Melbourne is a popular cruise port on the majority of Australian cruises. Melbourne is a vibrant, modern city with many different attractions to suit everyone. Like Sydney the city itself is only a short journey from where your cruise ship will dock and the majority of cruise ships will offer shuttle buses into the city centre either free or for a nominal fee.

Melbourne City Lights

Getting around Melbourne is easy as there are plenty of free tourist trams and buses at your disposal. The free trams and buses complete a loop around the city and have audio commentary to give you information about the sights you pass on the way, so they offer a great way to get a quick overview of the city. The trams and buses are very frequent and offer a hop on, hop off service.

Southbank, overlooking the Yarra River, is a chic area of the city with many cafés, bars and restaurants enjoying views over the river and beyond. If you wish to enjoy panoramic views over the city then the Eureka Sydeck is located in Southbank and from the 88th floor you are offered 360° views of the city all the way to the beach, and on a clear day you’ll even get a great view of your cruise ship all the way back in port!

Melbourne Yarra River

St. Kilda is an immensely popular beach suburb of Melbourne where you can relax on the sandy beach, enjoy some surfing and soak up the beach atmosphere. St Kilda is where the Melbourne locals head on the weekends to get out of the city and enjoy some peace and quiet.

According to locals, Acland Street in St. Kilda is the best place to get a coffee and a delicious cake in one of the many cafes you can find there. St. Kilda is notoriously popular with suffers and, as such, has a laid-back atmosphere and plenty of vibrancy.

Melbourne St. Kilda Beach

Victoria Markets are always a popular spot for visitors to the city. The markets themselves are huge and sell everything from fresh produce to clothes, souvenirs and electronic accessories, all at prices far below the Australian norm.

The independent shops which line Edward Street, outside the markets, sell lots of locally created and produced products such as clothes, handbags and kitsch accessories. You can shop here for items that are individually created allowing you to have some quirky items that are different from what your friends and family at home are sporting.

There’s so much to do on a visit to Australia’s city of Melbourne that you’ll be hard pushed to fit it all into a one day trip, and might have to return to explore more of the city and its surrounding areas!

Thanks Emma