Pacific Center - Migration Services
MELBOURNE

MELBOURNE OVERVIEW:

Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, is the second largest city in Australia. Melbourne's multicultural atmosphere is set amongst Victorian-era buildings and gorgeous parkland. It has a population of just over 4 million people, and is a picturesque place with so much to offer the visitor and resident alike.


The city centre, also known as the Central Business District (CBD), is on the north bank of the Yarra River. It is approximately 5 kilometres inland from Port Phillip Bay, where most of the pretty suburbs are situated.


The city is divided into two parts by the Yarra River, creating predominantly working class areas in the North and West regions, and more affluent areas in the South and the East. The CBD used to be known as the 'Golden Mile', as it is 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide.


The heart of the city is marked by Bourke Street Mall which is situated between Swanston Street and Elizabeth Street, running north to south. Bourke Street and Collins Street are the main roads running west to east.

Australia's mecca of all things trendy and tasty, Melbourne offers up exquisite dining, exhilarating sport and abundant opportunities to experience art.


Melbourne is a blend of bustling laneways, world-class restaurants and captivating museums. The locals love their coffee, and serve it up in abundance at cosy cafes. There's always a sense of excitement here – whether its in the city's fascinating flavours or fierce sporting rivalries. Attend a sports event, drink a cocktail on a rooftop and uncover the stories hidden within Melbourne's art-filled alleyways.


Getting to Melbourne is easy with international and domestic flights arriving direct to Melbourne Airport from many major hubs. From the airport it’s a quick 30-minute taxi or shuttle bus ride to the city centre.


St. Kilda's lively atmosphere draws crowds of both tourists and residents alike. It is a wonderful place offering a diverse range of outlets, although it can be dangerous late at night. However, during the summer it is very popular, offering boat cruises and bike rides. Visiting the Luna Park amusement park, built in 1912, is a must! It is a charming historic seaside amusement park complete with a wooden roller coaster and other rides.

The Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles tour is a long day but Melbourne's Best Tours makes no apologies because its worth it.


Imagine a road which hugs the side of sheer cliffs, where the native bushland meets the blue waters of Australia's most spectacular coastline. Experience the temperate rainforest as you walk amongst the magnificent splendour of the gigantic rainforest trees.


Once you have entered this land of breathtaking rock formations and heard the tales of the shipwreck coast, you will have just experienced the most wonderful day tour of all time.


Highlights of the tour are the views from Westgate Bridge, passing the city of Geelong and Corio Bay, stopping at Torquay, photo stop at Bells Beach, driving through the coastal towns of Lorne and Apollo Bay, seeing koalas in the wild and the spectacular coastal views. While the magnificent rainforest walk allows you to experience the stunning Otway National Park.


Complimentary lunch included, along with plenty of superb photo opportunities, as you follow the Shipwreck Coast and travel through Port Campbell National Park viewing the spectacular Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Razorback and Island Arch. Pass through Port Campbell to see the remains of London Bridge.

MELBOURNE WEATHER:

Melbourne may be known for its fickle weather - the city has been described as having four seasons in one day - but it can still be enjoyed all year round.

Melbourne warms up in summer with mean temperatures between 14 - 25.3°C (57.2 - 77.5°F). These months are dry, with occasional hot spells that can last more than three days. Melbourne’s top temperatures are usually in January and February, when temperatures can occasionally soar past 30°C (86°F).

Autumn sees cooler weather with average temperatures ranging from 10.9 – 20.3°C (51.6 - 68.5°F). Morning fog usually clears to welcome fine, sunny days, however toward the end of the season there can be extended periods of light winds.

In winter, average temperatures range from 6.5 - 14.2°C (43.7 - 57.6°F), and snow falls in the north-east of Victoria, known as High Country. The weather is frequently cold and cloudy, and nights can be accompanied by frosts. Heavy rain is rare at this time of year.

During spring average temperatures range from 9.6 - 19.6°C (49.3 - 67.3°F). The season is known as the most variable of the year, when weather can quickly change from calm and sunny to cold and windy. Pack your umbrella – October is the wettest month with roughly 10 days of rainfall.

Daylight saving begins at 2 am, Eastern Standard Time, on the first Sunday in October and ends at 3am Eastern Daylight Saving Time on the first Sunday in April. During this time Melbourne moves to Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), UTC +11.

December experiences the longest hours of daylight with sunrise at approximately 6am and sunset at 8:45pm. June has the least hours of daylight with sunrise at approximately 7:30am and sunset at 5pm.

In summer the average sea temperature in Melbourne is 17.4 - 18.8°C (63.3 - 65.8°F).

Snow in Melbourne is extremely rare. To experience the snow, head to the Victorian High Country, which receive good snowfall throughout winter. Skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes at Hotham, Mount Buller and Falls Creek.

