What to do with Children in Tow
1.Melbourne Aquarium
Australia
Melbourne
The city of Melbourne comprises of the epitome brought about by the amalgamation of various ethnicities which include those of China, Cambodia, Greece, Italy and Poland. Without the arrival of these civilizations the city would have been another colony under the rule of the British. It was primarily after World War 2 that the city went into a state of transition and developed into the city as we know it today. However, this development turned into a major reason of rivalry between Melbourne and neighbor Sydney, traces of which can be found very clearly even to this day. During the reign of Kenneth and his Labor party, the city underwent massi
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A CLOSER LOOK
Top places to visit
Arts Center
The place is regarded as a pure representative preserving the epitome of Australian art, culture and architecture. The place whole heartedly greets visitors from all countries with extreme zeal and hospitality. Apart from national art promoting centers the place also provides an exceptional opportunity to artists of diverse nationalities and backgrounds to display their works in front of various national and globally acclaimed companies. The center also provides quality cuisines and exhibitions which is uniformly captivating for all age groups of people.
Eureka Skydeck 88
Your tour of Melbourne is totally incomplete if you fail to capture the awe-inspiring look of the architectural masterpiece known as Eureka Skydeck 88. Apart from the panoramic outlook of the skyscraper also provides you immense and highly diversified kinds of conveniences to its visitors. This mind boggling structure of the city will completely alter your attitude towards Melbourne and Australia.
Galactic Circus
The place embraces you into a distinctive galaxy and kaleidoscope of colors, elegance and magnificence. This largest indoor theme park of Australia provides you the opportunity to enjoy some of the most luxuriously designed amusement rides and other associated activities. The place through its festive portico and fabulous adventures transports you into a fun land which is simply beyond your wildest imagination.
Royal Botanical Garden Discovery Walk
The tour allows you to enjoy the opportunity of discovering the beauty of nature at the same time enhance your botanical knowledge by having exposure to over 10,000 different species of flora. Covering an enormous area of 38 hectares this place where you are accompanied with a travel guide allows you to educate yourself and enjoy the dazzling surroundings simultaneously.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Globally acknowledged as one of the tranquil and picturesque tourist destinations the Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the most captivating and sought after destinations without which the tour of Melbourne of any visitor is incomplete. Covering a massive area of 38 hectares the panoramic location of the botanic garden encompasses 52,000 different species of flora from each and every corner of the world.
Victoria College of Arts
Strategically situated in the nucleus of Melbourne’s precinct the place is regarded as one of the leading institutes of visual arts in the country. The VCA provides innumerable opportunities to its students which allow them to excel their skills of creativity in the field of theater, drama, dance and puppetry.
Rod Laver Arena Tours Melbourne Park
The place is particularly important due to its importance in the Australian open tennis championship. The place is one of the busiest and amusement venues of the city which offers massive accommodation of 15,000 people to national and international visitors from all around the world to view the prestigious event. Apart from the Australian Open tennis events such as Grand Slam and Asia Pacific are also organized here.
The Giant Sky Wheel
The Giant Sky Wheel is one acclaimed as one of the largest ferry providing service in the Southern Hemisphere. Situated adjacent to the Federation Square the ferry service becomes operational from the Birrauang Marr at the edge of the Yarra River. The view is extremely panoramic especially during the night time when the illuminating lights provide a completely different look to the city of Melbourne.
Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)
Take an idiosyncratic visit to the ACMI to enjoy a completely exceptional outlook of the city of Melbourne. The place provides you the unique opportunity to enjoy some of the masterpieces of digital cinemas along with hundreds of short films in the highly interactive environment provided by lounge rooms of the future. Along with this the place also allows you to acquire exposure of some of the largest Screen Gallery allowing you to enjoy various exhibitions and most popular forms of amusement.
Muslim travel planner
Full guidePlan a Muslim-friendly trip in Melbourne
THE LOCAL TABLE
Halal restaurants in Melbourne
Abla’s Restaurant
The restaurant is named after Abla Amad who settled in Australia in 1954 and launched her own restaurant in 1979. Since its inception the restaurant has always been an institution of quality food making, Abla is regarded as the queen of Lebanese cooking who has been verified by the mouth watering foods the restaurant presents at your disposal in the most hospitable way.
Butchers Grill, Meat & Wine Cellar?
