Exploring Australia: Second Stop is Melbourne
Exploring Australia includes touring diverse cities and regions. Australia has six states and two territories. During my bucket list trip, our second stop was the fantastic city of Melbourne, Victoria. Did you know Melbourne is Victoria’s state capital and has received the title “Most Livable City in the World” several times? It is a great place to live and an excellent place for tourists. Let’s explore a few things to do and see in Melbourne.
Getting to Australia
Exploring Australia and Melbourne begins with finding flights from major cities worldwide. Major U.S. airlines, such as United, American, and Delta Airlines, fly from major cities or through their partner airlines, such as Qantas, New Zealand Air, etc. Be prepared for a long flight, but it’s well worth it. Be sure to search for the best deals and minimal layovers. Also, you will need a visa to travel to Australia. For more information about travel to Australia, click here.
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Where to Go and What to See in Melbourne
We spent three nights in Melbourne during a Go Ahead Tours 21-day trip to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Although it wasn’t much time to spend in such a wonderful city, we saw and learned a lot while visiting.
Melbourne is known for its 19th-century architecture, historical landmarks, and sprawling parks. After a night’s rest, we began exploring the city. Our first stops were the Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building.
Carlton Gardens
Carlton Gardens was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. The gardens surround the Melbourne Museum and are part of Melbourne’s inner-urban open space network. The Royal Exhibition Building, built in 1880, sits along the southern section of the gardens.
The Carlton Gardens is a place to be a part of nature in an urban setting. You can walk the gardens, picnic, or watch an IMAX movie at the museum. If your children are with you, playgrounds are available. You can even play a game of tennis on the grounds.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
When exploring Australia and Melbourne, visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Its full name is The Cathedral Church and Minor Basilica of Saint Patrick. It is located on Eastern Hill in Melbourne. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a magnificent Gothic-designed structure that is spectacular from the exterior to the interior. Be prepared to be awed.
Construction began in 1858 and was officially completed in 1939. The building was consecrated in 1897. Completion was delayed over many years due to economic times, the depression, and funding—however, St. Patrick’s Cathedral is on Melbourne’s Victorian Register and one of the top tourist attractions.
Shrine of Remembrance
After visiting the cathedral, we hopped on the tour bus and went to the Shrine of Remembrance. Known as The Shrine by Melbourne residents, it’s a war memorial to honor the men and women who served in World War 1. The shrine was established in 1918 and unveiled in 1934. It is one of the largest war memorials in Australia. It is a site of annual observances for Anzac Day (25 April) and Remembrance Day (11 November. We learned that Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga to commemorate all who served and died in war, conflicts, and peacekeeping missions.
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Royal Botanical Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is across from the Shrine of Remembrance. If you are a nature lover, this is a must-see! In 1846, land was set aside along the south side of the Yarra River to create the botanical garden. This wondrous site is now the Royal Botanic Gardens, and it has over 90 acres of trees, garden beds, lakes, and over 50,000 individual plants.
Due to time constraints, we could not explore much of the gardens. As a nature lover, I needed more time! However, we also learned that the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is home to the State Botanical Collection. Onsite is the National Herbarium of Victoria, where approximately 1.5 million preserved plants, algae, and fungi are collected and housed.
Sports and Entertainment Precinct
Exploring Australia in Melbourne includes visiting the famous Australian Open Tennis Championship location. The Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct is a series of sports stadiums and venues. It’s quite an impressive attraction.
The precinct has three areas: Olympic Park, Melbourne Park, and Yarra Park. The venues previously hosted the 1958 Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The Australian Open, cricket competitions, and Australian Football Grand Final are currently held at the venues.
Stroll Through the Queen Victoria Market
After much walking at the Shrine and the Royal Botanic Gardens, it was time to shop. We were tired, but something about shopping energizes some people. Our next stop was the Queen Victoria Market.
The Queen Victoria Market has been serving the people of Melbourne for more than 140 years. It is a treasure and is on the National Heritage List. Nicknamed Vic Market or Queen Vic by locals, it spans two city blocks.
This inner-city market has over 600 small businesses. Feel free to purchase
everything from Australian fruit and vegetables to local and imported gourmet foods, clothing, and souvenirs. I suggest allowing yourself a few hours to explore and shop because there’s much to see and buy.
Getting Around Melbourne
You wonder how to get around in Melbourne, Australia. Fortunately, the city has an excellent transportation system with various options.
Free Rides! Melbourne offers free tram rides within the city center. To use public transport outside the free tram zone, you must purchase a Myki card. You can buy a card from retail outlets displaying the Myki sign, visitor centers, and train stations.
Trains are a great way to visit attractions across the city and reach the surrounding suburbs. Major stations in the city include Central, Flinders, and Southern Cross Station.
The bus network is another efficient way of hopping around metro Melbourne and popular neighborhoods.
Taxis and ride-sharing are also available. Rates are reasonable. Renting a car is another option. We also saw many bicyclists navigating the streets. Getting from point A to point B is not tricky in Melbourne.
I love to walk, and Melbourne does not disappoint. It is a very walkable city and accessible for persons with mobility issues or disabilities. Pack comfortable walking shoes.
Food Options in Melbourne
Thank goodness I walked so much while exploring Australia and Melbourne, because I ate a lot of good food! I got in my steps and walked off some calories. While I did not eat Kangaroo, I had the most delicious beef and lamb.
Along with the mouthwatering red meat served with chips (fries), I sipped Australian wines from the Yarra Valley. The chips (fries) were always hot and crunchy! I never had so many fries in my life. One evening, we walked from our hotel to a Korean restaurant and ate delicious pork belly, kimchi, and Korean fried chicken. It was deliciousness all around!
Fresh Seafood is readily available and delicious, too. You can also eat a variety of ethnic or fusion foods. Asian, Indian, African, British, and Italian restaurants are options. Cheap eats and fine dining are also available choices.
Wine Tours
While visiting the Yarra Valley, I sipped excellent Shiraz wine. I love a good glass of wine! Did you know that Australia’s winemaking culture dates back to the 1800s? I did not know that over 90% of Australian wine is not exported outside the country. So drink up while you’re there!
There are wine regions in every Australian state except the Northern Territory, all offering an expression of their terroir. Some of Australia’s most famous winemaking regions include The Hunter Valley in New South Wales; South Australia’s Clare Valley, The Barossa, and Coonawarra; Victoria’s Yarra Valley; Margaret River in Western Australia; and Tasmania’s Tamar Valley.
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More Tourist Attractions
- National Gallery of Victoria
- Sunrise Hot Air Ballon Ride
- Melbourne’s Laneways
- Melbourne Museum
- Melbourne Zoo
- Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
- Puffing Billy Preservation Society (Train Ride)
- First Nation Guided Walks
- Great Ocean Road
- Penguin Parade at Phillip Island
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour
What to Wear
My visit to Australia was during the summer months, December and January. The temperature ranged from very warm to hot. Comfortable clothes and shoes are a necessity. I wore cargo pants and shorts along with either cotton T-shirts or blouses. I stick to breathable and quick-dry fabrics. My shoes ranged from sandals to walking shoes or hiking shoes with arch support.
The sun was hot, so I needed a sun hat. I had to wear two different hats, plus sunscreen to protect my skin. Also, I always carry a scarf in my day bag to cover my shoulders if the temperature on the tour bus is cool. I’ll have to post about so many little things in my day bag.
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Conclusion
Before exploring Australia and Melbourne, use this post as an outline to plan your trip. Get Your Guide is a great site to help plan a trip to Melbourne. In addition to this post, Melbourne has many more things to do. Start planning and pack your bags.
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