The city of Melbourne is one of Australia’s major destinations. Hosting a large variety of tourist attractions including museums, fashion shopping, cultural events, restaurants and a number of annual sporting events, Melbourne has something to interest every visitor. It is also the gateway to Victoria’s many scenic regions and attractions.
Getting to Melbourne couldn’t be easier with its multitude of transport options. If you are flying in from overseas or interstate you will arrive at either Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport, or Avalon Airport.
Located just 25 kilometres from the CBD, Melbourne Airport is the city’s main airfield, and is only a short drive from the city centre itself, making the choice of car hire an easy option for visitors.
Some of Melbourne’s top sights include Federation Square, home to the NGV Australia and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image; The Melbourne Cricket Ground; Eureka Skydeck, the highest glass bottomed viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere; The Melbourne Museum; Crown Casino; The Docklands area including the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel; and St. Kilda’s Luna Park. Hiring a people mover is a fantastic way to move your group of people around the see the city’s attractions.
If you are keen to check out Melbourne’s famous food and nightlife scene you won’t be disappointed in a visit to one of the many popular urban strips including Chinatown on Little Bourke Street; Lygon Street, Carlton; Brunswick Street in Fitzroy; the trendy Chapel Street; and the ever lively Fitzroy, Carlisle and Acland Streets in St. Kilda.
Melbourne is also well known for its fashion scene. Keen shoppers can give their wallets a work out in a vast number of tempting shopping centres located throughout the suburbs and the city centre. Some of the top shopping destinations include the Queen Victoria Market, known to locals as the “Vic Market’; the ever expanding mecca that is the Chadstone Shopping Centre; the Direct Factory Outlet chain with stores located in South Wharf, Essendon and Moorabbin; and the architecturally stunning Melbourne Central. Don’t forget the iconic laneways and arcades weaving their way through the city centre- you’ll be sure to find a hidden treasure or three.
Each year Melbourne hosts an array of sporting events attracting locals and visitors alike. As the undisputed home of the Australian Football League you’ll be sure to find time to catch a live game during the ‘footy season’. Other major events include the Formula One Grand Prix, the Australian Tennis Open, and the Melbourne Boxing Day Test for cricket fans. Minibus rentals are a great option if you are planning a group excursion to one of Melbourne’s sporting events.
If you plan on heading out of the city, Victoria’s many scenic charms will be sure to keep you captivated. Some of the most visited destinations within a day trip from Melbourne include the Yarra Valley region, which produces high quality Victorian wines; the Mornington Peninsula; Geelong, gateway to the Great Ocean Road; famous Phillip Island- a great place to get up close with wildlife; and the Gippsland region, encompassing landscapes of rolling farmland, beautiful national parks and pristine beaches. Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges are also a stone’s throw from the city centre and well worth a visit. Car or Minibus Hire is a great option for visitors to the state, as it allows you to journey at your own pace, stopping to take in the sights to fit your personal itinerary.
Whatever your reason for travelling to Melbourne, you are sure to be enchanted by the range of things to do and sights to see, and choosing a self-drive car rental is a terrific way to fit all your plans in.