Melbourne, Australia

Some time ago, I spent a fabulous year living in Melbourne, the capital city of the Australian state of Victoria, so here are a few tips for anyone who wants to visit. It's a terrific city with a cosmopolitan culture and excellent public transit, so getting around on trains and trams is easier than trying to drive.

Hand-painted lamp post with flowers and a tram in Melbourne

Melbourne lies near the southeastern tip of the Australian continent. Including the surrounding suburbs, the greater Melbourne area spans the distance from Port Phillip Bay to the Dandenong Mountain Range. The central business district (CBD) is very compact and easily accessible by the extensive network of trains and trams. Better yet, the transit ticketing system is entirely integrated and prices very affordable, so a visitor doesn't have to buy separate tickets to ride different transit forms around the city.

Melbourne was once voted the "world's most livable city"in part because it is so walkable and has so many artistic and unique buildings. The buildings and public art make it a great destination for architects and aficionados. Part of the CBD is for pedestrian traffic only, creating a lovely indoor-outdoor mall.

When to Go

Map of Australia

Because of its location in the Southern hemisphere, Australia's seasons are the opposite of those in North America and Europe. Forgive me if this seems like an obvious thing to write, but I've seen many prospective travelers to the land down under overlook that little fact. It puts the Christmas holiday season smack in the middle of summer in Australia and makes June through August bitterly cold in Melbourne. Australia's summer (November though February) is my favorite time to visit locations in Victoria (such as Melbourne) and New South Wales (including Sydney). Celebrating New Year's Eve on a hot summer night can be great fun for those of us accustomed to spending it in the freezing cold. On the other hand, Australia's winter can be a good time to visit more northern spots such as Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. If you want to visit Ayer's Rock in the red center of the continent, going in the winter is essential because the desert is much too hot and dry for summer travel.

Passports and Visas

Most people visiting Australia for a vacation must have a passport and an Australian tourist visa. A tourist visa is free for a visit of less than three month's time and can be obtained through your nearest Australian Consulate. If a consulate isn't nearby, you can apply for and receive a visa through the mail or even online. Citizens of 34 different countries can now request an Australian tourist visa for a short stay online from the Australian Visa Bureau. Click the link to see if one of those countries is yours. Also, the Australian government has an online visa wizard that serves as a great starting point.

Other Factoids

Weapons, drugs, plants, seeds, flowers, and food are not, not, not allowed into Australia. I knew someone once who had canned salmon from Alaska confiscated by the customs officials. They not only confiscated the can of fish, but also the box in which it was packed and all of the other contents of the box.

I have never found a need to rent a car when visiting Australia, but if you want to be sure to apply for an international driving permit before going and remember that Australians drive on the left side of the road.

Australia uses 240 volts and electrical plugs shaped unlike those in the United States. Bring a plug adapter AND power converter or simply don't bring electrical appliances. Personally, I prefer the second option.

The currency is the Australian dollar, which is currently trading at .95 US dollars, so the current exchange rate is very close to a one to one ratio. To check if the rate has changed, here is my favorite currency conversion website. You usually get a better rate when changing money at a bank before your trip than at the airport after you land at your destination, so plan accordingly