The place is considered idyllic for people who love to enjoy cuisines of grilled meat in particular. Almost all foods listed and provided by the restaurant is cooked according to Mediterannian style are prepared on open grills which means a healthier meal for consumers. Some of the favorite and the most ordered dishes of the restaurant include Chevapchichi and Pljeskavica.
Flower Drum
Flower Drum is regarded as one of the most prestgious reataurants in the city of Melbourne. Besides providing lip smacking and delicious cuisines the restaurant is also famous for providing a dissonance free environment to enjoy your lunch or dinner in the most luxurious way possible.
Libertine restaurant
The restaurant is particularly famous for its delicious cuisines along with the hospitable and dedicated service which is provided to satisfy visitors in every possible way. The restaurant is also famous for using the most hygienic meat and vegetables for preparing its food in the most energy beneficial way possible.
Alfreds place
The place provides you some of the most delicious and mouth watering breakfast and lunch cuisines in the city. Along with this some of the most demanded food items of the restaurant include a hot bain –marie and a diverse collection of brassiere style food. Endorsed by the authorities for outdoor seating the restaurant also provides catering arrangements for all kinds of functions.
Arrivederci
The restaurant is famous for its exceptional Italian cuisine and atmosphere which is extremely captivating for Italian tourists coming to Australia as their major problem of satisfying their appetite is solved with all such places and their lip smacking cuisines provided at their disposal. Along with this all these restaurants accentuate on the preservation of their culture at the same time besides their cuisines.
Cross Ways
The restaurant offers some of the most mouth watering vegetarian cuisines of diverse nationalities. Along with this the restaurant contains an exceptional characteristic of altering its menu every day so that the taste receptors of your tongue are able to enjoy all kinds of tastes and delights varying from sweet to hot and from hot to spicy.
Indian Palace Restaurant
Following the legacy of Taco Bill a restaurant like Indian Palace also implements upon the same principles of providing quality food pacifying all global standards specified by any organization. The restaurant is famous for providing the most distinctive combination of ancient Rajastani cuisines in the most luxuriously way possible. Additionally the restaurant also provides a separate menu for kids.
Taco Bill Mexican Restaurant Brighton
The renowned restaurant which is strategically situated on Bay Street has been providing excellent Mexican food to the residents and tourists coming to Australia for more than 30 years. The glorious 30 years of the restaurant vividly verifies that the hotel does not compromise upon anything when it comes to provide superior, delicious and the healthiest food to its visitors. All food is prepared in the most environmental friendly conditions satisfying all benchmarks of health and food.
Amconi
The restaurant came into inception with the efforts of a family who introduced a completely new taste to their receptors. Slowly and gradually the place emerged as one of the key places where tourists from all around the world visit to examine the uniqueness of the cuisine offered by the place and go away extremely pacified.
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Where to stay in Melbourne
Crown towers Melbourne
Crown tower hotel of Melbourne simply redefines the benchmarks providing a luxurious and opulent outlook. Advantageously situated in the panoramic vicinity of the Yaara River of Melbourne, the hotel is also in close proximity to various significant business centers which make the conduction of commercial operations an easy task for its visitors. In addition the hotel also provides you the opportunity to enjoy multitude amenities such as cinemas, nightclubs, bars, shopping, amusement park, and world renowned Crown Casino.
Grand Hyatt Hotel Melbourne
The convention famous about this hotel is that it is the dream destination for the rich and the famous. During events like The Australian Open and Formula One Racing, you may have the honor of receiving an autograph of certain prestigious personalities. The hotel conceptualizes an extremely sumptuous standard of living, with the incorporation of diverse amenities; such as 24 hour room service, business centers which have swift and sustainable accessibility to the internet and 547 spacious and well furnished accommodations to make your vacation worth remembering.
The Luxurious Langham Hotel Melbourne
Elegance, magnificence and opulence are some of the terminologies which define the pampered and sophisticated lifestyle at this marvelously build five star hotel in Melbourne. The hotel is strategically situated; providing exclusive channels of accessibility to various destinations, such as cafés, restaurants and boutiques. Crown Casino, The National Gallery of Victoria, Federation Square and the Arts Centre and are all in close proximity. The polite and dedicated staff of the hotel, along with the innumerable amenities offered (such as refreshing spas, voluminous accommodations and many more) will unquestionably make your holiday to Melbourne a memorable one.
