Laneways, Coffee and a City of Culture
Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria in southeastern Australia, known for its coffee culture, laneways, street art, sport and arts scene. Founded in 1835 and enriched by the Victorian gold rush, it grew into a city of grand Victorian architecture, trams and arcades. The Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens are UNESCO World Heritage listed, and the Yarra River winds through the centre past the Arts Precinct, Southbank and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The city's identity is its food and its culture. Hosier Lane and Degraves Street are celebrated for street art and cafés, the Queen Victoria Market has traded since 1878, and neighbourhoods from Fitzroy and Collingwood to Carlton and Chapel Street offer restaurants from every continent. The National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne Cup Day and the Australian Open turn the calendar into a continuous celebration of art, music and sport.
Great Ocean Road, Wine Valleys and Phillip Island
Beyond the centre, Melbourne is an ideal base for day trips. The Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula are wine and cellar-door country, the Dandenong Ranges offer fern gullies and tea rooms, and Phillip Island is known for its nightly penguin parade. The Great Ocean Road, one of Australia's classic coastal drives, runs west to the Twelve Apostles and the surf town of Torquay, home of the legendary Bells Beach.
Back in the city, rooftop bars, speakeasies and chef-led dining rooms give hotels and boards plenty to promote. A tourist board could use that breadth to appeal to food lovers, sports fans and design-minded travellers. Many visitors pair Melbourne with the rest of Australia, including Sydney and the reef, or continue across the Tasman to New Zealand. For a longer Pacific journey, Fiji offers an easy beach finish.
Read the full Melbourne guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitMelbourne.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.