Voted one of the world's most 'liveable cities' by London's Economist Intelligence Unit, it's not hard to see why Melbourne's three-million or so inhabitants — Melbournians, if you will — are quite happy with their lot in life. With a vibrant city centre, beautiful parks, exciting nightlife and an attractive beachfront, it's an easy-going, enjoyable place to live or visit.

A pleasant place for sure, but by no means a quiet corner of the country. Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne is renowned for hosting some of the world's top events, with thousands of visitors from around the globe converging on the city to enjoy everything from high-octane Formula 1 racing at the Melbourne Grand Prix, haute couture at the glamorous Spring Racing Carnival (Melbournians are mad about their horse-racing) to the Australian Open Tennis Championships. And the list goes on… they even host the Aussie Rules Grand Final each September, which is bound to send Australians into fits of excitement and leave foreign visitors scratching their heads trying to work out what exactly is going on.

Fine dining and ethnic eating
Watching all that running and jumping and diving is sure to make you hungry, but with over 3000 restaurants, bars, and cafes in the city you shouldn't have a problem finding something to suit your taste buds and your pocket.

If you're travelling on a budget, then head straight for one of the 75 'ethnic' areas of the city. Whether it's the Greek Quarter (Melbourne has the 3rd largest Greek population in the world) on Lonsdale Street, Little Italy to the north of that or the vibrant Chinatown in Little Bourke Street, a great meal and a taste of the local nightlife will only set you back around A$10.

If you've got a few more dollars to spend, then your choices are simply endless. There's everything from Arabian mezze at Mecca Bah in the trendy new Docklands development to beachfront restaurants in St Kilda (also home to the iconic Luna Park funfair) offering top-notch seafood. If you like your meals on the move you could always try the Colonial Tramcar restaurant which trundles around the city while you enjoy dinner in the antique panelled carriages — the tram may be a bit rickety, but the food is decent and it's a novel way to see the city over dinner.

Fancy some 'roo?
Back on terra firma, the Southbank Promenade on the Yarra River is also a good bet, with a great range of international and fusion restaurants. The New York feel of the famous Walter's Wine Bar is a good choice if you want to satisfy your morbid tourist curiosity and discover what grilled kangaroo really tastes like. Make sure you've got a decent bottle of Yarra Valley Pinot Noir to wash it down with though…

If you'd prefer a beer with your 'roo, just be careful how you place your order. The Aussies are famous for their unique descriptions of glasses and bottles, so when your waiter suggests you order a 'pot', don't be surprised to find that it turns out to be bigger than a 'stubbie', but smaller than a 'schooner'. Baffling, yes, but with dozens of excellent micro-breweries dotted around the state it's a pleasant enough way to get confused.

Click to visit the Melbourne image gallery
Once you've had a few stubbies (or were they schooners?) it's good to know that Melbourne's an easy city to navigate, and although the suburbs sprawl for miles the city centre itself is compact and well laid out.

The orderly grid network of streets makes it easy to find your way around, but if you get lost or tired the ubiquitous yellow cabs are everywhere and a ride across town will only set you back about A$10. Getting around on your own is easy though with one of the world's largest tram networks, along with excellent bus and train services, connecting all parts of the city. If you need to get your bearings simply hop onto the burgundy-coloured City Circle tram service for a free tour of the city centre.

A cultural city

WHERE TO SHOP
The fresh produce, wines and epicurean delights at the Queen Victoria Market, the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, make it a great place to shop, especially if you're self-catering.
The city isn't just about sports though, and to complement the sporting action a full cultural program is on offer nearly every day of the year. First stop; Melbourne's cultural precinct, centred around the uber-modern Federation Square.

With its bold architecture, great restaurants and cutting-edge art galleries and museums it has rapidly become the cultural heart of the city; a new town square where Melbournians and visitors are able to eat, drink, mingle and enjoy a range of galleries and entertainment.

The adjoining Australian Centre for the Moving Image and Racing Museum are well worth a daytime visit, as is the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Ian Potter Centre. This arm of the National Gallery of Australia is Australia's oldest public art gallery (although housed in cutting-edge new premises) and houses the world's largest collection of Australian art.

Sophisticated and elegant, laid-back yet vibrant, Melbourne certainly deserves its place as one of the world's top cities. With great attractions, fantastic restaurants and a host of sporting attractions, there's never been a better time to visit Melbourne and Victoria.


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