Melbourne is set around the shores of Port Phillip Bay. The city itself, laid out in a large rectangle and boasting a lively and cosmopolitan pulse, sits on the northern banks of the Yarra River, about five kilometres from the bay.

One glance at a map and it’s obvious that Melbourne is a planned city: a tidy, balanced grid of neatly angled streets. But beneath this sense of everything in its place lies a restless creative energy constantly pushing back at the city’s seeming conservatism. The CBD is made up of precincts – distinct enclaves each with its own flavour and charm. Some are just a lane or two, while others cover the banks of the Yarra River or a busy CBD street.

Melbourne is renowned for being a diverse, cosmopolitan city that is easy to get around. The Melbourne campus is conveniently located close to bus and extensive tram routes with Southern Cross and Flinders Street train stations located nearby. Prior to boarding a train, tram or bus you must buy a Metcard. You can get these at train stations, some newsagents or on board trams. Tickets on trams can only be bought by using coins as the ticket machines do not take notes. There are a number of ticket types available such as a weekly, monthly, daily or two hourly. Visit www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au for further information on prices, timetables and general information.

There is always something happening in Melbourne whether it be one of the many festivals staged in the city every year or a sports event at one of the many venues around town. Melbournians love their sport especially the unique Australian Rules Football during the Winter or cricket in Summer. Melbourne also has successful Rugby League and Soccer teams in the national competitions and in 2011 will become the home of Australia? newest Rugby Union team in the International Super series.

To find out what events are on in Melbourne visit www.whats-on-in-melbourne.com.au.

Mebournians love food and there are a large number of restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars both in the CBD and in outer areas. Food from all over the world can be found in Melbourne with Chinese, Italian, Japanese, French,Indonesian, Malaysian, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai restaurants but a few. With areas such as Chinatown in the city, Lygon Street Italian precinct in Carlton, funky Brunswick Street in Fitzroy and Degraves Street and Hardware Lane in the Central Business District even the fussiest eater will find something he or she likes. Shopping is a great pastime for many Melbourne people.

With department stores such as Myer and David Jones located in the heart of the CBD, the Direct Factory Outlets above Southern Cross train station and at South Wharf on the Yarra River offering huge discounts from all major brands, the Queen Victoria centre, Bridge Road in Richmond and the Queen Victoria and Camberwell markets shopping in Melbourne definitely offers something for everybody and is a bargain hunter? dream.

Melbourne enjoys a temperate climate with warm-hot summers; spring and autumn are balmy and mild, the winters cool. Melbourne is seldom unbearably cold or unbearably hot. Temperature extremes when they do occur see the hotter realms of the thermometer causing more problems than the colder.

There is a reputation for rain in the city, which is statistically unfounded as Melbourne receives only 50 percent of the average rainfall of either Brisbane or Sydney. Perhaps it can sometimes be a little unpredictable; however, it is a comfortable environment to be in whatever the season. In fact it is a great place to watch the seasons change and so highly visual within the many parks and gardens of autumn and spring, giving rise to all of nature’s spectacular beauty and charms within the confines of a great city.

Melbourne lays within the southern hemisphere where the seasons are reversed to those in Europe, North America and most of Asia. Melbourne’s changes of seasons are known for starting late, the “official” first day of summer is 21st December, but it rarely feels like summer until mid January or even later. During the summer months outdoor activities in particular the fabulous Melbourne beaches are popular with both locals and visitors.