Melbourne
Whatever your interests, budget or time limits, there will be a tour in and around Melbourne to suit. The choice ranges from simple walking tours around a few city blocks to organized coach trips out of town. With adventures in aeroplanes, balloons and boats available, you do not even have to stay on terra firma. Around the city
Melbourne is a relatively compact and flat city, laid out in a sensible grid pattern. It is very difficult to become lost and no matter in which direction you walk, there will soon be a tram stop or one of the train stations on the City Loop line to rescue you. Find some bearings by hopping aboard the free City Circle Tram which runs every 10 minutes around the perimeter of the main shopping and business area. If you equip yourself with a Day Travel Pass (valid on all trains, trams and buses) you can venture even further afield on the extensive public transport network. If you prefer your own steam, the Golden Mile Trail is a self-guided walk stopping at prominent historic spots along the way.
Most guided tour operators run half day bus tours around the city taking in all the highlights. One worth trying is the Marvellous Melbourne Tour, which also takes in the unique atmosphere of inner suburbs such as Carlton, Albert Park and Port Melbourne. Other tour operators to investigate are Gray Line, Great Sights and Melbourne's Best. Sports fanatics can find out just why Melbourne is considered Australia's sporting capital with Melbourne Sports Tours.
If a bus tour is not your scene, why not try a river cruise, or hire a bicycle and explore the many bike paths that wind around the city. The Main Yarra Trail which travels from Southgate right out to the eastern suburbs is also excellent for walking or rollerblading.
Sea & Sand
It is not quite Sydney Harbour, but Port Phillip Bay, which laps at Melbourne's toes, is a vital part of the city. To realise the “big picture” of this immense body of water, try the Around the Bay day trip. For the more adventurous there are also scenic flights (Atomic Dog Scenic Flights, Melbourne Seaplanes) and balloon trips which will really give you a seagull's eye view.
Phillip Island is not the only place to see our famous little "fairy" penguins. There is also a colony resident on a rock structure built out in the Bay for the 1956 Olympic Games. Tour operator Penguin Waters Cruises runs day and sunset cruises out to the rock. These tours also give great views of the city and suburbs from the water.
Take a tram to St Kilda, formerly a holiday village and now one of the grooviest inner suburbs, where you will find endless cafés and restaurants. Alternatively, join the locals and sit on the sand to eat takeaway fish and chips, maybe washed down with some beer. The Sunday craft market is also worth checking out.
Williamstown was Melbourne's first port and is now a thriving urban village that respects its history. Either take the train, drive over the Westgate Bridge, or hop aboard the Williamstown Ferry from Southbank. To really appreciate this charming place, join one of the Hobsons Bay Historic Tours.
Tours with a difference
A different side of the city can be seen with small tours catering for special interests. Those with a fascination with the “other side” should try the Haunted Melbourne Ghost Tour, a night walk visiting sites of reputed ghostly activities. History buffs will enjoy the Melbourne Cemetery Tours (daytime only, so no fear of supernatural encounters on this one) and the Town Hall Tour with interesting anecdotes about the life and times of some of the city's historical characters.
Chinese people arrived at the time of the goldrush, not long after the city was founded. Chinatown is a great area to explore on foot either by yourself or on the Chinatown Heritage Tour.
Sweet tooths will not want to miss the Coffee, Cake & Chocolate Walk and Chocolate & Other Desserts Walk where you will discover the best spots to satisfy your cravings. While on the subject of food, what better way to combine two of Melbourne's greatest loves—fine dining and trams —than with a meal on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurants?
If shopping is your passion and you have ”done” all the large department stores, the Shopping Spree bus will take you through the backstreets to warehouse and factory outlets containing some great bargains.
Melbourne's fruit and vegetable and flower markets are hives of activity while most of us are still asleep. If you enjoy an early start, the Melbourne Wholesale Market Experience offers a wealth of sights, sounds and smells to remember.
The beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens will be even more memorable if you join the Aboriginal Heritage Walk for a fascinating insight into the culture of the indigenous tribes that once lived here.
Out of town
Many of Australia's best attractions are an easy day trip out of Melbourne. Again, most tour operators run trips to the “must-see” places. Plan some time to see South Gippsland and Phillip Island, home of the famous penguin parade; Sovereign Hill; nearby historic goldmining towns Ballarat and Bendigo; the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians National Park. The Yarra Valley winery region combines beautiful scenery with fine food and wine. By balloon at sunrise is a special way to see this area.
Even closer is the Mornington Peninsula, a popular holiday destination because of its beaches, wineries and interesting villages. Peninsula Discovery Tours will tailor a trip for you to see the best of this region.
Other popular weekend getaway towns with a special charm are the hill spa resorts of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs, or historic Castlemaine and Queenscliff.
The choice is yours—book a seat and sit back and relax, or pull on the walking shoes and hit the streets. Whichever you choose, remember your camera!
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