Westin Hotel Melbourne
This hotel is an authentic representative of the French epitome which provides you with the feeling of being in Paris. The elegantly designed building which is bejeweled with cobbled stones, makes you fall in love with it at the very first sight. The Chanel Boutique is another very attractive part of the hotel, alongside which you can find outlets of many other prominent and globally acknowledged designers such as Ralph Lauren, Versace, Armani and Marks and Spencer. In addition, the hotel has a theater, a state-of the art gymnasium, and courteous staff, who are ready to serve the visitors abiding in any of the 262 rooms of the hotel.
Fountain Terrace Hotel
The tranquility and charisma dwelling in the Fountain Terrace hotel of Melbourne is comparable to any luxurious five-star hotel in the European continent. Not only that, but the standard of conveniences provided by the hotel matches any international standard very easily too. The hotel incorporates seven beautifully decorated guest rooms with all significant amenities integrated. Along with this, the hotel also provides accessibility to St Kilda salt water and sea baths and gymnasiums.
Ibis Hotel
This economically affordable holiday spot has been endorsed by various internationally acknowledged benchmarks, such as ISO 4001 and BUREAU VERITAS. The hotel is known to provide superior quality service around the clock, with extreme hospitality and dedication. Along with that, the hotel is also known for its prospects of developing environmentally compatible buildings.
Best Western City Park
This budget hotel is ideal for spending a few days in while on a holiday trip or a business tour. The hotel provides spacious and well furnished accommodations, along with dedicated staff, who have been trained to provide individual attention and service to each visitor; something which sets it apart from other luxuriously designed hotels.
Hotel Claremont Melbourne
Strategically positioned in the nucleus of Southern Yarra, the hotel offers exclusive channels of accessibility to significant destinations like Melbourne CBD, Melbourne Tennis Centre, MCG, Crown Casino and Southbank Precinct. The hotel is also in close proximity to various restaurants, shopping malls and amusement parks. The innumerable amenities presented at your disposal in this hotel make it an ideal place to spend your holiday in, in the most lavishly affordable way possible.
Victoria Hall Hotel Melbourne
Advantageously situated on Russell Street, the hotel is a major attraction for tourists, due to its contemporary design and architecture, and the infinite facilities it provides to its residents. The hotel offers elite one, two and three bedroom accommodations at an extremely affordable price. The hotel also characterizes a luxurious standard of living, by incorporating features such as air-conditioned public rooms, state-of-the-art sprinkler systems and exceptional tours, to name a few.
*Melbourne Marriott Hotel
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History and today in Melbourne
Fast Facts
Location: Melbourne is situated in the heart of the Yarra River, towards the north-eastern seashore of Port Philip. It was formed in the past by the merging of the nations of Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung. Melbourne is located at the latitude 37 degrees 49 minutes south and longitude 144 degrees 58 minutes east on the south-east edge of Australia. Moreover, the prime location of the city at the zenith of the large Port Philip makes it possible for the Melbournians to enjoy a moderate temperate. Dialing code: +613
Public Holidays:
January 1: New Years Eve January 26: Australia Day Second Monday in March: Labor Day March or April: Easter April 25: Anzac Day Second Monday in June: Queens Birthday December 25: Christmas December 26: Boxing Day
Visa Information
The procedure and the subsequent salient features of application for Australian visa, as far as the residents of UAE are concerned, has experienced considerable alterations which have been promulgated from the 1st of July 2008. The prologue of new application forms will be corresponding information such as territory births, deaths and marriages and other records stated in the old form. People applying for the first time will have to fill new passport forms. Citizens of Australia will have to show their citizenship certificate and other documents to prove their authenticity. The validity period of old forms have ended in September and from now onwards only new forms will be accepted. The visa application form includes all your necessary details such as age, country, and email address. Some visa applying companies also allow online convenience through the usage of ETA service. The fee charged for short term visit visas start from US$29.
When to go
Melbourne is a city that is famous for having all four seasons in a single day, but the finest and most favorable seasons are spring (Sep-Nov) and autumn (March -May). The warm weather is ideal for enjoying the festivals and carnivals which happen around those times of the year. The dwellers of the city of Melbourne tend to enjoy the hot weather, after their long, chilly winters. The amount of rainfall in Australia has been decreasing over the years, but you can always hope to experince it.
