 Driving in from Melbourne’s airport one can’t
help but be struck by this city’s innovative approach to style and design. The monolithic sculptures and roadways that greet you were developed as a design gateway to
the city and indicate how seriously Melbourne takes its design and architecture.
Melbourne has mastered the art of mixing the old with the new. Gracious older buildings sit side by side dynamic new architecture. You can explore Melbourne’s
rich history along the Golden Heritage Mile. The tour takes in Old Customs House, Parliament House, the Old Treasury, Windsor Hotel and other exquisite examples of 19th century
architecture.
 Melbourne is the centre of architectural adventure in Australia and this is evident in the brave new designs appearing in some of its newer developments.
The distinctive and striking design of Federation Square is one of the most ambitious and complex projects ever undertaken in Australia. A fusion
of arts and events, leisure, hospitality and promenading, it has changed the face of Melbourne.
Some of the best interiors can be seen in boutique hotels such as the Como and the Hatton in South Yarra; the Adelphi and Hotel Lindrum in the city and
the Prince of Wales in St Kilda.
For visual arts visit the National Gallery of Victoria, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. You’ll also find a host of other galleries specialising
in contemporary, Australian and Aboriginal arts.
Melbourne Highlights!!
Victorian Arts
The luminous spire towering radiantly above the Victorian Arts Centre is a symbol of the exultant identity Melbourne has created as an arts and cultural
metropolis.
Melbourne is an endless stage. It starts with the stunning Victorian Arts Centre, incorporating the Melbourne Concert Hall, State Theatre and Playhouse. These are home
to regular performances by the Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. And it just blooms from here.
There’s the opulent Regent Theatre creating sensational smash hit musicals. The fiercely homegrown Playbox Theatre is the place to catch the best in contemporary Australian
theatre along with La Mama Theatre.
A new arts precinct at Southbank is the home of bold and contemporary dance troupe Chunky Move and the Contemporary Centre
for Art.
For a fix of the visual arts visit the stunning National Gallery of Victoria. It boasts the largest and most serious collection of European art in the antipodes. Be sure
to see the new NGV – Australian Art gallery at Federation Square housing the largest collection of Australian art in the world.
The Heidi Museum of Modern Art, birthplace of the Heidelberg School movement of the 19th century, is captivating.
Melbourne boasts the highest concentration of commercial art galleries in the country. Specialist galleries and studios along Flinders Lane, Gertrude Street and off the beaten
track are special spaces waiting to be explored.
Food and Wine
 Melbournites are social creatures who'd
rather eat out and share a bottle of good local wine any day of the week. Hundreds of restaurants and cafes have sprung up to cater to this love of food and drink.
Throughout the city centre, and well into the suburbs, there are many fine-dining options, from top-ranking hotel restaurants to some of Australia's best casual street-side
eateries.
Melbourne is a leading light in so-called Modern Australian cuisine, a local blend of fresh ingredients and European and Asian influences. It's also well-known for its amazing
number of 'ethnic' eateries, a term often used to describe anywhere that serves up more than the traditional Aussie meat pie or fish and chips.
Successive waves of immigrants from all over the world have turned street after Melbourne street into a food-lovers paradise. Lygon Street, in Carlton, is Melbourne's slice
of Italy with pasta restaurants galore. Brunswick Street, in Fitzroy, is home to exotic restaurants and cafes - Spanish style. Richmond is crammed with
Greek and Vietnamese restaurants, while Chinatown - in the city centre - is a great hunting ground for Chinese, Malaysian, Indonesian, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese fare.
Elsewhere, the seaside suburb of St Kilda serves up seafood and more Italian and Malaysian food, while Chapel Street, South Yarra, has about every cuisine under the sun.
Another claim to fame for Melbourne is that it has the largest farmers' market in the world, with more than 640 farmers selling their produce. It also has the largest retail
market in Australia, the Queen Victoria Market, with nearly 1,000 market stalls - in the heart of the city. Come here for such delights as home-made pizza and organic wine.
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