When you first think of Australian cities, it is usually Sydney's bright lights and iconic landscape that comes to mind. Sydney is certainly a fantastic place to visit and worth a visit on another trip, but for those looking to travel the Southern tip of Australia, Melbourne is the place to go, and we have some great reasons why you should!

The Culture

Melbourne is a city with a lot to offer in terms of culture. Right at the heart of the city centre is Federation Square. Here you will find yourself right at the hub of the city's culture. From here, you can visit art galleries and exhibitions, museums, markets, or watch a movie or stage show. Once you have visited a museum or art gallery, you can wander down the edge of the river, marvel at the graffiti art, and relax in one of the many cafes.

The Events

Melbourne always has something going on. Whether it's a new exhibition, a festival, visiting a music hall or theatre, there is always something new to do. There are several festivals to visit throughout the year, such as fashion festivals, food and wine festivals, film festivals, and more! Whatever your hobby or interest if you time it right you can visit a fantastic festival while on holiday.

The Food & Drink

Wherever you go in Melbourne, there is a cafe or restaurant to suit your taste. Pop to a cafe for a relaxing coffee as you watch the hustle and bustle of the city pass you by or dress up for a meal out. Melbourne is a city packed full of food-lovers and sports an impressive number of Michelin star restaurants if you want to try some fine Australian dining.

The Attractions

With food, drink and shopping out of the way, you might be ready for a tourist attraction or two. Melbourne has plenty of these too! Take a look at Visit Victoria for fantastic ideas of places to go while in Melbourne.

How Long Should you Stay in Melbourne on Your Road Trip?

Whilst you could easily spend a week in Melbourne and still never see it all, you usually don't want to stay in one place for too long. There is so much to see and do in the rest of Australia, after all.

Getting the balance right between spending enough time to enjoy the city whilst ensuring you don't impact the rest of your trip can be tricky. But, about three days should be enough to ensure you get to see the highlights of the city. You can make your few days here as busy or as relaxed as you like. So either pack your city visit full of things to do or take it slow and enjoy the city at your leisure.

Both of our Australian holiday tours that include a trip to Melbourne give you about three days to spend in the city, guaranteeing you see everything you want. Check our Great Ocean Road Tour and our Southern Delights Tour for more information.

Things to See While in Melbourne

Whilst planning your itinerary, why not look at these attractions?

The Royal Botanical Gardens

The botanical gardens have been a peaceful haven for both nature and tourists for over 170 years. These gardens are a large part of Melbourne's culture and heritage. You can visit the gardens and enjoy a stroll through 38 hectares and marvel at over 8,000 species of plants. The whole family can learn more about these plants, the environment, and why conserving these diverse plant collections is essential.

Melbourne Arts Centre

For plays, exhibitions and music you should take a trip to the Melbourne Arts Centre. Specialising in performing arts, the arts centre always has something on. Make sure you check their website for what's on during your visit.

Melbourne Zoo

Melbourne zoo prides itself on saving wildlife and saving many types of animals from extinction. Elephants, lions, native animals and a fantastic sea life centre are just some of the amazing animals you can see while here.

Puffing Billy

Puffing Billy is a steam train that has been preserved and is still in working order since first starting its puffing journey in the early 1900s. You can take a trip on Puffing Billy through Sherbrooke Forest, allowing you to marvel at nature as you speed towards your destination. If you take advantage of our excursion, you can enjoy a wine tasting experience when you get to your destination in the Yarra Valley.

Phillip Island

Penguins are a wonderful sight, especially when you spot them in the wild. We have an excursion available that takes you on a dusk tour of Philip Island. It is here that you can see these beautiful birds returning to their roosting spots for the night.

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Ben Tully

Visual Design & Content Creation

Ben deals with all things design, working on the visual design of our annual guides, Destinations magazine, information leaflets, social media and email campaigns, and much more across the Alan Rogers, Rallies and Worldwide brands. He also produces written content for our blogs alongside our other contributors.

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