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A few of my favorite (Melbourne) things – the ‘green’ bits
A few of my favorite (Melbourne) things – the ‘green’ bits
For those days when the buzz of the city becomes less of a thrill and more of an irritation, you’ll need a few ‘green’ spots to help recharge. Luckily Melbourne has quite a selection. So grab a newspaper and a takeaway latte, and plonk yourself on something green. And breathe deeply.
Albert Park Lake
This man made lake is probably most famous for being the site of the contentious Grand Prix. Opponents believe that the vast lake - a sanctuary for an assortment of wildlife as well as many frazzled humans - shouldn’t be traumatized by the ‘whirring’ of racing cars and the stench of burning rubber. During the non-Grand Prix months you’ll be able to sit under a shady tree and watch the majestic swans glide by. Carousal, a stylish, casual café perched on the eastern edge of the 4.7km walking track, serves breaky, light lunches and a not too shabby coffee.
The Exhibition Gardens
A stones throw from the CBD, the Exhibition Gardens are well frequented by office workers and students through the week. There’s nothing better than lying back and peering through the green lacey canopy to a blue Melbourne sky before heading back to the office.
The nice thing for a visitor is once you’ve had a lie down on the plush green grass (yes, there’s still some, notwithstanding the impact of 3A water restrictions) you can pop along to the Melbourne Museum or Imax Studio which are both on the grounds. Oh, and check out the gorgeous domed roof of the Exhibition building.
Botanical Gardens
Often referred to as the ‘lungs of Melbourne’, the Botanical gardens provide a great reprieve from the frenetic pace of the city. You’ll find monstrous trees with terrific foliage for great shade on a hot day. The resident bats come out in full force at night, as does the Moonlight Cinema and an annual Shakespeare theatre performance.
The Catani Gardens
St Kilda is one of Melbourne’s most popular bayside suburbs and often busy and a little crazy. But it does have many ‘green’ spots so winding down isn’t so hard. One of my favorite is the Catani Gardens – a grand boulevard of palm trees with the bay running alongside it. There’s a playground for the kids and a Pony Bus comes along on weekends providing $5 rides on wee little Shetland ponies.
*If you're interested in reading about more of 'My Favorite (Melbourne) Things', check out the blog on my website below (blog runs in the left hand column).
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Melbourne CBD and Suburbs
- Melbourne, with so much to see and do in the centre of this vibrant city, it is best explored in specific sections. For those wanting to shop there is the Central Retail District which is the heartbeat of Melbourne's shopping trade. Bourke St Mall is a popular site for big-name department stores. Not too far away, Melbourne Central is a 20-storey tower with cafes, restaurants and shops. Worth investigating are the Royal Arcade and Centre Way for their specialty shops and historic significance. The Block Arcade is very exclusive, while Howey Place and Australia on Collins are less so, but also popular shopping spots. Chinatown is found in and around Little Bourke St, where Chinese business, commerce and culture have been thriving since the gold-rushes of the 1850s. A popular destination for fans of authentic Chinese cuisine, Chinatown is also home to the Chinese Museum, The Greek precinct, Swanston St is largely a pedestrian mall, overtaken by pavement cafes and shops. Meander along the mall and down the surrounding streets and view some of Melbourne's most historic buildings, such as St Paul's Cathedral, Flinders Street Station, Young and Jackson's Hotel and Melbourne Town Hall.
