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Melbourne Journals

Melbourne Highlights

Best of IgoUgo

An October 2007 trip to Melbourne by LenR

Across the river to Southbank Photo - Melbourne, Australia More Photos
Quote: Melbourne has many highlights but I have chosen five to illustrate the wide appeal this city has for most visitors
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Melbourne Highlights Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Across the river to Southbank Photo - Melbourne, Australia
Quote:
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 Theatr...Read More

Buildings. Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Buildings"

Melbourne Town Hall Photo - Melbourne, Australia
Quote:
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 su...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 11, 2007

City shopping arcades and laneways. Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "City Shopping Arcades and Laneways"

Great shopping experience Photo - Melbourne, Australia
Quote:
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,...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 11, 2007

Arts Centre complex and Southbank Photo - Melbourne, Australia
Quote:
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 ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 11, 2007

Yarra River Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Yarra River and Princes Bridge Photo - Melbourne, Australia
Quote:
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 ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 11, 2007

Public Transport Best of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

A Melbourne tram Photo - Melbourne, Australia
Quote:
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 C...Read More