Welcome to Hotels and Getaways

Melbourne is one of the easiest places to tour in Australia. It is flat, compact and arranged in a well-thought-out grid pattern. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a boring tour as there is so much to see and admire in this city.

New visitors to Melbourne often begin their travels by hopping on the City Circle Tram. It travels around the outside of the main business and shopping area, giving you a good introduction to the places you might wish to visit later. Try walking initially, and if you follow the Golden Mile Trail, you’ll get to see many of Melbourne’s most well known historic sites.

There are half-day bus tours such as the Marvelous Melbourne Tour that takes visitors through the inner suburbs like Carlton, Albert Park and Port Melbourne while the Melbourne Sports Tours is an excellent way for sports buffs to discover why the city is the sporting capital of Australia.

If your tastes are a little more upmarket, you could consider trying a hot air balloon ride or a river cruise to see the city in all its glory. For something more adventurous, why not take a flying tour in a seaplane. Both Dog Scenic Flights and Melbourne Seaplanes can give you a thrilling experience if this appeals to you.

You can even go on a ghost hunting tour with the Haunted Melbourne Ghost Tour. This one is done on foot and visits some of the city’s more “paranormally active” areas. Alternatively, why not learn about Melbourne’s colourful history and past with tours to the town hall or cemetery. You’ll have a laugh hearing about some of Melbourne’s “interesting” historical characters, as well as seeing a view of life in days gone by.

Tourists with a sweet tooth will thoroughly enjoy these two excellent tours: the Coffee, Cake & Chocolate Walk and Chocolate & Other Desserts Walk. They will take you to all the best places in town to satisfy that chocolate craving. And while you’ve got food on your mind, try taking the Colonial Tramcar Restaurants tour which combines two of Melbourne’s greatest loves, fine dining and trams.

If you’re a shopaholic, you’ll LOVE Melbourne’s Shopping Spree bus tour. It takes you down all the backstreets and hidden alleys, to visit the bargain factory and warehouse outlets that Melbourne is famous for.

The Aboriginal Heritage Walk offers visitors excellent insight into the history and culture of the indigenous tribes that once populated Melbourne. They also provide a chance to marvel at the magnificent Royal Botanic Gardens.

For the explorers amongst you, why not get out of the city and visit some of the great tourist attractions that Victoria has to offer. With the goldmining history of the state, you should definitely visit Ballarat or Bendigo, and some other wonderful places to visit include Philip Island, the National Park in the Grampians, the scenic Great Ocean Road, and Sovereign Hill. Wine lovers will definitely want to get to the famous Yarra Valley region and check out the local wines.

To finish off a wonderful visit to Melbourne, you should definitely consider spending a day at one of the delightful spa resorts at Daylesford or Hepburn Springs. You’ll be glad you made the effort while you’re relaxing in a natural mineral springs bath.