Melbourne Australia Travel Guide - Melbourne tourist and travel information

Melbourne is the capital city of the State of Victoria, the second largest city of Australia after Sydney. With a population of over 4 million people it is a multi-cultural city famous for it's sporting events, shopping and vast variety of great restaurants.

What's on in Melbourne 2011

January 2012, February 2012, March 2012, April 2012, May 2012, June 2012, July 2012, August 2012, September 2012, October 2012 and November 2012

What's on in Melbourne this week until Sunday 29th January 2012

Melbourne Festivals and Events

Moonlight Cinema recent release and classic movies every night in January 2012. Watch movies under the stars at Royal Botanical Gardens South Yarra.

Toytopia Sand Sculpting all throughout January 2012 until 26th April 2012 at the Frankston Waterfront

St Kilda Openair Cinema screening movies all through January and the rest of summer.

Suzuki Night Markets every Wednesday night at Queen Victoria Markets 5.30pm - 10pm throughout January.

Midsumma Festival 15th January to 5th February 2012. Celebrating 20 years of gay and lesbian arts culture and community.

2012 Chinese New Year Festival Saturday 21st January 2012 until Sunday 5th February 2012. With events all throughout Melbourne celebrating the Year of the Dragon. Alot of festivities around Melbourne's Chinatown.

Havaianas Australia Day Thong Challenge 2012 Thursday 26th January 2012 at Torquay Beach

Museum Exhibitions in Melbourne January 2012

Our Children Our Future exhibition on Victorian Aboriginal Culture until 5th February 2012 at the Melbourne Museum.

Tjukurrtjanu: Origins of Western Desert Art on until 12th February 2012 at the National Gallery of Victoria.

Sporting Events this week in Melbourne

Australian Open Tennis Championships 2012 - The Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific. Held at Melbourne Park Monday 16th January 2012 until Sunday 29th January 2012.

Great Australia Day Swim 2012 1400m or 5km open water swim 9am Thursday 26th January 2012 at Middle Brighton Pier.

A-League Soccer games in Melbourne January 2012

Melbourne Victory FC vs Sydney FC Thursday 26th January 2012 at AAMI Park. Kick off at 4pm.

Music concerts, events, festivals, theatre and entertainment this week in Melbourne

Ali Campbell's UB40 & Special Guests 6pm Monday 23rd January 2012 at the Palais Theatre. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.

Casting Crowns 6.30pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 at the Palias Theatre. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.

Hiatus Kaiyote 8.30pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 at the Evelyn Hotel. Tickets available from Moshtix.

Kisschasy 5pm Wednesday 25th January 2012 at the Peir Live Frankston. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.

Bassnectar (USA) & Zeds Dead (Canada) 10pm Wednesday 25th January 2012 at The Hi-Fi. Tickets available from Moshtix.

28 Days 7.30pm Wednesday 25th January 2012 at the Ferntree Gully Hotel. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.

Matthew Dear - Ghostly (USA) 10pm Wednesday 25th January 2012 at the Prince Bandroom. Tickets available from Moshtix.

The Rubberbandits comedy hip-hop 7.30pm Wednesday 25th January 2012 at the Elephant & Wheelbarrow St Kilda. Tickets available from Moshtix.

The Quixotics 8pm Thursday 26th January 2012 at the Yah Yah's Fitzroy. Tickets available at the door.

Harbourside 2012 Australia Day Thursday 26th January 2012 at Central Pier. Tickets available from Moshtix.

The McQueens 8pm Thursday 26th January 2012 at The Toff in Town. Tickets available from Moshtix.

The Rock Show starring Jon English 8pm Friday 27th January 2012 and Saturday 28th January 2012 at the Palms at Crown. Tickets available from Ticketek.

The Potbelleez 9pm Friday 27th January 2012 at the Westernport Hotel. Tickets available from Moshtix.

The Quixotics 8pm Saturday 28th January 2012 at The Vineyard St Kilda. Tickets available at the door.

Battles 8.30pm Saturday 28th January 2012 at the Forum Melbourne. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.

Million Stylez (Sweden) 10pm Saturday 28th January 2012 at The Laundry. Tickets available from Moshtix.

Custom Kings 8pm Sunday 29th January 2012 at The Toff in Town. Tickets available from Moshtix.

Last updated 22nd January 2012

Top 10 Things to do in Melbourne

1. The food! Melbourne has such a great variety of restaurants with many great locations packed with choice. From the city centre, Chinatown, Lygon Street and the many suburbs have countless great restaurants to choose from. Check out our Melbourne Restaurant Guide.

2. Go Shopping. Melbourne is Australia's shopping capital.

3. See a live event at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) locally referred to as 'The G'. It's best to see a big event like an AFL (Aussie Rules games) or a Cricket match at the MCG with a capacity crowd of 100,000 people. When there aren't events on you can still go along for a tour of the MCG facilities.

4. Take a tram ride. Melbourne has an extensive tram network to take you to all corners of Melbourne. If you are driving in Melbourne beware, the trams always have the right of way. There is a free tram service on the city circle looping around the Melbourne CBD and Docklands..

Melbourne Trams

5. Visit Melbourne Aquarium, located on the Yarra River directly across from the Crown Entertainment Complex. Melbourne Aquarium has on display thousands of marine animals including penguins, sharks, stingrays, moray eels and a giant pacific octopus. There are dive experiences for your opportunity to swim face to face with the sharks.

6. Visit St Kilda Beach, located on Port Phillip Bay with great cafes, restaurants and the amusement park Luna Park.

7. Visit Docklands, just 10 minutes by tram from the centre of Melbourne CBD, this used to be real working docks though now transformed into one of Melbourne's highlights. With great restaurants, cafes, bars and parklands to walk around and relax.

8. Visit Melbourne Zoo with the highlight being the recently born elephant.

9. Visit Captain Cook's Cottages located in Fitzroy Gardens just 10 minutes from the city centre.

10. Visit the Japanese Baths just outside of Melbourne.

Day Trips from Melbourne

Victoria is quite a small state so there are plenty of interesting places close by the visit in a day or for short trip from Melbourne. Here are some of the highlights of Victoria an easy distance from Melbourne:

The Great Ocean Road is 110km from Melbourne, starting at Geelong. One of the most popular and truely must see tourist destinations within Australia.

Yarra Valley is a wine producing region that is less than 1 hours drive from Melbourne. There are around 145 wineries to visit for some tasting and to purchase a few bottles or cases to take home with you. For more information about Yarra Valley click here.

Ballarat is an old historical town which was the centre of Australia's gold rush in the 1800's.

Philip Island is an easy day trip from Melbourne with beautiful scenery and wildlife like the fairy penguins.

Hotel recommendation in Melbourne

Hotel Lindrum is a boutique hotel located on Flinders Street a short walk to Federation Square, Southbank, Flinders Street Train Station and to the city centre. The MCG and Rod Laver Arena are an easy 10 minute walk from the hotel. There is a tram stop right out the front with the free City Circle Tram stopping regularly. Room prices start from $195 per night. For photos and hotel reviews for Hotel Lindrum click here.

Hotel Lindrum Flinders St Melbourne