Welcome
G'day and welcome to the Llama Guide to Melbourne.
Find out everything you need to know about getting to and hanging out in Australia's capital of arts, sports and fashion.
basic information
Melbourne has a temperate climate with warm to hot summers and cool winters. Whilst Melbourne is known for its "four seasons in one day" climate, it actually receives less annual rainfall thans Sydney. The best times to visit are from November through April.
Melbourne is the unquestionable sporting capital of Australia, being home to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australian Open Tennis (January), Australian Formula One Grand Prix (March)and the Melbourne Cup Carnival (November).
The unofficial religion in Melbourne is Australian Rules Football ("Aussie Rules" or simply "footy") being the second best attended domestic club league in the world with average crowds of over 35,000 to fixtures.
Melbourne has a more relaxed feel, European feel compared to its larger northern rival, Sydney, and prides itself as the creative capital of Australia.
So what are you waiting for ? This LLAMA guide to Melbourne will give you all the links and information you need to plan your trip of a lifetime !!
getting there - visa requirements
Visit this lens for more information about visa requirements for Australia. melbourne photo cards from cardart
getting there - flights
- Qantas - Australia's national carrier with daily flights from New York and Los Angeles.
- V Australia - Australia's newest international airline commencing daily flights from LA to Australia from December 2008.
- American Airlines
travel agents
find cheap deals to melbourne
in-flight reading
books from or about australia
Shantaram: A Novel
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/02/2008) 
Used Price: $8.00
Illywhacker
Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 12/02/2008)
Used Price: $2.47
Monkey Grip
Amazon Price: (as of 12/02/2008)
Used Price: $2.22
In a Sunburned Country
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/02/2008)
Used Price: $1.98
getting around - map of melbourne
- Google Maps - Melbourne
- For your on-line research, you can't beat google maps.
- Whereis.com
- whereis.com is a local Australian wesbites for maps & directions. This site also includes links at the top of the page to Australia's whitepages and yellowpages.
where to stay in melbourne
Crown Towers
This property is now considered the best in Australia. There is a 25 metre pool and high tech gym, a spa, 2 tennis courts and a part of the hotel is even segregated for the high roller gamblers. This is...
Windsor
Classified by the National Trust, this hotel is protected and preserved to the highest degree. It has a lot of warmth and character often missing in modern hotels. For the lovers of 'old world charm'...
Grand Hotel Melbourne Managed by Sofitel
Located in the heart of Melbourne, close to the Exhibition Centre, Crown Casino and the Southbank entertainment and shopping precinct. This all-suite hotel offers 114 deluxe studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom...
The Lyall
The Lyall Hotel is situated in the heart of South Yarra-one of the world's most fashionable and cosmopolitan destinations. Just a short stroll from the Lyall Hotel are Toorak Road and Chapel Street which...
ausssie hotel search sites
recent flickr photos of melbourne
medusa
Vauxhall custom
Calder raceway 1975
Studebaker
Heavenly Pareidolia
Heavenly Pareidolia
top things to do in Melbourne
add your own suggestions . . .
Have a ride at Luna Park
Come along and enjoy Luna Park's rides, entertainment, food and views. Park entry is free! Located near St Kilda beach for even more fun.0 points
Queen Victoria Markets
Queen Victoria Market is Victoria's premier and Australia's oldest open-air market. It's a thriving and vital place pulsating with life.0 points
Hang out at Federation Square
Federation Square is Melbourne's meeting place and a unique cultural precinct. Federation Square brings together a creative mix of attractions, includ...0 points
Go to the top at Melbourne Deck
Offering spectacular 360 degree views from the top of the renowned Rialto building, right in the very heart of the city, this Melbourne institution is...0 points
Have a bowl at the National Sports Museum
The National Sports Museum also brings renewed energy to the MCG's traditional role as the spiritual home of Australian sport, re-establishing the sta...0 points
Shop crazy at Chapel St
Melbournians have a soft spot for Chapel Street. While the rest of the city goes about its business, here is a place known for the good things in life...0 points
Lock yourself up a the Old Melbourne Gaol
The Old Melbourne Gaol is a great place to visit while in Melbourne Australia!0 points
Ride the City Circle Free Tourist Tram
What better way to see the city than ride the free tourist tram past a host of Melbourne's attractions - jump on & off as you like.0 points
Try your luck at the Cown Entertainment Complex
From live entertainment to themed displays and riverside festivals, Crown truly is A World of Entertainment. Have a gamble, drink or fine food any tim...0 points
See the koalas & kangaroos at Melbourne Zoo
More than 300 animal species from Austrlia and around the world are on view just 4km from the city centre at award-winning Melbourne Zoo.0 points
melbourne is australia's sporting capital
have you say about melbourne
if you've visited or live in melbourne, let us know your thoughts
Fetching blurbs now... please stand bymelbourne guide-books
Melbourne (City Guide)
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/02/2008)
Pocket Map and Guide Melbourne (EYEWITNESS POCKET MAP & GUIDE)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/02/2008)
Wallpaper City Guide: Melbourne (Wallpaper City Guides) (Wallpaper City Guides (Phaidon Press))
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 12/02/2008)
Streetwise Melbourne Map - Laminated City Street Map of Melbourne, Australia (Streetwise (Streetwise Maps))
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 12/02/2008)
Australia (Country Guide)
Amazon Price: $19.79 (as of 12/02/2008)
where to eat in melbourne
With almost 35% of Melbourne's population born overseas, Melbourne has a great diversity of restaurants. Migration from Greece, Italy, India, Vietnam and China, amongst others, combined with the quality of fresh Australian produce and meats spoil the visitor for choice.For premium dining, you have to check out the The Age Good Food Guide Awards 2008 (see page 2 for listing) with Rockpool Bar & Grill taking the best restaurant award.
