For six years in a row, Melbourne has been voted the world’s more liveable city, here are five reasons why.
As an Australian destination, Melbourne often gets overlooked by international tourists, with most either choosing Sydney, the outback or Far North of Queensland.
However, Melbourne has a lot to offer, especially if you’re into the theatre, cocktail bars, fine dining and comedy shows.
When it comes to stage shows, it’s Sydney which gets overlooked, with many performances including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child only showing in Melbourne and not Sydney.
In Melbourne itself there are plenty of glamorous hotels to stay in from The Park Hyatt to Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Intercontinental and The Grand Hyatt.
But if saving money is your focus, and if you don’t mind staying just out of the main CBD, there are loads of great accommodation options, especially in the surrounding areas of the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Here are five reasons tot are time out to go to Melbourne:
The Unique Culture:
Melbourne is a city of phenomenal culture and has a fantastic theatre scene. You can catch some of Australia’s best live ballets and musicals at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
It is also home to many charming laneways, filled with boutique cafes and great street art by local artists – perfect for that Instagrammable pic you’ve been looking for.
For some of the best brunch spots in the city, check out Degraves Street and Hardware Lane. For street art, you can’t go past Flinders Lane and Hosier Lane.
Melbourne is also known for its many hidden bars, either located on the rooftops of buildings, or down secret alleyways. A must-visit hidden bar is Beneath Driver Lane. This is a ‘secret’ bar located within an old bank vault.
If you would like to explore more hidden bars there are companies that offer tours that will take you to the best-hidden bars in the city.
Incredible Shopping:
Melbourne really is the shopping capital of Australia and is home to one of the largest shopping centres in the Southern Hemisphere, Chadstone.
Plus Melbourne is a city where there’s loads of shopping outside of shopping centres, and around the city there are some fantastic streets to shop in.
If boutique shopping is your thing, head to Chapel Street in South Yarra, Bourke Street in the CBD, Gertrude Street in Fitzroy and Sydney Road in Brunswick.
And of course, there’s always a market or two running if you are looking for a bargain. Scour amongst some of the best upcoming and start-up brands in beauty and fashion in Australia. Check out South Melbourne Market, Queen Victoria Market and Prahran Market.
Exploring outside of the CBD:
Melbourne is surrounded by many beautiful wine regions, mountain ranges and beach destinations, which are all located within an easy driving distance in and out of the city.
Take a day trip to The Twelve Apostles, which is one of the world’s seven natural wonders of the world, and take a helicopter ride over the beautiful coastal landscape in the area.
For wine, the Yarra Ranges and morning Peninsula provide a spectacular setting for wine tasting, where you also have the option to explore the mountains and beaches of the area, as well as tasting wine matched with gourmet cheese platters.
And if you don’t want to drive, there are many tours which take you to and from your chosen destination, which is also a fun way of meeting new people .
For the sports fan:
Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia and is home to many world-renowned sporting events including AFL, Melbourne Cup, Grand Prix, The Australian Open, Cricket, Soccer and more.
Try and see a game of AFL at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and experience the true culture of Melbourne lifestyle. Melbourne love their AFL and it’s hard not to get excited at a game, when fans are singing and chanting for their teams.
Do be prepared for big crowds when attending an AFL game, as the stadium draws in an unprecedented number of fans to each game.
Food and coffee:
Thanks to the diverse and multicultural heritage of Melbourne, the city boasts many world-renowned restaurants and cafes for dining in the city, all of which serve up a menu of incredible tastes.
There are also many authentic multi-cultural restaurants and an array of luxurious upper-class restaurants to choose from.
Lygon street has excellent Italian food, Lonsdale street specialises in Greek food and Chinatown is buzzing with Asian cuisine.
If you are looking for 5-star cuisine, there are many opulent restaurants located within Crown Casino including Bistro Guilluame, Silks, Mesh and Rockpool Bar & Grill.
Other high end Melbourne restaurants include Attica, Vue De Monde, and Lûmé.
Whether you want high-tea, a buffet meal, or a luxurious dining experience Melbourne has something to sate any appetite.
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