Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria in Australia. It is the second largest city in Australia. It was voted the worlds' most livable city in 1994 and the least polluted for a city of its size. Melbourne is renowned for its parks, fickle weather, clanging trams, upside-down river, football and its cosmopolitan outlook. It is also the financial capital of Australia.

ATTRACTIONS

City Centre

The city centre consists of a 7 sq km rectangular grid of streets bordered by the Yarra to the south, the Spencer St railway station to the west and the Fitzroy Garden to the east. Two of Melbourne's most obvious central landmarks are the recently renovated Flinders St Station and the neo-Gothic St Paul's Cathedral. North of these buildings lies the continuing saga that is the badly planned city square (construction of a hotel/apartment/shopping complex has commenced), the boom-years' Town Hall, the domed and pillared building containing the State Library and the flamboyant City Baths.

Other city attractions include the bustling Queen Victoria Market on the northern fringe of the CBD; views from the 35th floor of the Regent Hotel at the eastern end of Collins St; the mammoth Treasury and State Parliament House buildings; Scots and St Michael's churches; the 19th-century Block Arcade, which runs between Collins and Elizabeth Sts; the collection of Gothic-revival banks on the corner of Collins and Queen Sts; and the landmark Rialto Towers (now boasting an observation deck) at the western end of Collins St. At the top end of Russell St there's the atmospheric Old Melbourne Gaol. Other historic buildings include the Old Customs House, St James Cathedral and the Old Royal Mint.

The key to an important facet of Melbourne's character can be found on the sportsgrounds scattered on the parkland to the south-east of the city centre, including Flinders, Olympic and Yarra parks. The superb Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the National Tennis Centre reflect Melburnians' renowned passion for sport.

The Yarra's South Bank

The focus of Melbourne is slowly shifting to the south bank of the Yarra, which has seen large scale construction and the influx of huge sums of money and political will. The Victorian Arts Centre buildings and the National Gallery of Victoria are both on the south bank. The aliens-are-coming spire of the arts centre's theatre building is probably Melbourne's most famous landmark. Opposite the arts precinct are the Royal Botanic Gardens - considered to be one of the finest in the world - and Kings Domain, which contains the Shrine of Remembrance, Governor La Trobe's Cottage and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. The new Southgate complex of shops, wine bars, snack stalls and restaurants line the Yarra's bank. Melbourne's gigantic Crown Casino entertainment complex is nearby.

Inner-City Haunts

The inner suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy and Richmond are all recommended for their architecture, restaurants and atmosphere. Carlton is the Italian centre, full of pasta & spaghetti bars, muscle cars and slick Italian clothing stores. Victoria St in Richmond is the vibrant Vietnamese centre, chock full of budget restaurants, and the focus of the Lunar New Year celebrations in January-February. Fitzroy is now a magnet for the urban cool, cafe dwellers and property renovators, but was once the working-class heart of Melbourne. St Kilda is a day trip in itself. For years it was Melbourne's sex and sin centre - drunks, drugs, girls, shady deals and shady characters abounded - but the suburb is slowly being rejuvenated. Fitzroy St retains traces of its former tarnished character, although today you're more likely to be sipping a crisp white and dining on rocket salad than slugging a beer and looking for action. There is a string of average beaches running from St Kilda back into the city, including Middle Park, Albert Park and Port Melbourne. Luna Park, near St Kilda Beach, is an old-fashioned fairground that's fun for kids and coltish adults.

Around Melbourne

Attractions around Melbourne include numerous beaches, the old gold towns to the north and west, and the Dandenong hills and the Yarra Valley wineries to the east. The eastern arm of the bay is known as the Mornington Peninsula - a bayside beach strip which continues all the way to Portsea at the end of the peninsula. The bay's western arm curves around to the Bellarine Peninsula, where the beaches on the ocean coast are renowned for their surf. The peninsula is tipped by stately Queenscliff. A ferry traverses the head of the bay between Portsea and Queenscliff, and if you're lucky you may see dolphins frolicking off the bows.

The beautiful Dandenongs are an hour's drive east of the city. The unique charm of the range and its peaceful forests have made the Dandenongs a favoured destination for those wanting to escape the city.

Attractions include bushwalks, wildlife, steam-train rides on Puffing Billy, antiques, tearooms, and nurseries. Also inland to the east, there's the exceptional Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary and more than 30 wineries in the Yarra Valley region.

Heading inland to the north-west, the important Aboriginal site at mysterious Hanging Rock and the hill station gardens and mansions of Mt Macedon are passed en route to the historic old mining towns of Bendigo, Maldon, Castlemaine and Daylesford.

