Struth Melbourne is a great place!
Recently voted ‘the world’s most livable city’, Melbourne is a cosmopolitan city that loves sport, the beach, culture and declaring why it is so much better than Sydney.
Visit it and you’ll find it hard to disagree.
Everyone knows Sydney, it’s instantly recognisable. But I think it is so well-known it loses some of its intimacy. Melbourne does no such thing. Eclectic architecture, friendly locals and an abundance of things to do both in the city and in the surrounding area of Victoria, make it the perfect holiday destination in itself or as part of a longer trip ‘Down Under’.
Don’t plan everything you want to do in too much detail, half the fun is chatting to ever-helpful locals and getting their advice. Oh, and check the Melbourne Herald Sun for up-to-date listings of everything that is going on. But here are my Melbourne must-sees…
First things, hop on the City Circle tram. It’s free, comfortable, you can get on and off and it gives you the perfect orientation of Melbourne.
Uniquely for Australia, Melbourne has an almost medieval-style centre. The Laneways, as the area is called, is a labyrinth of tiny alleyways and dark passages. There’s a fair chance you’ll get lost – but this is no bad thing. Because if you do you’ll more than likely stumble upon the coolest bars and greatest, most understated restaurants you can imagine, as well as some fantastic little art galleries. In stark contrast, Federation Square is a huge expanse where nothing is understated. The unique, contemporary architecture is bold and huge and provides the perfect backdrop to the numerous performances and events that are performed there. Personally, I like heading there, grabbing a cold beer and watching the world go by.
Everyone knows that Australia is a land of convicts. Ok, so maybe it has come a long way since those days, but there is one place to get a haunting reminder of the criminal past, Old Melbourne Gaol. Once the home of Ned Kelly, it was also the place of his death. The tour is fairly grim reminder that the lives of 19th-century prisoners was no picnic.
Talking about picnics, Melbourne is a great place for one. Pick up some tasty goodies from Queen Vic Market and head down to Brighton Beach (yep, that’s its name) and cook up a barbie – doing this is a bit like an initiation ceremony in Oz. Alternatively, the Royal Botanical Gardens in the centre of town are a great place to sit back, relax and gaze at the clouds (if there are any).
But there is one place you just have to go, Melbourne Cricket Ground. The MCG is one of the most famous sporting stadia in the world, and with good reason. If you can get tickets for a cricket match or Aussie Rules match, do it. To see 85,000 deranged, often drunk, but nearly always wonderfully natured Melbournians, screaming for their team is a sight to behold, unless they’re crushing England at cricket that is 
Sometimes though you just want to escape the city. Luckily there are a number of options. Actually in the city, you can head up the Observation Deck. Up above the clouds you can see for miles around and gaze down at Melbourne spread out below. Wasn’t really my idea of fun though, my palms were very, very sweaty. Alternatively, St. Kilda is just a short taxi ride out of the city. You can go to a traditional fun fair at Luna Park, but it is also the perfect place to relax on the beach or grab some food in the pleasant restaurants. Actually, that is one thing that Melbourne really is good at – food. I ate at lots of superb restaurants, but I have to say that Taxi is probably my favourite, although it is pricey. For something a little more low-key, head to Pelligrini’s. It’s a Melbourne institution and serves wonderful coffee and genuine home-made Italian food.
Melbourne really is a superb city, I can’t recommend it enough. But if you do go, never, ever, EVER suggest Sydney is better. You won’t make any friends.
Joachim