Other recommended restaurants include:
Gingerboy
With it's south east asian influences, Gingerboy provides some of the most exciting food you'll find anywhere.
Va Tutto
Modern Italian food with hints of Asian influence will have you wanting more.
Ezard
Ezard is one of Melbourne's leading restaurants located in Flinders Lane at the base of the Adelphi Hotel offering "Australian free-style cuisine" with the primary influences the cuisines of Asia.
Number 8 restaurant and wine bar
As Crown's flagship modern Australian restaurant, Number 8 restaurant and wine bar is committed to serving the finest local and seasonal produce prepared in a stylish yet simple manner.
Nobu Melbourne
Nobu, the world's most recognized Japanese restaurant known for its innovative new style Japanese cuisine, is now open at Crown Melbourne
For more Melbourne restaurant guides and reviews check out Melbourne Restaurants , eatability.com or Melbourne citysearch.
Also check out the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival if you're visiting in February / March.
best bars & pubs in melbourne
Here are the top places for a drink in Melbourne. If you've visited any of these, feel free to vote them up and down or add your own fave . . .
The Metropolitan Hotel
A Melbourne Land mark for over 150 years. In its sesquicentenary, The Metropolitan Hotel has seen the city change and prosper. Bordering the legal pre...0 points
Charlie's Bar
A sophisticated and classy bar - perfect to start an evening of fun !0 points
Der Raum
Voted one of the world's best bars, Der Raum is a hip venue with amazing cocktails .0 points
La La Land . . .
Comfy lounges make this bar like your own lounge room, but with classier drinks - you won't want to leave.0 points
Bennetts Lane Jazz Club
Bennetts Lane Jazz Club - the best jazz club in the southern hemisphere. Open 7 nights a week0 points
Ding Dong Lounge
Chinatown rock bar and live music venue0 points
The Croft Institute
The Croft Institute is a cool bar in Melbourne hidden away off the beaten track.0 points
melbourne in a minute vid
concerts, theatre & sports in melbourne
Why not buy some tickets to a band, sporting event, concert or theatre show for your stay in Sydney. The main ticketing outlets are:Ticketek
Ticketmaster Australia
For more information on what's on in Sydney, check out The Age's What's On Guide.
where to shop in melbourne
Melbourne promotes itself as the premier destination for shopping and the fashion capital of Australia.From the better known Chapel St and open-air markets, to "shopping secrets" you won't find it hard to part with your money in Melbourne.
In the CBD, other areas to visit include:
- Collins Street for high fashion stores
- Melbourne Central shopping mall
- Swanston Street and Bourke Street Mall which houses David Jones and Myer department stores
Follow these links for designer fashion and melbourne CBD stores.
recent flickr photos of melbourne sports
Unfurling The 2007 P...
Unfurling The 2007 P...
Unfurling The 2007 P...
2008 International R...
2008 International R...
Subiaco Oval Panoram...
getting out - domestic flights from melbourne
- Qantas
- Qantas flies domestically throughout Australia and New Zealand.
- Jetstar
- Qantas' budget airline.
- Regional Express
- Services regional Australian locations.
- Tiger Airways
- Tiger has flights from Melbourne's secord airport, Tullamarine, to a number of Australian cities and Singapore.
other useful info about melbourne
- Public holidays in Melbourne
- Aussies love a long weekend - check out when public holidays fall in Victoria.
- Worldwide Tipping Guide
- Australians do not have a custom of tipping but tend to generally "round up" rat