A fascinating and vibrant city of over 3 1/2 million, Melbourne offers something for everyone. From the funky backpackers haven of St. Kilda to the sleek and stylish restaurants and entertainment centers of modern Southbank, there is something for everyone in Melbourne. A sprawling city of 3.5 million, each suburb of Melbourne has its distinctive flavour.
St Kilda
Originally an exclusive seaside resort, St. Kilda is now one ofMelbourne’s trendiest suburbs, with a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere.Acland Street, the main thoroughfare in St. Kilda is a popular hangout for Melbourne’s artistic community, university students and backpackers because of its variety of cafes and boutique shops.Acland Streetcomes to an abrupt end at the Esplanade, a wide boulevard that runs parallel to St. Kilda’s famous beach. The St. Kilda Pier has been a Melbourne icon since it was built in 1853.
During the hot summer months, St. Kilda’s long, wide beach is one of Melbourne’s favorites. At one end of the beach is the popular breakwater boardwalk and the St. Kilda Sea Baths complex. From there, a seaside promenade takes cyclists and pedestrians past a variety of beachfront restaurants to the St. Kilda Life saving Club and finally to the St. Kilda Pier. A sheltered beach on Port Phillip Bay, St. Kilda is ideal for families.
35+ hotels and other accommdation in St Kilda and surrounds
Hotel Price Range:
Prices range from $60 – $220 per night
Best suited for:
Backpackers, Couples, Families
Amenities:
Shops, Cafes, Restaurants, Beach, Amusement Park, Pool
Transport:
Trams, Buses
Melbourne CBD
The central business district in the heart of Melbourne is a delightful mixture of old and new. Unlike so many central business districts, Melbourne is wide and spacious, with tree-lined streets, an active tram line, spacious parks, heritage buildings and skyscrapers all blending harmoniously together.
Downtown Melbourneis laid out in a distinctive grid system, making it relatively easy to navigate. Two street names to remember are Bourke StreetandCollins Street. Between these two wide, parallel roads and their corresponding lanes, Little Bourke Street and Little Collins Street, can be found many ofMelbourne’s largest and most fashionable shopping centers, including the Bourke Street Pedestrian Mall and the upmarket fashion and jewelry shops along Collins Street, which is also home to the CBD’s tallest building, the Rialto Towers. On Little Bourke Street isMelbourne’s vibrantChinatown. Downtown Melbourne accommodations run the gamut from moderately priced hotels and short-stay apartments to 5 star hotels.
Docklands, once primarily used as a container ship terminal, is fast becoming one of Melbourne’s most dynamic suburbs. When the container shipping industry moved in the late 1970s, development of modern facilities taking advantage of its close proximity to downtown Melbourne and its river frontage began. Within walking distance or just a short tram ride from the CBD, the Yarra River frontage of Docklands is now lined with promenades, retail shops, restaurants and large residential developments.
Victoria Harbour is the heart of docklands. A thriving business and commercial center, it has been designed to include large public spaces, including wide pedestrian promenades and the verdant Docklands Park. Nearby Etihad Stadium is one of Melbourne’s largest sports and entertainment centers. The stadium’s retractable roof ensures that whatever event is scheduled, whether it be a football match or a pop concert, will never be cancelled due to rain.
Southbank is ideal for business travelers and visitors wanting to be within easy reach of Melbourne’s finest arts and entertainment venues. ThePrincesBridgeis the main link between Melbourne and Southbank. Just across thePrincesBridge, adjacent to St. Kilda Road, is the Arts Centre. Easily distinguishable by its towering spire, the Arts Centre includes a concert hall and several theaters. Notable art galleries in Southbank include the National Gallery of Victoria, also adjacent toSt. Kilda Roadand the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.
Southbank makes the most of its river frontage with its wide promenades. Nestled between the Arts Centre and the Yarra River is the Southgate Shopping Complex. Further west, Yarra Promenade leads to the Crown Casino and Crown Entertainment Complex. In the heart of Southbank’s business district isMelbourne’s tallest building, the Eureka Tower.
Those seeking a relaxing getaway in the heart of greater Melbourne find it in South Yarra, one of Melbourne’s oldest and most prestigious residential communities. For visitors and locals alike,Chapel Street, South Yarra’s main shopping district is one of this gentile, tree-studded suburb’s main attractions. By day, visitors explore Chapel Street’s many boutiques, cafes and galleries. At night, the Jam Factory entertainment complex is South Yarra’s biggest drawcard. Always an affluent neighborhood, the 5 acre Como House estate, built in 1847, is now open to the public and is an outstanding example of gold rush era architecture. Also popular is the bustling Prahran Market on Commercial Road. One of Melbourne’s oldest covered marketplaces, this is where the locals come to shop for fresh produce and gourment foods.
25+ hotels and other accommdation in South Yarra and surrounds
Hotel Price Range:
Prices range from $70 – $250 per night
Best suited for:
Couples
Amenities:
Shops, Cafes, Restaurants, Chapel St, Fawkner Park
Transport:
Trains, Trams, Buses
Richmond
An inner city suburb rich in cultural and ethnic diversity,Richmond is a favorite Melbourne dining and shopping district. Bordered by the Yarra Riveron its eastern and southern boundaries, the mile long stretch ofBridge Road, the main street in town, is crowded with restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops and, especially popular with Melbourne locals, factory outlets and the Richmond Plaza Shopping Center. Bridge Road is well known for its eclectic assortment of Italian, Indian, vegetarian and other restaurants and cafes.
