The ideal city for the student who loves big city hustle.

MELBOURNE

About Melbourne

Melbourne, the elegant capital of the state, is one of the most diverse cities in the world with a quality of life envied by many. Situated on the banks of the Yarra River, Melbourne is an interesting mix of old and new. The Yarra River is at the heart of Melbourne's charm, with parks dotted with cycle paths, rowing boats gliding along its waters and month-long waterfront cafes that stretch from Southgate to the Crown Promenade.

A comprehensive public transport system between the suburbs and the city center, with trams, buses and trains, operates daily. Buy a “Myki” card, which can be used on all types of public transport.

A free circular tram service runs throughout Melbourne's city centre, the famous "Free Tram Zone" lets you explore the main sights with free transport!

The climate is temperate. Melbourne enjoys 4 well-defined seasons. The average temperatures are:

Summer – maximum of 40°C and minimum of 14°C

Winter – maximum of 20°C and minimum of 4°C

Tourist attractions

Melbourne has numerous galleries, theatres, exhibitions, concerts and international fine arts festivals. including street entertainment. The modern Victorian Arts Center on St Kilda Road is home to theatres, the Performing Arts Museum and the Melbourne Concert Hall. The adjacent Southgate Arts & Tourist Complex offers beautiful views of the city, shops, boutiques and galleries along the river, enjoy the many sidewalk cafes and restaurants or cruise along the Yarra. The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) on Russell Street has a large collection of Australian and European art, as well as changing temporary exhibitions.

Melbourne Museum is one of the largest and most modern museums in the world, with a vast collection from Australian society, science and technology to the human mind and body.

Restaurants

Shopping

Don't miss the charm of markets like Queen Victoria Market, Prahan Market and South Melbourne Market, where you can find exotic fruits and vegetables, eclectic fashion and varied foods. For brands, head to the so-called "Paris End" on Collins Street; or the 'Melbourne Central' mall. Those looking for outlets cannot miss the DFO.

Good taste is everywhere, with over 3,000 restaurants spanning around 70 international cuisines, Melbourne is a foodie's paradise. Sample a variety of cuisines from around the world on The Crown Promenade and Southgate. Also visit St Kilda Beach, Little Bourke Street and Lygon Street for unique experiences.

Flinders Station

is Melbourne's main train station, right at the end of Swanston Street and in the middle of Flinders, the street that runs from Fitzroy Gardens to the aquarium and from the aquarium to the DFO outlet via Charles bridge

St Kilda Beach

After over 100 years, St Kilda is still Melbourne's best waterfront playground. And it's full of fun things to do. Skate or bike along the coast, go kitesurfing or stand up paddle boarding, hire a fishing boat, skydive, play a game of beach volleyball, enjoy a swim in the sea or lie on the beach to read a book.

Queen Victoria Market

Melbourne's unmissable tourist spot, it's a popular market created in 1878. It brings together a surprising amount of products, ranging from gourmet items, such as pâtés and cold cuts, to fruits and vegetables, handicrafts, thrift stores, Chinese inventions, travel souvenirs, clothes, household items, etc.

Aboriginal culture

In Melbourne, there are many Aboriginal art galleries. At the Melbourne Museum is located the Bunjilaka, Aboriginal Center, where you can learn about the culture and history of the Aboriginal people of the State of Victoria. In the Grampians, you'll find rare Aboriginal rock art, and in Brambuk, a center for arts and culture.

Fauna and Flora

The Royal Melbourne Zoo has a magnificent variety of animals in their natural habitat, and at the Healesville Sanctuary Wildlife Park in the Yarra Valley, there is a flora and fauna research centre. Take a waterfront stroll at Melbourne Aquarium, situated on the Yarra River. Just an hour's drive from Melbourne is Ballarat Wildlife Park, nestled among native bush vegetation, with a koala breeding centre. Phillip Island is just 2 hours south of Melbourne. It is home to the famous little penguins, which come out of the sea every night and waddle to their dune dens. On the island there is also the Koala Observation Park, a koala observation park, which has a walkway at the top of the trees to have a better view of the animals, and the Seal Rocks Sea Life Center, where you can see colonies of seals. .

Short Tours

A stone's throw from Melbourne, there are pleasant seaside resorts around Port Phillip Bay. Head southeast to the Mornington Peninsula and discover its wineries, rustic and charming restaurants, waterfront attractions and famous pubs. From Sorrento, take the ferry to Queenscliff across the bay. Returning to Melbourne, stop at the Werribee Park Mansion in Werribee Park , and the Open Range Zoo.

Just an hour's drive from Melbourne are the beautiful Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley. The region has hills covered by vineyards and gardens. Take a ride on the historic Puffing Billy steam train and visit the sanctuary of William Ricketts in Olinda. For a gourmet experience, stop and have lunch at one of the wineries' many elegant restaurants. To go back in time to Australia's rampant gold rush, head to Ballarat and Bendigo, old colonial towns from the mining era. In Ballarat, visit Sovereign Hill, a living museum from Australia's gold rush era – and in Bendigo, put on a helmet, and get in the mood of a real gold mine. North of Bendigo is Echuca, the capital of historic Australian steamboats on the mighty Murray River.

Melbourne Museum

The Melbourne Museum is a natural and cultural history museum located in Carlton Gardens. Inside you'll find: the Forest Gallery, the museum's living heart and home to tall trees and wonderful wildlife, the Science and Life Gallery, where you'll find insects, dinosaurs, fossils, animals, human biology and much more.

Port Phillip Bay

Swim with seals in the protected shallow waters of Port Phillip Bay. Observe these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.

Royal Melbourne Zoo

More than 320 species of animals from around the world are available in the natural settings of Melbourne Zoo just 5 minutes from the city centre. Stroll through lush African and Asian rainforests, through the Australian rainforest and even underwater.

More Distant Tours

The Great Ocean Road is considered one of the most beautiful road courses in the world – it is 288 km for a very pleasant drive along the spectacular panorama of Victoria's southwest coast. From Melbourne, pass through Geelong (don't miss the fascinating National Wool Museum), stop in Torquay and enjoy the outlets. After Lome, the road funnels into the interior of the state for a short drive through the rainforest of Otways National Park, before heading back to the coast in the Shipwreck Coast region. The most magnificent sight, of course, is the immense pillars of the 12 Apostles rising from the roar of the waves near the beach at Port Campbell, continue to Warrnambool, a former whaling town, and Port Fairy, a historic fishing town. Another day's journey down this road and you arrive in Adelaide.

The Grampian Ranges are one of the best mountaineering areas in the world. Take the opportunity to walk through the native vegetation of the park and see up close the fields of wild flowers, the high falls of waterfalls, the fauna and flora. Victoria's mountainous interior is ideal for hiking, birding, hang-gliding, abseiling, or white water rafting on the Snowy River. In June, July and August, this region transforms into a winter paradise with good snow skiing and snowboarding options at a large number of ski resorts.

Driving along the road from Sydney to Melbourne, stop on the pristine sands of Ninety Mile Beach Cruise through the vast region of lagoons, dams, islands and the Gippsland Lakes Continuing further west, you'll pass Wilsons Promontory National Park, a sanctuary for plants and animals.