Melbourne – photo by Lenny K Photography on Flickr CC

A Glorious Day in Melbourne to Splurge Your Holidays

When we think of Australia, the first thing we automatically think about is the Sydney Opera House. However, if you travel 1,000 km to the South-West, you will find a completely different city: Melbourne.

A cosmopolitan city, with many parks and gardens, art, where modernism is combined with the authentic Aboriginal communities, Melbourne will amaze you. The beauty of the city is also given by its welcoming people who have embraced so many cultures from all over the world. There is a Chinatown, where you will find a temple called ‘See Yup Joss House’, an Italian neighborhood called ‘Little Italy’ and a Greek neighborhood, all bringing a few of their ethnic traditions and customs through shops or restaurants.

The center is closed for car traffic and it displays elegant car shops, broad markets and plenty of green spaces, offering pleasant places for walking. The central square is adorned with fountains and it is also the area where the city holds street performances, rock concerts and other free entertainment shows, appreciated especially by young people.

photo by phunnyfotos on Flickr CC

You can always watch out for online discounts on concert tickets offered by OZCodes.com.au before making an expensive purchase.

What adds to city’s charm is the old tram, which appearance has remained the same as 100 years ago. It is usually green with wooden chairs. There are of course new trams, but they are much less popular and appreciated by tourists. One of the great admirers of the old tram was Elton John, who even bought a vehicle and he exhibited it in the garden of his house in San Francisco.

If you are an art lover, then you should visit the Victorian Art Center. There you will find artworks of Australian and indigenous artists along with admirable ship Polly Woodside (built in Belfast in 1885) and old aircraft. The cityis filled with even more joy in March when Moomba Festival is held. In Aboriginal language word, ‘Moomba’ means ‘come and have fun’. Indeed, they know how to have fun since the carnival is held over four days with street parades, fireworks, professional and amateur dancers.

Now that you know a little bit of how Melbourne looks like and what makes it special, let’s have a look at few of the main beautiful landmarks and attractions in Melbourne:

Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens – photo by N G M on Flickr CC

1. Melbourne observation deck – It was opened 20 years ago and ever since, the observation deck has been one of the sights of Melbourne that could not be missed by tourists. Visitors can choose to climb the 1254 steps or may opt for a shorter road to the top using the elevator to reach the top of the 55 floors. From the top of the observation terrace, the view over the city of Melbourne is dizzying. The bridge built is around the top of Rialto building and it offers a 360-degree panorama over the city.
2. Royal Botanic Garden– Melbourne Botanical Garden stretches over 90 acres and is one of the most interesting botanical gardens in the world. There are more than 10,000 species and 50,000 plants. You will have the opportunity to visit the garden and see different parts of the Botanical Garden such as Ornamental Lake, Australian Rainforest, Water Conservation Garden and National Herbarium of Victoria.

3. Melbourne Museum-Here is also the IMAX Melbourne. Melbourne Museum is visited annually by over one million people. One of the newest attractions is the museum’s Dinosaur Alley, where tourists can go back in time and be in the company of flying reptiles and dinosaurs.

4. National Sports Museum – The museum was included on the national heritage list in 2005. You can admire the very heart of Australian sport. The museum hosts “the Cricket Hall of Fame” but also the Olympic Museum.

5. Como House– Como house was built in 1847 and it served as the home for the lawyer and the judge Edward Eyre Williams. The house and the historical gardens are a short distance from Melbourne downtown. You will have the chance to learn more about thecolonial life of those who lived here. Como House also hosts the Como Café giving you the perfect opportunity for a few moments of relaxation while enjoying your tea.

6. Princess Margaret Rose Cave– Situated near the Glenelg River, the cave was discovered in 1936. Today it is a tourist attraction offering visitors an underground haven, where they can admire stalagmites 700,000 years old.

7. Ian Potter Centre: National Gallery of Victoria– Located in Federation Square, Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia exhibits more than 200,000 works of art.

Enjoy your Australian Holiday!
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