery, is Captain James Cook’s small cottage, built by his parents in 1755 and brought in disassembled condition from England to Australia in 1930. The entrance ticket to the house costs $ 6.5, and every Saturday at 10 hours In the morning, the guide conducts a free tour, which originates near the tourist center.

  • Abbotsford convent

The little-known corner of kindness and tranquility, Abbotsford Convent, is famous not only for its children's farm and weekend market, but also for its unique restaurant with a pay-as-you-go policy Lentil as Anything, founded by Shanaka Fernando. After a delicious lunch, you can sit on the grass in the park or take a walk along the vineyards and the banks of Yarra.

  • Pop up patch

Would you like to drink coffee in a place that you will never forget? Take a peek at PUP, literally in the heart of Melbourne, admire the skyscrapers and see how great the guys have transformed the abandoned rooftop parking lot into a city garden. This secret place is located on Russell Court, behind Federation Square. The main thing to keep in mind is that PUP is open to visitors only from Friday to Sunday!

  • Westgate park

The Westgate Ecological Reserve is its own attraction. Firstly, it stretches over one of the longest bridges in Australia, the West Gate, 2.5 kilometers long. And secondly, it is here that you can observe a rare natural phenomenon - a lake with pink colored water. Color change occurs during a long 40-degree heat in the absence of rain, when the concentration of salts in the lake rises. There are very few such lakes around the world, and many of them are located in Australia. Therefore, if you suddenly are not lucky with the weather, then at least you are lucky with unique pictures of pink waters!

What to see in 1 day

What if you dreamed of seeing Australia for so long and planned so much that there was very little time left for Melbourne? Let's say you have only one full day to see the sights of the city - what to do? I suggest you trust my taste and repeat this route I developed specifically for Tavelask. You will walk around the city center, visit the main museum, discover secret places and streets known only to locals, look at the city from the top of a skyscraper and enjoy the sunset on St. Kilda beach!

We start our walk at 10am with a visit to the SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. Enough to spend inside half an hour, unless you lose track of time near the aviary with the penguins. After leaving the Aquarium, cross the Kings Way Bridge onto the opposite side of the Yarra River. At the end of the bridge, turn left and descend onto the Yarra Promenade and enjoy a morning walk. There will be a river to your left, cafes and restaurants to your right, and runners, cyclists and scooters around. Cross William Street at the traffic lights and continue on until the Ludlow Bar & Dining Room. Travel time 15-20 minutes. When you reach the Ludlow Bar, turn right and with a confident step head towards Eureka Skydeck 88 to view the city from a bird's eye view. After exploring Eureka, return to the promenade and continue to the Southbank Pedestrian Bridge. Under the bridge there is a small but cozy cafe Ponyfish Island, where you can order lunch and a glass of champagne (to mark the beginning of such a wonderful day)!

Let's check the clock - at my half past twelve, it's time to move on! Behind the footbridge, you can already see the yellow-orange silhouette of the Flinders Street Station building, one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Cross the Yarra River and follow the Flinders Walk to St. Kilda Road Bridge. Taking a picture under the watch and taking a walk along Federation Square, located right across the road, go to St. Paul's Cathedral to take a break and enjoy its beauties. After visiting St Paul's Cathedral, go in search of a kiosk with delicious Belgian waffles Belgian Waffle, located on the corner of Degraves St.

Take a walk along the famous Center Place, where the real spirit of Melbourne lives, have a snack if you are hungry, and return to Flinders Street Station to continue your journey around the city.

14.30 - if you have the strength for a half-hour walk, drive into your navigator your next stop - Melbourne Museum. If you prefer public transportation to the central streets and gardens of Carlton, go to the intersection of Bourke and Swanston Streets and at the Burke St / Swanston St stop, take tram 96 (next to Brunswick) and get to Hanover Street (next to Melbourne Museum )

Leave two hours to visit the museum - it is really very interesting! Then again take the tram 96 (the next one in the opposite direction) and get comfortable - you have a 40-minute journey to the main beach of Melbourne St. Kilda. It is impossible to miss the stop of The Esplanade, because on the right just a view of the turquoise ocean opens. You will be on the beach at the very beginning of sunset - a beautiful light for photographs is guaranteed!

Pay attention to the point near the St. Kilda pier - St Kilda Pinguins, it is here that every night flocks of penguins come to sleep here.

