Melbourne Highlights

Everyone has their own idea about city highlights. They can be places to visit, things to do, interesting sights or just traveling around. For me, Melbourne highlights cover all these things. The Arts Centre is a great place to visit. The Yarra River provides walking and tour opportunities. The city lanes and arcades are a shopping bonanza, while the major city buildings have great sightseeing appeal. The excellent public transport system makes everything so easy.

Theatre is a big deal in Melbourne. The Melbourne Arts Centre is a major development at Southbank which has the State Theatre, Playhouse, Fairfax Studio and George Adams Gallery but there are many other options. Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne's famous theatre showpiece was built in 1886. Dame Nellie Melba made her Melbourne grand opera debut here in 1911 and gave her final farewell performance as well in 1928. The Princess Theatre, which is just around the corner, is renowned for its extravaganza productions. It opened its doors in 1886 and can seat nearly 1500 patrons over three levels. The Princess Theatre is famous for it's magnificent marble staircase and it's ghost sightings.

The Arts Centre is an outstanding structure and so too is the Exhibition Building. Originally constructed for the Great Exhibition of 1880, this was the home of the Victorian Parliament from 1901 until 1927. The Royal Exhibition Building was also the site of the opening of the first session of the Commonwealth Parliament, on 9th May 1901. Parliament House is another grand structure built of granite. The Legislative Chambers were constructed in 1856 ready for the first sitting of the Victorian Parliament. This building was used by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia while Melbourne was acting as the capital of Australia (1900-27).

A visit to Melbourne would not be complete with a shopping expedition. This is Australia’s shopping capital. It has the largest department stores, the best fashion boutiques, and a great network of lanes and arcades to explore. The central city is best but if you have the time also visit Toorak and South Yarra for trendy shops and funky, sometimes expensive, styles.

Melbourne adopted European coffee culture with enthusiasm so there are cute and trendy cafes everywhere. The city is also home to the widest range of cuisines in Australia so take the opportunity to sample something new.

Quick Tips:

Southbank beside the Yarra River has become one of the main focal points for the city area. Here there are upmarket restaurants, food courts, interesting shops and a fabulous promenade along the riverbank.

Originally renowned for being the biggest casino in the Southern Hemisphere, the Crown complex is now regarded as a major entertainment center which every visitor should experience.

Melbourne has arguably the best shopping arcades of any city in Australia, with a mix of quaint shops in historic buildings and small cafes in dimly lit laneways.

St. Kilda, an elderly bayside suburb, is worth a visit because of its history, fantastic beachside setting, sidewalk cafes, a street famous for its cakeshops and one of the best kept secrets in Melbourne - the excellent St Kilda Botanic Gardens

Melbourne has some of the finest gardens of any city in the world, many of them within a kilometre of the CBD. A morning in the Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the great treats of visiting this city.

Federation Square is a central and unifying public space, a landmark and a cultural magnet bringing together open spaces and innovative architecture and engineering. Go there for the music, the action and the arts.

The Docklands is Melbourne's biggest urban renewal project. Only minutes from the CBD, the Docklands precinct is turning into a thriving waterfront community with great restaurants, and a popular spot where Melbournians can live, work and play.

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square is the spectacular new home of Australian art, with twenty galleries housed in a landmark architectural complex. It has more Australian art on permanent display than any other gallery in the world, as well as special exhibitions and programs, cafes, and a restaurant. And what's more, admission to the permanent collection is free.

Melbournians are passionate about the finer things in life - eating out is no exception, making Melbourne a great place for an appetite, bad if you're watching your waistline.

Best Way To Get Around:

Melbourne has an excellent privatized public transport system. The automated ticketing system operates on all train, tram and bus services in the metropolitan area (including NightRider, Melbourne's after midnight bus service) with electronically-encoded tickets called Metcards. One Metcard can give you flexible travel between trains, trams and buses. Note however, that Airport bus services are not part of the Metcard system.

Metcards can be purchased from customer service centres at major rail stations, from Metcard ticket machines at train stations and trams, on buses, and from retail outlets displaying blue Metcard signs.

Melbourne’s public transport network is divided into two zones. Zone 1 covers all areas out to about a 12 kilometre radius of the central city.

When travelling, you are required to always validate your Metcard before entering a train platform and each time you board a tram or bus. Validation involves inserting your Metcard into a validator machine. However, when purchasing your Metcard from a ticket machine on a tram, it is automatically validated for that journey only.

