Chinese Museum,Melbourne
The Chinese Museum was established in 1985 to preserve and display the history of Chinese Australians since the mid-1800s. It has become a living part of Melbourne's modern Chinatown, with its five levels of galleries, showcasing artefacts and photographs depicting the life and culture of Chinese Australians. The museum is also the home of Dai Loong, the world's largest dragon. There are numerous other museums catering to different national cultures in the heart of Melbourne.

Admission:
A$7.50 (adults), A$5.50 (children)

Opening time:
Daily 10am to 5pm

Cooks' Cottage,Melbourne
This cottage was originally built in the village of Great Ayton in Yorkshire, England, in 1755 by James and Grace Cook, the parents of Captain James Cook. When the cottage was offered for sale in 1933 it was bought by a prominent Melbourne businessman, Sir Russell Grimwade, for 800 British Pounds. He arranged for it to be taken apart brick by brick and transported via ship and train to Melbourne. In early 1934 the cottage was rebuilt on its present site in Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne. Today it provides visitors with the opportunity to glimpse what life was like in 18th century England.

Admission:
A$4.40 (adults), A$2.20 (children); concessions available

Opening time:
Daily 9am to 5pm

Yarra River,Melbourne
A visit to Melbourne would not be complete without a good look at its main river system, the Yarra River. Often the centre of many jokes due to its brownish colour, it is actually not dirty, just muddy. The Yarra has become the focus of much development in the central business district, with many new buildings, walks and parks having been created along its banks in recent years, including the relatively new Riverside Park. For the best view of the Yarra River walk to Princes Bridge, St Kilda Road, or take a cruise along the river from Princes Walk (below Princes Bridge).

Government House,Melbourne
Government House is the official residence of the Governor of Victoria, located within the Botanical Gardens. The house is built in the style known as Italianate, and is one of the finest examples of this type of architecture in Australia. The house was built during the gold rush and is said to be the grandest house in Victoria. Tours of the state apartments start from La Trobe's Cottage (home of Victoria's first Lt Governor, Charles la Trobe) on the corner of Birdwood Avenue and Dallas Brooks Drive, South Yarra.

Opening time:
Visits are by advance booking only and tours operate on Mondays and Wednesdays

Old Melbourne Gaol,Melbourne
Victoria's oldest surviving remand prison gives visitors a chilling insight into prison life in a model 19th-century gaol. Behind the thick and forbidding walls Ned Kelly, the infamous bushranger, was one of 135 men and women who were hanged on the gaol's scaffold. Visitors can view the Hangman's Box, the Particulars of Execution book and other exhibits relating to this grim period of Victoria's history, as well as the death masks used in the study of phrenology to predict criminal behaviour. The Women in Prison exhibition reveals the fascinating stories of the crimes committed by the female inmates. There are free performances every Saturday of The Real Ned Kelly Story - Such is Life at 12.30pm and 2pm, and night performances on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with hangman 'Michael Gately' as he recounts stories of the gaol by candlelight (not for the faint hearted or children under 12 years of age).

Admission:
A$18 (adults), A$9.50 (children). Concessions available.

Opening time:
Daily 9.30am to 5pm (Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day)

Royal Botanic Gardens,Melbourne
Established in 1846 by the first Governor of Victoria, Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens are considered one of the worlds finest. They contain extensive landscaped gardens covering 35 hectares (86 acres) and are home to more than 51,000 individual plants, representing over 12,000 different species. The gardens have become a natural sanctuary for native wild life including black swans, bell birds, cockatoos and kookaburras, filling the air with their distinctive song. Free guided walks are available.

Admission:
Free

Opening time:
Daily 7.30am to 8.30pm (November to March); 7.30am to 6pm (April, September, October); 7.30am to 5.30pm (May to August). Glasshouse is open daily from 10am - 4pm.

National Gallery of Victoria,Melbourne
The National Gallery collections are divided between the redeveloped gallery at St Kilda Road, which houses Victoria's impressive international collections (including Picasso's Weeping Woman) and the Ian Potter Centre, the spectacular new home for the country's most important Australian collection.

