| Victoria |
| Victoria is in the
south-eastern corner of the continent and enjoys a relatively temperate
climate, fertile soil and an annual rainfall which is substantially above
the Australian average. It is the smallest State on the mainland and thus
has the advantage of having its natural diversity and unique attractions
within easy reach. In one day's drive, you can explore mountain country,
pastoral landscape and spectacular coastline, yet still arrive at your
destination in time to watch the sunset. |
| Places of interest |
|
|
Melbourne
- This romantic city with an elegant European feel has the nation's best
shopping, restaurants and nightlife.
Phillip Island - Thrill to the fairy penguin parade at dusk.
Great Ocean Road - Take a scenic drive down stunning coastline to
see unique rock formations like the Twelve Apostles.
Yarra Valley - Sample wines from the cellar door in this world
famous premium wine region.
Sovereign Hill - Try your luck panning for gold in this historic
town where the world's biggest gold nuggets were found. |
| Melbourne |
|
|
| Melbourne is recognised
as one of the world's most livable cities. Visitors will be succumbed
by the cities cultural diversity which spills onto the city streets with
a year round calender of festivals and major events. Australia's second
largest city is a magnet for shopping, eating and nightlife. And just
a stones throw from the city are serene valleys chequered with wineries,
spectacular coastlines, lush temperate rainforest, unique wildlife parks,
historic gold mining towns, scenic skifields and uncrowded beaches - a
truly quintessential Australian experience. |
| Getting Around |
Melbourne is an
easy city to negotiate. The city's wide streets are laid out on a strict
grid, so you can always get a grip on your bearings. The public transport
system, The Met, provides a well-integrated, comprehensive commuter service,
while a number of specially designed tourist routes take visitors to the
city's best sites. The generous streetscapes and garden areas make walking
the city and inner-city areas a delight.
Public Transport
The Met is Melbourne's comprehensive public transport system, incorporating
tram, bus and rail travel. One ticket enables you to travel on all three
modes; two hour tickets and all day tickets are available. There are three
different zones for travel, and prices rise accordingly: zone one covers
the inner-city and suburbs, while zones 2 and 3 extend to the outer fringes.
Tickets can be purchased at stations, on board bus and trams, and from
retail outlets displaying the Met sign.
The tram system services the city and the inner to medium distance suburbs.
The rail network is generally efficient, and a good mode of travel for
longer journeys. .There are five city stations on The Loop, connecting
the far corners of the city centre. Melbourne is serviced by 190 stations
in total, and there are, in most cases, connecting bus services to take
you on past the station.
City Circle Tram
The free City Circle Tram, identified by its distinctive burgundy and
cream trim, runs in both directions around the perimeter of the city centre.
It operates between 10 am and 6 pm, seven days a week, running at 10-minute
intervals; a circuit takes about 30 minutes to complete. The attendants
on board provide commentary on some of the city's best sites.
Explorer Buses
The City Wanderer and the City Explorer buses depart regularly from the
Town Hall, visiting many of the city's major sites. It is a great way
for first-time visitors to get an overall sense of Melbourne. In summer
there is a popular night trip called the City Lights Tour.
River Cruises
There are a wide range of river cruises available from a few different
companies. You can explore the docklands area, the garden belt, or the
upstream areas on the fringe of the eastern suburbs. Morning tea and lunch
tours are available, and prices are generally reasonable. Most tours leave
either from Southgate or beneath the Princes Bridge.
Taxis
There are more than 3000 taxis in Melbourne. Mostly they can be hailed
off the street, however, this can be difficult during high-demand periods,
such a commuter peak hour and Friday and Saturday nights. There are many
taxi ranks in the city centre and quite a few in suburban areas, often
at train stations and shopping centres. Tipping is appreciated, but by
no means obligatory. A taxi from the airport will cost around $40-45
Self Drives
Hire cars are widely available in Melbourne. The larger companies will
have several branches in city and suburban areas. Look under 'Car Rental'
in the 'Yellow Pages' telephone book and then ring around to get a competitive
rate. Make sure you understand exactly what you are covered for in case
of accident.
