Big spacious train terminal that caters to regional trains, etc…read more East to navigate thru and have information maps. They also have a good sound system. Clean restrooms, and several food kiosks and shops. It is also next to an outlet mall.

In A Nutshell:…read more -Southern Cross Station is New York Grand Central Station is Taipei Main Station is Tokyo Station is Roma Termini Station. -Can be the potential Google Transit Village in San Jose. -Catch my drift? Overall, this is the main hub of transportaion in a very busy part of town that connects all forms of transport in/out of Melbourne.

On a sunny Sunday, I drove past and saw a large sign for the Hungarian Festival so this is what the…read morereview is based mostly on. The Hungarian festival is held here every 2 years and you can experience food, music, dancing and attend exhibitions to learn about the culture. The community centre is home to an ecumenical church and the Korona restaurant where you can go to the buffet for $38 per person. I only had the apple strudel however there is a bar, halls for hire, playground for kids and much more!

Look, even though this station is hardly the centre of public life, nor a grand statement of the…read moreengineering prowess of the Australian people, I will still give this place points for resulting in the value of my mate's house going up (something that railway stations have a habit of being able to do). Mind you, don't expect anything in relation to facilities here, there are none, but at least it provides easy transport for those who happen to land up in this area.

The sky cleared enough for us to walk here and get outstanding views of the city. Adult tickets are…read moreabout $43 and allow you to ride the elevator to the 88th floor and walk around to 360 degree views of the city. We found sitting spots in every direction so that we could relax and enjoy the view. I thought it was cool to see an aerial view of where they play the Australian Tennis Open. Don't forget to step outside. There is a free gated area so you can experience the wind and chill of the air so far up. We grabbed a drink and sat and chatted and probably spent about an hour up there. Good stop.

Melbourne is a truly multicultural city, as it is Australia's most populous city. Since World War…read moreII, large-scale immigration from Vietnam, Lebanon, Turkey, Sudan, Italy, and Greece has added to the cultural richness. There is a rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney that extends beyond this city's 5.2 million population, from sporting events to fashion trends and economic influence. We could see just by driving around the city that Melbourne's distinct European charm and feel come through in interactions with both strangers on the street and working people, and that Melburnians emphasize their high quality of life. Below the city's towering skyscrapers (the tallest building is 108 stories high) is a grand mixture of well-preserved Victorian architecture, tree-lined boulevards, expansive gardens, and parks that adds a historical elegance. After visiting one of the city's historic and expansive gardens (Fitzroy Gardens) and passing by numerous green parks within the city's center, our group was taken to the Eureka Skydeck, AKA Melbourne Skydeck, to get a bird's eye view (well, 91 stories is higher than most non-migratory birds' flight) of this bustling city. The Melbourne Skydeck, on Level 88, is the highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere and offers a 360° panoramic view of the city and beyond. There is a glass-bottomed "cube" called "The Edge" that extends from the Sky Deck, but we didn't dare walk out onto it. Instead, we braved the OUTDOOR OBSERVATION DECK. We felt the wind and chill blowing through the observation deck as we snapped photos and braced ourselves against the guardrails and chain-link fence. After getting our fill of photos, we stopped to grab a snack at the Skydeck's concession stand. We tried the Australian Steak and Gravy Meat Pie ($10 AUD) and the Sausage Roll with Red Sauce ($10 AUD). Both food items were tasty, and their pastry was flaky and tender, though not the very best. However, I knew that we'd be trying more meat pies or sausage rolls as we continue our way through Australia to New Zealand.

So I worked on this piece of writing recently whereby I interviewed a bunch of people from…read moreAbbotsford Convent about their ghost stories from the place. There are plenty. The main kind of repeated story (four people told me independently of a similar experience) is of a sudden rush of anxiety when climbing the eastern stair well in the main convent building. The anxiety builds to a kind of terror as the people enter the nuns quarters and has forced people to avoid this part of the building altogether. I can't say I experienced this myself, but there are certainly some spooky nooks and corridors in this complex. The convent conduct a walking tour of the place on weekends and though they won't highlight the 'haunted' spots, the place has such an amazing history (from Indigenous meeting place, through the convent and girls-home years, and into its existence today as a buzzing arts and social hub) that it's well worth the few dollars. Alternatively, you can pick up a brochure from the office and take yourself to the south eastern breezeway that cuts through the former laundries of the girls home. Stay after dark... I dare ya.