Admission:
Free. An admission is charged for special exhibitions

Opening time:
Daily 10am to 5pm (closed Mondays except when a public holiday)

Ballarat,Melbourne
This historic town of great elegance and charm is the gateway to the goldfields. The name is an Aboriginal word meaning 'resting place', which is well suited because a tranquil lake and botanical gardens are the focal point of the city. The main Avenue of Honour is lined with 4,000 trees as a memorial to citizens who served in World War I. The city is steeped in the history of the Gold Rush era. Visitors enjoy the Eureka Trail, a two-mile (3km) walk that retraces the route taken by the police and soldiers during the Australian rebellion of the Eureka stockade in 1854. It is also possible to undertake a self-guided Heritage Walk through the inner city's streets.

Great Ocean Road,Melbourne
From Melbourne one of the most popular self-drive routes for tourists to follow is the circular Great Southern Touring Route, which includes spectacular scenery and takes in some of Victoria's most beautiful, scenic and cultural attractions. The first part of the route hugs the coastline going south along the Great Ocean Road, renowned for its coastal scenery, passing lush Otways rainforests and on to the magnificent limestone rock sculptures known as the Twelve Apostles in the Port Campbell National Park. Other attractions along the Great Ocean Road include the historic villages of Port Campbell, Queenscliff, Portland and Port Fairy, as well as resort towns and coastal cities such as Torquay, Apollo Bay, Geelong and Warrnambool.

Grampians National Park,Melbourne
The lofty summits and ridgelines of the Grampians region provide for some inspiring natural beauty in a park that is home to a variety of habitats, unique wildlife and more than one third of all plant species found in Victoria. The park is particularly well known for its colourful displays of springtime wildflowers, particularly during October. There is an abundance of wildlife in the lowlands, including emus, kangaroos, possums, koalas, wallabies and more than 200 species of bird. The park also has some interesting Aboriginal art sites among its 167,000 hectares of woodland, heath, swamp, forest and sub-alpine zones.

Eureka Tower,Melbourne
The Eureka Tower is the tallest building in Melbourne and the tallest residential building in the world, standing at just over 984ft (300m) tall, offering 360-degree views over the city. There is a public observation deck on level 88, the Skydeck, which affords visitors with a head for heights a testing experience: a chance to be suspended above the city in a glass cube (The Edge) that extracts itself from the building by 10ft (3m) to hang out over the city far below. On entry into the cube, the glass is frosted and moves out over the edge of the building, but as soon as the cube is in place the glass unfrosts to the sound of smashing glass.

Admission:
Skydeck: A$16.50 (adults), A$9 (children 4-16); The Edge: A$12 (adults), A$8 (children). Other concessions available

Opening time:
The Skydeck is open daily 10am to 10pm; The Edge may be closed in certain weather conditions

Melbourne Museum,Melbourne
A fascinating museum complex situated in the Carlton Gardens, the Melbourne Museum is the largest in Australia, with over 30 different exhibits covering history, culture, science, animals and more. Its most notable galleries include the Bunjilaka, which explores the history of Aboriginal culture in Victoria, the Science and Life Gallery, focusing on insects and spiders, the marine world and Australia's local flora and fauna; and the Children's Museum, housed in a tilted cube, which offers colourful and interactive displays. Opened in 2000, the Melbourne Museum is a showcase of modern exhibition standards, with a three-dimensional Imax theatre screening documentary films and a resourceful public research centre, where visitors can investigate any subject they wish.

Admission:
$6 adults, children free. Concessions available

Opening time:
Daily 10am to 5pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day

Federation Square,Melbourne
Occupying a whole city block, Federation Square is one of Melbourne's major attractions. A cultural nucleus, Federation Square hosts over 2000 events a year, in its outdoor public spaces, St Paul's Court and The Square and vibrant covered space, the Atrium. Renowned for its unique design, the triangular shapes that characterise Federation Square actually create an abstract map of the Australian Federation. Affording spectacular views of the city, Southbank and the Yarra River, visitors can not only explore the peculiar design of this cultural precinct, but also visit the many galleries, cinemas, museums, restaurants and shops that surround it, most notably the Ian Potter Centre and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

Queen Victoria Market,Melbourne
If you are planning a picnic at Birrarung Marr or the Botanic Gardens or just looking for some affordable souvenirs, head to the Queen Victoria market, one of the largest open-air markets in the Southern Hemisphere, with almost 50 percent of the market dedicated to the sale of fresh produce, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, chicken, seafood, cold cuts and cheese. A popular meeting place for locals and foreigners, this cosmopolitan market is best visited on a Sunday when adjacent Queen Street is closed down and converted into a sidewalk café area, where buskers entertain passers-by and children's rides are available. Officially opened in 1878, the Queen Victoria Market has been affectionately frequented by Melbournians for more than 125 years and still proves to be the best place for perusing a myriad of clothing, shoes, jewellery, bric-a-brac, antique and toy stalls.