Following the route, do not forget to walk to the large clownish head of Luna Park, then go to Acland Street, straight to the unusual cafe 'Lentil as Anithing', where the menu does not show the price of dishes, and at the exit there is a donation box. This is a cult place where you can evaluate your dinner yourself.

That's all! I think that by the time you leave 'Lentil as Anithing' you will only have the strength to return to your hotel, and at the same time - a sea of ​​impressions!

Approximate budget of a tourist day:

  • $ 32 for a ticket to the Aquarium (if you buy it online),
  • $ 20 - visit to Eureka Skydeck,
  • a glass of champagne in Ponyfish Island - $ 9,
  • lunch - $ 25,
  • $ 35 lunch,
  • $ 14 entrance ticket to Melbourne Museum,
  • $ 4 (x2) - travel by tram,
  • $ 20 dinner at Lentil as Anithing.

Total: $ 131 per person.

What to see in the surroundings

  • Puffing billy

Billy Puffing is an exciting steam train journey along the original 25-kilometer mountain route through forests and plains from Belgrave to Jembrook. You can get to Belgrave station by metro via the Belgrave Line, then follow the signs for "Puffing Billy". The cost of a round-trip ticket for an adult is $ 51.50.

  • Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

MSC is Australia's most famous stadium with a capacity of over 100,000. This is a real Mecca for fans of sports events. You can evaluate its history and fundamentality by purchasing an MCG tour, which includes a visit to a museum, library, locker rooms and viewing platforms. Tour cost $ 23.

  • Port campbell national park and Great ocean road

Having been to Melbourne, you should definitely plan a trip to Port Campbell National Park, located on the most famous serpentine road Great Ocean Road, to see the famous Twelve Apostles.

  • Yarra Vallet hot ball trip

Do you like wine, nature and height? How about a hot air balloon ride over the grape fields of the most beautiful region in the suburbs of Melbourne, Yarra Valley?

  • Skyhigh mount dandenong

Mount Dandenong is a suburb of Melbourne with the freshest eucalyptus air, cool shade and SkyHigh observation deck. And also a great idea for a romantic dinner overlooking the night lights of the city!

  • Kayabram fauna park

The main difference between fauna parks and zoos is of course the freedom of movement of animals. It is here that you are very likely to meet hand-held kangaroos rescued after the accident, cockatoos, surviving their owners, and even be able to pet a koala. And to accompany you on this unique journey through the park will be a curious quiet girl - an ostrich emu.

tooltip: Routes to nearby cities Melbourne - Port Melbourne 3 km Melbourne - Clifton Hill 3 km Melbourne - Praran 4 km Melbourne - Yarraville 5 km Melbourne - Mooney Ponds 6 km

Food. What to try

Read more about the features of Australian cuisine in a review article on Australia here.

Holidays

Australia is far behind Russia in the number of official weekends; there are only ten of them. Ten official walking days - let's sympathize with everyone living on the Australian continent!

  • New Year's Day - unlike Russians, Australians have a rest only on January 1. On the eve of the city residents flock to the center, taking with them folding chairs and refrigerators with beer, and sit comfortably in a square or one of the Melbourne bridges, waiting for a stunningly beautiful midnight fireworks.

  • Australia Day (January 26) - This festival of patriotism is worth seeing once, than hearing a hundred times.

  • Melbourne Cup is a race day at Flemington Racecourse.

  • Good Friday is a charity Friday before Easter.

  • Labor Day (second Monday of March) is the Australian response on May 1.

  • ANZAC Day - Memorial Day for all Australian and New Zealand soldiers who died in military conflicts.

  • AFL Grand Final - the dream of all men, the day of the final football match. Yes, here it is a national holiday!

  • Queen's Birthday - no, it's not Elizabeth II's Birthday. Queens are changing, but the holiday remains - the Australians decided and invented Monarch Day.

  • Christmas Day (December 25) - Catholic Christmas is a day that all Australians traditionally spend with their families.

  • Boxing Day (December 26) is a shopping day for those who bought Christmas presents to everyone but themselves.

Security. What to watch out for

I’m not afraid to go to the streets of Melbourne at any time of the day or night, however, from 10 pm until the early hours of the morning I try to avoid bars and nightclubs. It is forbidden to smoke in any of the institutions of the city, therefore, tipsy youth shakes their bodies out into the street for a smoke break and quite often fights there. Passing by, you can accidentally find yourself in the very center of events.

