Melbourne is set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The city itself, laid out in a large rectangle and boasting a lively and cosmopolitan pulse, sits on the northern banks of the Yarra River, about five kilometres from the bay.

One glance at a map and it’s obvious that Melbourne is a planned city: a tidy, balanced grid of neatly angled streets. But beneath this sense of everything in its place restraint lies a restless creative energy constantly pushing back at the city’s seeming conservatism. The CBD is made up of precincts – distinct enclaves each with its own flavour and charm. Some are just a lane or two, while others cover the banks of the Yarra River or a busy CBD street.

Extending around the bay are a number of inner suburbs, each with its own distinct character and personality. A short tram ride from the city centre, Melbourne’s suburban neighbourhoods are a must see for anyone wanting to experience what life here is really all about.

Where else can you enjoy Australia’s best eating and drinking? Explore historic arcades and laneways lined with cafes and boutiques? Or see sporting spectaculars, art exhibitions and performing arts productions throughout the year? Melbourne, that’s where.

Make the most of your time here. Use the links or search box below and experience Melbourne’s endless supply of things to see and do.

 

In the city, you can settle into the genteel surroundings of a nineteenth-century hotel, where afternoon tea can be enjoyed in a starched table-clothed timewarp reminiscent of bygone times, watch and be watched in buzzing laneway cafés and bars, or handpick a bottle of Yarra Valley chardonnay at the latest über-chic hangout. Alternatively, head out a little further and explore one of Melbourne’s specialist eating destinations – Richmond for cheap and cheerful Vietnamese dishes, Carlton for Italian classics, Fitzroy for tantalising Spanish tapas.

From the simple presentation of a sushi bar to the fine dining finesse of an award-winning restaurant, Melbourne’s eateries are renowned for their superb food, atmosphere and service.