Leading the voyage of discovery was Parramatta, NSW-born John Batman who, according to legend, dubbed the land ‘Batmania’, no doubt finding inspiration in his adopted home-state Tasmania.
 

While the flapping of the city’s bats’ wings can be heard in different pockets of Melbourne, the mania in town is today based on – but not limited to – food, wine, culture, art, and sport: all the good things 
a traveller looks for in a destination.
 

And, yes, there are many tourist attractions in this city by the Yarra River, but beyond the MCG, Federation Square, and Crown Casino’s fire-breathing columns that light up the night sky every hour, there lurks an edgy side to the country’s second largest city: one that doesn’t stay still for too long.
 

Melbourne is a truly international city, but not in the sometimes brash and impersonal manner of its northern brother Sydney.
 

Throughout the Victorian capital, there’s the sense of 
a shared appreciation for the arts: not in a snobby, big-note yourself sort of way, but in an enriching the everyday manner.
 

Much of the action in Melbourne is concentrated towards the eastern end 
of the city, but investing 
the time and energy to explore on foot – and you should walk around – 
will unearth plenty of 
discoveries throughout.
 

Finally, ‘Four Seasons 
in One Day’ isn’t just 
a Crowded House song title. 
Melbourne’s fickle weather can change in an instant, 
so always remember to pack a ‘brolly’ (umbrella).
 

06.00
Get up in style with a scenic Balloon Sunrise flight and watch the sun yawn and stretch over the city before enjoying breakfast at the swanky Langham Hotel, with panoramic views across the Yarra River to the city.
 

09.00
God bless Queen Victoria Market. Established in 1878, this vibrant, local icon has long provided Melburnians with 
the freshest 
seasonal produce. Closed Mondays 
and Wednesdays.
 

11.00
From the city’s most exclusive boutiques, to the bargain-lined riches of Richmond’s infamous Bridge Road, and Block, Cathedral and Royal arcades, the city’s reputation as a shoppers’ paradise is well deserved.
 

13.00
Embracing the city’s multiculturalism, Flinders Lane’s Coda fuses flavoursome Vietnamese street food with French classics. Rice paper rolls followed by rabbit rillettes for lunch, anyone?
 

15.00
Time for an art attack? The National Gallery of Victoria regularly hosts exhibitions featuring the work of some of history’s greatest artists, including works by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
 

17.00
Home of three world-class ovals and the lion’s share of the country’s Australian Rules football teams, take in a game at the famed Melbourne Cricket Ground, known locally as ‘The Gee’.
 

18.00
Melbourne might be your oyster come dinnertime, but book early for a seat at Attica, to sample Ben Shewry’s ingredient-driven menu, recently placing 73rd in 
the World’s Top 
100 restaurants.
 

22.00
Rooftop bars are changing the way people enjoy the city after dark. 
Pull on some layers to keep warm, and seek out Madame Brussels on Bourke Street and Spring Street’s Siglo, both in Hastings.
 

01.00
For those with energy to spare, head to Kingpin Bowling at Crown Entertainment Complex for a frame or two in the 
funky surrounds 
of this grown-up bowling alley.
 

03.00
From late-night Premier League fixtures to early-morning Heineken Cup matches, follow your favourite team 
at Crown’s Sports Bar, home of some of the largest screens in 
the hemisphere.