About Melbourne

Welcome to Melbourne, the capital of state Victoria and the second largest city in Australia. This modern and cosmopolitan city is often referred to as the cultural capital of Australia with approximately 3.8 million people from more than 233 countries, speaking over 180 languages and dialects living here.

This multicultural city, embraces diversity; the streets buzz with people from all corners of the world, enjoying all the multi-cultural flavors and lifestyles that the city has to offer. Being very much about lifestyle, the communities of Melbourne spend their weekends embracing sport, fashion and festivals. Wandering around Melbourne on a weekend you will often see groups of friends socialising at café's, kicking around a football or simply taking a walk by the Yarra River. The people of Melbourne have also learnt to embrace the changeable weather that it is known for, where you will often experience four seasons in one day.

Social Events and Activities

There is always something to do and to see in Melbourne. Being renound as the shopping capital of Australia you may indeed enjoy the department stores, specialist shops and boutiques dotted throughout the laneways and streets within the city centre. These same laneways and streets are also filled with the most amazing little cafés and restaurant where you experience not only amazing dine and whine but are also greeted by the lovely hospitality of the Melbournian people.

At the centre of Australia's sporting and entertainment life, Melbourne hosts more major events than any other Australian city. Victoria is the home of Australian Rules football, with the traditional Grand Final held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground usually on the last Saturday in September. Victoria is also home to Bells Beach, which is the home of the world's longest-running surfing competition, the Bells Beach Surf Classic. In Melbourne you can also experience other world class sporting events such as the annual Australian Open tennis tournament, and the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

Nightlife & Culture

Melbourne is also notable for its mix of Victorian and contemporary architecture, its extensive tram network and Victorian parks and gardens and provides one of the world's top places to live based on its cultural attributes, and social conditions.

The city celebrates a wide variety of cultural events, festivals and shows. You may say it is a city that always sings with buskin performances found daily on the streets of the city whereas at night, Melbourne takes a different form with an energy characteristic entertainment and nightlife found in clubs, pubs, bars and even cafes.