MELBOURNE COST OF LIVING:

Melbourne has been labelled one of the world’s most liveable cities several years in a row. It’s a bustling, cosmopolitan city in the south-east of Australia that’s home to fantastic restaurants, bars and cafes, top-class educational institutions, and a diverse population. Thanks to its many wonderful qualities, Melbourne is now a hugely popular destination for international students from all over the world.

Transport costs vary depending on where you live. If you travel regularly by public transport you can save money by buying monthly passes. Most universities offer easy bicycle parking. As an international student you may be eligible for a 50% discount on the price of Myki, with an iUsepass.

If you plan to enjoy Melbourne's wonderful restaurants, include the cost of eating out in your calculations. You can keep costs low by cooking your own meals.

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre1,391.59 A$
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant17.00 A$
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)4.50 A$
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)159.00 A$

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)102.38 A$
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult68.06 A$
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat20.00 A$
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage)210.25 A$
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)69.17 A$

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)5.70 A$
Potato (1kg)3.56 A$
Chicken Fillets (1kg)11.09 A$
Eggs (regular) (12)4.91 A$
Local Cheese (1kg)12.54 A$
Rice (white), (1kg)2.88 A$
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)2.93 A$
Milk (regular), (1 liter)1.54 A$

MELBOURNE LIFESTYLE:

There are a few reasons why Melbourne is considered such a great place to live: there are multiple public transport options, relatively low crime rates, and plenty of jobs. Plus, it offers an awesome arts and culture scene, first-rate universities and easy lifestyle.

Melbourne is very academic, with several of its universities sitting within the top-ranked universities of the world. As a creative city home to world-class academics and an exciting entrepreneurial spirit, if you study in Melbourne you’ll soon be thinking outside the box (and around it, above it and below it, too).

Melbourne’s winding alleyways are magical; they’ll probably make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a real-life Wonderland. The city is well-known across Australia for its vibrant laneway culture, which is brimming with bustling shopping arcades, wandering musicians, live music, quiet street-side book cafes… and the occasional secret street party! If you’re in search of good food, take a wander down the colourful Centre Place, where you’ll find plenty of places to eat.

Can’t survive without your morning caffeine hit? If you’re a coffee-lover, we have great news: cafe culture in Melbourne runs deep. Thanks to Melbourne’s world champion baristas, friendly neighbourhood vibe, and the locals’ love of supporting small business, Melbourne cafes serve up some of the best coffee in Australia – and perhaps even the world.

Melbourne’s eccentricity, creativity and love of the arts is universally famous. If you want to absorb some of Melbourne’s culture, check out the National Gallery of Victoria, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.

Melbourne is a melting pot of communities and is home to many different cultural celebrations. The Antipodes Festival, Melbourne Italian Festa, Chinese New Year, TET Festival, the Melbourne Fringe Festival and the Melbourne Queer Film Festival are just some of the options on offer. Plus, make sure to check out the neighbourhoods that sit around the CBD. You’ll find many different communities from all around the world in each one.

There are many small business grants offered to ideas that display creativity, innovation, business readiness, financial viability and benefits to the city of Melbourne. Does that sound exciting? Well, it could be you!

MELBOURNE TRANSPORT:

Melbourne's famed trams and extensive train and bus network make it easy to explore every corner of the city.​​​​​​​​​​​​

Melbourne's public transport network extends from the city centre in all directions, with trains, trams and buses offering comprehensive public transport services. There's also the free City Circle Tram to help you get around to all the city's major attractions.

The public transport journey planner can help you plan your trip from A to B. Many attractions are listed in the journey planner – simply enter your origin and the name of the attraction in the destination box for a tailored trip plan. Trains as well as some trams and buses operate through the night on Fridays and Saturdays. A selection of coach services also run to key regional centres.

You’ll need a myki to travel on most of Melbourne's trains, trams and buses. It is a re-usable smart card that stores value to pay your public transport fare.

Melbourne’s free tram zone includes the central city and Docklands, bounded by Spring Street, Flinders Street and La Trobe Street. The zone also includes Victoria Street, William Street and Elizabeth Street, surrounding the Queen Victoria Market.

If you’re only travelling in this zone, you don’t need a myki, but travelling by train or bus still requires a valid ticket.

Once you have a valid myki, you're ready to travel. All you need to do is touch on at the myki reader (at entry / exit points at train stations and on board trams and buses) at the start of each trip. Then touch off when you exit the train station or vehicle.

Failure to show a valid myki (that is topped up and touched on) to a ticket inspector can lead to a fine.

Cycling is a great way to get around the city as well as keep fit. The City of Melbourne’s cycling network has over 135 km of on and off road routes. So get out, get active and move your own way. Various bike parking facilities are available in the City of Melbourne, with more than 2700 bicycle hoops on streets across the municipality.

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