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Students
A large student population lives, studies, works and plays in the city. The city has more than 30 tertiary institutions, teaching more than 70,000 students. Of all students studying in the city, 25 per cent also live here. The most popular suburbs for tertiary students are Carlton, the CBD and Parkville, where most of the city’s tertiary institutions are located. The students are often young adults, aged 20 to 35, many from Asian countries. They are attracted to the location because of lifestyle and also proximity to educational institutions. They are an active population, engaged in social and sporting and exercise activities. They almost all have computer and Internet access. Young professionals Young professionals are also a significant group of the population. These residents are characterised by their relative affluence, they are likely to be employed full time in the professional or to a lesser extent managerial positions in Melbourne central business district. They are likely to be living either alone or in couple household situations, not necessarily married. They are a highly mobile population, attracted to the location and dwelling type for lifestyle reasons primarily. They are an active, engaged population often involved in gym and exercise groups, are socially active - for example: • nightclubbing; • socialising with friends; and • going to the cinema and theatre. Some of these residents, but not a large proportion, is looking to move into separate housing within five years to start families. On the whole however they are not suggesting likelihood to start families in the near future.  Want a taste of Melbourne? How long have you got
Many of Melbourne’s precincts have a culinary character all of their own, from the Greek atmosphere of Lonsdale Street or Carlton’s ‘Little Italy’, to the wide choice of Chinatown around Little Bourke Street. Or take a stroll over the Yarra River to the Southgate complex or a quick tram ride to Docklands, where you can enjoy striking views of the city and spectacular waterfront while you dine. You'll find something for
every palate and price range, from fine dining to fast noodles, focaccia
to fish of the day. To truly discover Melbourne is to embark on an adventure
for the tastebuds.
 In the city, you can enjoy afternoon tea in the genteel surroundings of a nineteenth-century hotel, watch and be watched in buzzing laneway cafés and bars, or handpick a bottle of Yarra Valley chardonnay at the latest über-chic hangout. Head out a little further and explore one of Melbourne’s specialist eating destinations – Richmond for cheap and cheerful Vietnamese dishes, Carlton for Italian classics, Fitzroy for tantalising Spanish tapas. Melbourne is the coffee capital of Australia. In the CBD, the cobblestoned laneways are filled with the aroma of espresso coming from a myriad of cafés. Further afield, Richmond, St Kilda, Fitzroy, South Melbourne and Prahran also offer great café strips, with a more laid-back feel. Melbourne's awash with high
quality cafés and restaurants so you're always guaranteed to get
a satisfying meal. Sometimes, however, there's a need for more than just
a bite to eat and when it's an entire dining experience you're after, Melbourne's
your city. World-class chefs, innovative cuisines, perfectly matched wines
and quirky venues characterise fine dining in Melbourne.
 The Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle is a great new way to see Melbourne's attractions, and it's free! Hop on and hop off the bus at any of the stops at key city destinations including: Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens; Queen Victoria Market; Melbourne Aquarium; Immigration Museum; Southbank; the Shrine of Remembrance; Royal Botanic Gardens and Chinatown. The shuttle runs between 10am and 4pm daily. The complete trip takes approximately 50 minutes, listen to the informative on-board commentary as you travel around Melbourne. The 15 stops are: 1. Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens 2. Lygon Street at Elgin Street 3. Royal Parade 4. Melbourne University 5. Queen Victoria Market 6. Flagstaff 7. Law Courts 8. Immigration Museum 9. Southbank 10. Arts Precinct 11. Shrine of Remembrance 12. Sports and Entertainment Precinct 13. Flinders Quarter 14. Chinatown & Theatres 15. Exhibition Street at La Trobe Street Melbourne Sport and Activities Arts and Events Melbourne is a hive of social interaction. From summer carols by candlelight to the frantic football season in the winter, each season has its own series of events. Football has to be the most popular, well-supported pastime with several local leagues, competitions and national affiliations. Other sports are also important and are prominent fixtures on Melbourne's calendar: the Australian Open Tennis Tournament is held here as is the Australian Grand Prix and horse racing's Melbourne Cup. Non-sporting annual events include the Chinese New Year celebrations, a Summer Music Festival the Moomba Family Festival and a three-week long gay and lesbian Midsumma Festival, which brings thousands of visitors from Australia and beyond.  