Melbourne Residents
Melbourne is one of the largest cities in Australia, as well as one of the most rapidly progressing cities in the world. The residents of Melbourne have a special love for sports, which reaches its peak during events like the Spring Racing Carnival, which attracts nearly 100,000 people during the final event. The cultural diversity of the city is such that one day, the city will be anchoring a tennis match, and the next, it will be organising a musical concert. The 4 million people of the city strive day and night for the progress of national development in sectors like Property, and Information Technology. The place is a sanctuary of people belonging to diverse backgrounds and ethnicities; it has been estimated that one out of every citizen in Melbourne (or in Victoria) is not from the Australian origin by birth. The city provides these expatriats with effective protection, and also allows them to explore their capabilities in all kinds of sectors, to contribute to the development of the country. In addition, the city has also made special suburbs for people belonging to minorities. These include places such as 'Chinatown' for the Chinese, and some special suburbs where Iraqis and Turkish people dwell, in peace and tranquility.
Melbourne History
Melbourne is considered one of the youngest cities of the world. It came into being in the year 1835 by the efforts of Tasmanian businessmen. The discovery of gold mines in the city attracted people from various areas to settle there, and eventually lead to the formation of Victoria, with Melbourne being declared its capital. This massive movement of people from different nations, played an instrumental role in transforming the outlook of the city as far as architecture and infrastructure are concerned. This rapid movement towards development suffered a periodic slowdown, due to severe economic tumult that hit the city in 1889, but this was relatively short lived as the city was declared the capital of Australia in 1901. After a period of 26 years, this title was achieved by Canberra in 1927.
Melbourne today
The city of Melbourne comprises of the epitome brought about by the amalgamation of various ethnicities which include those of China, Cambodia, Greece, Italy and Poland. Without the arrival of these civilizations the city would have been another colony under the rule of the British. It was primarily after World War 2 that the city went into a state of transition and developed into the city as we know it today. However, this development turned into a major reason of rivalry between Melbourne and neighbor Sydney, traces of which can be found very clearly even to this day. During the reign of Kenneth and his Labor party, the city underwent massive development, by projects such as Crown Casino and Federation Square, which is a bona fide representative of architectural ingenuity. Southern Cross Station experienced enlargement, and old harbors were converted into retail and financial space. The city is now considered a fortress, characterizing a robust canvas of cultural events and modern music.
Useful information
Shopping
CHAPEL STREET
The place is one of the most energetic shopping places of Melbourne which allows you to experience amusement, shopping and dining facilities all under a single flagship. The place provides you to have an effective exposure to all kinds of accessories from designer outlets to mouth watering bistros. The Jam Factory is one the main focal points of the shopping haven. Situated in close proximity to the Chapel Street is the Toorak Road where you will be intrigued by the masterpieces of art.
David Jones
One of the most expensive and favorite shopping malls for tourists and for the people of Australia. The luxuriously designed mall provides the most superior kind of all accessories belonging to any segment. Special departments have been made in the mall such as Ladies Fashion, Menswear, Homesware, children toys and Small Electrical. Along with this the mall also offers various services of catering department, beauty salon, interior decoration and food mall to its visitors also.
GPO Shopping Mall
The shopping place which came into inception in the year 2004 quickly transformed into an ideal place for the citizens of Melbourne to shop, dine and acquire significant amusement opportunities. The shopping place focuses on contemporary interests of Australian people as well as provides them an outlook of the famous international brands. Labels such as Wayne Cooper, Akira and Zimmerman are some of the renowned brands available in the mall.
Myer Melbourne
One of the oldest and largest shopping malls in Australia, the place id truly a shopping nirvana where you will be able to get all kinds of souvenirs you are looking for. The mall provides you the distinctive opportunity to make a most comprehensive selection of the symbolic globally acclaimed and national designers. The mall provides some of the most fascinating collections of cosmetics, electronic gadgets, menswear and children items.
Feng Shui Network
One of the most favorite crystals shop in the city which allows you to gain exposure to the most diversified kinds of crystals. Jodi who is an employee at the shop is also a consultant and works hard fin conducting workshops and seminars for uplifting the reputation of the shop in the Chinatown.
