Archive for the ‘City Guides and Information’ Category
There are so many things to see in Melbourne we can only list a few of them here. The place where most people start is Federation square. It’s a place Melburnians love to hate. Although it’s a famous meeting point and Victoria’s second most popular tourist attraction (8-9 million per year) it’s also considered an eyesore. It was voted ugly by two thirds of the population of Melbourne! It holds a varied selection of bars, hotels and cultural centres, including the National Gallery of Victoria, which holds 20,000 Australian artworks – the most famous collection in the country.
Luna Park
This is an unmissable theme park located on the beach of Port Philip Bay. It has been open for almost 100 years and is still operational, open all year round. The scenic railway ride has been running since the park opened and is the oldest theme park ride in the world. It still requires a brakesman to stand in the middle of the train! Other rollercoasters include the Silly Serpent and Metropolis, and the ‘Coney Island Top Drop’ was recently built.
Melbourne Aquarium
This is another Melbourne favourite, right on the banks of the Yarra river in the centre of town, the aquarium contains crabs, sharks and stingrays, as well as land creatures like tarantulas and giant cockroaches, and caves full of pythons and stick insects.
Old Melbourne Gaol
Built in the 1800s, this building is located on Russell Street in Melbourne and is a history buff’s ideal place to hang out in the city. It started life as a gold complex but was also the setting for over 100 hangings between 1842 and 1929, when the jail held such infamous criminals as Ned Kelly, the ‘Bushranger’, who was a cold-blooded killer, but is now regarded by some as an Australian folk hero. It was also used as a US military base during the Second World War.
One of the best ways to take in the city of Melbourne is to just hop on a tram and see where it takes you! One of the city’s 4 million friendly residents will be sure to give you some advice on what to see in this ‘cultural capital’ of Australia.
As you explore this fantastic city, you can earn rewards points for each dollar you spend on your credit card. The points you save on rewards cards can then be used to access a wide variety of great lifestyle and travel benefits.