Melbourne has retained a lot of its history, and no better way of seeing that is to stroll along the many arcades (almost all have now been restored) in the centre of the city and also take off down the small laneways and alleys branching off the main city streets and arcades.

The city's network of arcades is Australia's most extensive, with Block Arcade between Collins and Elizabeth streets, built in 1891, its crowning glory. Royal Arcade (between Bourke Street Mall and Little Collins Street), is Melbourne's oldest, built in 1869, and features Gaunt's clock and the two folklore giants of the ancient Britons, Gog and Magog, who strike the hour.

The various lanes and alleys in the city centre all hold their own interest and most have a specific history. The group of back alleys famous (or infamous) for having all Melbourne's brothels in the 1880s or the lanes either side of the Chinatown strip are a rich source of authentic Asian eateries. Hardware Lane, one of the first laneways to be restored in the 1980s, now has a fine collection of outdoor cafes and bars. The local interest in these lanes and alleys has recently seen one named in honour of one of our best known rock bands... AC/DC

Melbourne city centre
go to Flinders Street station and start from there or use the City Circle tram to get around

www.visitvictoria.com/displayobject.cfm/objectid.000C5064-831F-1A72-B0C880C476A901A1/

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Brighton...? Not as in the UK or the island across the ditch (in Unzud), Brighton beach in Melbourne is the real McCoy.

Split in the middle by Middle Brighton Baths (see other Been There tips) and the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Brighton beach runs from Brighton (obviously) to Brighton Beach - there is a place called that, with a pub and train station.

All along the way is a broad strip of bright yellow sand (NO stones here in Oz) with brightly coloured beach bathing boxes. Pics of these are in Melbourne's gallery.

Laze on the beach in the warmer weather or when it gets cooler in winter and the wind whips up the waves, join the surfers or windboarders on the waters of Port Phillip Bay. Watch out for the dolphins or penguins!

Brighton Beach is bayside Melbourne
12-15 kms from the CBD

take the bus or a train to ..Brighton Beach (its a real train station 20 mins from the city)

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It's a two hour hike to this little bit of Thai splendour a couple of hours from Melbourne. A forested swamp meets the sea in a golden crescent of sand hemmed in by mountains. Granite headlands keep the warm, clear waters nice and calm; continue on to Refuge Cove (2hrs) for a more exclusive swim before a long walk out.

wilson's prom national park

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Melbourne is a very liveable and visitable city with great cafes, shopping and history. On a recent visit, I found one of the best things I did was take a pod tour of Melbourne's Laneways.

I used a free podcast from Talk'N Tours which was great but there are others available.

I got to see street art, quirky shops and a good bit of the central city sights as I wound my way along the back streets and through alleyways I otherwise wouldn't have.

Station: Starts at Flinders St Station
www.talk-n-tours.com

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In Melbourne you will find soapboxes being put to use on Sunday afternoons at the Speakers’ Forum on the forecourt outside the State library.

Over the years, speakers (including Prime Ministers) have gathered on the banks of the Yarra river to discuss politics (brave!). In 1995, the tradition was relocated to the forecourt. If you have something you think needs to be heard, the stage is yours between 2.30pm and 5.30pm every Sunday. The audience gets to heckle and boo for free.

the State Library of Victoria
Melbourne CBD
328 Swanston St City

www.slv.vic.gov.au

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One thing most visitors fail to note before stepping into the Australian sunshine is, how hard it bites.

Please, please do yourselves a grand favour and slap on sunscreen. The sun is far stronger than it is in Europe - I know, I lived in the UK for 6 years and lay on a few European beaches amazed that I turned brown, not bright red in minutes.

So, don't be decieved into thinking you'll be okay. Getting sunburnt in Oz is not fun and it does not take long.

Enjoy my lovely city, drink lots of great coffee at the many local cafes [avoiding the few Starbucks that are struggling to convince us we need their muck] and remember, its just a GAME!!

Coffee
-Journal 253 Flinders Lane
-Pellegrini's 66 Bourke Street

Sunscreen
Available everywhere...

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Ride a bike? Melbourne now has a bike trail that goes from Mordialloc (20km SE of the CBD) up to Westgate Park (under the bridge) and beyond to Willamstown and Altona (west of the city). Enjoy the views while riding but stop at Cafe Racer in Beach Rd for an espresso or Half Moon Bay for a feed of fish'n'chips.

Around Port Phillip Bay from Mordialloc (catch the train there from the city) and ride back
More at Bicycle Victoria www.bv.com.au

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Cape Bridgewater, part of the Discovery Bay Coastal Park provides shelter for Victoria's largest colony of seals and just to the east, Bridgewater Bay.

Cape Bridgewater is a headland formed by volcanic action and exposed to all the forces of the ocean. Apart from the seal colony, there are blowholes and 'the petrified' forest to see.
The kiosk on the beach at Bridgewater Bay serves great fish and chips!

18km from Portland in the SW corner of Victoria. Get there via the Great Ocean Rd.

www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=102

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Cowes, main town on Phillip Island. Use it as a base for visiting the penguins or Seal Rock ... or maybe the Phillip Island motor racing circuit, home of the Australian motorcycle GP.
Or while at Cowes, buy the best fish'n'chips and go eat them on the beach!

Cowes, Phillip Island
1½hrs drive from Melbourne

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As in olden days, you can sit outside in the park and read and listen to the orators in the forecourt or inside, where the reading room takes you back to early last century. Quaint and quiet and a great place to while away a few hours. I recommend the tour to discover the history and facilities offered by the institution.

328 Swanston Street, Melbourne,
corner of Swanston and La Trobe Streets;
www.slv.vic.gov.au

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What’s ACMI? It’s the Australian Centre for the Moving Image,
and it’s different. Want to know the history of Australian TV?
Sick of standard Hollywood output? Interested in animation?
ACMI has it all.

Federation Square, Flinders St (opposite Flinders St Station);
tel: 8663 2200; www.acmi.net.au

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Melbourne has superb gardens spread throughout and one of the best - the Botanical Gardens - has 'The Tan'.

The Tan is a wide flat track around the outside of the Botanical gardens, and it’s home to joggers, runners, walkers and pusher pushers. Watch out for the footballers though as they try and complete a lap in record time.

Best of all: it’s free (bring your own running shoes).

The Tan runs around the circumference of the Botanic Gardens and the Domain. Run there, take a tram or walk from Flinders Street station; www.accessibility.com.au/melbourne/garden/tan.htm

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Studley Park in Kew, set on the Yarra, is very pretty at all times of the year, although it gets busy on weekends. There's a boathouse, several walks, picnic areas and a golf course. There’s lots of Australian nature with excellent views of the city.

Access via Yarra Boulevard off Studley Park Road

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Ride the free Melbourne City Circle tram. Hop on and off as you please and get a running commentary on places of interest as you go.

www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/city_circle

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