From Melbourne by Car Hire
Melbourne – is Australia’s second largest city and is the capital of Victoria. Victoria is the smallest mainland state but is just a little bit smaller than the combined UK. While the city is not as “happening” as Sydney is reputed to be, it still has many rewards for the adventurous tourist.
While you are in the city you will have many things and places to check out. A nice place to start might be the Eureka Tower; it is the tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere and offers spectacular views over the surrounding cityscape. Another of the more impressing buildings found within the city is the Parliament House. This building is the largest 19th century public building in Australia and is open to the public on weekdays.
The Docklands is an exciting new precinct for the city and it is filled with a whole host of new shops, bars, restaurants and a stadium along the waterside. There is also the Southgate district which is another waterfront promenade with a number of fine restaurants, bars and an arts & crafts market. Some other areas of the town you can relax and soak in the atmosphere and get to know the culture are the Federation Square and the AFL World where you can get a taste of Australian Football.
In the suburbs of the city there are a number of other interesting sights to see, these include the Melbourne Museum in Carlton, the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere, and it consists of seven galleries! Right next door to the Museum is a IMAX Cinema which can show movies on an 8-storey screen. And also in Carlton you can find the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens which is a UNESCO World Heritage site definitely worth a visit.
If you are travelling from some of the more northerly climes then you might appreciate St Kilda which is a beachside suburb with beautiful sandy strands. There are a number of other attractions in St Kilda including Luna Park, St Kilda Botanical Gardens and the Jewish Museum of Australia. Brighton Beach is another of the popular beaches in the immediate area.
You can find the University of Melbourne and the Melbourne Zoo in Parkville. In South Yarra you can find the Royal Botanic Gardens and Chapel Street which is an important shopping street for the city. To the north of the airport you can check out the Woodlands Historic Park, which contains an 1840s homestead and a nature reserve.
What’s to see in the Melbourne Area?
Melbourne has much to offer the curious tourist, both inside and outside of the city.
Heading out of the city there is an awful lot to explore. Within a short drive of the city you have a fine range of attractions to visit. This includes the Mansion at Werribee Park a historic building close to an open range zoo and is only about a 30 minute drive from Melbourne. Another interesting place to visit is the Dandenong Ranges, home to a national park, gardens and a historic steam railway.
Australia is famous the world over for its New World wines and in the Melbourne area you can go wine tasting in the Yarra Valley which is only 60kms from central Melbourne. While you are in the area you could check out the Healesville Sanctuary. The Healesville Sanctuary is a specialised zoo dedicated to native Australian animals including koalas, wallabies, wombats, dingoes, kangaroos, platypus, and many different species of birds. Other attractions in the areas close to Melbourne include the Kinglake National Park, the Port Phillip Bay scenic drive and the Mornington Peninsula.
If you are willing to drive a small bit further you can head north of Melbourne and visit Echuca-Moama about 2.5 hours away from the city. Echuca-Moama is a twin town separated by the Murray River; with Echuca lying in Victoria and Moama located in New South Wales. One trademark attraction in this area is the Paddlesteamers that push their way along the river.
Located about 250kms to the north of Melbourne you will find Mount Buller which is an excellent skiing destination and if you don’t feel like doing that you can still appreciate the sightseeing opportunities.
Located to the east of Melbourne you can visit the Mornington Peninsula, simply called the Peninsula by the locals. While here you can have a look through the Mornington Peninsula National Park, visit the Peninsula Visitor Information Centre or take a stroll on the 26km Two Bays Walking Track.
To the west of Melbourne there is plenty to keep yourselves occupied such as taking a visit toe the Grampians National Park, popular for its fine hiking trails; Geelong, a town about 70kms from Melbourne which has something on offer for any age; and there is also the Bellarine Peninsula which has so much to offer such as Fort Queenscliff, Queenscliff Maritime Museum and the steam trains of Bellarine Peninsula Railway.
And finally the best thing to do by car when in Victoria would be to take a drive along the Great Ocean Road. This 273kms stretch of road was constructed in the memory of those Australian soldiers who died in WWI and is now a popular tourist route due to the excellent scenic views.
That’s the end of our quick overview of what you can expect in and around Melbourne. If you think you will want to get around by car while in Melbourne have a look at our Car Hire Melbourne page and have a look at our competitive rates. For more information about other Australian cities have a look through our Australia blogs.
If you have any tips about driving in and around the Melbourne area feel free to let us know. Just leave your message in the comment box below.