Attractions in Melbourne by JD on July 7, 2009
Melbourne is a city of more than 3.8 million people. It was established in the year 1835 by immigrants in the region of Yarra River. Due to the gold rush in this part of Victoria in the early 1860s, Melbourne developed into the second biggest city in the British Empire by early 20th century.
Today, the city is considered one of the top industrial and commercial cities in Australia and is deemed the cultural and sporting capital of the continent. Home to various ethnic groups, it has different cultural characters, making it sophisticated and fashionable city to have a getaway.
Top Melbourne attractions
It is projected that there we approximately eight million local and international tours to Melbourne in 2008, emphasizing its value as a top tourism hub. There are a lot of reasons for travelers to go to Melbourne– either to witness the sporting events, explore the architecture, or utilize the metropolis as a base for discovering the surrounding area like the Great Ocean Rd, Phillip Island or the Grampians National Park.
Take a tour to the Federation Square, the location of many bars, cafes and bistros. Federation Square is a famous meeting place in Melbourne because of its closeness to the Cricket Stadium, Flinders Street Station, and other important cultural venues. A lot of live concerts in conjunction with art galleries and cultural exhibitions also happen here.
Visit Birrarung Marr park, located on the River Yarra banks.
- The Melbourne Cricket Ground is the biggest sporting stadium in Australia. It formerly hosted the Olympic Games in 1956 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006. Visitors can tour this popular stadium.
- Have an exciting expedition to the Eureka Skydeck. This is probably the southern hemisphere’s utmost viewing point. This is situated in Eureka Tower. The Tower is acknowledged as one of the tallest residential edifices not only in Australia but in the entire world. There are magnificent views of Melbourne from there.
Go to the Melbourne Observation Tower, which is located on the 55th floor of the Rialto Towers.
- Another worthwhile trip is to the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Center, together with the Melbourne Museum. The Exhibition Building has stunning gardens.
- The Victoria’s State Library plus the National Art Gallery are also worth discovering if you are fascinated in the history and culture of Melbourne.
- The Melbourne Aquarium serves as a home to many different types of aquatic wildlife from Australia and is an amazing way to amuse the whole family.
- Another ideal day out in this city is the Melbourne Zoo. This is known as the oldest zoo in the continent of Australia and is an abode to a broad selection of animals.
- One of the Melbourne’s most flourishing areas is the Docklands. You can witness a lot of attractions in this area including the Telstra Dome and the Southern Star Observation Wheel.
- If you are into culture and arts, then you must not miss the Victorian Arts Center. The charm of the center is the 115m high steel spire which stands out the three theaters in the area and is situated at St. Kilda Rd. When it is illuminated in the evening, the effect is astounding. Also, located in this area is the Melbourne Concert Hall that could hold about 2,500 capacities.