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| | The Central Business District or CBD is Melbourne’s workaday center. Federation Square, a thoughtfully planned public arts and shopping area on the edge of the Yarra River, is a good place to go to collect one’s thoughts before setting off to explore the city. It contains the main Visitor Information Center, where one can obtain free literature for the Golden Mile Heritage Trail, a self-guided tour of Melbourne’s historical sites. The New Quay is a nearby restaurant and nightlife complex, reachable from Federation Square along the pretty and practical Harborside Esplanade. The Old Melbourne Gaol is Melbourne’s one big-time tourist site! This incredibly creepy and rudimentary jail is a testament to the horror of Australia’s colonial past. |
| In case you hadn’t already guessed, Melbourne has some very pretty houses. Many of these are located in the lush neighborhood of South Yarra, which is also home to two massive parks. The Royal Botanical Gardens (9252 2300, Anderson St; daily 7:30am-8pm, free) contains a fern gully and a lake, among other dainties; in summer its Moonlight Cinema provides free open-air screenings of new and classic films. King’s Domain (St. Kilda Rd; free) is fit for a king, or two: with 106 acres of parkland, sprinkled with special gardens and historical sites, it’s a daytrip on its own. |
| Part classy residential ‘hood and part trendy bohemian haunt, Fitzroy is at its most accessible with the Fitzroy Gardens (Wellington Parade and Albert St; daily 7am-5pm), which contain Cook’s Cottage, a transplanted Yorkshire cottage once the home of Captain James Cook’s parents, a 1930-built conservatory, and numerous other goodies, like a model Tudor village. |
| A former sea-side resort, St. Kilda turned seedy in the 1960’s and 70’s but since suffered a turn for the upscale. The neighborhood is still fairly bohemian, and it’s a lovely place for a day’s walk in the sun. Luna Park, a sporadically operational amusement park, is centrally located and popular with backpackers. The Bay Trail runs along the coast; explore smaller, seaside towns within a day’s walking distance. |
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