Melbourne, popularly called the "Garden City" of Australia, is the capital city of Victoria. When you take a stroll down its vistas and pathways, you will come to know the real meaning of its name, thanks to a large number of rare plant species, parks, and gardens. It's also Victoria's city of Style, and tourists who come here enjoy a great shopping experience in the fabulous shopping precincts spread across the city. Art lovers who come here can experience a good variety of art exhibitions and galleries featuring the works of top-class artists. Melbourne is world famous for hosting great sporting events such as the Tooheys Blue Melbourne Cup and the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. The Australian Open Tennis Championship attracts visitors from all over the world. Among the many other important tourist destinations are the Yarra River, where you can take a sightseeing cruise, Melbourne Zoo, Lygon Street (famous for its restaurants), Open Range Zoo, Queenscliff and many more. You can explore the natural beauty of Melbourne when you visit places like Werribee Park, which has some of the most spectacular rose gardens, and Organ Pipes National Park, well known for its fantastic rock columns. Consider a trip to the Healsville Sanctuary and you get a chance to be up and close to the most adorable native animals of this region. A trip north of Melbourne leads you to the high country where you can indulge in adventure sports such as flying, kayaking, canoeing, and skiing. There are also trails where you can go cycling or walking. Just 50 kilometers from Melbourne is the famous Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges. This is a hilly and highly forested region most importantly known for producing wine. You will find Melbourne to be very cosmopolitan with all modern facilities available. Its restaurants boast of cuisines from all over the world, thereby catering to everyone's taste. |
