by Henry Roth
Melbourne is a majestic princess, custom made for touring.
The romantic clutter of trams, the whoosh of trains, the bur of buses, the spin of free Melbourne city push bikes, and this town is built for getting not only its own citizens from A to Z with ease, but also visitors. You will find a city that embraces transportation that makes it a heaven destination.
Nestled on the Yarra River, Australia’s original capital city before Canberra was created in the middle of the bush between Sydney and Melbourne. Until recently it was always considered slightly stayed, British and conservative. A combination of extraordinary, plus a cultural melting pot, Melbourne is home to the third largest Greek population outside of Greece. Melbourne has shaken off the perception of ‘dozing’ for ‘dazzling’.
What seems to make Melbourne magical is its extraordinary sensitivity to combining old school Victorian style inter-mixed with stainless steel, funk, angular buildings, schools, and apartments. Melbourne breathes life, inspiration and motivation because it is a total touring and walking city. There is a plethora of people-watching, food, arts, and avant-garde energy.
Melbourne International and Domestic airport…
If you think of Milan in Italy, Chicago in the USA, then you are getting closer to Melbourne. Many airlines now fly directly into Melbourne’s sprawling Tullamarine airport, whilst an abundance of flights connecting to Sydney lead to Melbourne an hour away by flight.
From the airport…
Just grab an airport express bus (Sky Bus) and for 18 Australian dollars you will land in the heart of Melbourne city and be surrounded by the stainless steel architecture of the Southern Cross Railway Station.
Inner city and suburbs…
Yarra Trams will take you from the Southern Cross station to almost anywhere in this sparkling city of contrast, Yarra trams are used for some of the best people watching on this planet.
Trains…
For inter-suburbian travel and the lush countryside; grab a PTV metro train.
Myki…
Myki is your friend, for $6.90 you purchase a card that you can top up from all 7-11 stores that are open 24 hours and throughout all train stations for this inexpensive network, an all day travel card is $7.90 or else travel is $3.60 or $3.50 depending on the zone.
Hot air ballooning…
Saturdays and Sundays as the sun is rising, hop on one of the incredible hot air balloon experiences that hovers over the city like chandeliers in a ballroom. Old school romance is rekindled and the experience of exhilaration is like no other check out Adrenalin, prices average about $300 Australian, yet it’s pricey, but the experience is also check Red Balloon as there are often deals as low as $250.
River cruises…
It’s not until the Melbourne south Yarra improvement twenty years ago, that the city has started to embrace the Yarra River. What was once a dubious afterthought is now a Melbourne love affair, as lights sparkle at night on a waterway that adds shimmer to a sparkling city. Check Viator and with a four and three quarter star rec for Melbourne star dinner cruises, or simply walk down the river on the Southbank side and make new friends without any hesitation.
Sky high…
Another way of getting a good birds eye view is from the highest point of the city at Eureka Skydeck, booking tickets are essential and the pricing is under $25.
Next week we will be hitting Flinders St lane once named the garment and fashion district of Australia which optimizes the pulsating beat of Melbourne lane glamour, essential to the cobble stone side streets of the city of Melbourne.
MELBOURNE #rothmelbourneis.