Updated on September 8th, 2024

I visited Australia and Melbourne many times in the last almost ten years, but I spent so many days in Melbourne during my first visit. This city is one of my favourite cities I have ever visited. The reasons behind my all visits were mixed. Visiting campuses of a few colleges and universities was also one reason, as I have my profession related to it. But as a whole, I spent my days as long vacations as I visited almost every known place in Melbourne. Every time, I felt Melbourne was one of the best places to be. There are so many beautiful places around Melbourne.

Metro Trains in Melbourne

During my first visit, Ashburton on Warrigal road was an area of my stay. It was very near to Homes glen metro station. I used this station so many times while roaming around Melbourne. Having 16 simple train lines starting from Flinders street station, this metro service passing through 211 stations is like the lifelines of Melbourne. Flinders Street Station is the central railway station on the corner of Swanston and Queen Street. We knew flinders Street as the heart of Melbourne. The most crucial icon here is the building of a station built inbuilt and started in 1854, and it was the first train station in any Australian city. Yarra River is also passing near Flinders station.

‘I will meet you under the clock’ is a famous idiom in Melbourne, which refers to clocks fixed on the main entrance of Flinders’ street station. Because of being in the city’s central place, people use this place as a meeting point. I can assure, you will never get bored being at Flinders street, Swanston, and Elizabeth, Collins, or Queens street. I used to be there frequently.

Another prominent place touching to Flinders’ station is Federation square. Its meeting place as well centre of various cultural and other activities. It is open 24 hours and 365 days of the year. Fed Square Pty Ltd, a company wholly owned by the state government of Victoria, is committed to representing Melbourne’s multiculturalism via the array of festivals throughout the year and acknowledging the National Days of countries across the globe.

Melbourne Aquarium

The day first, I planned to visit some important places. Melbourne’s Aquarium, Parliament House, Eureka sky deck, and Crown Casino were on the top of my list of sites. All these sites are in the central city within walking distance of each other. Melbourne Aquarium is on the Yarra River. It is the world’s only Southern Ocean aquarium, housing a Great Barrier Reef exhibit, Giant Southern Crabs, Japanese spider crabs, clownfish, jellyfish galore, sea turtles, and Grey nurse sharks. Walk along the glass tunnel and watch the underwater world swim around you! Watching the sharks around is a fantastic experience. You feel like walking through Ocean, looking at sea life. It’s a beautiful place to spend your day. No wonder if I say that no trip to Melbourne is complete without visiting Melbourne Aquarium.

Shrine of Remembrance

Another beautiful place within walking distance of Flinders street station is the National War Memorial of Victoria, popularly known as the Shrine of Remembrance. As Australia’s largest war memorial, it is another landmark in Melbourne. Opened in 1934, the Shrine is a memorial to those served during different wars for the country. It is the annual Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, which commemorates the sacrifices made by the countrymen for the country. The upper balcony of the Shrine offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area and the skyline of Melbourne. In brief, it is a must-visit while you are in Melbourne.

One of the best things to do in Melbourne is just being outside, with some fantastic weather. In June July, there are so many great places to enjoy it. Going city with or with no work, roaming in shopping malls, sitting on the banks of Yarra River, Tasting Chinese, Italian, Indonesian and Indian foods, walking on the sand and water on different beaches can be your regular activities. Williams’s town and St Kilda beaches were my favourite beaches during my stay in Melbourne.

Regional escapes are full of more beautiful things than city life. Suppose you wish to breathe more fresh air. In that case, you can plan a long trip to any destination like Mt Buller, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road, Dandenong Hill Ranges, Sovereign Hill gold mines at Ballarat, or Grampian National Park.

Ballarat & Sovereign Hills gold mines

One day, we planned to visit Ballarat and Sovereign Hills gold mines. It is situated 110 km northwest of Melbourne. The day we went there, it was cloudy with drizzling at brief intervals. Way to Ballarat from Melbourne passes through beautiful landscapes and breathtaking sceneries. Wines, yards and green hilly slopes create a soothing effect on you. At Ballarat, you will get a re-created environment of 1850s gold mining. The Discovery of gold in the 1850s is the most significant event in the state’s evolution of Victoria. Even now, you can try your luck and pan for gold in water and sand flowing there. You can wander through colonial buildings and feel the atmosphere of a bygone era. Continue reading more beautiful places around Melbourne

Initially written in 2010, so dates belong to that year.