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Facts about Melbourne

Melbourne has an oceanic climate that is temperate. Summers in the Southern Hemisphere are extremely hot, lasting from December to February, while winters are brief and pleasant. In February, the average high temperature is 26.6 °C (79.9 °F), and in June, the average high temperature is 14.2 °C (57.6 °F). Precipitation is very consistent throughout the year, with a slight rise from October to December.

Melbourne is Australia's second-most populous city, with about 4.9 million residents as of 2019. Nearly 75% of the people in the state of Victoria (which is roughly the size of the United Kingdom) and 20% of all Australians live in or near the city. Greater Melbourne is divided into 23 divisions.

Melbourne is frequently recognized as one of the world's most livable cities. It rated second in The Economist's 2019 Global Liveability Ranking, trailing only Vienna in Austria and ahead of Sydney, Osaka in Japan, and Calgary in Canada. Melbourne's high rating was influenced by factors such as excellent quality healthcare and other public services, robust educational options, and a diversified cultural life.

Best vacation spots and activities

The Royal Botanic Gardens are located in Kew, England. The botanical gardens, which cover a large area in Melbourne and its suburbs, are home to over 8,500 different varieties of plants, as well as various birds and animals, some of which you may be lucky enough to spot on a pleasant day out there.

Victoria's National Gallery The National Gallery is the oldest, largest, and most visited museum in Australia. Also called simply the NGV, it houses an impressive array of paintings, statues, prints, photographs, and other artwork. There are exhibitions of indigenous art as well as current Australian artists, as well as pieces by globally recognized old masters such as Degas, El Greco, Rothko, and Renoir. Other museums in Melbourne worth seeing include the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, the Old Treasury Building and Gold Museum, the Immigration Museum, and many more.

Fitzroy. Fitzroy is perhaps the hippest area you'll discover for thousands of kilometers in every direction. It's fun, unique, and always in style. It's just as easy to meet new people here as it is to get lost in the quaint bookshops, art galleries, and small concert venues.

The Melbourne Zoo. Australia’s oldest zoo is a large and modern nature area where about 320 species of animals live. You can observe most of the domestic marsupial and other animal species here, as well as to visit the Orangutan Sanctuary, look at penguins in the Wild Sea exhibit, and see the pride of the zoo, the Trail of the Elephants.

The Dandenong Ranges are a set of low mountain ranges, rising to 633 metres at Mount Dandenong, approximately 35 km east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The ranges consist mostly of rolling hills, steeply weathered valleys and gullies covered in thick temperate rainforest, predominantly of tall mountain ash trees and dense ferny undergrowth. Today, The Dandenongs are home to over 100,000 residents and are popular amongst visitors, many of whom stay for the weekend at the various bed & breakfasts throughout the region. The popular Puffing Billy Railway, a heritage steam railway, runs through the hills villages of the eastern Dandenong Ranges.

Traffic and parking tips

One of the largest road hazards in Australia are the wildlife. Take extra caution when driving in bad weather or after dark as this is when most of the collisions with wildlife take place.

Mobile coverage is very rarely available outside of major highways and population centers, so take extra caution when traveling in nature areas.

Another great risk when traveling outside of main highways is the heat. The temperatures can reach extremes very easily, especially during the summer months and in inland areas. Always stay properly hydrated and set out your route in advance to be able to supplement your water supplies.

Driving under the influence laws differ from territory to territory in Australia. In Victoria, the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.00% for novice drivers and drivers with provisional licences. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines and a driver licence ban.

The insurance and car documentation need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.

If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.

The primary, nationwide emergency number in Australia is 000. 

Toll roads

There are a number of toll roads in Australia, mainly in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. In Victoria, there are two active toll roads, Linkt (formerly known as CityLink) and EastLink.

Most toll roads in Australia use an “open roll system” with mainline barrier toll points. All toll roads in Australia use cashless payment system. You can purchase a prepaid pass for most toll roads. Some rental cars in Australia are equipped with an electronic toll responder the price of which is usually included in the rental price. Ask your car rental provider about it in advance.

Different toll roads are operated by different companies, so there is no nation-wide fee system in place.

For more information about the toll roads in the state of Victoria, visit the website of the Royal Automobile Association (RAA) of South Australia.

Ideas for a day-trip

Phillip Island. Less than three hours drive from Melbourne, Phillip Island and the nature park of the same name are known for their famous inhabitants - penguins and seals (statistically, there are more of the latter on the island than there area humans). The opportunities to observe both species are plenty.

Yarra Valley. Having won as many awards as their counterparts in Bordeaux and Burgundy, Yarra Valley is Australia’s number one wine destination. The wines are best sampled together with some delicious local food in one of the many area’s restaurants. If you can, set aside not one, but at least a couple of days for a full experience so that you and your travel buddy (or buddies) can take turns in enjoying the wines.

Yarra Ranges National Park. Part of the same Yarra Valley area, Yarra Ranges is one of the largest national parks in Victoria. Made up of winding paths that crisscross the temperate rainforest and mountain ash woodlands, this is a great place to enjoy a day outdoors. The national park is home to the emblematic slender fern tree, as well as wildlife species such as wombats, kangaroos, and different types of platypuses. Located about 160 km (100 miles) from Melbourne, the area can be reached in about 2 hours and 45 minutes. If you wish to avoid going there and back again on the same day, there are a number of hotels and bed & breakfasts in the immediate vicinity of the park. Other beautiful nature areas about the same distance from Melbourne include Wilsons Promontory National Park, Great Otway National Park, and Grampians National Park.