Women's Mental Health - Melbourne
MELBOURNE
Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne is Australia's business, sporting and events capital. With a temperate climate and unrivalled infrastructure for staging major events, Melbourne is famed for its cultural richness, cosmopolitan lifestyle and devotion to sports.
So much to do! So much to try! It’s a sophisticated mix of style, warmth and informality you won’t find in any other place. Melbourne is a vibrant, colourful city filled with shops, restaurants, bars and cafes in wide, leafy boulevards and tiny, atmospheric laneways that beckon to be explored.
This city practically breathes the good life. Believe it. When you see it - you’ll think the world of Melbourne.
Transportation
Tullamarine International Airport is located approximately 25 minutes from the city centre. Once in Melbourne, there are many transport options including taxi, train and tram. For more information on getting around Melbourne, click here.
For more information on flight details into Melbourne, click here
Climate and Clothing
Melbourne has a pleasant mild climate in March. Temperatures generally range between 15° and 25°C or 60° and 79°F. For more information see www.bom.gov.au.
Local Time
Local Melbourne time is Greenwich Mean Time plus 10 hours. As Daylight Saving is in effect from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March, the local Melbourne time will be GMT plus 11 hours at the time of the Congress.
There are several time zones in Australia. The West Coast is two hours behind the East Coast
Currency & Banking
Australian currency is the dollar. Coins have values of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and AUD$1 and AUD$2; notes have values of AUD$5, AUD$10, AUD$20, AUD$50 and AUD$100.
Banks and Foreign Exchange
Melbourne's banking hours are generally Monday to Thursday 9am-4pm and Friday 9am-5pm. All the major banks, have offices in and are equipped to exchange foreign currency. You can also exchange foreign currency any day or night at the airport, or during normal business hours in Melbourne's central business district
Travellers Cheques
Travellers cheques a safe and convenient way to carry funds. Brands like American Express and Travelex are widely accepted in Melbourne , and can be cashed at banks, foreign exchange brokers, larger hotels and restaurants, and for car rental. Passport ID is required when you cash travellers cheques. Fees for changing travellers cheques sometimes vary from bank to bank
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Australia has a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10 per cent on most goods and services such as accommodation, day tours, guides, translators, food, transport (including coach, rail and cruise) and other tourism services within Australia. International airfares do not attract GST. For international visitors, all prices quoted for a Victorian holiday will include the 10 per cent GST, payable at the time of ticketing
Tipping
Tipping is not a general custom in Australia, and is at your discretion
Electric Current
Electric current is 240 Volt, AC 50 cycles. Two or Three pin rectangular plugs are used. For more information, please visit your local travel store
Driving License
International Driving Licenses are recognised throughout Australia. Car rental companies ask for a valid driving license.
Restaurants
Melbourne is a multi-cultural city and every cuisine is available throughout the many restaurants. For a list of just some of the restaurants in Melbourne, please click on the Restaurants link on the useful websites page of this website.
Hardware Lane in the city is packed with restaurants and bars. This is quite a lively area during the day, and a large variety of cuisine is available at reasonable prices
De Graves St, also in the city, is a popular atmospheric café district, with a number of stylish and atmospheric cafes serving some of Melbourne's best coffee and café food
Lygon St in Carlton (just on the city fringe) is Melbourne's famous Italian cuisine district. There is an abundance of choice of restaurants here, mostly Italian but some other cuisine is available. A traditional place to go for visitors to Melbourne.
Acland St, St Kilda is a lively part of Melbourne (also on the city fringe) with a range of good bars, restaurants and shopping. It is famous for its cake shops, and is a popular tourist area. The St Kilda Pier café has recently been re opened and is a popular tourist spot. If you like live music, The Espy Hotel on the Esplanade is definitely worth a look.
Federation Square (opposite Flinders St Station). Apart from the amazing architecture, Fed Square has some great restaurants and bars. During the day the ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) and the Sir Ian Potter gallery are well worth a look.
Brunswick St, Fitzroy has many great cafes, and modern European/Asian food. It is the centre of the all day breakfast (for reasons that relate to the lifestyle of the denizens of Fitzroy).
Shopping
Most shops in Melbourne are generally open from 09:00 to 17:00, Saturday to Wednesday and 09:00 to 21:00 Thursday to Friday. In all stores and shopping centres major credit cards are accepted and tax-free shopping is possible within the city.
Walking is the best way to shop, especially along Melbourne's arcades and laneways. Outside the city centre, visit shopping precincts like Chapel Street in South Yarra, Acland Street in St Kilda and Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, especially on weekends. Here you'll find everything from retro homewares to funky shops selling cult-in-the-making jewellery. These strips also have stacks of streetside cafes. Travelling between Melbourne's suburbs is best done by tram, although you'll need a car to visit larger suburban malls like Chadstone, where many of the major retailers are found
Bargains
For bargains, head for Richmond (especially Bridge Road and Swan Street), where designer outlets and factory seconds sell jeans, swimwear, trainers, tops and bags at heavily reduced prices. Big savings can also be made during sale times (normally at the end of summer and winter, and some public holidays) held by David Jones, Myer and other department stores.