Beach Fun Melbourne’s beaches are well known and offer a break from the hustle bustle world of the city. For details on the city’s beaches check out our listing on our sightseeing pages. Bird Watching Visitors are often surprised by the diversity of birdlife, which includes many species of parrot in and around Melbourne. For a better insight into the birdlife of this city pop out to one of the wildlife reserves or parks in the area with your binoculars in hand and you and your family won’t be disappointed by the varieties encountered. This is an excellent activity for all ages and you will be surprised how good your kids will be at this adventure. For more information give the Bird Observers Club of Australia a call on: (03) 9877 5342 Boating From sail boats to dinghies and paddle boats there’s something for everyone in this vibrant city. Why not take a sunset cruise or sail aboard the gracious tall ship Alma Doepel, a three-mast clipper. Perhaps you would prefer to try your hand at canoeing/kayaking or river rafting? If so, Melbourne caters brilliantly to these activities as well.  Bush Walking There is interesting bushwalking in the parks and forest reserves surrounding Melbourne, including the You Yangs Forest Reserve, Brisbane Ranges National Park, Wombat State Forest, Organ Pipes National Park, Kinglake National Park and the Dandenong Ranges. For more information on walking trails within the city click here or if you want to know more about bushwalking trails, pop down to one of the local tourist centres for information, maps and other details. The Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs located at 332 Banyule Rd., Viewbank can be contacted for walking information in the state of Victoria, not just Melbourne and can be contacted on: (03) 9455 1876 during office hours. Canoeing Try canoeing for a change! This is an excellent activity for most families and suits all but the very young or very old. The Yarra River offers some decent flat water and touring sections, while around Yarra Bend Park you can combine a paddle with lunch at one of the river’s boathouses. The Nagambie Lakes in the Goulburn Valley, the Barwon River out of Geelong and Lake Windouree at Ballarat are other good places to flat-water canoe. The Murray River is another great canoeing destination, but stretches of rapids should only be attempted by well-seasoned canoeists. If you’re not an experienced canoeist, follow the gradings on various rivers to work out which stretches of water suit your skill level. There are a number of outlets offering this exciting sport who rent out canoes and you are best advised to go through the list in the Yellow Pages Telephone Directory or contact one of the tourist information centres on arrival for more details. For more see our info on sea kayaking below. Caving (Spelunking) is another
good activity for all but the youngest (or oldest) family members and is
a great activity for very hot (or rainy) days as whatever the weather outside
is doing, it’s always cool and generally pretty dry inside a cave. Caving
is a technically diverse sport utilising skills and equipment from rock-climbing,
abseiling and sometimes scuba diving (or cave diving).
Cycling Most of Melbourne's major parks have bicycle tracks suitable for recreational and family cycling. These include Studley Park, Royal Park and West Gate Park and other areas such as Melbourne general Cemetery. For details on the local cycle trails click here. Diving and snorkelling in the waters off Melbourne can prove interesting. One doesn’t see the corals on the grand scale one does on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef , but you certainly won’t be disappointed. One of the companies worth contacting for dive tours is JV Marine World which is located at 878 Springvale Road, Braeside; on: (03) 9769 0145. Details on other companies offering dive trips can be found by contacting one of the tourist information centres or consulting the local Yellow Pages Telephone Directory on arrival  • Polperro Dolphin Swims can be contacted on: (03) 5988 8437 for information on their eco-friendly dolphin tours. • Sea-All Dolphin Swims offers swimming tours with the dolphins and seals in a 4-hour tour of natural fun and adventure. Wetsuits, gear and refreshments are supplied and qualified, instructors will ensure you have a memorable experience. Tours are suitable for all ages and abilities. They are located at Queenscliff Boat Harbour, Larkin Parade, Queenscliff. For details give them a call on: (03) 5258 3889 • Moonraker Seal/Dolphin Swims The Moonraker departs from Sorrento daily, offering seal and dolphin swims as well as fabulous sightseeing opportunities. Located at the Sorrento Pier, Sorrento, contact them on: (03) 5984 4211 for details Fishing Trout live in Victoria’s rivers and streams (as well as there being trout farms) and offer some excellent angling challenges to all. If fresh water fishing isn’t what you are looking for then charter a boat and go deep water fishing or just cast a line into the ocean from one of the many beaches along the coast. No matter what type of fishing you prefer, Melbourne caters to your style.  