Joanna James
One of the coolest cities and the second largest in Australia, Melbourne is a great place to educate yourself on architecture, art and café culture. There are plenty of lovely narrow lanes, covered with street art, garden cafés and beer gardens. There's so much to do here.
Take a tour through the narrow lanes that depict the street art which made Melbourne the street art capital of the world. It has established itself as a profound part of Australian culture. The street art tours can be a bit expensive at 69 Australian dollars, but the proceeds go to helping local graffiti artists. You can get to these streets easily from the hotels near Marvel Stadium.
Visit the State Library of Victoria located on 328 Swanson Street. Become part of the 8 million visitors that come to this historic site every year. The institution was built in 1856 and has grown as a library so formidably that it is now an event space. Make sure you get there a good hour or so before opening so you can get ahead of the long queues that form there every day. There are plenty of free tours if you are interested in learning more about the library, its history and architecture.
Located in the Botanical Gardens a short distance from Oaks Melbourne on Market Hotel, is the Moonlight Movies at the park. For just 19 Australian dollars you can get into the event. Make sure that you bring some food and maybe a bottle of delicious wine for the occasion. The only thing that would make the movie better is a moonlight picnic. Bring a jacket even if you are there in mid-summer because it can get rather chilly.
Wander through Queen Victoria Market which is a fascinating market of food sellers, flea markets and fresh produce hawkers. You will find plenty of knick-knacks that you don't really need at the flea market and plenty to eat that is made of the fresh produce at the market. Head there on a weekend to get in on the weekend deals like free wine samples and cheese tastings that you can partake in. The people who man the stalls are incredibly friendly and it will feel for you as if you are in your own hometown.
The famous Melbourne tram is not just about free transportation, it is a great way to see all the attractions around the city centre in one quick ride. You can hop on, or hop off at any time. The tram will take you through memorable locations like Federation Square, the Old Treasury Building, Princess Theater and Parliament House. There will also be a running commentary as you ride along in case you are interested in some background on the sights.
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