Melbourne is a lovely city set around the Bay of Port Phillip on the southeastern coast of Australia. The second largest city in Australia, Melbourne’s attractions are many and varied. Any traveler can uncover a Melbourne that suits them! Melbourne always ranks near the top of best cities in the world and I can understand why. It is also one of the most popular destinations in Australia. The number of international tourists who travel to Melbourne and stay overnight average about 2 million each year. Meanwhile, tourists who travel to Melbourne for a day trip average about 5.7 million each year! That is saying a lot in a country with many other tourist destinations. I thoroughly enjoyed all my stays and it is one of my favorite cities.
Reasons to Visit Melbourne:
Melbourne is a beautiful city! Just sitting on the Yarra river near downtown is a relaxing way to spend the afternoon.
Melbourne is great for animal lovers. Take your pick of great places to see wildlife : the world famous Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Animal Sanctuary, safari at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, or take a look inside the sea at the Melbourne Aquarium
Full of great museums, travelers to Melbourne have access to the powerful Shrine of Remembrance (pictured), the popular Melbourne Museum, the Immigration Museum and kid-friendly (but also fun for adults!) Scienceworks
There are a lot of pieces of public art and public spaces to enjoy as you travel around the city, like this Aboriginal artwork.
The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne contains over 5,000 plants. Take a lunch and spend some time looking at beautiful flowers and native plants.
Located in the beautiful state of Victoria, Melbourne is also great starting point to visit one of my favorite drives, Great Ocean Road. What makes the Great Ocean Road so great are the erosional features you can see on the coast. More pictures of the Great Ocean Road :
Where to Stay in Melbourne:
Melbourne can be an expensive city to stay. Try HostelBooker’s Melbourne Hostel Listings to help you find an affordable place to sleep.
Nomads Hostel is a good choice. I’ve stayed at many hostels and this is definitely one of the better ones. They had nice ensuite private rooms which is what I normally go for (I’m not a fan of dorm rooms). In the important walkability category it ranks high, as you have a lot of great attractions within walking distance of the hostel.