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Exploring Melbourne

Widely regarded as the nation’s cultural capital, Australia’s second-largest city is loaded with art galleries, museums, and theatres. Melbourne is also a super shopping destination and a wonderful holiday spot thanks to the wealth of Victorian-era buildings and parks in the city. As you’ll quickly discover, Melbourne residents are crazy about sport.

The best way to explore this city is to start in the CBD or the Docklands, where much of the dining and entertainment is focused. Melbourne’s impressive public transport network makes moving around the downtown core a breeze. But the city is also an ideal base of operations for exploring surrounding attractions, such as Phillip Island and the Grampians National Park. Drivers will revel in the regional cruising opportunities, including the world-class Great Ocean Road, one of the planet’s most stunning routes.

Sights nearby

Melbourne is a city that thrives on itself, diving into the incredible array of recreation, evening entertainment, and cultural amenities on a daily basis. From the nightlife of the Docklands to Victorian marvels like the Queen Victoria Market, visitors are assured a full plate of activities from dawn to dusk.

The Docklands
One of Melbourne’s newest districts is the purpose-built hub of entertainment known as the Docklands. Spread along a scenic stretch of the city’s waterfront, this area is packed with trendy restaurants, shops, and nightclubs. It’s also home to a gorgeous sports stadium right on the water that regularly showcases big-name sporting events. Add a boat cruise along the Yarra River or to Phillip Island from the pier and the Docklands proves a well-rounded outing.

Phillip Island
Fans of nature won’t want to miss a boat cruise to Phillip Island. This unique spot is home to a large penguin colony at Summerland Beach that makes the marvellous Penguin Parade every evening at sunset as the birds walk from the sea to their nests. Phillip Island also boasts great towns, like Cowes and Rhyll, where you can grab a meal, do some shopping, or stay for a night on this tranquil island which is just a short boat ride or drive from Melbourne.

Great Ocean Road
If you enjoy a good scenic drive, make sure you rent a sporty car in Melbourne and plan a day to drive the Great Ocean Road. This is one of the planet’s coolest drives, featuring eye-popping coastal scenery along every inch of its 200 or so kilometres. It doesn’t take long to get from Melbourne to the start of this road at Torquay. Along the route, you can absorb natural wonders like the Twelve Apostles, Bells Beach, and Split Point Lighthouse.

Eating and drinking and shopping nearby

Melbourne’s city centre is the core of this city’s amenities. There are literally hundreds of restaurants, cafés, coffee houses, and bars to enjoy in this central district. Many of these venues are located within the new Docklands development along the waterfront, where hotels like the Travelodge Docklands provide convenient accommodation. In fact, anywhere you stay in the city centre ensures easy access to the entire district, thanks to a superb transport network and loads of stylish hotels, such as the Vibe Savoy and the Rendezvous Grand Hotel. Southbank and St Kilda are two other options on the edges of Melbourne for a day of dining, drinking, and shopping.

Public transport

One of the highlights of a visit to Melbourne is its public transportation network. Its tram system is the largest in the world and is supported by plenty of buses and trains for travel to the periphery of the city. Melbourne’s grid layout makes it easy to navigate on foot or by bike, two popular options for moving short distances within the CBD.