Melbourne is a city that satisfies your holiday needs whether you’re into shopping, active or spectator sports, ethnic dining, cultural events such as gallery browsing or jazz or classical concerts or just strolling around soaking up the atmosphere of this wonderful city called Marvellous Melbourne by all who visit. Here’s your quick guide to capturing the essence of Melbourne in just a day.

The best way to get a handle on the city is by taking the tram. Melbourne has the world’s oldest tram network. The current tram network runs over 200 miles and it’s still expanding. Climb aboard a City Circle tram and drink in the city’s history as your tram weaves though the city centre.

Jump off at the Parliament House tram stop to view some grand buildings including the Princess Theatre, the grand Windsor Hotel, Parliament House, the Paris End of Collins Street, and St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Tickets for single journeys within the city and to inner suburbs cost A$2.20 for adults. The best deal for sightseeing is to buy a 2-Hour Metcard, good for unlimited transport on buses or trams for up to 2 hours.

Another great way to get your bearings on Melbourne is to climb up to the Melbourne Observation Deck that gives you a bird’s eye view of the city. From here you can pick out landmarks such as the Botanical Gardens and the Yarra River.

For the next section of your getting to know Melbourne trip, head for Victoria Market to browse the goods and have lunch in one of the many eateries. The biggest open-air market in the southern hemisphere, Victoria Market was established in 1878 and hawks everything from fresh produce to clothing, leather goods, jewellery, handicrafts and souvenirs. Just the place for that stuffed koala or Crocodile Dundee hat.

In the afternoon, it’s time to experience some of Melbourne’s many green spots. Over a quarter of the inner city is reserved as leisure area resulting in a green and leafy city. Saunter through Treasury Gardens then hop across to Fitzroy Gardens to peek at Captain Cook’s Cottage. Then if wildlife is your thing, take in the sharks at the Melbourne Aquarium opposite Southbank, one of the suburbs south of the city centre. In fact the newly-renovated south bank of the river is a great place to visit with its bars, restaurants and shops.

If you’re in the mood for art, wander over to Federation Square with its host of galleries. You’ll find the Australian art collection in the Ian Potter Centre. Not far away is the new National Gallery of Victoria International. Its permanent collection includes four Gainsboroughs and four Constables together with works by El Greco, Monet, and Manet.

In fact, there’s much more to Melbourne than you can experience in a day. But this orientation tour is sure to whet your appetite for more. Fortunately Melbourne City hotels are plentiful and of tremendous range and variety so you’re sure to find something to suit as you stay longer in this wonderful city.

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The Yarra River is truly the heart of leisure and tourism in Melbourne. It gives the city its freshness and focus and is the site of non-stop activity. All manner of boats ply its waters and a host of cultural and entertainment facilities grace its banks including museums, galleries, aquarium, concert halls and theatres.

In fact, the discovery of the Yarra was pivotal to the founding and development of Melbourne. The fresh water it provided was vital to the new city. The river was called Birrarung by the indigenous Wurundjeri people and was given the name Yarra Yarra by John Helder Wedge of the Port Phillip Association who thought it was the Aboriginal name.

The Yarra River begins in the highlands of Mount Baw Baw in Victoria’s West Gippsland region and flows down into Port Phillip Bay, home to the Port of Melbourne, Australia’s busiest seaport.

So how to best enjoy the Yarra on your holiday? Here we’ll look at the north bank, the booming new developments on the south bank, and then at some cruises that will take you along this delightful river.

The north bank of the Yarra marks the southern edge of the CBD. A walk along Birrarung Marr, the stretch of water that runs from Federation Square to the Melbourne Cricket Ground is an especially fine location to enjoy views of the Melbourne skyline.

Though the north bank has much to see and do, it’s the south bank of the Yarra that the more happening place. Crossing over Queensbridge Street brings you to Southbank Promenade. This is a fine place to dine while enjoying superb river views. The nearby Southgate Shopping Complex offers three floors of fascinating specialty stores.

