People & Places
Melbourne: Australia's sporting capital
Jo-ann Hodgson investigates the many attractions of Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, and asks a British immigrant what it is he loves most about the city
Melbourne has made a name for itself as Australia's cultural and sporting capital and thrice shared the number one spot in surveys by The Economist for the World's Most Livable Cities. As well as a jam-packed calendar of festivals and events – some of the highlights from which can be seen in the box to the right of this article – and being considered the spiritual home of cricket and Australian rules football, Melbourne also boasts a vibrant cafe, bar and restaurant culture, Arts scene and many outdoor-focused lifestyle opportunities. Home to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on which the first Test match was played, Melbourne is a popular destination for Australian sports fans, as well as international sports tourists. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, often known as either the 'MCG' or simply 'G', was the main stadium of the 1956 Summer Olympic Games and was renovated for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, creating a capacity of 103,000. As well as Australia's major cricket matches, the stadium hosts one or two Australian rules football matches per week and has also hosted various rugby matches. In addition, Melbourne is home to a number of Rugby League teams.
And the sporting opportunities don't stop there. "There are world-class sports arenas for swimming, Aussie rules football, netball, soccer, tennis and rugby in Melbourne," says Peter Holyoake, who lives a 40-minute drive from the city centre. "The city is also criss-crossed with bike tracks and we cycle along the network from home, which is about 17 miles, right into the city along the river or down on the bay," he continues. "There is always a beach we can find for a picnic and plenty of places to launch our boat on either Port Philip or Western Port Bays."
For those looking to indulge in less strenuous outdoor activities there is also an abundance of parks and gardens in Melbourne, many close to the CBD, with a variety of plant species amid landscaped vistas, pedestrian pathways and tree-lined avenues. "We love the city's gardens, the wide open spaces and its tree-lined boulevards which are home to a thriving coffee-shop culture," Peter says. Melbourne is home to numerous buzzing cafe and restaurant strips as well as a wide variety of pubs, bars and nightclubs. The city's large student population, attracted by Melbourne's 30 plus tertiary institutions, also help to liven Melbourne's nightlife.
As well as being Australia's sporting capital, Melbourne is also considered to be the country's live music capital with many of Australia's most popular artists emerging from the city's live music scene. Melbourne is also one of the major Australian destinations visited by artists on world tours. "If you like concerts there is plenty of choice," notes Peter. "All the international classical and pop artists visit and we have been to shows by Kylie, Robbie, Pink, Billy Crystal, the Scissor Sisters and Lionel Richie in the past 18 months." Adding to Melbourne's long list of cultural attractions – including The Melbourne Aquarium, home to marine wildlife from the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic; the Eureka Skydeck, the highest viewing platform in the southern hemisphere; and the Shrine of Remembrance on St Kilda Road, the city's newest precinct and largest infrastructure development to date, Docklands, is expected to attract millions of visitors every year with its Telstra Dome, Southern Star Observation Wheel, public art displays and many dining precincts.
And if you want to escape the city centre for a day, there are plenty of leisure opportunities available in the areas surrounding Melbourne. "Within a couple of hours drive we go water-skiing on the Murray River, winter skiing in the Victorian Alps or walking through the forests in tree-covered ranges," says Peter.
Articles about other Australian cities:
Sydney city guide
Australia's south coast cities
Canberra: A city of surprises
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