Melbourne is also known for its extensive shopping, cafes, restaurants and superb beaches. The city plays host to a number of festivals throughout the year, and has other points of interest including magnificent gardens, a splendid zoo and the sea life attractions of Phillip Island.

The premier event in Melbourne's festive calendar is Moomba, where the city lights up with a carnival atmosphere for two weeks. Concerts, fun fairs, exhibitions, arts shows and food fairs are scheduled through the city day and night, and the city celebrates in a huge street parade nominating a King or Queen of Moomba each year. Other festivals in Melbourne include the Royal Melbourne Agricultural Show, the second largest of its kind in Australia. The Melbourne Show draws over 800,000 visitors each year and is the venue for a variety of rural and agricultural displays, as well as a range of amusements and side show entertainments. Spoleto is Melbourne's performing arts festival, and it includes everything from street theatre, to classical ballet, modern jazz and ethnic music.

Victoria is known as the Garden State, and Melbourne as the Garden City. Over one quarter of the inner city area has been set aside as park, and there are a number of beautiful parks located throughout the suburbs of Melbourne.

The Royal Botanical Gardens established in 1845; The Exhibition Gardens on the northern edge of the city, and the Fitzroy Gardens including the historic attraction of Cook's Cottage, miniature village, fairy tree and the conservatory are a few of Melbourne's magnificent garden attractions. The Domain Garden with its famous Floral Clock is perhaps Melbourne's most spectacular garden, and within the Domain the Sidney Myer Music Bowl is a popular venue for outdoor concerts.

Phillip Island is a rich habitat for wildlife. Australia's celebrated Fairy Penguins are perhaps the Island's most famous inhabitants, but the Island also hosts a Koala colony in its eucalypt forests. Telescopes are provided to view the antics of a seal colony on Seal Rocks, as well as the spectacular sights of the Blow Hole and the rugged coastline.

Melbourne Zoo is located within superbly groomed gardens and houses hundreds of animal species in innovative enclosures, similar in landscaping to the animal's natural habitat. Australia's unique wildlife is well represented, and there are a number of exceptional displays, including the spectacular tropical rainforest which houses thousands of colourful butterflies; the Great Flight Aviary, home for many species of birds in a display including rainforest, wetland and scrub habitats; and the arboreal primate exhibit where elevated walkways lead visitors to viewing platforms within the treetops, where the primates can be viewed at close range.

No mention of Melbourne would be complete without a reference to it as Australia's sporting capital, and the world famous horse race which stops a nation each year. The Melbourne Cup has run on the first Tuesday in November every year since 1861, and draws over one hundred thousand people to Flemington Racecourse each year. Millions listen to the race or watch it on television throughout the country, and now the world and the fashions at the Cup draw almost as much interest as the race itself.

Melbourne's enthusiasm for sport is not only intense but also diverse. Throughout the year the city hosts a number of events of both national and international standing in most sports.

Melbourne is the host city for the internationally recognised Melbourne Marathon, and the city also provides for fierce competition in motor sports, cycling, golf and sailing. The city is home to the National Tennis Centre, which is the venue for the Australian Open - one of the four grand slam tennis tournaments in the world.

It is also home to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, once the main venue for the 1956 Olympic games, and now host to a variety of sporting events, including those of national and international test cricket. Melbourne is also the home of Australian Rules Football, and amongst much controversy is set to become the host city for the Australian Grand Prix.

0 of a possible 0 points from 0 votes