Melbourne prides itself on being a great city. It's hardly surprising, with its spectacular combination of old and new architecture, elegant streetscapes, ethnic communities and lavish parks and gardens. Add Australia's best eating, an excellent transit system and a packed events calendar boasting sporting spectaculars and exuberant events, and you have all the ingredients for one of the most enlightened and liveable cities in the world.

Australia's second-largest city and capital of the state of Victoria, Melbourne has a lively passion for eating and drinking, which is reflected in thousands of restaurants serving up gastronomic experiences from around the world. What's more, everywhere you look you'll find an array of fashionable cafés, where you can enjoy Melbourne's fantastic coffee culture to the full.

Melbourne is a style-setter with some of the best shopping and nightlife in Australia. Whether you're searching for haute couture or vintage clothing, souvenirs or sparkling chardonnay, über-chic bars, clubs or jazz venues, Melbourne has it all.

Melbourne's standing as the cultural capital of Australia is recognised in a non-stop program of film and food festivals, major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas. The city is also famous for its range of crowd-pleasing events - from the high-octane excitement of the Australian Grand Prix to the beautiful floral displays of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

And if you venture outside Melbourne, diverse regional areas and attractions proffer dramatic coastal vistas, outback wilderness, vineyards, rugged peaks and thrilling wildlife. Attracting visitors from far and wide, they are all easily accessible, making your Melbourne experience even more rich and rewarding.

For further information please contact us or Victoria Tourism www.tourismvictoria.com.au