High Point
The enormous shopping complex draws visitors and tourists from all around the world as high point is the shopping haven where you can be sure to get even the most minor accessory you desire. Accommodating up to 500 stores of various items the shopping mall offers sufficient parking space to avoid any kind of traffic congestion. Myer department store, Billy Guyats are some of the major attractions for visitors coming to high point from all parts of the world.
Queen Victoria Market
Providing financial sanctuary to more than 600 retailers this Queen Victoria Street is unquestionably a shopping Elysium for the people of Melbourne as well as for the tourists coming here. The specialty of the street lies in the fact that it does not focus on providing cosmetic oriented products to consumers but even items like fruits and vegetables are easily available in the place. The only disadvantage is that the street is only open for 5 days of the week.
Target Center
Strategically situated in the nucleus of Chinatown the Target Center is in close proximity to the Bourke Street. The Center is idyllic to enjoy a coffee or have a delicious and appetizing lunch or dinner. At the same time the center offers diverse kinds of accessories ranging from fashion to electronic goods.
Brand Smart Factory Mall
With over 48 outlets opertting under one roof the mall is earning a high reputation through its strategy of selling brand labeled garments which are associated to globally acknowledged designers such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Jigsaw. The mall has certainly played an instrumental role in promoting the tourism industry of the city by offering people more captivating schemes and proposals as far as shopping is concerned.
K Mart
The inception of K Mart has completely revolutionized the conventional outlook of shopping and dining. With over 40,000 people visiting this place every day it was not very difficult for the people of Melbourne or Australia to comprehend that they will soon be hearing the sound of a shopping explosion. The shopping center is currently moving high with flying colors with the operation of 182 outlets in Australia and New Zealand.
Signature sights in Melbourne
Champions – Australian Racing Museum & Hall of Fame
The place is strategically situated in the nucleus of Federation Square and welcomes a completely novel kind of entertainment for the citizens of Melbourne. The place is significant for providing various employment opportunities to people along with its function of conserving the culture and architecture of the city.
Kirra Galleries
If you are an art lover then Melbourne holds all kinds of attractions to captivate your attention. One such attraction is the Kirra Galleries which specializes in the most superior form of art, sculpture and glass work. In addition the place also provides you some of the most dexterous work done on jewelry of gold and silver.
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
Encompassing more than 20 art galleries in its premises the place is known to have played an instrumental role in preserving the art, culture, heritage and traditions which are the epitome of Australian civilization. This novel approach towards the promotion of art has motivated a number of people to showcase their work and has encouraged others to explore this talent within them. The place also anchors various national and global art exhibitions which attract various artists from the country and beyond to participate actively in it.
Festivals and events in Melbourne
St Jeromes Laneway Festival
This festival gives local and international actors a chance to perform to the best of their ability for your amusement. Don’t miss it! It starts on the 1st of February and is enjoyed by Australians and tourists alike. The event, which started off as a mediocre short-scale musical festival, has transformed into a country-wide extravaganza and is celebrated with immense joy and zeal.
St Kilda Festival
This festival exhibits the extensive range of entertainment, vibrant live music, action and activities critical to the St Kilda’s captivating and symbolic milieu. The event begins from the 31st of January and ends on the 8th of the next month. During all this period of seven days the city of Melbourne overflows with music, dining, drinking and shopping. Offering a diverse array of products and leisure opportunities the festival is a must for all tourists coming to Melbourne.
Melbourne Fashion Festival
Check-in to catch the alluring and glamourous episode of the avant garde fashion show. The event takes place for a period of seven days from the 15th to the 22nd of March. Featuring some of the most prominent fashion designers and models of the world, the event is one of the most eagerly awaited events for the people of Melbourne. The prime objective of the festival is to showcase some of the fresh trends which redefine the conventional concepts of fashion in a contemporary way.
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
This festival presents an illustration of Melbourne’s gastronomic intrinsic worth. The 16 days of this festival allow you to gain exposure to some of the most appetizing and lip-smacking cuisines, and is reason enough for numerous visitors to travel to Melbourne to enjoy the mouth watering delights.
