CTW Explores
Melbourne
Country: Australia Language: English Currency: Australian Dollar ($)
Melbourne is a trendy, upbeat metropolis in Southeast Australia. It is known for its trendy laneways, coffeeshops, and culture. You can spend days getting lost in the city’s many neighborhoods, admiring the modern architecture, eating at some of the finest restaurants and drinking at a variety of bars.
CTW Must See
Federation Square
Federation Square is Melbourne’s main square. It is often filled with people, as it is a central meeting point with Flinders Street Station across the road and many events and markets take place within the square. Fed Square isn’t only a square, but it is also home to the National Gallery of Victoria, many fine-dining restaurants, trendy cafes and bars, and more.
Hosier Lane
Hosier Lane is a little alley near Fed Square. It is a cobbled-stone street and is often referred to as ‘Graffitti Lane’. Both sides of the alley are filled with gorgeous works of art that are ever-changing. And depending on when you visit, you might see an artist at work!
Melbourne Central
Melbourne Central is one of the city’s hubs. It holds a popular train station, a huge variety of shops and restaurants and office buildings. There are nearly 300 stores or services within Melbourne Central! The building’s main feature is the tall glass cone that stands 20 story’s high, contains nearly 1,000 glass panels, and is the tallest glass structure of its kind!
State Library Victoria
The State Library Victoria was established in 1854. It holds millions of books, including the diaries of the city’s founders and writing of Captain Cook. With over two million books,16,000 serials, and a wide array of artwork, the State Library is an impressive building inside and out. The first stage of the library opened all in 1856, with a modest collection of nearly 4,000 books!
Melbourne Museum
The current location of the Melbourne Museum officially opened in 2000. It is located next to the Royal Exhibition Building in the Carlton Gardens and features an array of exhibits, including dinosaur fossils, the Melbourne Story, the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which showcases exhibits about Indigenous Australians, and more.
Southbank
Southbank is the city’s entertainment hub across the Yarra River. It provides remarkable views of the CBD and the beautiful city skyline. In Southbank, you will find many delicious eateries, trendy bars, and nightlife. Take a stroll along the Southbank Promenade, grab a drink at one of the floating bars on the Yarra River, and visit the Crown Casino, where you’ll find many high-end shops and more.
Eureka Tower
Along the Southbank Promenade, you’ll find Eureka Tower. The tower stands over 290 meters (975ft) tall and is the second tallest building in Australia. At the top of the tower, you’ll find the Eureka Skydeck, an observational viewing deck showing dramatic and impressive views of the Yarra River, Melbourne and beyond.
Arts Centre
The Arts Centre is a performing arts center and theater complex. It began construction in 1973 and took just over ten years to complete. It stands 165 meters (541 ft) tall and has hosted many performances such as a circus, roller skating, dancing, and more. The Arts Centre’s spire was rebuilt in 1996, making it taller and adding more lights than before.
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is the oldest, largest, and most visited art museum in Australia! It opened in 1968 and features artwork from artists around the world.
National Sports Museum
The National Sports Museum is dedicated to all of Australia’s rich sporting heritage. It showcases some of Australia’s greatest athletes in all fields, from Tour de France to the Olympics, AFL to Cricket - it is all covered! See the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, Australian Football Hall of Fame, The Thoroughbred Racing Gallery and more.
Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria
The Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria, founded in 1846, holds 50,000 individual plants and 8,500 different species within 30 living plant collections. The Royal Botanic Gardens can be found just outside of the city, along the Yarra River. The greenery, along with the beautiful views of the city skyline provide remarkable photo opportunities.
If you like Melbourne...
You may want to check out these guides on other Australian cities!
