The second stop of my Australia adventure was Melbourne located in the state of Victoria. Those who live in Melbourne are often referred to as ‘Melburnians’. 

Accommodation

Whilst in Melbourne I stayed at Crown Promenade located in the Southbank district also walking distance from Flinder’s St station. Crown Promenade is part of Crown Resorts as you are able to find Crown Metropol and Crown Towers within the complex. Within the complex there are shops, entertainment venues, bars and a casino. Restaurants can also be found within the complex which are located along Riverwalk, some of the restaurants have outdoor seating as well which are perfect for at the end of the day when you go for a meal as well as some drinks. Restaurants located within the complex include:

Ging Thai

Nobu

Rosetta Ristorante

Cervo

San Antone by Bludso’s BBQ

For my stay at Crown Promenade I was in a city view room which I would recommend as you are located at least 16 levels and above, where you can enjoy views of the city skyline and Yarra River from the floor to ceiling windows in the room. In the room you are able to find a large bathroom with a shower, a mini bar and a desk area. The rooms are decorated neutral which helps to make them bright as they are also spacious.

Crown Promenade is a hotel that I would recommend to anyone who is visiting Melbourne. I have stayed at a lot of different hotels as I’ve visited different places around the world and I would say that this is one of the best that I’ve stayed in. 

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Things to Do

One of the recognisable sights of Melbourne is Flinders St railway station which is located on the corner of Flinders St and Swanston St whilst backing on to the Yarra River. Upon opening in 1854 Flinders St is an historic station which serves the entire metropolitan rail network. In 1909 the main building which became an icon of Melbourne was completed with it’s prominent dome and arched entrance. In Melbourne there is a saying ‘I’ll meet you under the clocks’ which is reference to the row of indicator clocks that are located above the main entrance. 

Across from Flinders St station you can find Federation Square which is a venue for arts, culture as well as public events. There are a series of buildings which are centres around a large paved square and glass walled atrium which include cafes and bars.

Close to Flinders St there is St Paul’s Cathedral which is an Anglican cathedral. A cathedral which is one of Melbourne’s major architectural landmarks. Another cathedral that can be found in Melbourne on Eastern Hill is St Patrick’s Cathedral which is Roman Catholic, this cathedral is built on a traditional east-west axis. 

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In the Southbank precinct you will find the Eureka Skydeck which is located 285m above ground in Eureka Tower. A ride in the elevator to the top will take 38 seconds which is the fastest trip in the Southern Hemisphere. Once at the top you are able to enjoy views across Melbourne as you will be able to see Port Phillip Bay, the Dandenong Ranges and beyond. Around the skydeck there are 30 viewfinders to allow you to look at some of the attractions across the city. A ticket for a trip to the top will cost $25 online or if you choose to buy at the tower it will cost $26.50. 

A major landmark in the central business district (CBD) is the Queen Victoria Market which is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Attracting approximately 10 million visitors annually you are able to see why Queen Victoria Market is so popular as you walk around seeing the locals buying the fresh produce. Within the market you will also find traders selling gifts, stationary, clothing, accessories and souvenirs. 

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In the Carlton Gardens you can find the Royal Exhibition Building which is a World-Heritage listed building which is one of the last remaining 19th century exhibition buildings in the world. Sitting adjacent is Melbourne Museum which is a natural and cultural history museum and is also the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere. Opened in 2000 as part of a project with the Government of Victoria. Within the museum there are exhibitions, at the time of my visit there was a mini model exhibition as well as the Melbourne story was showcasing items from the past. Entry to Melbourne Museum is $15. 

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Street art can be found across Melbourne but one particular street is famous for it’s urban street art  which is Hosier Lane.

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Along Collins St you will be able to find numerous office blocks, shops, restaurants and hotels. Retailers that can be found along this street include: 

Louis Vuitton 

Tiffany &Co

Coach

There are shopping centres that can be found along Collins St as well. There are two theatres known as Athenaeum and Regent which host Australian and international productions such as The Wedding Singer and Moulin Rouge. Hotels that can be found along Collins St include:

Sofitel

Novotel

The Westin

Other attractions in Melbourne include:

Melbourne Zoo

Royal Botanic Gardens

Chinatown

Immigration Museum

Parliament House

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Food

Melbourne is somewhere that I found was not short of restaurants or cafes to visit. 

Located within the Crown complex was Ging Thai offering fresh Thai food with a slight twist. Whilst dining here I sat outside along the riverwalk to enjoy the views of the skyline and Yarra River. Dining here I chose chicken pad Thai with a side of spiced chicken wings. 

Another restaurant located within the Crown complex was Cervo offering Italian with a traditional Italian restaurant atmosphere. Whilst dining here I chose the spaghetti bolognese with a glass of my favourite wine moscato. 

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Is Melbourne somewhere that you would like to visit? 

Laura Jane

At the time of this being posted we are in the middle of a pandemic, please remain safe and abide by any travel restrictions. Any further information on travel restrictions can be found on the government website.