Opening time:
Tuesday and Thursday 6am to 2pm, Friday 6am to 5pm, Saturday 6am to 3pm, Sunday 6am to 4pm

Melbourne Zoo,Melbourne
Housing more than 350 different animal species, Melbourne Zoo is a worthy stopover, in a country famous for nature conservation and interesting diversity of animals. Built in 1862, certain areas of the zoo have been preserved as historic zones, demonstrating to visitors the significant changes the zoo has undergone. Famous for its endemic inhabitants such as the kangaroo, wallaby, koala and wombat, the zoo also has elephants in the Asian Rainforest area, a gorilla exhibit, Orang-utan Sanctuary and Butterfly House. Only four kilometres from Melbourne city centre the zoo is situated in a breathtaking botanic garden setting that extends 55 acres, covers over four different ecosystems and has a biodiversity of 70,000 plant specimens.

Admission:
$23 (adults), $11.50 (children). Concessions available

Opening time:
Daily 9am to 5pm. Open until 9:30pm for the Zoo Twilights concert series in summer

Moomba Waterfest,Melbourne
Melbourne's biggest and brightest annual event, with a hearty tradition of free family fun, pays tribute to the important role water plays in citizen's lives. Each year the programme for the four-day fair grows bigger and better, with activities like open-air movie shows, giant sand sculptures, waterski and wakeboard championships, Dragon Boat races, the crazy 'Birdman Rally' and a spectacular fireworks display, to name but a few. Highlights are the Moomba Parade and the Waterfest Carnival. Contact the Melbourne Moomba Waterfest at waterfest@melbourne.vic.gov.au for more information.

Date: 6-9 March 2009
Venue: Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD
Time: Moomba Parade: 11am to 12pm

Australian F1 Grand Prix,Melbourne
Motorsport fans have a real treat when it comes time for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at the superb modern Albert Park Lake circuit. The main race is the first on the annual Formula One schedule, and forms the centrepiece of four days of events from karting through all racing categories and off-track entertainment.

Date: March 2009, TBC
Venue: Albert Park Lake, near St Kilda

Melbourne International Comedy Festival,Melbourne
Visitors come to Melbourne from all over the world for a good laugh during the city's International Comedy Festival, when the downtown precincts turn into a melee of mirth provided by comic artists in a feast of funny stand-up, theatre, cabaret, street entertainment, art exhibitions, film and music. This is the only event of its kind in Australia, and one of the largest (and funniest) in the world, reflecting the city's well-known comedy culture. For more information, email info@comedyfestival.com.au or call (0)3 9417 7711.

Date: 1-26 April 2009
Venue: The Town Hall precinct, Victoria Hotel, Hi Fi Ballroom, Capitol Theatre, The Forum, Duckboard House and peripheral pubs, clubs and theatres

Melbourne Cup,Melbourne
Melbourne's premier turf event is not just any old horse race. The annual Melbourne Cup has been variously billed as 'the celebration that stops a nation', and 'Australia's most famous Tuesday'. The race is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, and draws interest from elsewhere in the world besides Australia. The race was first run in 1861 and carries a proud tradition. It is the highlight of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Date: 4 November 2008
Venue: Flemington Racecourse
Time: 3pm

Melbourne International Arts Festival,Melbourne
Melbourne's International Arts Festival is recognised as a leader of its kind in the country, presenting unique national and international experiences of dance, theatre, music, opera, and visual arts, most of it free and offered outdoors during October each year.

Date: 8 - 24 October 2009
Venue: Various

Australian Open Tennis Championships,Melbourne
What started out as the Australasian Championships in 1905 has become what is known today as the Australian Open. It has been staged at six different venues: New Zealand, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Since 1972, the tournament has been held every year at Melbourne Park. The Australian Open is one of the four tennis championships that make up the 'Grand Slam,' and a coveted prize for the top professionals.

Date: 19 January to 1 February 2009
Venue: Melbourne Park

Melbourne's Big Day Out,Melbourne
The famous Aussie touring label crashes into Melbourne's Princes Park South for a festive day in the sunshine every year. Some of the biggest names in popular world music entertain the crowds with the latest tracks from the commercial and alternative music scenes.

