The Sydney Morning Herald logo
The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

Victoria

Destination guide

Melbourne

View guide
Hosier Lane.
Gold rush architecture … Ballarat Town Hall.

I arrived grumpy in ‘Australia’s happiest city’. I left charmed

There are far more glamorous destinations in Australia, but none quite offers the sheer variety, warmth and charm of this inland oasis.

  • Mark Chipperfield
Explore Melbourne’s famous laneways on a Hidden Secrets tour.

Nine ways to embrace Melbourne’s cooler months this year

The city’s Europeanness truly comes to the fore in autumn and winter. From shows to cosy new openings, here’s how to soak up the best of the season.

  • Katherine Scott
Purple reign … FOSO dazzles under the night sky.

The Hills Hoists are alive in stunning new light installation

This latest light installation from the creator of Uluru’s Field of Light is as mesmerising as the location, at the junction of the Murray and Darling rivers, surrounded by the 40,000-year-old Perry Sandhills.

  • Sue Wallace
Point Lonsdale Pier.

The things I hated about this beach town as a child are what I love now

My family started visiting this seaside town in the 1980s. Back then I hated the tea-tree, the sand dunes and the lack of a pub.

  • Katrina Strickland
The outdoor terrace is a must at sunset.

New Melbourne hotel exceeds expectations (and is less than $200 a night)

The city’s latest Accor hotel shows that a quality stay needn’t break the bank.

  • Chris Chamberlin
Advertisement
Queenscliff Station.

Make the most of free trains: 10 of the best trips to take from Melbourne

In an era of soaring petrol prices and free rail travel, nothing beats taking the train.

  • Tim Richards
Safety Beach.

My family has been coming to the same beach for 50 years. Now, everyone else is too

Each year, I see the same faces. Together, we are all building memories for the next generation at this Mornington Peninsula highlight.

  • Belinda Jackson
Englighten in Bendigo.

Ten great things to do in Victoria with kids during the Easter holidays

Take a vintage steam train or spend a night at the museum. Here are 10 of the best things to keep the kids entertained these school holidays.

  • Catherine Best
Room with a view … Crowne Plaza Geelong.

The $120 million hotel changing the face of this regional city

This Victorian industrial hub has been undergoing a gradual but deliberate metamorphosis. But until now, it has lacked top-tier stays.

  • Julietta Jameson
Hannah St Hotel, Southbank.

The verdict on Melbourne’s glam new Manhattan-style hotel

Tucked next to a major highway and likened to New York’s iconic Flatiron Building, Hannah St Hotel might be the city’s most convincing slice of the Big Apple.

  • Katherine Scott