Otherwise, fear in Melbourne can only be their ignorance of the rules of the road, safety or English. In the evening, police cars start running around the city, and at each metro station a pair of law enforcement officers appears (Victoria Police Protective Services).

Things to do

  • View the city from a bird's eye view on Deck 88.

Skydeck 88 is a unique observation deck on the 84th floor of the Eureka skyscraper. A glass cube leaving the building at an altitude of 300 meters is not fun for the faint of heart!

  • Take a ride on the famous City Circle Tram

Want to explore the center without wasting extra energy? Free tram number 35 for an hour will take you along the perimeter of the city center so that you can admire the city without rubbing your own corns.

  • Take a walk in the secret streets

There are so many lanes in this city that even sometimes I do a couple of laps around the block to find the right one. Buy a secret arcade walking tour to discover a completely different Melbourne.

  • Melbourne zoo

Walk around the huge zoo where you can pet a kangaroo (if no one is watching!), See koalas, emus, tigers, lions, giraffes, hippos, meerkats, crocodiles ... in general, you can’t list everyone! Admission is $ 32.

  • Yarra river boat tour

Look at the city from a different angle by buying a boat tour of the Yarra River or renting your own boat.

  • Melbourne aquarium

You can be touched by good-natured penguins behind glass and be afraid of the predatory appearance of sharks by looking into the Melbourne Aquarium.

  • Chinatown

Never been to China, but have you dreamed about this for a long time? In Melbourne, immersing yourself in the atmosphere of a Chinese metropolis is surprisingly simple. It is enough to walk to the Chinatown district in the business center, and open the door to any restaurant of traditional Chinese cuisine.

  • Melbourne Star Observation Weel

Mel has its own Ferris wheel, in no way inferior to the famous London Eye. Admire the city, sitting in comfortable Star booths, you can pay $ 35 per ticket per person.

  • Ride a bike on Capital City Trail

You can stay an Australian weekend by renting a bike and taking a trip along the Melbourne City Trail, a 29-kilometer road around Melbourne’s center for hiking or cycling. You will see parks, rapids, small waterfalls, freeways, forests, vineyards and a fence of skyscrapers on the horizon, and oncoming pedestrians and bikers will have a fun smile, wave and greet.

Shopping and shops

Basically, all shopping comes down to going to the nearest shopping center, where the main brands of clothing, perfumes and cosmetics are collected. In the center of the city there are three of them - Emporium, Melbourne Central and QV. For exclusive and expensive clothing, head to Gertrude Street next to the Melbourne Museum. And you can walk through the Op-Shops (opportunity shop - second hand in common people) and the shops of young designers, being on Brunswick Street.

How to get around the city

Melbourne has a well-developed transport connection: there is a surface metro, trams, buses, taxis and even horse carts. However, the latter, alas, move only in the center of the city.

Payment for travel in public transport, whether it is a tram, bus or metro, is carried out through the MyKi system.These are green plastic cards that can be bought and replenished at any 7 / Eleven store, subway stations, or at the Australian Post. The card itself costs $ 6, and one journey costs about $ 4.

In order not to be afraid of a fine of $ 150 (or $ 75 if you pay it on the spot), as well as controllers who take off their uniforms from time to time, masking themselves as lay people, you need to attach your card to the payment terminal at the entrance (touch on), and then at the exit ( touch off) from the tram. The system itself will calculate how many zones you crossed, how much your fare will cost and show the balance on the map on the terminal monitor upon exit from transport. By the way, if you manage to return back within two hours, only one trip will be charged to the card.

In the subway, the system is a little trickier, because there are no payment terminals on the trains, but there are much more controllers than on the routes of the same trams. You need to pay for your ride on the city train in advance, namely when you exit the platform. Therefore, if you forget to take a card through the terminal, jumping into the departing train (after all, not all stations have barriers like in the Moscow metro, which are simply impossible to pass), pray that there are no controllers on this route or go to the next stop to pay your travel. Adrenaline lovers even came up with a special application that monitors the teams of controllers, but I personally do not recommend entertainment because the officers do their work in good faith, and the chances of slipping by, leaving for another car or leaving the station without checking are minimal.

