Australia's cultural and commercial hub, chic, and elegant Melbourne sports sweeping, tree-lined boulevards. The city's Royal Botanic Gardens are a wonderland of lakes and blooming trees, and in the city's zoo, animals roam freely in natural settings. Victorian architecture, outdoor cafes and an upper-crust outlook make this riverside city a magical urban center.

Melbourne is set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The city itself, laid out in a large rectangle and boasting a lively and cosmopolitan pulse, sits on the northern banks of the Yarra River, about three miles from the bay.

One glance at a map and it's obvious that Melbourne is a planned city: a tidy, balanced grid of neatly angled streets.

Downtown is made up of precincts - distinct enclaves each with its own flavor and charm. Some are just a lane or two, while others cover the banks of the Yarra River or a busy downtown street.

Extending around the bay are a number of inner suburbs, each with its own distinct character and personality. A short tram ride from the city centre, Melbourne's suburban neighborhoods are a must see for anyone wanting to experience what life here is really all about.

Getting around Melbourne is easy, thanks to an integrated network of trains, trams and buses.



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Special Note:

We direct travelers to our travel insurance provider, and point out that U.S. insurance plans seldom cover health costs outside the U.S., nor do Medicare and Medicaid.






Born Fitzroy
Saint Mary MacKillop
Memorial 8 August
Patronage Australia
Died 1909

Co-founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866; it was Australia's first religious order.

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