Melbourne | Viator Travel Blog

Melbourne’s Tram Restaurant

14. October 2009

It’s a cold late-winter Tuesday in Melbourne and I’m standing on a tramstop under the glare of the Casino’s neon. A brown shelter keeps the rain off but not the bitter wind out. Trams rattle past ferrying commuters home from work. A crowd builds. Then, out of the fading light comes a glow of soft light. It’s here: Melbourne's Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.

Summer in Melbourne: Top Outdoor Cinemas

22. September 2009

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Summer in Melbourne: Top Outdoor Cinemas

Summer and the movies used to be great together. Me and my mate Simon would buy a ticket to an 11am session, then spend the whole day sneaking from cinema to cinema (via the snack bar) watching movies all day. Good times. While it's still possible to sneak into sessions through the day at Melbourne's big chain cinemas (not that I'm recommending it, of course), daytime is so much busier these days, what with work and babies and stuff.

Melbourne: 10 Things to Do in Summer

6. April 2009

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I’ve just spent a couple of months in Melbourne catching up with family and friends. And I have to admit I’d forgotten what a fab town it is. I was born and raised there, and sometimes it's hard to really see your hometown, but a few years away gave me fresh eyes. So here’s my Top 10 of things I did this Downunder Summer in Melbourne.

Public Art from NYC to Australia

11. March 2009

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One of the joys of travel is finding the unexpected. And that’s why I keep an eye open for strange objects in unfamiliar places, otherwise known as public art. Some is good, some bad, some ugly, some inspiring. And it can pop up anywhere, turning an unremarkable place into somewhere special. Sometimes public art and sculpture [...]

Yarra Valley Fire Update

11. February 2009

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No doubt you've been hearing about the tragic fires in the Australian state of Victoria. It's been one of the worst years on record for fires, and already the death toll is approaching 200. Thousands of acres have burned, entire towns have been destroyed. It's truly staggering to contemplate the destruction. We just had a call from one of our Australian wine-tour operators, based not far from Melbourne in the Yarra Valley wine region. They're telling us, more than ever, the Yarra Valley and its award-winning wineries need our support.

In Praise of the Boxing Day Test Match

22. December 2008

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After the madness of Christmas, there’s nothing quite like sitting in the shade on a hot summer day, eating cold turkey sandwiches, reading the paper and chatting with friends. And if the venue happens to be in Melbourne, at the grand Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and there’s a cricket game in action – all the better.

Melbourne: Top 5 Things to Do in Summer

2. December 2008

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Melbourne gets a bad wrap from the rest of Australia for the weather, but this summer is gearing up to be another (climate-change induced) long, hot and dry spell. The city’s location on a bay means that evenings are often tempered by cooling breezes, so any opportunity to get outside is lapped up by locals and visitors.

A Cure for Jet Lag in Melbourne

8. July 2008

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This is the second in a three-part series on beating jet lag after a long flight to Australia. If you’re touching down in Sydney, read our tips for overcoming jet lag in Sydney. This installment is all about beating jet lag after an arrival in Melbourne. The third post will focus on Brisbane arrivals. From almost [...]

Melbourne: Feed Your Inner Bohemian

26. October 2007

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The charms of Melbourne are subtle. It's sophisticated, a little hidden and very different from sunny, brash Sydney. All those jokes about Melbourne having ‘four seasons in one day’ may be true, but the rainy weather lends itself to a stylish layered wardrobe. And the need to find diversions inside has created a rich cultural scene. And let's not forget all those atmospheric cafes and bars. Here's a short list of my favourites.

Melbourne in Winter

19. July 2007

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It’s been said over and over, but it remains a truism: Melbourne is a secretive city. Unlike glitzy cities like New York, Paris or even Sydney, Melbourne is your classic 'second city' best experienced from the inside out. Art, sport, food, wine… these are Melbourne’s drawcards.