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Travel Guide » Oceania » Melbourne
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Melbourne
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(Australia)


Multi-cultured, multi-layered, marvellously arty Melbourne.

Melbourne is dubbed marvellous for a reason. Healthy hedonism masquerades as high art: Melburnians are equally passionate about football and ballet, fashion and restaurants. They are ravenous for music and hot for theatre. It's a smorgasbord of a city that you'll want to sink your teeth into.


A leafy bayside community on the 'upside-down', brown Yarra River, Melbourne is, in turns, cosmopolitan, suburban, cultivated, conservative and a haven for the avant-garde. Visitors come for its shopping, restaurants, nightlife and sporting calendar, and most agree that it's one of the world's most liveable cities.

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Caution
Dangers & Annoyances

Melbourne is a relatively safe place to visit, but you should still take reasonable precautions. Don't leave hotel rooms or cars unlocked, and don't leave money, wallets, purses or cameras unattended or in full view through car windows.

But when it comes right down to it, it's the trams you have to watch out for. Be extremely cautious when stepping on and off trams - a lot of people have been hit by passing cars, so don't step off without looking both ways. Pedestrians in Bourke St Mall should look for passing trams too. Car drivers should treat trams with caution, and never pass on the inside when a tram has stopped. Cyclists should be careful not to get their wheels caught in tram tracks, and motorcyclists should take care when tram tracks are wet. Hook turns (making a right turn from the left-hand lane at some city-centre intersections so as not to obstruct tram tracks) are a Melbourne speciality and take a bit of getting used to.

Carry-on Baggage Requirements

As of March 31, 2007 all passengers flying to and from Australia on international flights will only be permitted to carry small quantities of liquids, gels or aerosols in their cabin or carry-on luggage. Small containers of 100 mls (3.5 fl oz) are permitted and must be sealed in a transparent plastic bag. Details of the new security measures can be found at the Department of Transport website.

Domestic travel is not affected by these regulations.

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