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Untitled Melbourne Australia Travel Guide Hotels Internet Booking
MELBOURNE
INFORMATION
HOTELS
TRAVEL AGENTS
RESTAURANTS
INTERNET
MAP
Melbourneis the second-largest city in Australia and the capital of the state of Victoria.
Located on the southern coast of AustraliaÕs eastern seaboard, it is considered by many to be AustraliaÕs most cultured citiy. The cityÕs features include Victorian-era architecture, many cultural institutions such as museums, galleries and theaters, and large parks and gardens. Melbourne's 3.8 million population is both multicultural (with large Greek, Italian, Jewish, Vietnamese and other immigrant communities) and sports-mad.
 Melbourne
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  TIPS.   
Visas: see Australia Introduction page
Warnings:
 Police Emergency No. 000. A safe city generally. Take normal precautions on empty streets at night.
Money:
 Change money at most banks (10am-4pm, Mon-Fri) or major hotels. Not many other exchange points, there is one on Exhibition St. (opp. the old Southern Cross Hotel).

Coming & Going:
AIR. Melbourne International Airport (MEL) is about 25 km north of downtown, serves both International and Domestic flights. About A$25-30 by taxi to downtown. Buses also are frequent. There are special buses that go to Frankston (east side of Bay) and Geelong (west side). Some Backpackers hotels have their own buses.
International connections to everywhere. Domestic connections to all main cities.
Regional flights - to Hamilton, Mildura, Mt. Gambier.
RAIL: to Sydney, Adelaide, Geelong, Warrnambool.
SEA: a major port for trade but not for travel. Cruise ships occassionally stop off. There is a ferry and a catamaran service to Tasmania which takes vehicles and is cheaper than flying.
ROAD: You cannot enter Australia by road!!. Buses (Greyhound etc) go everywhere. Bus Passes are available. Many specialized tour operators to the Outback, wilderness areas etc.

Getting Around:
Taxis:are all metered and not what you'd call cheap.
Buses: serve most suburbs and are cheap.
Trams: serve many areas, especially closer to downtown. Not expensive. Can be a pleasant way of getting around. There is a free Tourist Tram which does a lap around the city centre.
Bicycle: can be found for hire, an ideal city for rolling around.
CAR Hire: Avis, Hertz, Budget etc and local companies. Also Campervan hire is popular for people going off on their own to explore.
Melbourne Yarra River
Yarra River, Melbourne.
  FACTS.   
Communications:
Telephone Country code is 62, area code is 03. Exit code is 0011
International calls at General Post Office, cnr. Bourke St. & Elizabeth St. Downtown. Also many Card and Coin operated IDD phone booths around the city.
see Internet Cafes below for email spots.
Tourist Info:
Australian Tourist Commission is the government body. Web site at www.atc.net.au
Tourism Victoria (tel: 132842) main office at Town Hall, cnr. Swanston St & Lt. Collins St. see www.tourism.vic.gov.au
Also try RACV (auto club) tel: 132842
Climate:
 Four seasons of weather. Summer (Dec-Feb, 20-35ºC), Autumn (March-May), Winter (June-August, 8-16ºC) and Spring (Sept-Nov). Melbourne's climate is highly unstable. In Summer it can be 35º one day and 20º the next. The winter is not cold by european standards. The nearest Ski Resort, Mt. Buller, is 3 hours drive to the north.
Attractions:
 The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), perhaps the most sacred religious site in Australia. Home of the famous Boxing Day Test Match (cricket) and the Australian Football finals.
The Yarra River (which resembles a drain to many people) and the Southbank restaurant/casino area.
The Greyhound Hotel (cnr. St. Kilda Rd. & Carlisle St. St. Kilda), a traditional grungy suburban hotel with pool tables, drag show , live bands and dark bars for very arty people.
Lots of Parks and gardens and trees. The Royal Botanic Gardens are a treasure, and close to downtown.
Bayside Beaches can be pleasant for a walk and a picnic.
Eating. melbourne never stops eating, good restarants and coffee everywhere.
Theatre. mainstream and alternative. La Mama Theatre (Faraday St. Carlton) a tiny box seating 30 people and puts on experimental/first time plays.
Music. Once the centre of Pub Rock. You'll still find bands playing in pubs, try the Prince of Wales (Fitzroy St. St.Kilda), The Esplanade Hotel (St.Kilda), Punters Club (Fitzroy). Also strong in Jazz , (Bennets Lane, downtown). Discos/Nightclubs are in the downtown, Prahran and St. Kilda areas. Opera & Symphony at the Melbourne Arts Centre (St. Kilda Rd.).
the Coast: once away from Port Philip Bay the coastline (both east and west) can be tranquil, wild, rugged and interesting. The Great Ocean Road (west) is deservedly famous. Wilson's Promontory (east) is remote and unspoilt. Penguins at Philip Island are popular.
Flora & Fauna: Healesville Sanctuary (1.5 hours north-east) is very popular to see many native animals in one place. The Grampians mountains (3 hours west) has excellent wildflowers in the Spring, plus koalas, kangaroos, emus etc. The High Country (north-east) which has ski resorts in winter is also popular at other times for exploring the "bush".
Events:
Annual Royal Agricultural Show in September. Traditional showing of produce and livestock from the country areas. Moomba and the Comedy Festival in March, includes the Australian Grand Prix. Fringe Festival (November) for avante-garde theatre and music.
Shopping:
Shopping areas worth a visit include: the Downtown department stores, Chapel St. (Prahran) for funky fashion, Acland St. (St. Kilda) for food and fashion, Brunswick St. (Fitzroy) for funky/feral fashion and food.

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