Bridge Road competes with Richmond’s other main thoroughfare, the quieter and somewhat more upmarket Swan Street, whose Dimmey’s Department Store clocktower is a local landmark. East of Bridge Road, just off Church Street, is an area known as Little Saigon; a favorite haunt for Melbournian’s with a taste for authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
Where to Stay in Melbourne
Melbourne
A fascinating and vibrant city of over 3 1/2 million, Melbourne offers something for everyone. From the funky backpackers haven of St. Kilda to the sleek and stylish restaurants and entertainment centers of modern Southbank, there is something for everyone in Melbourne. A sprawling city of 3.5 million, each suburb of Melbourne has its distinctive flavour.
St Kilda
Originally an exclusive seaside resort, St. Kilda is now one ofMelbourne’s trendiest suburbs, with a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere.Acland Street, the main thoroughfare in St. Kilda is a popular hangout for Melbourne’s artistic community, university students and backpackers because of its variety of cafes and boutique shops.Acland Streetcomes to an abrupt end at the Esplanade, a wide boulevard that runs parallel to St. Kilda’s famous beach. The St. Kilda Pier has been a Melbourne icon since it was built in 1853.
During the hot summer months, St. Kilda’s long, wide beach is one of Melbourne’s favorites. At one end of the beach is the popular breakwater boardwalk and the St. Kilda Sea Baths complex. From there, a seaside promenade takes cyclists and pedestrians past a variety of beachfront restaurants to the St. Kilda Life saving Club and finally to the St. Kilda Pier. A sheltered beach on Port Phillip Bay, St. Kilda is ideal for families.
Melbourne CBD
The central business district in the heart of Melbourne is a delightful mixture of old and new. Unlike so many central business districts, Melbourne is wide and spacious, with tree-lined streets, an active tram line, spacious parks, heritage buildings and skyscrapers all blending harmoniously together.
Downtown Melbourneis laid out in a distinctive grid system, making it relatively easy to navigate. Two street names to remember are Bourke StreetandCollins Street. Between these two wide, parallel roads and their corresponding lanes, Little Bourke Street and Little Collins Street, can be found many ofMelbourne’s largest and most fashionable shopping centers, including the Bourke Street Pedestrian Mall and the upmarket fashion and jewelry shops along Collins Street, which is also home to the CBD’s tallest building, the Rialto Towers. On Little Bourke Street isMelbourne’s vibrantChinatown. Downtown Melbourne accommodations run the gamut from moderately priced hotels and short-stay apartments to 5 star hotels.
Docklands
Docklands, once primarily used as a container ship terminal, is fast becoming one of Melbourne’s most dynamic suburbs. When the container shipping industry moved in the late 1970s, development of modern facilities taking advantage of its close proximity to downtown Melbourne and its river frontage began. Within walking distance or just a short tram ride from the CBD, the Yarra River frontage of Docklands is now lined with promenades, retail shops, restaurants and large residential developments.
Victoria Harbour is the heart of docklands. A thriving business and commercial center, it has been designed to include large public spaces, including wide pedestrian promenades and the verdant Docklands Park. Nearby Etihad Stadium is one of Melbourne’s largest sports and entertainment centers. The stadium’s retractable roof ensures that whatever event is scheduled, whether it be a football match or a pop concert, will never be cancelled due to rain.
Southbank
Southbank is ideal for business travelers and visitors wanting to be within easy reach of Melbourne’s finest arts and entertainment venues. ThePrincesBridgeis the main link between Melbourne and Southbank. Just across thePrincesBridge, adjacent to St. Kilda Road, is the Arts Centre. Easily distinguishable by its towering spire, the Arts Centre includes a concert hall and several theaters. Notable art galleries in Southbank include the National Gallery of Victoria, also adjacent toSt. Kilda Roadand the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.
Southbank makes the most of its river frontage with its wide promenades. Nestled between the Arts Centre and the Yarra River is the Southgate Shopping Complex. Further west, Yarra Promenade leads to the Crown Casino and Crown Entertainment Complex. In the heart of Southbank’s business district isMelbourne’s tallest building, the Eureka Tower.
South Yarra
Those seeking a relaxing getaway in the heart of greater Melbourne find it in South Yarra, one of Melbourne’s oldest and most prestigious residential communities. For visitors and locals alike,Chapel Street, South Yarra’s main shopping district is one of this gentile, tree-studded suburb’s main attractions. By day, visitors explore Chapel Street’s many boutiques, cafes and galleries. At night, the Jam Factory entertainment complex is South Yarra’s biggest drawcard. Always an affluent neighborhood, the 5 acre Como House estate, built in 1847, is now open to the public and is an outstanding example of gold rush era architecture. Also popular is the bustling Prahran Market on Commercial Road. One of Melbourne’s oldest covered marketplaces, this is where the locals come to shop for fresh produce and gourment foods.
Richmond
An inner city suburb rich in cultural and ethnic diversity,Richmond is a favorite Melbourne dining and shopping district. Bordered by the Yarra Riveron its eastern and southern boundaries, the mile long stretch ofBridge Road, the main street in town, is crowded with restaurants, hotels, cafes, shops and, especially popular with Melbourne locals, factory outlets and the Richmond Plaza Shopping Center. Bridge Road is well known for its eclectic assortment of Italian, Indian, vegetarian and other restaurants and cafes.
Bridge Road competes with Richmond’s other main thoroughfare, the quieter and somewhat more upmarket Swan Street, whose Dimmey’s Department Store clocktower is a local landmark. East of Bridge Road, just off Church Street, is an area known as Little Saigon; a favorite haunt for Melbournian’s with a taste for authentic Vietnamese cuisine.
Where to Stay in Melbourne Map
Content by: Rob Schneider, Image Credits