Sydney

Sydney, a city with a stunning Opera House, overlooking a vibrant, beautiful harbour. A city which has more than 30 golden beaches stretching north and south, all within 20 minutes of the city centre. With a climate that never really gets cold, life in Sydney is spent outdoors, walking, sightseeing and relaxing in delightful cafes and restaurants overlooking glistening blue waters. Over recent years a number of historic buildings and areas have been tastefully developed and restored such as Paddington in the Eastern Suburbs, now protected by the National Trust, with its steeply sloping, tree-lined streets crammed with rows of late 19th century houses, trendy art galleries, boutiques and antique shops. The historic, harbourside Rocks Area, site of Australia's first European settlement, encompasses elegantly restored buildings offering a wide variety of restaurants, entertainment venues and specialty shops. Darling Harbour, formerly a dockland area, has undergone a multi-million dollar transformation into a harbourside complex of shops, restaurants and parks encompassing a Chinese Garden and the Sydney Aquarium. SIGHTSEEING:

• SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
  The Opera House is situated at Bennelong Point. This building is home to Australia's world renowned opera, ballet, theatre companies and symphony orchestra. You are welcome to walk inside and have a look around, although the auditorium is out of bounds except on the guided tour.

• SYDNEY BRIDGE
  Affectionately called "The Coat Hanger", Sydney Bridge has to be seen to be believed. Take a walk across the bridge to Milson's Point and enjoy the view as you go. It's at this point you realize just how high the bridge really is. You can climb up the south pylon for magnificent views.

• CIRCULAR QUAY
  There is nearly always something going on at Circular Quay, whether it be morning, afternoon or evening. It could be a musician, a comedian, magician or anything really. However, they always tend to be very good acts. At the west end of the quay, there's a chap building model boats using only the most basic of hand tools. Next to him is the Tourist Information desk and a little further round is the overseas passenger terminal. You can go up to the top of this building for great views of the harbour and Opera House. Coming back to ground level, and walking further round, takes you to the "Bounty" Gallion and finally to the base of the south pylon of the Bridge. Going further round brings you to the Opera House, and the entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Keeping to the path, following the wall round, will bring you to Mrs Macquarie's Chair. It was carved out of the rock by convicts in the early 1800s. Sitting here gives further views of the Opera House and bridge as well as views of the north shore and the eastern part of the harbour and Fort Denison.

• THE ROCKS
  Between the Information desk and the passenger terminal at Circular Quay, set back a little, is Cadman's Cottage. Built in 1816, it was originally built as a barracks for the boat crew of the Governer Macquarie. It's the oldest house in the city and has been fully restored. Now however, it's an information centre for the National Parks & Wildlife. There are plenty of good shops and arcades at The Rocks. It's a really nice area to explore.

• ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS
  There are a number of entrances to the gardens, which were founded in 1816. The Sydney Tropical Centre is housed in two buildings, the Arc and the Pyramid Glasshouse.

• OBSERVATORY HILL
  Observatory Hill is the highest point of the city. From here, some 44 metres above sea level, you can see across to the north side of the harbour and an unusual view of the Harbour Bridge. On top of this hill stands the Sydney Observatory, built in 1858. Back then, little was known of the southern skies which is why the observatory was built here. Now however, it is just a working museum.

• SYDNEY AMP TOWER
  Sydney Tower should really be visited at least twice. Once during the day (wait for blue skies) and again in the evening. Looking out from the observation deck at 305 metres above the city makes for some fabulous views. It's said that you can see the Blue Mountains on a clear day, and they are some 90 kms away.

• HYDE PARK
  You'll find Hyde Park between College St. and Elizabeth St. The park was formed in 1810. Once inside, you'll see the Pool of Remembrance, the Anzac Memorial as well as water fountains and beautiful foliage. At night the trees overhanging the paths are lit up by thousands of white lights, you could say resembling Christmas trees, making for a pretty, and well lit park.

• MARTIN PLACE
  Stretching from Macquarie St. to George St., Martin Place is the city's largest plaza.

• ST MARY'S CATHEDRAL
  St Mary's is a Roman Catholic Cathedral built in the gothic style between 1868 and 1882. It's magnificent inside, with beautiful stained-glass windows.

• ST ANDREW'S CATHEDRAL
  St Andrew's is an Anglican Cathedral. It was consecrated in 1868, some 31 years after construction first began. Built from local sandstone, this gothic-like structure was designed by Edmund Blacket.