Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria and the second-largest city in Australia in terms of population. Named after the second Viscount Melbourne, who was the first prime minister and mentor to Queen Victoria. Melbourne was once the wealthiest city in Australia due to the gold rush of the 1850s. Today, Melbourne is considered to be one of the most livable cities in the world. It is the home of many of the oldest and biggest cultural establishments in Australia. Before travelling to Melbourne, here are a few things you should know before landing.
Melbourne is famous for:
- Food. Melbourne is a foodie haven where dining out is part of the culture. The city’s proximity to the sea and other sources of fresh organic food all contribute to the quality of Melbourne’s cuisine. Adding depth to the cuisine’s character is Melbourne’s multiculturalism.
- Coffee. Considered to be among the best coffee cities in the world. Coffee culture in Melbourne is characterized by its neighbourhood vibe. It enhanced by the use of communal tables, innovative brews, and Australia’s own homegrown coffee. Melbourne is the birthplace of the flat white, and Arabica espresso topped with velvety microfoam.
- Crazy weather. The four-seasons-in-one-day weather is a reality in Melbourne. Only in this city will you get to use a jacket and scarf, an umbrella, sunglasses, and sunscreen all in one day.
- AFL. Melbourne is the birthplace and home of Australian rules football. That Melburnians are crazy about AFL. It is demonstrated every Grand Final, when the action and the celebration are more intense than Christmas, New Year’s Day and Australia Day combined.
- Moomba. Moomba is Melbourne’s largest, liveliest, and the loudest annual festival. An excellent excuse for Melburnians to go out and have as much fun as they can. Highlights of the festival include the street parades and the Birdman Rally. But, brave individuals will jump headlong into the murky Yarra River.
Melbourne weather
Another thing you should know about Melbourne before landing is their weather. The climate is categorized as temperate oceanic. The city experiences four seasons. Spring is from September to November. Meanwhile, summer is from December to February, autumn from March to May, and winter from June to August. Summer and winter in Melbourne are distinct. It can be extremely hot in summer, while winters are colder than in other Australian cities. To clarify, the four-seasons-in-one-day weather is attributed to Melbourne’s location: hot inland against the cool ocean.
Melbourne time zone: Melbourne falls under the Australian Eastern Standard Time zone, which is in UTC/GMT+10.
Currency: Melbourne uses the Australian dollar for currency. Banknotes, on the other hand, can be had at $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 denominations. However, coin denominations are available at 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c $1 and $2.
Melbourne airport
There are four airports in Melbourne. The main international gateway is Melbourne Airport (MEL). It is also known as Tullamarine Airport. It is the second busiest airport in Australia. MEL replaced Essendon Airport (MEB), although MEB still handles domestic flights on a smaller scale. The other two airports are Avalon Airport (AVV), a passenger hub for Jetstar Airways and a maintenance and freight facility for Qantas; and Moorabbin Harry Hawker Airport (MBW), which handles charter flights.
Transportation in Melbourne
Melbourne’s Central Business District is known as the Hoddle Grid. The Hoddle Grid layout makes it easy to navigate the CBD, including its famous laneways and arcades. If you’re not up to walking or biking around, you can catch the free tram service that goes around the CBD. You can also reach to your destination via train or bus, using the myki prepaid stored-value card. You can also hail a taxi or book an Uber ride to your destination.
Melbourne Emergency Contacts
The most important things you should know about Melbourne is their emergency contact number. Lost or need information about where you need to be going in Melbourne? You can always look out for and ask a City Ambassador. You’d know them by their vivid red hats and coats. But, if you need emergency assistance, just dial 000 for police, fire, or ambulance assistance. However, you can check out more here.
Enough of information? Check out Melbourne’s mouth-watering food here. In conclusion, you should book your trip to Melbourne today, mate!
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