Disposable coffee cups are harmful to the environment, so dine in and enjoy a break, or if you must keep walking, invest in one of Melbourne’s very own KeepCups; barista-quality recyclable coffee cups. Made in a range of funky colours it is the perfect take home souvenir.
Exploring the city? The best way to get around Melbourne is on the easy to use public transport system, which includes Melbourne’s iconic trams. They run throughout the inner suburbs and are the perfect way to get your bearings.
It was once a riding path for Melbourne’s equestrians, but now this 3.8km track is the place for walking and jogging. It follows the Yarra River for a short distance, before heading off around the perimeter fence of the Botanic Gardens. The lap record – 10 minutes and 12 seconds – was set by long-distance runner Craig Mottram in 2004. Have a crack at beating it if you dare.
No city is more fanatical about sports than Melbourne. With a dedicated sporting precinct, you will discover a range of sporting events played out across the year, including AFL, soccer, netball and ice hockey, as well as the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship and the State of Origin Rugby.
The city offers an ever-changing temperature and is known to vary from hour to hour. So always be prepared – it can’t hurt to pack sunscreen and a hat along with your umbrella.
Don’t be alarmed. Due to tramlines running down the middle of major city streets, there are some intersections where cars turning right must do so from the left lane. The vehicle remains there until the traffic lights for the road it’s entering turn green, then it carefully executes its turn. This manoeuvre minimises congestion on the roads. Hook turns are rare and not nearly as scary as they sound.
Melbourne is subject to water restrictions, so do your bit by keeping showers short (four minutes or less) and hang towels in your hotel room so that you can reuse them.