The capital of Victoria is known for the good things in life - fashion, food, entertainment and sport. Marvellous Melbourne, as it was once known throughout the British Empire, was founded on the pastoral and goldmining wealth of the 19th century and became a city of style, architecture, trams, theatres and art. You get the drift: traditional Victorian grandeur. The city is still grand and imposing, but it’s grown into a modern cultural capital where style and grace in all its forms is important - in fashion, the arts and architecture, even on the racetrack, where the fashion stakes, both male and female, are just as big as the races during the Spring Carnival.

Few visitors fail to fall in love with Melbourne. Rattling trams, grand boulevards fringed with elms and parklands brimming with flowers, stately buildings and bayside promenades - it's often called Australia’s most European city. And although it has an ashen grey, almost northern European winter, Melbourne’s summers are bathed in a dazzling Mediterranean heat encouraging the whole city to come out to play.

As a style-setter, Melbourne is home to some of the best shopping and nightlife in Australia, a non-stop program of film and food festivals, cutting edge design and major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas. Whether you’re searching for haute couture or vintage clothing, souvenirs or sparkling chardonnay, chic bars, clubs or jazz venues, Melbourne has it all.

The city is famous for its crowd-pleasing events – from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, the Melbourne Fashion Festival and the Spring Racing Carnival.

Melbourne loves its sport and every year plays host to international tournaments and grand prix events at world-class venues around the city. First-class cricket and Aussie Rules can be found at the city’s beloved stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, most weekends in season. In 2006 Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games, an event that was the largest sporting and community event ever staged in the city.

The wide Yarra River runs through the city, connecting parks and gardens with sports and entertainment venues and arriving at Port Phillip Bay where, at Station Pier, the Spirit of Tasmania berths between trips across Bass Strait.

With more than 3000 restaurants, cafés and bars representing about 75 different ethnic cuisines, Melbourne is always at the forefront of food fashion. Head out in any direction for a meal and you will come across distinctive dining precincts and award-winning epicurean icons.