Many visitors to Melbourne would argue that it is Australia’s coolest city, home to both Victorian-era buildings and new developments showcasing the contemporary style of the city’s architects. Melbourne is a cultural melting pot and its neighborhoods are full of the best art, music and food that you’ll find in Australia.
During your cruise vacation to Australia, be sure to check out some of the following sights:
Despite the simple name, Federation Square is more than just a city block in Melbourne. It’s where many lines of the city’s grid intersect and is the home of celebrations, protests and parties. The surrounding buildings include bars and restaurants along with the Australian Center for the Moving Image and the Melbourne Visitor Center. Many city tours depart from Federation Square – be sure to make reservations, as they fill quickly.
Located within the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the purpose of the Ian Potter Center is to exhibit the work of Australian artists. One of the most interesting parts of the center is its collection of indigenous paintings from the 19th-century to the present.
The Potter Center’s permanent collection also includes an extensive number of works by local contemporary artists like Jenny Watson, Bill Henson and Howard Arkley.
While it’s a bit difficult to describe what exactly the Melbourne Museum is, it’s essentially a strange mixture of an art, science and natural history museum that provides a plethora of information about the Australian state of victoria. As you walk through the exhibits, you can learn about the lives of 19th-century Australians or discover the champion racehorse Phar Lap. In the open-air forest atrium, you will see native Victorian plants and animals along with a display of pinned insects.
Melbourne’s botanic garden is widely considered to be one of the best in the world. Located next to the pristine Yarra River, the Royal Botanic Gardens features many plants native to Australia, but also items from around the world. Along with plants, visitors will also see a significant amount of wildlife including ducks, swans and, when you look up, prepare to see some bats with some pretty big wings.
Other features of the gardens include the observatory, which offers nighttime stargazing activities. Next door you can explore the National Herbarium, which houses 1.2 million dried botanical specimens.
An Australian cruise is the ultimate vacation destination. If you’ve been dreaming about making a trip Down Under, there’s no need to wait any longer. The knowledgeable agents at CruiseExperts.com can do all of the hard work for you. Call us at 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784) or visit our website www.CruiseExperts.com.
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