Getting to Melbourne was a chore pure and simple. We were on the road before dawn, leaving Uluru behind us and pointing the car towards Alice Springs. Five hours, several hundred kilometers, four kangaroos and a singing dingo later we boarded the first of our flights that would eventually take us to the final destination on our Australian trip, Melbourne.
Our first introduction was at the gorgeous InterContinental Melbourne – The Rialto, an absolutely beautiful property that is well matched in its grandeur by the superb luxury and service. The room is a dream and the perfect way to end our trip.
The next day we tackled Melbourne through an introductory tour exploring the secrets of the city, the Lanes and Arcades tour offered by Hidden Secrets Tours. Led by the affable, hilarious and immensely knowledgeable Fiona, we learned more about the history of the city through its unique lanes and hidden shops and cafes. Although we had been in the city for less than a day, we had already fallen madly in love.
The rest of our first day was spent touring the Melbourne Gaol, the State Library and enjoying a meal in the heart of Melbourne’s Chinatown.
It’s hard to explain, but there is a certain intangible quality, an X-Factor, about the city that instantly appealed to us. We love it here and are excited to explore more.
I really liked Melbourne too. While it doesn’t have the natural beauty of Sydney, it has a lot of personality and culture.
Oddly, I even stayed at the same hotel. Enjoy your trip!
No doubt about it- Melbourne is amazing. Love the rivalry with Sydney- Sydney may be more beautiful, Melbourne is probably more fun.
One of my most favorite place in the world, oh how I miss Melbs!!!
Love your X-factor comment. I live right in the city centre of Melbourne, and it’s amazing how difficult people (including myself) find it to express precisely what it is that makes Melbourne so magical. Usually we stumble out with something like “It’s the vibe…”
Here are some of my favourite Melbourne places around where I live:
http://aerohaveno.blogspot.com/2010/07/introducing-warburton-quarter.html