Melbourne

Melbourne is one of those cities that seems to have everything. It is the beating heart of Australian culture and sport, a place where world-class tennis players compete under the summer sun each January while thousands of fans go wild in the stands. But Melbourne is so much more than big events. It has a creative, buzzing energy that you can feel the moment you arrive, from the giant geometric patterns covering Federation Square to the towering golden skyscraper where a glass cube slides out over the city skyline, high above everything below.

What really makes Melbourne special is its hidden side. Wander into the maze of narrow laneways and you will discover walls exploding with colour, tiny coffee shops squeezed into unexpected corners, and a market that has been selling fresh food and treasures since before your great-great-grandparents were born. Head to the Royal Botanic Gardens and you might even spot a possum peering down at you from the trees. Melbourne rewards the curious, and there is always something new waiting to be found.