If you are staying in the central city, you can visit all the places covered in this journal on foot. Melbourne is a good city for walking because it is flat, the footpaths are wide and the streets are on a grid system so you won’t get lost. They are all walkable from Flinders Street station if you take public transport into the city.

Although still a young city by world standards, Melbourne has a good collection of impressive buildings. Some come from the 19th century when Melbourne was fabulously wealthy from the Victorian gold finds and some are modern structures built on a grand scale.

The Melbourne Town Hall is a magnificent heritage building steeped in history and located in Swanston Street, in the heart of the city. Built between 1867 and 1870 from plans by architect Joseph Reed, who also designed the Royal Exhibition Buildings and State Library, the Town Hall is a monument to the glory days of Victoria's Gold Boom. Recent renovations have managed to preserve much of its grand character and unique period features such as impressive wood-panelled council chamber, and the grand organ in the Main Hall which dates from 1929.

Celebrities of all kinds have visited the Town Hall - Dame Nellie Melba debuted there in 1884; Queen Elizabeth II took refreshments in the Melbourne Room during her 1954 visit; and in 1964, assembled fans went wild when the Beatles waved from the portico. Later, Paul McCartney played Chopin on the Town Hall piano.

Nearby is St Paul’s cathedral. It is on the eastern corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Street and diagonally opposite Flinders Street Station, which was the transport hub of 19th century Melbourne and is still an important centre. Immediately to the south of the cathedral across Flinders St is the new public heart of Melbourne, Federation Square. At the time of its construction St Paul's was the tallest building in central Melbourne and dominated the city's skyline.

St Paul's is unusual among Melbourne's great 19th century public buildings in that it is not made from bluestone, the city's dominant building material. Instead it is made from sandstone imported from NSW, giving the cathedral a warm yellow-brown colour.

Another building worth seeing is the St Kilda Road home of the National Gallery of Victoria. Since 1861, this organisation has been displaying art works for the enjoyment of the community. The present building was completed in the early 1960s. In the mid-1990s, the gallery acknowledged that its St Kilda Road building could no longer successfully meet the demands of its growing collection and extensive exhibitions schedule. The Victorian State Government agreed to an extensive redevelopment of the site, and also contributed towards the funding of a second NGV building at Federation Square.

It is difficult to miss Flinders Street Station, as apart from being the hub of Melbourne's transport system, it is one of the city's great landmarks and icons. Opened in 1884, the station dominates the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets. The steps under the station's famous domed clock tower has long been the most popular meeting place for Melbournians coming into the city. Each week, more than 10,300 passenger-carrying suburban train services operate to and from Flinders Street Station. At 708 metres long, platform 1 is the fourth longest railway platform in the world.

When Australians think of Melbourne, they think of shopping. For decades the city has been known as the country’s shopping capital, You can choose from the large department stores David Jones and Myer, through shopping centres such as the Galleria, Australia on Collins and Melbourne Central, to the fascinating network of lanes and arcades.

It’s the laneways and arcades that have great appeal to me. Melbourne’s historic network of laneways and arcades boasts the unique, the exotic and the quirky. You can discover an eclectic and delightful mix of small boutiques selling everything from Melbourne designed fashion to Turkish dolls and lollipops.

I suggest you find and explore the Block, Cathedral and Royal arcades, Degraves and Crossley streets, Presgrove and Centre places and more. First, check out Royal Arcade. Opened in 1870, the Royal Arcade at 355 Bourke Street, is the city's oldest shopping arcade and even though it has undergone some modernisation, it still provides a tantalising glimpse of how people shopped in days gone past. It now houses some 40 shops offering everything from second hand clothing to tarot card readings.

The Block Arcade at 280 Collins Street is another fine example of a 19th Century shopping arcade. It is renowned for its impressive etched glass roof with decorative wrought iron and timber supports and has the largest mosaic floor area in Australia. The complex is classified by the National Trust and is on the register of the National Estate.

Some of the best and brightest of Melbourne and international fashion can be found hidden away in the laneways and arcades. Cathedral Arcade is home to the Japanese-inspired Genki, the unique and cool Alice Euphemia and the groovy Route 66. You find fabulous lingerie at Smitten Kitten on Presgrove Place and comfortable yoga and dance inspired pieces at BODY on Centre Place. If vintage is your thing, make a beeline for Shag or Retrostar and if you want high fashion try Flinders Way.

