City Centre
Melbournes city centre is bordered by Flinders Street in the south, La Trobe Street in the north, Spring Street in the East and Spencer Street in the West. The city centre is a mix of high rise buildings with relatively narrow streets that give the city a distinctive European feel. Melbourne is famous for its café culture and is celebrated by its locals as having the best coffee in the country. Cafés litter the streets meaning the choice for the visitor can be quite overwhelming.  To the North of the centre you find Melbournes main shopping area focused around the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre. There are dozens of other shops around the city centre that makes shopping in Melbourne a fun explorative adventure. Heading south through the city centre towards the Yarra River you pass numerous shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants where you can sit and people watch over a coffee or shop till you drop. At the south end of the city you find Melbourne town hall, the impressive St Pauls Cathedral and the famous Flinders Street Station with its iconic architecture. East of the station you find Federation Square which can be described as the entertainment heart of Melbourne. The square is surrounded by bars and cafes that fill up with people at all times of the day and is one of the citys favourite meeting points. The metal sculpture in the square is a real eye catcher and acts the backdrop for Melbournes nightlife. The square is alive with activity in the evenings with live performances drawing in the crowds over the summer months. Other points of interest in the city centre are the Immigration museum in the south west area of the centre and the Melbourne aquarium that sits on the banks of the Yarra River. 

Southbank
On the south banks of the Yarra River you find the aptly named Southbank area of the city. With views over the city centre the Southbank area has undergone massive regeneration over the years and has become a favourite with locals and visitors alike. The main focus points of the area are the Southgate Centre that is home to some great shopping, restaurants and bars that come alive on an evening with people enjoying good food, beer and atmosphere. Further west along the river is the Crown Casino Complex, the largest casino in Australia where you can drink and gamble until the early hours. Further west is the Melbourne Exhibition Centre and the Polly Woodside Maritime Museum.

Carlton
Directly north of the city centre is the popular suburb of Carlton. Carlton is in keeping with the rest of the city and has some fabulous restaurants, cafés and bars to entertain the visitor. There are also some great Melbourne backpacker hostels for the traveller. One of the main focal points of the suburb is the Queen Victoria Market that straddles Carlton and the City Centre to the south. Queen Victoria Market is one of the best in the country and the food halls are full of delicacies from around the world. Carlton Gardens in the south of the suburb adds some greenery to the city and also houses the wonderful Melbourne Museum, the Royal Exhibition Building and a funky IMAX cinema.

Docklands
To the west of the city centre you find Docklands, once one of the busiest working docks in Australia bringing large freight into Victoria. The Docklands area holds little attractions for the backpacker apart from the Telstra Dome which is home to the Aussie rules football teams Essendon, the Western Bulldogs and St. Kilda. The promenade is also worth a look with some good bars and restaurants. Docklands is undergoing a huge regeneration project at the moment with many residential modern high rise buildings springing up. Over the coming years expect to see an influx of entertainment venues in the area when the Docklands will become an integral part of the Melbourne entertainment and nightlife scene.

East Melbourne
Victoria is sport crazy with its residents following cricket, Aussie rules football, basket ball, football, rugby league and rugby union in force. The Docklands area to the west of the city centre houses the Telstra Dome but East Melbourne is the undisputed sporting capital of the city if not the state. The concentration of sporting venues is quite unbelievable with four huge and impressive venues. The most famous has to be the Melbourne Cricket Ground, stooped in history the MCG is one of the most famous stadiums in the country and the world. The MCG hosts major sporting events such as international cricket matches and the Aussie rules grand final, having just undergone massive refurbishment the ground now has a capacity of 100,000 people. Next door to the MCG is the Australian Gallery of Sport that is well worth a visit. South from the MCG is the Rod Laver Arena and the Vodafone arena that host the Australian Open tennis, basket ball matches and live entertainment on a regular basis. The last of the arenas is Olympic Park Stadium that is home to the Melbourne Storm rugby league team. 

South Yarra
South East of the city centre is the more upmarket suburb of South Yarra. Although the suburb can be a little expensive for the backpacker it is a great place to spend an afternoon exploring. There are dozens of cafés and bars for the visitor to grab a drink or a snack and watch the young vibrant crowds pass by. Evenings are loud and full of activity as the local bars and clubs fill up. The area is famous for its shopping with numerous chic boutiques lining the streets waiting to be discovered. The Jam Factory Shopping Centre is worth a visit with some great shops.

St Kilda
St Kilda is south east of the city centre and is Melbournes main beach suburb. A favourite with the backpacker community there are some great Melbourne backpacker hostels and a vibrant nightlife to entertain visitors. The main bars, restaurants and clubs are situated on Fitzroy Street north west of St Kilda centre. The area gets very busy all week with backpackers looking for a good night out. The area does have a downside and is regarded as Melbournes red light district, however it  is well policed and this rarely causes any problems for backpackers. St Kilda beach is west from the centre of town and has a tacky feel to it resembling some of the UK’s favourite seaside destinations. The beach is popular during the summer months and a trip to Luna Park, Melbournes beachside fair ground is entertaining for an afternoon if not a little expensive.