Melbourne city

It's hard to believe that such a fantastic location was abandoned by the first settlers who had arrived in 1803 and then departed to Tasmania after staying for less than one year. Being such a diverse place, Melbourne offers everything for the tourist from tennis and bikeriding to fishing and windsurfing.

There are also many accommodation types to chose from, including apartments, hotels, motels, campsites, bed and breakfasts and hostels. For a listing of hostels in the whole of Victoria visit the Victoria hostel directory.

The city centre, also known as the Central Business District (CBD), is on the north bank of the Yarra River. It is approximately 5 kilometres inland from Port Phillip Bay, where most of the pretty suburbs are situated. The city is divided into two parts by the Yarra River, creating predominantly working class areas in the North and West regions, and more affluent areas in the South and the East. The CBD used to be known as the 'Golden Mile', as it is 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide.