Melbourne Travel Information
Melbourne is Australia’s second city and boasts a truly cosmopolitan lifestyle, with the city’s various cultures providing a huge array of festivals, food and events. Melbourne is famous for its sporting events, fashion, music, theatre and shopping. Popular events include the Australian Tennis Open, the Melbourne Grand Prix, the Boxing Day cricket test match, the Spring Horse Racing Carnival, and the AFL Grand Final. It is easy to get around, especially as Melbourne bucked the trend and kept its city trams, now one of the city’s icons.
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Melbourne’s weather is notoriously unpredictable. It’s not rare to experience three seasons in one day. Winter tends to be the wildest, while spring and autumn are the most pleasant times.
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Public transport is generally fast and efficient, especially if you are travelling from the CBD to one of the suburbs. Public transport between suburbs can be a hassle. The best way to see all of the inner city attractions is to take a trip on the free city circle tram. It stops within walking distance of all the major city attractions.
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Australians love their colloquialisms. One particular habit that may shock the uninitiated is the use of derogatory names among friends. If a local starts calling you names in an otherwise friendly conversation, take it as a sign of affection and a token of friendship. And give as good as you get!
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In general, it is not customary to tip in Australia. In some of the high-class restaurants it is usual to tip up to 10 per cent, but on the whole, gratuitiesiare at your own discretion.
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Drinking remains an integral part of Australian culture, and drunkenness generally does not incur the same social stigma as in some cultures, provided the behaviour remains within reasonable bounds.
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Moneychangers in Melbourne are not as common as in other major international cities - try along Collins, Elizabeth, or Swanston streets. If heading into regional Victoria, it's wise to cash up beforehand rather than relying on regional banking outlets.
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The primary health hazard is sunburn or sunstroke. Even if you're not normally bothered by strong sun, you should cover up with a long-sleeved shirt, a hat, and long pants or a beach wrap.
Useful travel tips resources
Footprint Guides – Melbourne
Excellent resource on Melbourne from this well-known travel guide publisher.
http://www.footprintguides.com/
Visit Melbourne
The official government tourist information site for Melbourne.
http://www.visitmelbourne.com/
Melbourne Travel Guide
A thorough guide to all there is to know about Melbourne.
http://www.melbourneaustralia.org/
More topics on this site…
Melbourne maps and geography
Australia travel information
Australia travel tips
Australia health and safety
Australia maps and geography
Essentials
Visas: Every nationality except New Zealanders needs visas
Season: Year round
Money: Australian Dollar – ATMs widely available
Language: English
Emergency #: 000