Port Fairy Folk Festival
Experience the taste of national and international music, in the old fishing village of Port Fairy. The Port Fairy Folk Festival takes place over a four-day period (from the 6th to the 9th of March), and features musicians from all around the world who are skilled in all kinds of music, such as folk, jazz, blues, rock and hiphop (to name a few). These musicians are given the chance to present their talent in order to entertain the music lovers of the city of Melbourne.
Melbourne tours and experiences
Great Ocean Road Day Trip Adventure from Melbourne
The tour is a must for all visitors coming to Melbourne as it will provide them the opportunity to enjoy some of the most panoramic and awe-inspiring views of natural beauty of the great coastal drives of Melbourne. Your will journey will encompass the breathtaking view of the twelve apostles which emerge on the surface of the sea almost instantaneously. Along with this the tour also offers helicopter ride for visitors to provide a birds view of the famous Shipwreck Coast.
Phillip Island Penguin Small Group Eco Tour from Melbourne
Enjoy the chance to interact with the wildlife of Australia by having a tour of the Phillip Island. The entire journey allows you to benefit from the awe-inspiring scenes of natural beauty which includes the Nobbies, which is a collection of rough surfaced rocks and Seal Rocks which provides sanctuary to the largest population of seals in Australia. From the beginning of 2009 the salient features of the tour is going to experience some modification and conveniences such as helicopter flight and tour of the Botanic Gardens will also be incorporated in the program. Timing: everyday except Christmas, the tour begins at 11am from April to October and at 12pm from November to March. Duration: 9-12 hours Cost: starts from US$72.87 Children aged 4 years are admission free of cost if they are not occupying a separate seat for them.
Puffing Billy Steam Train, Yarra Valley and Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary Day Tour
Take pride in enjoying on of the most distinctive tours with the most favorite steam train of Australia known as Puffing Billy. The journey of this steam train besides amusing you also provides you information about various species of flora which are existent in different parts of the thick dense forests of the city. The tour allows you to seek sanctuary in the foothills of Healesville along with the interaction with various species of fauna such as koalas, kangaroos and dingoes. In addition the journey also allows you to enjoy the spectacular and the breathtaking natural views of the Yaara valley.
Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise
if you are looking to enjoy a romantic and fascinating dinner in Melbourne then the night cruise tour of the city is the most ideal place to fulfill your objective. The atmosphere of the cruise and the entire tour is spectacular and this is mainly attributed to its regularly changing vistas and color changing lights. The lip smacking, appetizing dinner is accompanied by the most delicious and premium wine which will make your tour and dinner extremely memorable. Timing: Friday and Saturday evenings from January to November. In December the days of departure are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Melbourne masjids and Muslim travel
Broadmeadows Mosque
Address: 45-55 King St. Broadmeadows Vic. 3047 Telephone: +6139359 0054
Masjid Westall
130 Rosebank Ave, Clayton South VIC, Australia
Huntingdale Mosque
Hume St, Huntingdale VIC, Australia
Swinburne Mosque
Level 3 34 Wakefield St, Hawthorn VIC, Australia
Maidstone Mosque
34 Studley St, Maidstone VIC, Australia
Sunshine Mosque
618 Ballarat Rd, Sunshine VIC, Australia
Transportation
Buses
This mode of transport is one of the cheapest in Melbourne, but unfortunately isn't the most reliable. Due to the rampantly escalating population of Melbourne, people travelling by buses have to wait for long hours in order to get out of traffic congestion problems, especially in the more heavily populated areas of the city. While travelling in a bus in a city like Melbourne, it is always preferable to purchase your ticket before your journey acquires momentum. Some of the prominent bus service providers in the city include Metlink and Nightrider. The Nightrider provides you with safe late night transportation, starting from 12:30am and continuing up till 4:30am. Most bus services have special telephone booths installed on board, which allow you to contact any friends or relatives who may be meeting you at the bus stop. The tourist shuttle bus of Melbourne stops at some of the chief locations of the city; including Melbourne Museum, Queen Victoria Market, Lygon Street, the Melbourne Aquarium, Chinatown and the Royal Botanic Gardens. The entire bus journey takes around 50 minutes and provides you with a brief tour of the most desired locations of the city. Some of the major bus service companies in Melbourne include: Grenandas Bus Company Telephone: +613 9791 2988 Website: www.grendas.com.au Melbourne Bus Link Telephone: +613 9689 8555 Website: www.melbbuslink.com National Bus Company Telephone: +613 9481 8222 Website: www.nationalbus.com.au For further information or queries contact at: +613 9723 3529
Car for Hire
You can easily rent a car by contacting various car hiring firms operating in the city, which include Avis, Budget, Delta Europcar, Hertz, National and Thrifty. The minimum age required for driving in Victoria is 25 years, but some car rental companies allow underage visitors to enjoy driving as well. It must be kept in mind that driving in a city like Melbourne is a tedious task, as you have to be wary of the many directions from which traffic is arriving. Along with this, you must pay special attention when driving alongside the tram, as you will have to apply brakes periodically to ensure that the passengers leave the tram safely.