Sunday is the best time to visit the Southbank as it’s the site of the Arts Centre Sunday Market, just the place to pick up some local crafts and Australian souvenirs. Also nearby is the Crown Casino and entertainment complex which features food courts, cafes, shops, and nightclubs. Read the rest of this entry »

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Gipsy Point is located in the state of Victoria in Australia. Travelers come to Gipsy Point to have a peaceful stay in the midst of natural scenic beauty and abundant greenery. The lakes and wilderness area will make you feel ecstatic and happy. There are numbers of luxury Gipsy Point hotels for the visitors to stay in peace and comfort. Victoria’s unique lakes and wilderness area will enable travelers to have a memorable holidaying experience with family and friends.

Gipsy Point Lakeside Resort is one of the fine hotels in Gipsy Point. The resort has 10 apartments and is set in large landscaped native gardens. The property is next to the quiet waterway of Mallacoota Inlet. The fully serviced bedroom apartments with spa and other necessary in-room facilities will make for a pleasant stay in the region. Guests will get excellent dining facilities in the resort. You will get to taste local and international dishes in the resort’s warm and cozy ambiance.

From Gipsy Point, visitors can explore a number of tourist attractions such as the Croajingolong National Park and the Croajingolong World Biosphere Reserve. This Reserve is included in the UNESCO heritage list. You will also get to see varied flora and fauna in Gipsy Point. There is ample scope for bird watching, arranging picnics, enjoying at the beaches, cruising and fishing.

One of the ideal accommodation options in Gipsy Point is the Gipsy Point Lodge. This lodge offers a cozy, private place to relax and unwind after sightseeing and touring the area. This Gipsy Point Lodge is set at the junction of the Genoa and Wallagaraugh Rivers. The property is located just 20 kilometers from Mallacoota in Victoria, Australia. The lodge offers privacy and enables guests to relax and enjoy the surrounding areas in peace. From Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, visitors can easily reach the lodge. The Gipsy Point Lodge happily provides all kinds of amenities for relaxation in the area.

There are several luxury apartments in the Gipsy Point. Without spending too much money, travelers will get to enjoy world-class facilities and services. The apartments are beautifully decorated and contain spacious rooms. The Gipsy Point apartments are set in various strategic locations with easy accessibility from the other Australian cities. The landscaped gardens and colorful birds will make a stay in Gipsy Point all the more memorable. Read the rest of this entry »

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Canberra, the largest inland city of Australia is a great place to spend your vacations. Canberra is ideally situated at the northern end of north-east Melbourne and south-west Sydney. Canberra is a home to many cultural and social institutions like the National Museum of Australia and National Gallery of Australia. There are a large number of accommodation options in Canberra where you can stay during your vacation to this most fabulous city in Australia. The Canberra hotels are extremely luxurious and therefore make your stay a satisfying one.

The various hotels in Canberra can be categorized into luxury hotels and budget hotels. You can choose to lodge in any of these category hotels depending upon your requirement and budget. The hotels in Canberra can be further be classified into five-star, four-star, three-star and two star hotels.

Speaking of the luxurious hotels in Canberra, they have well decorated and well appointed guestrooms. These rooms are beautifully arranged and decked up. All the rooms in these hotels in Canberra offer a grand view of the surrounding area. The luxury accommodation in Canberra is done up in soothing tones to create a comfortable and cozy ambiance overall. Each of the rooms at these hotels is spacious and provides you with comfort that you can possibly think of. The rooms in these luxury hotels in Canberra are equipped with all the modern facilities and amenities which make your stay a hassle free one. The room facilities include centrally air conditioning facility, satellite television, international and direct dial telephone, ceiling fans, attached bathrooms, tea and coffee making facilities and others. You can also find a well-stocked mini bar where you can try some refreshing drinks. Read the rest of this entry »

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