THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN MELBOURNE

Producer Matthew Westrup travelled to Melbourne with Cathay Pacific Airways from London, Heathrow and stayed at The Adelphi Hotel. Melbourne is a rapidly changing city, shedding its conservative image and carving a niche for itself as a centre for the arts and sports. To organise your trip to Melbourne visit the links below and scroll down to find out more about some of the things you can look forward to on a visit to Australia’s second city:

To find out more about Cathay Pacific visit		To find out more about The Adelphi Hotel visit
To find out more about Melbourne visit

Federation Square

Federation Square is the heart of modern Melbourne; a plaza in desert-tones which is a meeting place and leisure space. It has great views of Melbourne's riverside and cityscape and there are around 20 restaurants, cafes and bars to enjoy. Alongside the modern, it’s possible to enjoy the past. Don’t miss Melbourne’s signature Edwardian building, Flinders Street Station.
For more info visit:www.visitmelbourne.com

Melbourne Zoo

This was Australia’s first zoo, opening in Royal Park in 1862. More than 350 animal species from Australia and around the world are on view in naturalistic habitats. Habitats range from African and Asian rainforests with gorillas, pygmy hippopotamus, mandrills, tigers and otters, to Australian environments including koalas, kangaroos, wombats and platypus.
For more info visit: www.zoo.org.au

Old Melbourne Gaol

Victoria's first prison, Old Melbourne Gaol is one of the city’s oldest surviving buildings. 136 people were hanged here including famous bushranger Ned Kelly.  On a guided tour you can experience what life was like for some of Australia’s most notorious villains, and learn about their lives and crimes, trials and treatment. Four nights a week it’s possible to experience prison life by candlelight on tours that mix theatre with historical facts.
For more info visit: www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au

Victorian Arts Centre

The Victorian Arts Centre is home to national companies like the opera and ballet. The Theatres Building houses the State Theatre as well as a number of smaller studio and gallery spaces, including the Playhouse and Fairfax Studio.
The Arts Centre is open daily for guided tours and gallery exhibitions, as well as nightly performances. On Sundays, artisans and local producers sell their wares under market umbrellas that line the centre’s St Kilda Road frontage and wrap their way down onto the Southgate promenade.
For more info visit: www.theartscentre.com.au

Rialto Towers

A good way of getting an overview of the geography of Melbourne is from the Rialto Tower. At eight hundred and twenty four feet, it’s the tallest office building in the Southern Hemisphere. The 360 Observation Deck provides a 360-degree view of the city and surrounding area stretching 60 km to the horizon.
For more info visit:www.rialto.com.au

Cricket

To the east of the centre in Yarra Park is the MCG, Melbourne Cricket Ground. The MCG is the 'super stage' of Australian sport and entertainment, having housed high profile events ranging from the 1956 Olympics to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, and concerts by the likes of the Rolling Stones and Madonna. On non event days you can take a Melbourne Cricket Ground Tour, learn about the city’s sporting history and visit the Long Room, MCC Museum, Bill Lawry Cricket Centre and the Cricket Viewing Rooms.
For more info visit: www.mcg.org.au

Luna Park

One of Melbourne’s favourite attractions for people of all ages offers 17 different rides and attractions, including old favourites like the Scenic Railway, the Carousel and the Ghost Train as well as high-speed thrill rides like the Enterprise, Pharaoh’s Curse, G-Force and Metropolis. Apart from the rides there are several restaurants and food stands, souvenir shops and game houses to visit.
For more info visit: www.lunapark.com.au