Melbourne: a walking tour for newbies
ALL work but no play makes Jack a dull boy – and there’s really no excuse with so many big events taking place in Melbourne this March. Time to hit the road, Jack.
Your walking tour begins at the corner of La Trobe and Swanston streets.
WELCOME to Melbourne – consistently voted as one of the ‘World’s Most Liveable Cities’.
Your Melbourne tour begins at the corner of Swanston and La Trobe St. This unofficially marks the boundary of the city. La Trobe St is also where you catch the FREE City Circle Tram. As you might imagine, this mode of transport is not only unique to Melbourne, but this route is also popular with students – it’s free and a great way to get a sense of the boundaries of the city.
First stop, the State Library of Victoria on Swanston St. Photo: Aun Ngo
Heading south up Swanston St, you’ll see the regal State Library of Victoria on your left. Apart from practically living in the place come exam time, you’ll probably be keen to visit for the list of exhibitions and informative talks on offer. It’s also quite a sight on the weekends – throngs of people lie on the grass, street dancers boogie to boom-box tunes, and soapbox orators rant and wax lyrical every Sunday.
QV. One stop shop for food, groceries, post offices and shops. Photo: Aun Ngo
Continue along Swanston St past modern QV – you’ll no doubt be visiting later on to stock up on groceries, home appliances, stationeries, booze and a quick meal. When you get to the corner of Swanston and Little Bourke St, look to your left up Little Bourke – welcome to Chinatown! Come back if you’re hankering for cheap noodles or dumplings. But for now, we’re off to get a hit of caffeine.
Little Bourke St. Visit Chinatown for good noodles and dumplings. Photo: Aun Ngo
Turn right and head west down Little Bourke St, cross Elizabeth St and look out for Brother Baba Budan (359 Lt Bourke St). This tiny little joint serves up some of Melbourne’s best coffee – if it’s too busy, backtrack and go down Somerset Place to Little Mule Co. Grab a latte and check out the cool fixies on display. Sandwiches and fixed-gear bikes are made to order. Take your pick.
Head back to Elizabeth St and continue half-a-block past the GPO Building. This former post office dates back to 1859 and now houses upmarket boutiques. You can get fantastic sushi rolls from Kenzan and $10 ramen at Ramenya – both on the eastern side of the building. Follow the commotion and hubbub onto Bourke Street Mall. Always busy, this pedestrian- and tram-only street is the heart of Melbourne’s city. Apart from the flagship Myer and David Jones department stores, it’s a good place to people-watch and catch some of the city’s best buskers. Free entertainment? Why not.
Can you spot him? These statues on the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets are a Melbourne icon.
Just off Bourke St Mall, look out for Causeway Lane. If you haven’t realised already, Melbourne thrives on its laneways – these are the arteries that pump lifeblood and culture through the city. If you’re ever bored with all the main streets (Swanston, Elizabeth, Bourke), just wander off into a laneway. You never know what you might find!
Causeway Lane connects across to Block Place. It’s a popular strip filled with al-fresco cafes and restaurants. Basement Discs, one of Melbourne’s best music stores, is also found here. Return for free lunchtime gigs! Continue on through the Block Arcade. This stunning shopping arcade was built in 1891 and has some of Melbourne’s best-preserved architectural elements – check out the mosaic tiles, wrought-iron rafters, and glass ceilings.
If walking isn't your thing, you could hop onto one of these bikes docked all around the city. Melbourne Bike Share is a new form of public transport, designed for short trips across the city. Photo: Aun Ngo
Pop out onto Collins St. To the west lies Melbourne’s commercial heart – big banks and companies are packed into skyscrapers and heritage-listed buildings. Head in the opposite direction, east up towards the breezy ‘Paris’ end of Collins St. On the corner of Collins and Swanston is the Melbourne Town Hall. Loads of cool events such as the Melbourne Comedy Festival are held here.
Continuing on, Collins St soon turns into an uptown locale peppered with high-end boutiques (Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci etc) and several stand-out Victorian buildings. As you approach the corner of Collins and Russell streets, look out for the Scot’s Church and St Michael’s Uniting Church. Snap some travel pics and continue up Collins St, turning right onto Exhibition St and then take the next right to get onto Flinders Lane.
Skinny Flinders Lane has Melbourne’s most famed lane. Halfway between Exhibition and Russell Sts, AC/DC Lane was formerly Corporation Lane…boring! The city council made the decision to rename the lane after Australia’s most famous rock export. Today, the lane is fronted by the Cherry Bar, a location that provided inspiration for many Melbourne rock bands including Jet.
Must see. Every changing wall of graffiti on Hosier Lane. Photo: Aun Ngo
Stay on Flinders Lane. Once you get past Russell St, locate Hosier Lane and walk down. Don’t be surprised to find tourists trying to take pics of the ever-changing wall of graffiti art along the lane. The world’s most famous (and pricey) street artist, Banksy, once graffitti’d this wall – sadly, it was painted over by the local council. Oops.
Pop out from Hosier Ln onto Flinders St and turn right, heading west. You’ll see several key Melbourne landmarks at the corner of Flinders and Swanston St. On the right is St Paul’s Cathedral. The current building was erected in 1885 and has several gothic elements including the spires and arches. Diagonally across is the iconic entrance to the Flinders Street Station. The face of the station is covered in clocks and it’s a popular meeting spot, ‘I’ll meet you under the clocks’ being a common reference.
"I'll meet you under the clocks." The entrance to Flinders Street Station is a popular meeting spot for Melbournians. Photo: Aun Ngo
Federation Square stands opposite the church. Love it or hate it, this is a stark example of modern architecture. Since it officially opened in 2002, it has become one of Melbourne’s most popular attractions. If you’re ever bored on the weekends, drop by. Odds are there’ll be a free gig or performance happening. Each year, thousands pack the square to catch the Australian Open and other key Melbourne events on the giant TV screen.
End all that walking with a well-deserved beverage. Pop across to the Young & Jacksons pub on the corner of Flinders and Swanston St. It’s one of Melbourne’s oldest pubs (c1861) and a popular watering hole. If alcohol isn’t your thing, continue along Flinders St and chuck a right onto Degraves St. Cafes abound – indulge your sweet tooth with a dainty cupcake or continue the caffeine addiction. Whichever the case, congratulations – you’ve just seen some of the best sights in one of the world’s most liveable cities. Welcome to Melbourne!
This article was originally published in modified form on www.lonelyplanet.com.
Shawn Low is Lonely Planet’s Asia Pacific Travel Editor. Follow him on Twitter @shawnlow.
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