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Melbourne Destination Guide

Melbourne

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To truly get under the skin of the city, go to the footy – Australian rules football. A city obsession, the games are great entertainment for families and the hot meat pies are legendary. Watch a match at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, where matches run from March to end September. Go back the next day for a guided tour of the MCG and National Sports Museum, where you can visit the coaches' boxes and players' changing rooms, learn about cricketing hero Shane Warne and walk on the hallowed ground itself.
The best way to see the sights is to hop on one of the city’s trams – there’s a vast array of new and historic tramcars to choose from. For a special treat, enjoy a meal in the luxurious surroundings of the 1948 Colonial Tramcar Restaurant which runs along the more interesting tram routes of South Melbourne, St Kilda, Prahran and Malvern. Visitors who prefer to tour under their own steam can cycle the Capital City Trail. Hire a bike at Docklands and follow the Capital City Trail logo towards Southbank, the MCG or zoo. There are a number of walking tours, too, some themed for chocoholics, shopaholics, photographers and even ghost chasers.
Whether you’re into high fashion or retro chic, there are a myriad of shops, designer boutiques and stores where you can spend your Australian bucks. Lose yourself in the city’s laneways and arcades or explore Melbourne Central, the QV and GPO precincts. The Inner North and Chapel Street are filled with fashionable boutiques and designer labels. Find glam retro gear at Shag and vintage clothing at Restrostar. Queen Victoria Market is the best place to browse fresh local produce and buy souvenirs to take home – and there’s street theatre on Sundays.
You’ll either love it or hate it, but you will find kangaroo on the menu at many of Melbourne’s restaurants. With a reputation as the good food capital of Australia, Melbourne has an amazing array of eateries, from Asian-infused cuisine in the Inner North to fine dining Downtown. Check out Chinatown, the Greek Quarter, Richmond or Carlton or dine by the water at Docklands, Williamstown or St Kilda. Booking is essential at top-end restaurants and most open daily until 10pm-11pm. For a coffee culture fix, wander CBD’s cobblestone lanes or head over to Richmond, St Kilda and Fitzroy.
Melbourne comes to life on a hot-air balloon flight at dawn – and it offers the most amazing views. Enjoy a gourmet champagne breakfast with your pilot while gaining a superb bird’s eye view of Melbourne’s major landmarks – the resplendent Federation Square, Southbank, the Yarra River and the iconic Flinders Street station with its grand 1910 façade. Back on land, Flinders Street station is one of the city’s great photo opportunities.