The Land Of OZ

Art galleries, great architecture, wonderful food and accessible, scenic countryside make Melbourne a destination for all ages

- Candice Botha

It’s hard to characterise Melbourne, Australia’s second-biggest city. Should one focus on its thriving cultural scene, the fact that it’s one of the world’s foremost culinary and coffee destinations? Or its sporting pedigree (Melbourne hosts a Formula One Grand Prix and the Australian Open Tennis tournament), the fascinating mix of old and new architecture, or its fabulous shopping and outdoor spaces? The fact that Melbourne has been named Most Liveable City in The World for seven years in a row is a good clue to its diversity.

The city itself is a fascinating blend of old and new with 100-year-old lanes and buildings housing trendy bars and cafés. Modern architecture sits comfortably alongside the Victorian façades and a trip up the ultra-contemporary Eureka Tower gives a bird’s-eye view of this seaside city built on the banks of the Yarra River.

There are many landmarks visible from this vantage point including the avant-garde Federation Square alongside the Edwardian Baroque Flinders Street Station, the Melbourne Art Centre’s wire spire and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. We went up the tower at sunset so were able to see the city’s layout as well as experience the breathtaking sight of twinkling lights as the sun went down. It was a Thursday night so the whole city was still open for night shopping when we descended. We visited some of the big department stores like Myer and David Jones and were completely enamoured with fashion and homeware store H&M’s setting inside the magnificent General Post Office building.