Date: January 2009, TBC
Venue: Princes Park South
Time: 11am

St Jerome's Laneway Festival,Melbourne
A unique rock festival with a twist that is taking the cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide by storm, the St Jerome's Laneway Festival brings music and culture lovers together for one unforgettable day, to get up close and personal in one of the many lanes and alleyways that intersect Melbourne's city centre. Quoted as one of the Australia's most insurgent and unique pop music events ever, the annual Laneway Festival hosts over 30 different cutting edge Australian bands in four different locations, all performing at the same time. Tickets sell like hotcakes so start booking in November.

Date: February 2009, TBC
Venue: Various laneways
Time: Noon onwards

Chinese New Year Festival,Melbourne
With over 10,000 residents in Melbourne speaking a Chinese language at home, it is no wonder that the annual Chinese New Year Festival attracts thousands of exhilarated festivalgoers, who come to celebrate the dawn of a new year. With colourful floats, dancing and singing from Chinese Opera to karaoke, the Chinese New Year Festival offers an eclectic mix of Chinese culture. With attractions for young and old, visitors can enjoy stage performances, numerous culinary stalls, calligraphy demonstrations and lion dances, all culminating in an anticipated countdown to the New Year. Afterwards, festivities continue and by touching the traditional dragon, which is paraded down the streets of Chinatown, new fortunes and prosperity can be evoked.

Date: 26 January 2009, TBC
Venue: Various
Time: 10am to 10pm

Punch Lane,Melbourne
A long standing favourite in the Melbourne dining scene, Punch Lane has a warm brasserie atmosphere, with red leather seats, dark wooden tables and black boards scribbled with lists of wine available by the glass and daily specials. Loved for it's hefty selection of wines and charcuterie bar where a variety of different cured meats and cheeses can be chosen, Punch Lane is a great after work wind-down or pre-theatre rendezvous. With unpretentious food and an intimate atmosphere, this wine bar combines all the necessary elements to ensure a relaxing evening with quality food and wine in Melbourne's bustling theatre district. Open daily for lunch and dinner, except lunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Location: 43 Little Bourke Street

Pelicans,Melbourne
A friendly restaurant/bar with attractive modern furnishings, large windows and a sweeping veranda area, Pelicans is ideal for an after work drink or snack, slow paced luncheon, night out with the mates or even a romantic date. Oozing a café, health bar and wine bar atmosphere all at once, Pelican is unpretentious but cool in its stride, serving fresh, greasy breakfasts, attractive lunches and a mouth watering selection of Mediterranean tapas that will keep even the most serious snacker occupied. Reasonably priced, considering the location and quality of food, Pelican's has been respected since its inception in 2001 and continues to prove to both locals and foreigners that Melbourne's eateries are of an international standard. Open daily.

Location: 16 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

Syracuse,Melbourne
Something of a Melbourne institution, Syracuse is a restaurant not to be missed on a trip to Melbourne. With a distinctive look, the simple décor, unadorned white walls, classy dark antique tables and chairs and lofty ceilings and arches, all combine to give this establishment a sophisticated look that is both colonial and Mediterranean. Start with fresh oysters or a crisp salad that is carefully put together, try out the thinly sliced tuna steak accompanied with a salad of lentils, tomato, carrot, shallot, herbs and olive oil or sample the renowned myriad of tapas, all accompanied with a glass of unforgettable glass of wine from Syracruse's impressive selection. Open Monday to Friday for breakfast, lunch and dinner and dinner only on Saturday.

Location: 23 Bank Place

Pushka,Melbourne
Literally a hidden gem, Pushka is a funky Melbourne espresso bar that makes superb coffee, offers a good range of bagels and a selection of tasty patisseries. Operating as part café, part bar and part art space, you don't get more cool and quirky than Pushka. Look out for Melbourne's smallest gallery, a 20cm by 30cm hole in the wall that features monthly installations by local artists. Start your day with "The King" breakfast bagel, layered with fried egg, cheese, prosciutto and avo, go for the crazy toast or just munch on some reassuring coco pops. Spilling out onto the pavement in a quiet alleyway, the rickety mismatched chairs and kitsch cutlery give Pushka its alternative edge. An ideal coffee venue for espresso junkies or lunch stop for hungry travellers. Open daily.

