When you’re planning your first trip Down Under, it’s easy to be seduced by the bright lights and iconic tourist sites of Sydney. But before you book 2 weeks at one of the most Instagrammable harbours in the world, don’t dismiss Melbourne; after all, boho suburbs like St Kilda, a laid-back café culture, bags of history and a hip street-art scene all make it one of Australia’s coolest cities.
With that in mind, here are five top tips if you’re visiting Melbourne Australia.
Head to Queen Victoria Market
Queen Victoria Market isn’t just a place where you can shop till you drop, it’s also one of the most intriguing historical buildings you’ll find in Melbourne.
This 19th Century building is a throwback to a more genteel era, but the retail and fine dining within is bang up to date.
It’s the perfect hangout for foodies and a great spot to while away an afternoon — the mouth-watering Indian, Sri Lankan and Malaysian curries at Drums Café are a must-taste!
Enjoy the Royal Botanic Gardens
Botanic Gardens can be found across the globe, but few match the flowers and succulents you’ll see in Melbourne’s.
Extending across 36 hectares of land, a wander through these gardens is a feast for the eyes. You’ll soak up waterfalls, rivers, long stretches of grass, greenhouses teeming with flowers, and much more — take an entire day for some cathartic tree bathing in this superb spot.
Hit the Neighbours tour
If you grew up in Australia or the UK in the 80s or 90s, you’ll know that much-loved TV soap; Neighbours, was essential viewing.
The series spawned stars like Kylie Minogue and Guy Pearce and featured unforgettable characters like Harold Bishop, Toadie and Bouncer the dog. Since it’s set in Melbourne, (and is still in production btw) why not take an official Neighbours tour to experience the fictional suburb of Erinsborough in person.
Get dolled up at the Melbourne Cup
If you like horseracing and fancy a flutter, the annual Melbourne Cup is Australia’s foremost competition and attracts fans from around the world.
It’s held at Flemington Racecourse and is a pretty wild affair, so if you fancy dressing up to the nines and quaffing enough champagne to sink a ship plan your visit while it’s on – but make sure to book your tickets early, as they sell out fast!
Plan your transport
With trams, trains, buses and a night network that provides 24-hour cover on weekends, visiting Melbourne Australia is safe and convenient – but it’s still important to plan ahead to make sure that your trip runs as smoothly as possible. And if you’re in town for a while, the airport has excellent domestic links — so if you’re hopping across to Sydney for the weekend, airport parking from Looking4.com is cheap and secure.
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