In order not to make a mistake with the route and always find the way to the right place, be sure to download three applications to your phone: TramTracker, Melbourne PT and 13Cabs.

  • Tramtracker It will help not only to find a suitable route, but also not to miss the necessary stop. In the myTram section, you can drive in the number of the tram (usually it is written above the driver’s cab and exits), on which you drive, and track the order of stops in real time.
  • Melbourne pt calculates the route from one point of the city to another and offers several options for transportation: from taxis to all types of public transport. He will tell you how to find the nearest stop, and generally will not leave you in trouble if something happens.
  • 13CABS convenient taxi service at any time of the day or night.

If taxi drivers are not visible nearby, and the Internet suddenly stops working, pay attention to whether there are small signs next to you with instructions for ordering a taxi by SMS. Usually, in order for a cab to reach you, just send an SMS with the number of your stop.

Do not forget that Melbourne is a city of cyclists. Most residents prefer a two-wheeled friend to spending time on a tram. On each corner are parking lots with blue municipal bicycles that can be rented. I also often choose a bike to get to the cafe or work - good, the Australian traffic rules and huge fines for breaking them ensure safety for all bona fide cyclists.

Vehicle rental

Details about how and where to rent a car, and what its cost will depend on, can be found here. You can get acquainted with the prices for car rental here.

Tips for motorists

In Australia, exactly like in the UK, the traffic is left-hand, and the cars, respectively, are right-hand drive. Therefore, you should sensibly assess the strength of your habit before you drive. However, you should not worry if you suddenly find yourself in the oncoming lane, large red billboards will definitely remind you that you should not do this.

In hot times, it is better to close the windshield with a special shield, and open the side windows by one or two centimeters so that the machine does not heat up like a hot pan.

The most difficult thing in local traffic rules is parking rules. It may not be that simple to parse the meaning of the encrypted characters on the tablets. The most important thing to remember is that the number in front of “P” (Parking) means the number of hours you can leave your car parked in the same place. If there is a time period on the plate, for example, 2P 10 am-4pm, then two hours of parking are relevant only for this time period. The rest of the time parking is free. Sometimes not only time, but also days of the week are indicated - the same principle applies to them. Therefore, if you leave the car in the parking lot after 4 pm all night - it is legal and free. However, if you please wake up in time and be sure to park it at 10 in the morning. Otherwise, you run the risk of finding a plastic bag with an impressive fine glued to the windshield.

And yes, in the Residential Parking zone, only residents of nearby houses can leave their cars. Each of them has a special identification sticker.

Ski vacation

No matter how Australia seems to you to be a country of hot sun and tropical forests, it is famous not only for crocodiles, beaches, deserts and kangaroos, but also for ski holidays too. Not surprisingly, many Australians never travel outside their mainland - the country has absolutely everything for life.

In the state of Victoria, you can observe a pronounced change of seasons - this is where the coldest city in Australia is located, where the air temperature at night can drop below zero degrees. I saw with my own eyes the frozen puddles in Australia - this is the same reality as the lack of central heating! But the advantage of the southern state are three very worthy ski resorts.

  • Falls creek

Falls Creek is the main resort 4.5 hours from Melbourne. The local Alps (Victoria Alps) reach a height of 1800m, and 92 tracks are designed for different levels of difficulty. Here you can rent equipment, stay overnight in a hotel or motel, hire an instructor - in general, do the same thing as in the ski resorts in Europe. In order to make sure that there is still snow in the mountains, you can look at what is happening on the slope through a webcam on the official Falls Creek website, that is, here.

  • Mt buller

Mount Buller is located closer to Melbourne, so the journey will take you no more than three hours. There are fewer tracks, but there are two snow cannons, 22 lifts and more than 30 cafes and restaurants. Like most ski resorts, Mt Buller has its own special offer system. For example, renting uniforms, an unlimited ski pass and two nights at a hotel will cost you $ 452 for two. And for Australia it's a great discount! A complete list of special offers can be found on the resort website.

  • Mount hotham

Mount Hotham and the eponymous resort is located in the same Victorian Alps, near the Falls Creek. Travel time from Melbourne is exactly the same 4.5 hours. The main difference is that the main village is 10 kilometers from the mountain, so there is a shuttle bus that runs to the ski lifts (of which there are 14) and vice versa.

Watch the video: HOW TO TRAVEL MELBOURNE Best Destinations and Prices (March 2024).

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