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Melbourne Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Melbourne
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Melbourne Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Melbourne - Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne,
capital of Victoria, is the most European in style with trams
rattling through streets past Victorian buildings, parks and
outdoor cafes. The city centre is laid out in a simple grid
pattern, the long, wide north-south streets gently sloping down to
the Yarra River, crossed by a mix of narrow lanes, and the main
shopping streets such as Bourke and Collins Streets. The CBD is
easily navigable by foot, and if a rest is needed after a session
of sightseeing or shopping there are numerous parks nearby, such as
the Royal Botanical Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens and Carlton Gardens.
Alternatively, you can take one of Melbourne's signature
attractions, a tram. The burgundy-coloured City Circle tram is
free, and is a good way to get your bearings as well as explore the
inner city, while for those wanting to go further afield the tram
network extends about 10 miles (15km) into the Melbourne
suburbs.
Melbourne's population of over three
million is made up of a variety of cultures, including Chinese,
Italian, Vietnamese, Lebanese and Greek, who have all added their
touch to this thriving city. A fierce rivalry exists between the
cities of Melbourne and Sydney, but local residents bask in the
satisfying knowledge that Melbourne beats Sydney hands-down on the
cultural front, noted for its wide variety of high standard
performing arts, as well as its sport. The city plays host to
world-renowned sporting events like the Melbourne Cup, Australian
Open Tennis and Qantas Australia Grand Prix. Around the city,
within an hour's drive, there are numerous places worth visiting,
including the Macedon Ranges, which is Australia's spa capital with
its world-renowned mineral springs, as well as the spectacular
Great Ocean Road along the coast, which passes stunning rock
formations such as the Twelve Apostles.
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Melbourne
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Chinese Museum
22 Cohen Place, Chinatown
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mcah |
What is it? The Chinese Museum was established in 1985 to
preserve and display the history of Chinese Australians since the
mid-1800s. It has become a living part of Melbourne's modern
Chinatown, with its five levels of galleries, showcasing artefacts
and photographs depicting the life and culture of Chinese
Australians. The museum is also the home of Dai Loong, the world's
largest dragon. There are numerous other museums catering to
different national cultures in the heart of
Melbourne.
Hours of Operation: Daily 10am to 5pm
Phone:(0)3 9662 2888 |
2. Cooks' Cottage
Fitzroy Gardens, Wellington Parade Street
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What is it? This cottage was originally built in the
village of Great Ayton in Yorkshire, England, in 1755 by James and
Grace Cook, the parents of Captain James Cook. When the cottage was
offered for sale in 1933 it was bought by a prominent Melbourne
businessman, Sir Russell Grimwade, for 800 British Pounds. He
arranged for it to be taken apart brick by brick and transported
via ship and train to Melbourne. In early 1934 the cottage was
rebuilt on its present site in Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne.
Today it provides visitors with the opportunity to glimpse what
life was like in 18th century England.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 5pm (April to October), 9am to 5.30pm
(November to March)
Phone:(0)3 9419 4677 |
3. Yarra River
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What is it? A visit to Melbourne would not be complete
without a good look at its main river system - the Yarra River.
Often the centre of many jokes due to its brownish colour, it is
actually not dirty - just muddy. The Yarra has become the focus of
much development in the central business district, with many new
buildings, walks and parks having been created along its banks in
recent years, including the relatively new Riverside Park. For the
best view of the Yarra River walk to Princes Bridge, St Kilda Road,
or take a cruise along the river from Princes Walk (below Princes
Bridge).
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
Melbourne
holidays - Top Events
1. Moomba Waterfest
From 2007-03-09
To 2007-03-12
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What is it? Melbourne's biggest and brightest annual
event, with a hearty tradition of free family fun, pays tribute to
the important role water plays in citizen's lives. Each year the
programme for the four-day fair grows bigger and better, with
activities like open-air movie shows, giant sand sculptures,
waterski and wakeboard championships, Dragon Boat races, the crazy
'Birdman Rally' and a spectacular fireworks display, to name but a
few. Highlights are the Moomba Parade and the Waterfest Carnival.
Contact the Melbourne Moomba Waterfest at waterfest@melbourne.vic.gov.au
for more information.
Where is it? Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD |
2. Australian F1 Grand Prix
From 2007-03-15
To 2007-03-18
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What is it? Motorsport fans have a real treat when it
comes time for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at the superb
modern Albert Park Lake circuit. The main race is the first on the
annual Formula One schedule, and forms the centrepiece of four days
of events from karting through all racing categories and off-track
entertainment.
Where is it? Albert Park Lake, near St Kilda |
3. Melbourne International Comedy Festival
From 2007-04-04
To 2007-04-29
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What is it? Visitors come to Melbourne from all over the
world for a good laugh during the city's International Comedy
Festival, when the downtown precincts turn into a melee of mirth
provided by comic artists in a feast of funny stand-up, theatre,
cabaret, street entertainment, art exhibitions, film and music.
This is the only event of its kind in Australia, and one of the
largest (and funniest) in the world, reflecting the city's
well-known comedy culture. For more information, email
info@comedyfestival.com.au or call (03) 9417
7711.
Where is it? The Town Hall precinct, Victoria Hotel, Hi Fi Ballroom,
Capitol Theatre, The Forum, Duckboard House and peripheral pubs,
clubs and theatres |
4. Melbourne Cup
From 2006-11-07
To 2006-11-07
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What is it? Melbourne's premier turf event is not just
any old horse race. The annual Melbourne Cup has been variously
billed as 'the race that stops a nation', and 'Australia's most
famous Tuesday'. The race is the biggest in the Southern
Hemisphere, and draws interest from elsewhere in the world besides
Australia. The race was first run in 1861 and carries a proud
tradition. It is the highlight of the four-day Melbourne Cup
Carnival.
Where is it? Flemington Racecourse |
5. Melbourne International Arts Festival
From 2007-10-11
To 2007-10-27
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What is it? Melbourne's International Arts Festival is
recognised as a leader of its kind in the country, presenting
unique national and international experiences of dance, theatre,
music, opera, and visual arts, most of it free and offered outdoors
during October each year. The Festival director for 2007 is Kristy
Edmunds.
Where is it? Various |
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