Melbourne has a couple of quirky road rules worth knowing about. The most
notorious is the unique hook turn that prevents cars queuing across tram
tracks. If you intend to make a right-hand turn where a hook turn is indicated,
you must first pull over to the left-hand side of the intersection. Execute
your turn as the traffic lights change from green, through orange to red.
Other unusual rules are that cars stop behind stationary trams to allow
passengers to alight, and that trams are never overtaken on the right-hand
side, always on the left.
Bay cruises
There is no commuter ferry service operating on Port Phillip, but there
are a series of privately run tourist trips connecting popular bayside
locations such Williamstown, St Kilda, Port Melbourne and riverside city
spots including Southgate and the Casino. These trips give visitors the
chance to see something of the vast expanse of Port Phillip, as well as
providing a good travel solution to some of the city's more out-of-the
way attractions. A car ferry crosses the mouth of the bay, linking the
townships of Queenscliff and Sorrento. It is a excellent way to jump from
one peninsula to the other, particularly when you consider that the road
distance is more than 200 kilometres. |
| Must see & do |
|
|
| Get a panoramic
view from the Rialto Towers Observation Deck in the tallest building in
the Southern hemisphere. Melbourne is noted for its lovely gardens. Visit
Fitzroy Gardens, where Captain Cook's Cottage can be seen, the Royal Melbourne
Zoo, famous for its collection of exotic animals, and the Royal Botanic
Gardens with its vast collection of Australian native plants. Try the
Colonial Tramcar Restaurant that travels the streets of Melbourne while
diners enjoy fine cuisine and Australian wines. |
| Shopping |
|
|
| Shopping is a passion
in Melbourne. Key shopping precincts include upmarket. Chapel Street and
Toorak Road in South Yarra. Bridge Road, Richmond, is the place for bargains
at "seconds" and factory outlets. In the city, try Melbourne
Central, Australia on Collins or Southgate for something different and
the Sportsgirl Centre for fun. The Queen Victoria Market is the place
to check out seafood, fruit and vegetables and experience Melbourne's
great ethnic diversity. St Kilda Markets, held along the beachfront Esplanade
on Sundays, is great for souvenirs. |
| Family Fun |
|
|
| Melbourne is the
base for some great family outings. Visit Phillip Island to view the fairy
penguins as they waddle ashore. Travel to Ballarat to a recreated gold
mining township of the 1850s - try your hand at panning for gold. Take
a ride on the steam train "Puffing Billy" through the picturesque
Dandenong Ranges. Located in St Kilda, a short tram ride from the city
center, is Australia's oldest amusement park - Luna Park, which provides
fun for all the family. |
| Restaurants &
Nightlife |
|
|
Almost every cuisine
of the highest quality is available in Sydney from local seafood to international
cuisines. Some of Sydney's best eating can be enjoyed in the city precincts
- Chinatown, The Rocks and Circular Quay, Darlinghurst and Kings Cross.
Revolving city restaurants offer unforgettable views.
Enjoy Sydney's lively theatre, dance, opera, concert and pub entertainment.
The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Chinatown and Darlinghurst have pubs and restaurants.
Kings Cross offers late night entertainment in bars and discos. George
Street and the Southern part of the city are the places for cinema complexes,
concerts and fast food outlets. The Sydney Entertainment Centre is located
here. Choose from one of the many dinner cruises on the harbour offering
entertainment and superb scenery, or try your luck at the Sydney Casino. |
| Airport Transfers |
| Transfer time between
Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport and city center is approximately 35 minutes. |
| Time to visit |
| With temperate
winter weather and warm summers, Victoria is pleasant all-year round.
On average temperatures in Melbourne fluctuate around 24 C/75 F in summer
and around 11 C/52 F in winter. But you may be wise to time your visit
for the state's most important sporting and cultural events. |