St Kilda Pier

Queen Victoria Market

MELBOURNE

Old Melbourne Gaol

Yarra River

Royal Botanic Gardens

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Getting there : Melbourne is approximately 21 hours flight time from the UK including a stopover .

Best time to go : Melbourne enjoys dry warm summers , with cooler temperatures in Autumn . Winter can be cold although heavy rain is rare . Spring is a variable season .

1 The Victoria Hotel 2 Batman ’ s Hill on Collins 3 The Jazz Corner 4 Ovolo Laneways 5 Quincy Hotel Melbourne 6 Crown Towers Melbourne

A sports-mad cultural hub

With an exciting food scene , neighbourhoods varying from hip to historical and an unrivalled sporting calendar , Melbourne considers itself the cultural capital of Australia .

A joy to explore on foot or by tram , the city centre includes the state parliament ; splendid Victorian buildings ; the hive of character-filled cobbled laneways lined with restaurants , cafés , bars and boutiques ; ultra-modern Federation Square ; and Flinders Street Station , where it ’ s obligatory to stand beneath the clocks of this iconic terminus as generations before have done .

Look down on the city as you soar skywards on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel or if you dare , you can teeter on the Edge , a transparent glass cube that projects out from the Melbourne Skydeck . If you like to keep your feet firmly on the ground , explore the highly regarded Royal Botanic Gardens .

Vibrant Southbank boasts the sprawling Crown Entertainment Complex . Once a blighted stretch of factories and run-down warehouses , it ’ s now full of shops , eateries , nightclubs and a casino .

For a glimpse of times past , visit Captain Cook ’ s 18th century cottage and garden or , experience the Old Melbourne Gaol , home of outlaw Ned Kelly until his hanging here in 1880 .

In a city crazy about sport , its legendary venues fringe the city : the MCG ( for cricket and Australian Football League ); Melbourne Park ( tennis ); Flemington ( horse racing ); and Albert Park ( Formula 1 Grand Prix ).

In Melbourne ’ s inner suburbs amble along the seaside Esplanade in colourful St Kilda or enjoy the quirky shops and cafés of bohemian Fitzroy .

UNMISSABLE MELBOURNE EXPERIENCES

Get more out of your stay . Prices are per person

MCG & AUSTRALIAN SPORTS MUSEUM TOUR from £ 25

An hour long behind the scenes look at the mighty MCG ( Melbourne Cricket Ground ) including the players ’ changing rooms , media centre and members only area . Next , visit the Australian Sports Museum , an exciting , interactive and ever-changing experience .

LANEWAYS , ARCADES & CITY TOUR from £ 39

This 3½ hour tour begins on foot , taking in Federation Square , St Paul ’ s Cathedral , Flinders Street Station and Degraves Street , a popular pedestrian laneway . Walk through Block and Royal Arcades , vibrant Flinders Lane and see Hosier Lane ’ s graffiti-covered walls . Continue by coach to see many other city sights such as Parliament House and the Sports & Entertainment district .

MOONLIGHT KAYAK TOUR from £ 62

Experience Melbourne ’ s waterways at sunset on this unique 2½ hour tour of Docklands and downtown Melbourne . Stop for fish and chips as the sunsets and take in city views as you paddle .

THE MELBOURNE EXPERIENCE - FOODIE INDULGENCE WALK from £ 68

Join a guide for a 3 hour walking tour and experience the best examples of what Melbourne offers . Drink coffee , eat dumplings , sneak in a sweet treat and finish off with a rooftop drink .

BEST OF MELBOURNE BIKE TOUR from £ 75 ( includes casual lunch ) On this half day tour see more in a few hours than most see in days , as you gain knowledge about everything from Melbourne ’ s parks and gardens to its arts and sports precincts , Aboriginal and colonial history , street art , rooftop bars and vibrant foodie and café cultures .

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YARRA VALLEY WINE EXPERIENCE from £ 92 ( includes lunch ) A full day of enjoying wine begins at Greenstone Vineyard before you head on to Balgownie Estate for a guided tasting and lunch . Continue to Yering Farm and then Soumah of Yarra Valley .

PENGUINS , KOALAS & WILDLIFE , PHILLIP ISLAND from £ 115

Depart Melbourne early afternoon for Phillip Island . Visit the Koala Conservation Reserve in the company of a ranger , head to the Nobbies which is home to one of Australia ’ s largest seal colonies and finally , see Little Penguins waddle up to their burrows at the end of the day .

GREAT OCEAN ROAD & TWELVE APOSTLES from £ 117

A full day tour that takes you along this famous road . See the amazing Twelve Apostles , walk along the boardwalk , feel the sand between your toes at Loch Ard Gorge and explore Port Campbell National Park . visit your local travel agent or call 08444 937 900