If you are in need of a weekend away but can't manage it then may I suggest a visit to Abbotsford…read moreConvent? The Convent feels world away from Melbourne despite its proximity to the CBD. There is something about the spacious grounds, historical buildings and range of eateries that promotes relaxation and escape. Maybe it's just after the battle to find a parking spot in nearby streets anything feels serene in comparison. When exploring the various buildings and grounds of the Convent you feel as though you are discovering something new. Whether it be a new favourite dish, a new piece of art in the gallery spaces or a new view of the Yarra. This space is very hospitable. It hosts markets, conferences, tours and you can also book various area's of the Convent for functions. On my last visit a wedding was underway and the happy couple appeared to be in love with the location, and hopefully each other. Grab a table at the Bakery or a spot on the lawn and write me a postcard!

This is the original Observation Deck for Melbourne, before the Grollo brothers finished building…read morethe Eureka Tower last year. It gives you a 360 degree view of Melbourne and its surrounds on level 55, and was opened to the public in 1994. It is now the second tallest building in Melbourne. You can use the binoculars to get a close-up view of the ant-like humans, and you can get wind-whipped on the outdoor viewing balconies. There is a lovely cafe up there, but considering you have to pay entry to the tower, I'd say take your own snacks!

Great place to take 360 degrees view at Melbourne.read more

TL:DR - Great old building that really transports you back. Lots of great stories about old…read moreprisoners, but just reading stories over and over again gets repetitive and boring after a while. The watch house tour is a must, however. Man, this place is cool. Great way to kill 3 hours. The prison itself has an old timey haunted prison look to it. Lots of bare concrete and stone with lots of drab dark cells. It really transports you back into time with lots of great stories about the inmates held their, former beliefs about prison reform, and about Ned Kelly. Honestly, all the focus on Ned Kelly didn't make a ton of sense to me as an American, so it was a weird focus for me. But the star of the visit was the watch house experience. You get to tour a separate part of the prison that served as an intake center until 1994, but the tour is given from the prisoner perspective, where you're "arrested" by a guard/tour guide. The guide was phenomenal and took his role seriously, which was great. The only reason this place didn't get 5*s is because after a while the prison itself got a bit old. The stories were great the first 15 cells, but then got old. It turned into a great freaky location with 50 Wikipedia articles for people to read. Would have been great if it was a bit more interactive.

Absolutely amazing service and heard scratches coming from walls and heard a voice say "get out of…read moremy prison" whisper in my ear when I was only one in the gaol doing ghost investigations I contacted Ned Kelly

I love visiting the mansion. I try every couple years. I bring as many as I can that's never been…read more The restaurant/cafe is expensive. Probably better to take food and have a picnic. (YES ALLOWED). The grounds are impeccable. There's more than the mansion also. The back houses. The farm. There's a trail of art works. Amazing day out. 3 hours in house. 1hr out buildings. Art trail 45 mins. A small bus ride through grounds looking for birds and gliders 10mins. Was the background for The Pirate Movie. Rose Garden available during season rivals any on earth.

If you are looking for that "perfect" place to relax and enjoy your surroundings, Werribbe Park and…read moreMansion is that perfect destination - run by Parks Victoria. It is only 30 minutes from Melbourne by car, with plenty of free parking available and the best part is... entry to this magnificent Werribee Park Gardens and Victoria State Rose Garden is FREE. We strolled through the park and absorbed the well laid out landscape of roses in many colours and took time in smelling their fragrances. Plenty of places where you could sit down on their sculpted seats or pick a spot on their luscious green lawn - the area is huge to walk around that enables you to find a suitable piece of lawn to rest upon, under a shade of tree or sunlight - your choice. I even saw a family kicking the ball - a family-friendly place to visit. Many photo opportunities and then there is "The Mansion". You cannot miss the mansion because it truly is a mansion, it was built during the 19th Century (Victorian era) with Italianate architecture style. They do run tours there where you have the opportunity to see inside the Mansion and the history that goes with it, but we chose not to do it, we were quite happy enjoying the free views of 'The Mansion'. There is also a café located near the mansion where you could buy something to eat, have a cuppa or an ice-cream or why not bring along a picnic basket instead? And yes... they do have toilet facilities there as well. If you had a stressful day, smell the rose that would surely make you forget the past and an opportunity to recoup!