Location: 20 Pesgrave Place

Il Baraco,Melbourne
With ten years experience under its belt, the highly respected and loved Il Baraco restaurant enjoys a continuous influx of loyal customers who appreciate the carefully prepared traditional Italian food, the palatable selection of wines and sincere service. A quality Italian restaurant, situated in the heart of the business district, Il Baraco attracts both executives and lovers with an intimate ambiance, achieved with a classic combination of crisp white linen tablecloths, dark wooden chairs and soft lighting. Some highlights on the menu include the Yarra Valley quail roasted and served with pecorino ice cream and pomegranate salad starter and the Western Plains suckling pork marinated in grappa, served with black cabbage and vin cotto. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Location: 168-170 Little Collins Street

Kenzan,Melbourne
For sushi lovers looking for a fix, Kenzan is a great place to take a group of friends or go on a romantic date. With unmistakable retro charm, patrons can dine at the sushi bar and watch their dinner being prepared or resign themselves to a traditional tatami room, where all the customs of an authentic Japanese evening can be enjoyed. Conducting business for over 25 years, Kenzan is recognised for its attention to detail and quality food. Choose from a wide selection of sushi or opt for a meal off the a la carte menu. For lunch a Bento Box is the best bet, comprising of sashimi, prawn dumplings, small appetizers and rice, all presented in a traditional Japanese box and served with miso soup. A good starter is the refreshing sugaki (fresh oysters with citrus flavoured ponzu vinegar) and a sake teriyaki (grilled salmon) as a main. Open for lunch Monday to Friday and dinner Monday to Saturday.

Location: Collins Place, 45 Collins Street (56 Flinders Lane)

Sails On The Bay,Melbourne
With a perfect location on the sandy shore of Elwood Beach, Sails On The Bay is a sophisticated Melbourne restaurant that has fused its breathtaking beach location with light elegant furnishings and a seafood menu to boot. Sails On The Bay is ideal for long luncheons or classy evenings out. With floor to ceiling windows, patrons can watch the sunset over the deep blue ocean and hear the waves crashing onto the shore. Starters such as the soft shell crab tempura, accompanied with a mango and asparagus salad, sour cream, chilli and coriander dressing keeps guests coming, as does the seared tuna main with potato and onion salad, zesty lime mayonnaise and salsa verde. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Location: 15 Elwood Foreshore, Elwood

Piadina Slowfood,Melbourne
They say dynamite comes in small packages and Piadina Slowfood is no exception. If you're looking for the ultimate lunchtime venue, try the cuisine at Piadina Slowfood, which creates a new menu everyday and only uses fresh organic produce. Watch the chefs in action from a booth inside or admire the cool urban exterior at a table on the veranda. Piadina specialises in piadina, a grilled Italian flatbread with an assortment of exotic toppings but also serves up hearty meals with the slow food philosophy in mind. Expect to see dishes such as a Greek goats stew or spicy chicken bake on the menu. Open Monday to Friday for breakfast and lunch.

Location: 57 Lonsdale Street

Wheat Restaurant and Bar,Melbourne
A modern restaurant with a dapper edge, Wheat has an extensive menu with affordable meals and dishes to suit all palettes. A good breakfast and lunch venue, patrons can have a sample Wheat's perfect Eggs Benedict or indulge in the homemade buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup. Lunch is accompanied with an impressive wine list, boasting mainly local estates and international beers. Sample the leek, potato and tellagio pie, topped with an onion relish and served with a balsamic pear salad, the homemade potato gnocchi in a rich braised beef ragu garnished with fresh herbs or the veal medallions served on a asparagus risotto with goats cheese stuffed zucchini flowers. Ideal for an afternoon snack or work drinks, Wheat also has a tapas menu where patrons can choose from a selection of finger foods such as california rolls, cajun chicken strips with orange mayo or char grilled marinated prawn skewers to accompany a beverage of their choice. Open for breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday and dinner Friday. A courtyard seating area is also available.

Location: 534 Lonsdale St

The Press Club,Melbourne
Evoking images of a smoky bistro, where journalists and the like would discuss the days events, literature and politics, the dark walls, industrial windows and black leather of the renowned Press Club create a chic atmosphere with starched white tablecloths where patrons await the inventive products of master chef George Calombaris' design. Situated in the centre of Melbourne's metropolis, the Greek dishes served at The Press Club are by no way traditional. Expect to savour meals that are as of yet unheard of, a fusion of the old with the very new. With fresh ingredients that are creatively put together and beautifully presented, a visit to The Press Club is a gastronomic experience. Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Friday and dinner Saturday and Sunday. Bookings recommended.

Location: 72 Flinders Street