Melbourne On Offer: Things To See And Do In Australia’s Amazing City
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Hosier Lane by SalTheColourGeek/Flickr. Licensed under CC 2.0
Melbourne (say it like ‘Melbin’ not ‘Mel-born’) is one of the largest cities in Australia, and is considered to be one of the most artistic cities as well, with amazing galleries, street art, and performances you can see while you’re there. A city no one would ever think to bypass when travelling Australia, it’s size may leave you feeling a bit lost in terms of where to start. While there are a tonne of sites and sounds to see and explore, we’ve collected a small but fantastic sampling for you to put on your itinerary!
Birrarung Marr
These gardens sit on the Yarra River’s north bank and it is a great spot for walking, picnicking or maybe even attending a music festival. It’s not terribly old; it was constructed and opened in 2002 and there are three different terraces that you can explore and relax on. If you wander onto the upper terrace you can see some amazing views of the city, including St Paul’s Cathedral. There’s also a children’s art centre and a playground with cool slides and sandpits, which is particularly handy if you’re travelling with children.
There are sculptures and art work, both of which celebrate the indigenous inhabitants of Australia, and it’s a fantastic place to spend a day relaxing with friends or even recovering from the night before.
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Queen Victoria market
You can call it ‘Vic Market’ or ‘Queen Vic’, but no matter what you call it the Queen Victoria Market has a remarkable vibe and is a great place to explore.
You can shop for just about anything in the market – souvenirs, Aussie goodies, cosmetics, as well as all the ingredients you could ever need for a picnic in Birrarung Marr.
For interested history buffs, it is the only 19th century market that remains out of three original markets located in Melbourne’s CBD (or Central Business District). The market has been listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and is also the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. When you’re there, grab some jam donuts: they’re famous and kind of traditional, plus they’re delicious!
Yarra Valley Wine Tour
The Yarra Valley is located east of Melbourne and is one of the richest wine producing areas in the country. One of the best parts of the Yarra Valley is that it is so close to the city. You can easily make it there for a day trip depending on how much time you want to spend relaxing in wine country. There are amazing places to stay and fantastic restaurants to eat in while you’re there, though a stay over in the Yarra Valley might not be a great idea for those on a budget.
If you have the cash, splurging for the wine tour is one of the best ways to get a lot of bang for your buck. The day tour option takes you to several tastings, a wine tour, and a brunch all the while on an air conditioned bus, which is a blessing during Australian summers.
The City’s Street Art
If you’re at all like me, you love seeing what the people of the city have to contribute – and you like taking pictures of it for free. What better way to accomplish that in Melbourne than checking out the amazing street art? There are so many streets filled with amazing graffiti from some of the most talented (and of course some of the least talented) street artists in the city that it would be hard to pick only one to visit. Bring your camera and your walking shoes and prepare for some amazing snaps! Try Hosier Lane, Rutledge Lane, or Caledonian Lane to start.
Phillip Island
Want to see some penguins? Go to Phillip Island Nature Park! Approximately 90 minutes from Melbourne, their main goal is conservation and education so they offer some pretty amazing educational tours and information at the park. There are four major parks you can visit – the two you will definitely want to see are the Penguin Parade and the Koala Conservation Centre. Tickets range in price, but start from around $20 AUD ($16 USD) and go up depending on what you want to see and do.
With all the amazing things you can do in Melbourne, don’t let your English level stop you from visiting and experiencing all the great things the city has to offer you! Contact us now to see what courses we have available.