It’s a paradise for sports fanatics, foodies, wine snobs, animal lovers and shopaholics. Straddling the curvy, lazy Yarra River, Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city but, some would say, its best. Get lost in its narrow, cobblestone laneways, stumble on a cozy little cafe or bar, take in a major art exhibition or join 100,000 other rabid fans at a footy match. It’s got all the big-city perks, and you can get from the big smoke to the rainforest, wine country or ocean in less than two hours’ drive.

There are many ways to explore Melbourne and if you’re not sure where to begin, read our suggested itineraries in Melbourne. Highlights include:

Day 1: The City & Inner Suburbs. Start your first day in Melbourne at the crack of dawn for a bird’s eye view of the city on a Melbourne hot air balloon ride. Or if heights aren’t your thing (and you like sleeping in a bit) take a Melbourne Full Day tour of the major sights. Once you’ve got your bearings it’s a good time to get out on your feet. There’s a lot to see downtown - or in ‘the City’, or CBD (central business district), as the locals call it. There are several excellent museums, including the National Gallery of Victoria’s twin sites, the International (with art and antiquities from around the globe) and the Ian Potter Centre, which houses a superb collection of Australian art. The latter is housed within the award-winning architectural centerpiece, Federation Square, which is packed with restaurants and bars.

For a good bargain, check out the Melbourne Smartvisit Card, which comes in 2-, 3-, or 7-day options and gets you into over 60 attractions and tours and saves you heaps.

Day 2: Outer Suburbs. Once you’ve made the rounds of the CBD and the inner suburbs, it’s time to range a bit farther. From the city, take the ferry to Williamstown, where you can grab a hearty pub lunch and some gourmet ice cream. Also north of the city is the Melbourne Zoo, where they’ve recently opened an orangutan sanctuary.

Melbournians are mad for sport. They invented Australian Rules Football (’footy’), and they lay claim to the first Test Cricket Match, played here in 1877 at the local temple of sport, the ‘G’ (Melbourne Cricket Ground), which can hold over 100,000 people. There’s no shortage of other sports - Formula One car racing (the race is in mid-March this year), tennis (Melbourne hosts the Australian Open each January), swimming, rugby, soccer. And horse racing: the Spring Racing Carnival lasts nearly two months, while the Melbourne Cup (a.k.a. The Race That Stops a Nation) is an official public holiday in Victoria!
Locals are also food-obsessed. A unique way to sup and sight-see at the same time is to take the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant, a beautifully restored 1920s tram that does a lazy circle around the CBD. Or take a leisurely dinner cruise on the Yarra River. For a towering view, book lunch or dinner on the 55th floor of Melbourne’s tallest office building.

Day 3: Country Victoria. There’s another world out there beyond the suburbs, ranging from rugged beaches to tropical rainforests to high country scrub, teeming with wildlife and lots to do. Kids tend to go gaga over the 16-inch (40 cm) fairy penguins that roost on Phillip Island, as well as the koalas, kangaroos, platypi and other local fauna at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary. There are still more kangaroos - along with waterfalls, fern gullies, Aboriginal rock art and breathtaking views - in the rugged, lush mountains of the Grampians National Park. You’ll find more natural splendor along the tight curves of the Great Ocean Road, where you can surf or sunbathe to your heart’s content, or in the Dandenong Mountains.

Melbourne is situated amongst some of the finest wine country in the world, located just a short drive from the Yarra Valley. For the novice seeking to develop a better palate, the wine lover who likes to pair fine dining with his swirls, or the seriously dedicated foodie looking for an award-winning gastronomic experience accompanied by some of the best vintages, there are numerous options. Not to be forgotten, the Mornington Peninsula also has some outstanding wine, producing some cold-climate beauts like pinot noir and chardonnay.

This is just a sample of our recommendations. Read the complete set of Suggested Itineraries in Melbourne, or browse all of our tours, activities and things to do in Melbourne.

-Bruce Melendy

This entry was posted on Friday, February 16th, 2007 at 12:35 pm and is filed under Australia & Pacific, Destinations, Suggested Itineraries, Travel Inspiration. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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