This is part three and the finale of my writing about Melbourne. I visited to learn more about the City and to encourage you to spend time discovering it as well.
Shopping:
Melbourne is most commonly a destination for Kiwis because they want to shop. And for very good reason. You can purchase pretty much everything in this city.
Starting with Harbourtown, a massive outlet mall situated in Docklands. So many brands are represented here, quitting seasonal stock and also discounting new season clothing. It’s a must-visit, being the gateway to the Melbourne Star (previously mentioned) as well. I observed that this is not just a place for the female shopper. There is plenty for men to indulge in as well.
The two large retail companies, Myers and David Jones have stores, side-by-side, that span several blocks in the CBD. Each store has areas dedicated to brands within sections. An amazing array of clothing options. I was enamoured by the Alexander McQueen mens boots - right up until I saw the $1000 price tag. Just a little out of my ability to justify. I loved the David Jones food hall. A really nicely set up place, selling takeaways for the lunch crowd and high-end ingredients.
Melbourne Central and Emporium Melbourne. Both retail complexes worth visiting. Brands such as Topshop/TopMan, Armani Exchange hide within. Zara is present in Melbourne as well. H&M has an amazing flagship store. Multiple levels in an historic building. Definitely worth visiting for those inexpensive wardrobe fillers you need.
I loved the fact that there were many single label boutique designer stores. That you could find an amazing selection of Retro clothing, or boots, or shoes, or bags and other accessories in small shops hidden in laneways and mini-malls. I love that you could find specialty shops selling pens or stationery, magic items or pop culture.
Near Flinders St station is Degraves St - a bohemiam lane with great coffee and very cool arty shops. It is definitely worth an explore. I think it was my favourite place.
Getting Around:
Melbourne has developed a fantastic public transport network for its people, and have made it easy for Tourists to get amongst it.
Starting from the Airport with SkyBus - an $18 one-way fare that takes you directly to the CBD. It was much less expensive that taking a cab. That being said, from observation, cabs are reasonably priced when compared with their counterparts in Auckland.
Melbourne is blessed with being quite flat, so it is actually very easy to walk. We averaged 10kms a day and coped pretty well. They have a very useful tram and bus network. All you need is a MyKi and you’re away. Tag-on, Tag-off. Simple.
There are a couple of options designed with the tourist in mind. There is the City Circle Free Tram which runs on a loop around the outskirts of the CBD. It’s free and they’re repurposing some of the vintage trams of eras past. This tram will deliver you to multiple stops, all of which are near attractions. The Melbourne Visitor Shuttle is a bus network. Again, this runs in a loop with 13 stops. It complements the City Circle tram well. It used to be free, but now has a $5 daily charge, and you can hop-on, hop-off as you want.
And if practicality isn’t your style, there are always horse and cart options to discover.
Apps:
Definitely search the app stores before you arrive in Melbourne. There’s the Melbourne Guide, the realtime Tram Tracker and more. Most destinations support their business with apps now, which makes things very easy.
Summary:
I loved Melbourne. It’s a very liveable city. I need to return and discover the suburbs and surrounds. Next time I’ll hire a car and go further afield to see what this wonderful place has to offer.
For more information about Melbourne check out Visit Melbourne. There are always reasons to visit and fares are reasonable. Call us for more information.