 |
|
|
 add to Travel Bag (NEW)
Melbourne was founded less than 170 years ago with the declaration "this will be the place for a village." These were humble beginnings for a city now populated by over three million, and which has accommodation choices as rich as any city twice the size. Melbourne has long been Australia's intellectual and arts capital and has recently become the continent's major "event" city - this unique position has given her hoteliers an understanding of the varied needs of the traveler. Melbourne is a city of extremes and contrasts, full of obvious delights and hidden treasures. Her accommodation is no different, ranging from five-star flash to hole in the wall surprises.
The best approach to visiting Melbourne is to know what you want from your stay, then locate yourself appropriately. For a corporate business trip, or if you just want to be in the living heart of the city, Melbourne's central business district is the place to be. If you are in search of nightlife, glamour or a more Hollywood approach to business, South Yarra and Toorak in the city's east will serve you well. For affordable accommodation with access to pubs and live music, or more expensive beachside hotels, St Kilda may be the best choice.
Central Business District
Melbourne is a bay side city that does not always feel like a bay side city! Unless you are actually in a seaside or riverside locale, the general impression is of an inland metropolis. The proximity of the city center to the Yarra River is not readily apparent until you suddenly realize you are standing on a bridge or the view from your window includes a water taxi. The city is an exciting mix of old and new - its architecturally exciting aquarium sits next to a tram line that still runs 80 year old cars. The Rialto Building (until recently the tallest building in the hemisphere) towers over a number of 100-year-old churches. Internet-connected information kiosks sit beside National Trust classified horse troughs.
Melbourne's central business district is home to numerous theatres, two universities, dozens of bars and restaurants and a diverse range of shops and department stores. In the two square kilometers of Melbourne's city centre there are over 50 establishments offering accommodation. If your needs tend to a more traditional business setting, the modern high-rise of the Grand Hyatt at the other end of Collins Street will undoubtedly suit. For a hipper, cutting edge hotel where all rooms are suites, the boutique Adelphi Hotel, with its glass bottomed rooftop pool jutting out over the street, is the one.
On the eastern city fringe, surrounded by gorgeous parkland and close to the Cricket Ground, Melbourne's favorite sporting venue, is the Hilton on the Park.
On the city's southern fringe, just over the Yarra River, is the recently developed Southbank. The jewel in the crown (or the fly in the ointment depending on who you talk to) is the city's Crown Entertainment Complex, home to the Crown Towers.
Swanston Street runs through Melbourne's heart. When it crosses the Yarra it becomes St Kilda Road, a massively wide, tree-lined boulevard, peppered with a number of solid four-star hotels such as the St Kilda Road Parkview Hotel and Sebel on its four-kilometer journey to...
St Kilda Seaside
St Kilda is an enigma. Is it an upmarket, gentrified haven for the upwardly mobile? Is it a Mecca for groovy artistic types with more taste than budget? Is it a sleazy hangout for the thriving local music scene? Of course it is all these things and whatever else you can imagine. Some feel St Kilda is a little grungy, others prefer to think of it as earthy and vibrant. There are almost 200 restaurants and cafés within walking distance of each other.
St Kilda is the home of affordable back-packer hostels, two of the most famous being Coffee Palace Backpackers and Enfield House. At the other end of the scale are the boutique hotels. The Prince has an enviable location at the corner of St Kilda's two main streets, Acland and Fitzroy, and spectacular views of the ocean and the city skyline. If the Phillipe Starck fittings and commissioned artworks are not to your taste you could always try the retro styling of Tolarno's.
Running parallel to St Kilda Road is Kings Way, featuring Eden on the Park. Nearby is Albert Park Lake, home of the Australian Grand Prix. Even outside race time this is a beautiful area to stay, surrounded by parkland, lakes and golf courses, and with easy access to both the city proper and St Kilda.
South Yarra and Toorak
Decidedly international in flavor, the leafy, bustling streets of South Yarra and Toorak are renowned for shopping, dining and real estate prices. It is in the heart of South Yarra that the seemingly never-ending shopping strip that is Chapel Street intersects Toorak Road. Here you will find the Hotel Como, plus a number of short term apartment complexes - you could try Punt Hill Serviced Apartments.
Alternatives Elsewhere
In addition to these more frequented visitor districts, Melbourne has a wide selection of hotels and motels scattered across its hilly suburbs. For example the Glenferrie Hotel has easy access to the shopping districts of Burke Road and Kew Junction. If the bohemian atmosphere of the inner northern suburbs of Fitzroy and Carlton appeals, you might consider Elizabeth Tower, close to the fantastic dining and nightlife of Brunswick and Lygon Streets.
Melbourne's accommodation is spread right across her districts and available in all varieties and at a range of budgets. Location is important and with a little investigation into the different areas of the city, you will end up right where you want to be. Enjoy your stay!
|
|
|
|
|
Travel Bag
Interested in writing content for Wcities?