Driving Tips
All drivers must keep in mind that all vehicles must be driven on the left hand side of the street in Australia. It is mandatory for drivers to wear seat belts and to carry their driving license at all times, otherwise they will have to pay heavy fines. Car parking is not a major issue in the city with the exception of peak hours. In such conditions, a suitable parking place can be obtained by paying a small amount of money (about $5) on an hourly basis. In the city of Melbourne, the trams share the same track as vehicles like buses and cars, hence special precaution must be applied when making a 'hook-turn', as failure in doing so can again result in traffic fines. In order to make a hook-turn, move your vehicle towards the left hand side and keep observing the far left hand side of the road. The orange light displayed by the signal will clear the road for the approaching traffic and it is at this time when you have the opportunity to make a wide turn towards your left.
From the airport
Numerous transport facilities are available to visitors who arrive at the Tullamarine or Avalon, the two major airports situated in the city. The shuttle service provided by the Skybus (provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) is easily accessable from the Tullamarine airport, whereas Sunbus is just as easily accessable from the Avalon Airport. This service also provides visitors the opportunity to visit key locations of the city. In addition taxis are also readily accessible from both stations, however this mode of transport is time consuming and may be more costly, depending on the proximity of your destination.
Metro
Melbourne has one of the most highly developed metro systems in the country, which conveniently run through most of the significant locations in the city. Flinders Street Station is the focal point, where all railway networks coalesce collectively. Southern Cross Station is also an important station and a tourist attraction for people visiting Melbourne for the first time. The administration of the city has also developed a system of night metro transport and City Loop. Through the accessibility of the City Loop, five major stations of the city can be served directly; these include Southern Cross Station, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central, Parliament and Flinders Street. The Metro service in Melbourne commences from 5am and normally continues without much delay, till midnight when the night metro service approaches its end. Tickets for the metro can be purchased from various places known as "Metcards". Metcards are found in train stations, and also provide online services. The facility of obtaining Metcard through telephone is also provided by calling at +613 1800 652 313. The fare of the transport is determined by the distance and duration of the journey, both of which are interdependent factors. As a precautionary measure, it is necessary that you have the appropriate ticket on your person at all times, as failure to produce your ticke upon the request of the ticket inspector could lead to hefty fines. The City Circle Tram is also a convenient method of touring the major sites of the city. Flinders Street, Harbour Esplanade, La Trobe Street and Spring Street are some of the places which this 50 minute tram-ride can provide you the accessibility of.
Taxi
These vehicles can easily be booked by telephone or called on directly from their respective locations. All taxis in the city are blue, and all taxi drivers are dressed in uniform and have an identity card which they must carry at all times. Taxis are easily accessible from major points of the city, such as Flinders Street Station or outside hotels. The meters of the taxi are plainly visible, so you can monitor the subsequent changes occurring in the fare. It is only in the case of night tours that extra charges are required, and booking must be made in advance. Charges during the night vary from point to point. For Further information or queries you can contact or visit: +61 03 9320 4360 or www.taxi.vic.gov.au. Some of the major taxi providing services in the city are situated in: 1 55 King street 2 212 King street 3 Flinders street station on Swantson Street 4 22 Bourke Street For further accessibility information about Multi Taxi Purpose Program you can contact at: +6103 9320 4360 Website: www.taxi.vic.gov.au
Health and Safety
Health and Safety
Melbourne has emerged as one of the favorite tourist destinations in contemporary times. It is however very surprising to know that a city with a population of 4 million is remarkably safe for its residents and tourists alike. A few risky areas where tourist should normally avoid visiting are areas where there are night clubs.