Melbourne’s coffee culture surrounds you in the laneways and arcades with street cafés and funky coffee shops everywhere. Degraves Street, Centre Place and Block Place are lined with small eateries, most with an alfresco dining option, offering everything from coffee and paninis to sushi, soup and pasta. Partake in tea and cake at the historic Hopetoun Tea Rooms (dating back to 1893) in the Block Arcade, grab an authentic Belgian waffle from Waffle On in Degraves Street or climb the stairs to Hell's Kitchen in Centre Place.

Visit Basement Discs (Block Place) for blues, jazz and folk music or Rhythm & Soul (The Causeway) for dance and beats. Dotted amongst the fashion hot-spots and galleries you'll find accessories, books, collectibles and homewares. Make sure you find Crossley Street for shops like Art Salon and De Mille Decorative & Fine Arts.

Don't forget to look upwards from time to time to see stunning 19th century architecture and detailing in the laneways and colourful stained glass windows and ceiling frescos in the arcades.

All major cities have realized that they need a showcase center for the arts. Melbourne established the Victorian Arts Centre in St Kilda Road in the late 1950s and it has since become the flagship of the performing arts in the state of Victoria. Its iconic spire, which was reconstructed in the 1990s, locates the performing arts at the centre of Melbourne’s civic and cultural precinct.
The Arts Centre, comprising the Theatres Building, Hamer Hall and Melbourne’s great outdoor performance space, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, programs a diverse range of performances and events to deliver both a national and international performing arts experience. Many visitors catch a performance while they are in Melbourne.

Under the Spire are the State Theatre, Playhouse, Fairfax Studio, George Adams Gallery, St Kilda Road Foyer Gallery, Café Vic, car park and box office. Adjacent to the river is Hamer Hall, home to BlackBox, EQ Cafébar and SoundHouse. The Sidney Myer Music Bowl is just a short stroll away in the Kings Domain Gardens
The Theatre Buildings showcases world-class theatre and performance while the music program is showcased in Hamer Hall and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the lush surrounds close to the Botanic Gardens. Each theatre or space has its own specialty.
At Hamer Hall you can enjoy such varied performances as those of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Norah Jones, comedy and gala film events.

Designed specifically for drama, the Playhouse can also accommodate an orchestra for dance, musical comedy and chamber opera. It seats up to 880 people and is renowned for its foyer collection of aboriginal artworks. The State Theatre offers the complete theatrical experience from leading dance and Broadway musicals to grand opera productions.

The Fairfax Studio is an intimate 376-seat drama space featuring the work of the Melbourne Theatre Company. Blackbox is an experiential space, which is home to the avant garde in Melbourne. It is located right next to EQ Cafébar overlooking the Yarra.

If you are going to a performance, go early before the show for drinks, grab a bite to eat or peruse the galleries. On Sundays there is a very popular Sunday Market. Box office opens at 9am, Café Vic opens at 10.30am and closes after the last-show supper crowd leaves. The galleries are open whenever the Arts Centre is. The car park is open 24/7.

You can also explore the home of Australia's premier performing arts companies and learn about the design of the theatres and the history of the site from the trained tour guides.

On tour you discover the brilliant architecture of Sir Roy Grounds, the stunning interiors of John Truscott, and the wonderful collection of commissioned Australian Art. Tours operate Monday to Saturday, 12 noon & 2.30pm and there is a special backstage tour on Sundays at 12.15 which I particularly recommend. Adults: $11, Concessions: $7.50, Family: $27.50 (2 adults & 2+ children), Sundays $13.50.

Melbournians love their river while visitors from Sydney and elsewhere are less impressed. It has a reputation for ‘flowing upside down’ because it often appears muddy but I must say it has improved noticeable in recent years.

The headwaters of the Yarra River flow from the pristine flanks of Mt Baw Baw in Victoria's West Gippsland region. For 242 kilometres the main water course, and 24 tributaries, drain about half the area of metropolitan Melbourne. On its journey through Melbourne and to Port Phillip Bay, it supplies 9 catchment dams and provides drinking water to about 3 million people.

The much-maligned muddy colour of the Yarra is caused by the easily eroded clay soils of the water catchment. The water was clear at the time of European settlement, but intensive land clearing and development since the mid 1800s has resulted in the presence of microscopic clay particles.