Gambling Want to try your hand at winning millions? Then the way to do it is to pay a visit to one of Melbourne’s casinos. The Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex, reputed to be the largest casino in the southern hemisphere is located at 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank and you can call the place on: (03) 9292 8888 for more information or visit Other forms of gambling can be found at the horse racing events or greyhound racing tracks dotted around the city. Gliding The Geelong Gliding Club (GGC) operates from the Bacchus Marsh Airfield, located 50km west of the city of Melbourne, and a similar distance from the major provincial towns of Ballarat and Geelong. It is the closest soaring site to these three cities. For further information on this quiet, graceful sport contact the airfield on: (09) 212 527 or call the club house on: (03) 5369 5125 (weekends and public holidays only) Golf Australia has some excellent
golfing venues and Melbournes hosts some of the best. For that hole in
one you’ve always dreamed of pop down to one of the following golf courses
in the area:
 Horse Racing One of the world's great horse races, The Melbourne Cup held on the first Tuesday in November literally stops Australia in its tracks and for the few minutes the main race is being raced the country grinds to a halt to watch its progress. If you are visiting at this time, it’s a must-do activity not to be missed. For details on all horse racing events check out the listing in the racing section of the local newspaper on arrival. Ice Skating Since the demolition
of St Moritz in St Kilda , Melbourne has not had a permanent ice skating
rink in or near the city. However there is usually a temporary ice rink
somewhere near the city over summer and you are best advised to ask at
your hotel as to its current location or one of the tourist centres in
the city.
Operas/Concerts/Theatre and Open Air Functions Music lovers won’t be disappointed when visiting this city. You can catch a twilight concert at the Myer Music Bowl in the city or movies under the stars in the Royal Botanic Gardens . Internationally renowned musicians/singers/actors and dancers also perform regularly and you are advised to check out the listings in the entertainment section of the local newspaper for up to the minute information on who’s singing/playing where/when or go through our listing on our festivals page or in the Tangent e-Zine our on-line travel magazine. Rock Climbing/Bouldering There are a few places dotted around Melbourne and its surrounds that offer venues for this and/or bouldering. You have the option to choose between the real thing or indoor/outdoor man made venues. The nearest outdoor climbing within an hour from Melbourne, with a decent sized crag, is Werribee Gorge or possibly Camel's Hump, though there are closer, but smaller cliffs. Slightly further away Warragul Rocks at Tallarook are worth a try or the larger destination of Cathedral Range. The You Yangs has hundreds of routes only 40 minutes drive away, and Ben Cairn is also fairly close by, though only a summer destination. Mt Arapiles, the Grampians or Mt Buffalo (about 3 to 4 hrs drive from the city) though are the places to go for true climbing fun. For details chat to one of the staff at the information centres in the city or check out the listings of indoor venues or climbing tours in the local Yellow Pages telephone directory on arrival. Skiing If you are visiting during the winter months this is an excellent sport to try and there are loads of ski resorts within easy reach in a couple of hours drive from the city to choose from. One popular resort in Victoria is Mount Houtham in the Alpine National Park. This mountain is the state’s highest skiing area. All information about the ski resorts in Victoria can be found by ringing the Alpine Resort Commission on: (03) 9895 6900. (Melbourne's snowfields are all within two to five hours' drive, and both downhill and cross-country skiing are available.) Sky Diving Learn to skydive and experience the thrill of 60 seconds free-fall on your very first jump or tandem dive with an instructor if this all sounds a little too much for a first attempt. Note: Most people can skydive however, participants should not be pregnant, at risk of having a heart attack and must be over 14 years old (under 18 requires parental/guardian consent). Also if you are over 95kg do tell your instructor as special safety precautions will need to be taken. For details contact Bay Play Adventures on: (03) 5988 0188 or one of the tourist information centres on arrival. Surfing Surf can be found at the ocean sites of the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas and boards can be hired at Torquay and Sorrento if you didn’t bring your  |
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