Joanna James
Often lauded as the world's most liveable city, Melbourne in size is only second to Sydney. It has a bit of everything from 1850s architecture, to diverse art galleries, a famous cricket stadium and cafés that serve the delectable Melbourne coffee. Here are five of the top spots you should visit.
Opened in 2002 to celebrate 100 years of federation, the square is both loved and hated by the locals. But what it has become since then is a great location for tourists and sightseers. It is situated right opposite Flinders Street Station and this ease of access makes it a much-visited location. The square holds over 2000 artistic events per year, both indoor and outdoor performances. It is home to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the Ian Potter Centre which is dedicated to local art. It is a quick ride from a local hotel the likes of Pan Pacific Melbourne.
Located about 2 km from the Melbourne hotels within the CBD is the Royal Botanic Gardens that extends over the south bank of the Yarra River. The Botanic Gardens were established in 1846 in both Cranbourne and Melbourne and the Melbourne segment of the gardens covers an area of 38 hectares. The gardens houses over 8000 species of plants some of them very rare. There is also an Aborigine Heritage Walk for visitors to learn more about the indigenous people of Australia.
Cricket is an integral part of Australian culture and Melbourne is considered the sporting capital of the country. The Melbourne Cricket Grounds is not just part of that sporting spirit it has a long and colourful history. It was first commissioned in 1853 and is considered one of the world's greatest stadiums. It was the main stadium that saw the opening of the 1956 Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games among others. There is also a National Sports Museum incorporated into the stadium where you can learn about the history of sports-related to the MCG.
All it takes is a quick walk from Flinders Street Station to find yourself on the Southbank promenade. There's so much to see and experience here from arty cafés, to gourmet restaurants, live entertainments and a market that is held every Sunday. You can recognise the Arts Centre easily by its distinct spire. This is where you should go to find a full range of theatres including Fairfax Theatre and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
The National Gallery of Victoria is the oldest public art gallery in the country. It is made up of two city locations on St. Kilda Road and Federation Square and is home to over 70,000 works of art. The gallery at St. Kilda was first opened in 1968. There is so much to see including an Aboriginal works hall so spare some time to visit both sections of the gallery.
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