The discovery of the Yarra, and its fresh water, was crucial to the founding and subsequent development of Melbourne. Before bridges spanned the Yarra, ferries and punts carried people and their animals from bank to bank. The first bridge at the main Swanston St-St Kilda Road crossing was a timber structure built in 1845. The current Princes Bridge, resembling London's Blackfriars Bridge, opened in 1888.

Melbourne's lower Yarra River is the city's tourism and recreation heart. It hums with activity, on land and water. Riverboats link the vibrancy of Federation Square, Southgate and Crown. Outstanding dining and shopping opportunities blend with museums, galleries, an aquarium, concert halls and theatres to create one of the most diverse visitor precincts in the country.

Today, this is a very popular walking area and as you walk you can see a series of illustrated interpretative panels which detail the social and natural history of the Lower Yarra. These are located on the river’s banks between the Swan Street and Spencer Street bridges.

I strongly recommend actually getting on the river to get a different feel of Melbourne. You can do this in several ways. Melbourne Water Taxis, South Wharf, Southbank operate anywhere from Hawthorn to Williamstown. They are available for hire as point-to-point transport or for more leisurely touring. Williamstown Bay and River Cruises, South Wharf Ferry Terminal, cruise the Docklands and Port of Melbourne to the historic seaport of Williamstown - 7 days a week.

Florence on the Yarra, departs Tuesday to Sunday from Berth 8, Southgate Promenade for dining cruises of the Lower Yarra during afternoons and evenings. Venice on the Yarra, depart from the Southbank floating landing, or from the pontoons at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre or Crown Entertainment Complex. These gondolas are based on Venetian boat plans and built in Melbourne. Each Gondola takes up to four passengers and is opulently appointed with upholstered velvet seats.

Melbourne River Cruises, Blue Ticket Kiosks – Berth 5, Lower Promenade, Southgate and Berth 5, Federation Wharf, operate one-hour cruises from 10.00am to 4.00pm – 7 days a week for $19.80.

Getting around Melbourne is easy. In fact the city is served by an extensive public transport network which is of world-standard. It has one of the world's most extensive tram networks, almost 300 bus routes and a train system with more than 15 lines. Unlike many major cities in the world, Melbourne has an integrated public transport ticketing system even though all transport has been privatised. With Metcard, you can buy one ticket and use it on bus, train and tram services for a specified time period.

Trams are the main form of transport throughout the Central Business District and run up and down most main streets. One way to get around the Central Business District is to catch the City Circle Tram, a free service that runs around the perimeter of the central city.

Trains are the main mode of transport throughout the greater Melbourne area and they provide the fastest travel from inner, middle and outer suburbs to the city. There are two main above ground railway stations and three underground stations in the CBD. Flinders Street Station, at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets, is the main terminus for Melbourne metropolitan rail services (see buildings entry).

Southern Cross Station is at the intersection of Bourke and Spencer Streets. The station is the terminus of the state's regional railway network operated by V/Line, The Overland rail service to Adelaide, and the Countrylink XPT service to Sydney. It is one of five stations on the City Loop, a mostly underground railway that encircles the CBD. Southern Cross Station also has a bus terminal, from which operates the "Skybus" service to Melbourne Airport, and various intra and interstate coach services.

Trams offer slower but more frequent service between the city and inner suburbs and they are fun to ride. Melbourne is home to the third largest tram network in the world. Melbourne's current tram network began with the introduction of cable trams in 1885 and then electric trams in 1906. The tram network now provides extensive coverage of most inner suburbs with several routes extending into the middle suburbs.

Melbourne's trams contribute greatly to the city's distinctive character and are held in great affection by the people of Melbourne. I strongly suggest a ride, perhaps along St Kilda Rd to St Kilda beach. You really get to see working Melbourne.

Buses serve suburbs distant from rail lines, act as feeders to railway stations and allow cross-suburban and local travel not available via train or tram.

All train and tram routes operate 7 days per week. Service is typically from before 6am to after 11pm, with later starts on Sunday and later finishes on Friday and Saturday nights. There is an all-night bus system to many areas.

A variety of fares are available, from single trip fares, to better value fares, such as daily, weekly, monthly and yearly fares. Metcard works on all public transport but not the airport bus to the city.