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Your life incultural Melbourne
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Getting Around
Melbourne's grid layout makes it an easy city to navigate, with most attractions within walking distance. Public transport options in Melbourne include train, tram and bus.
In the CBD, travel for free by tram within the Free Tram Zone, making it easy to get around. It is also the only city in Australia to offer 24/7 public transport on the weekend. Melbourne is also a cycle-friendly city with dedicated bike tracks, an impressive network of on-road bike lanes and a Bike Share program which enables you to make short trips across the city at a low cost.
You will need a Myki pass to travel on trains, buses and trams in Melbourne.
Where to stay
Choose from a range of accommodation options to suit your lifestyle and budget. Stay with a local Australian family, share an apartment with friends or live alone.
Homestay allows you to live with an Australian host family - usually within 30 minutes of the CBD. You’ll pay a fee that covers accommodation, breakfast and dinner and Greenwich College can make the arrangements on your behalf.
Alternatively, you can rent (or ‘lease’) a house or apartment - either alone or with others, which is a popular choice for international students.
For more information click here
Making friends
Melbourne is a friendly and welcoming city, full of people from all corners of the globe. Whether you’re looking to meet socially or make lifelong friends, it won’t be hard to make meaningful connections.
Despite this, moving to a new country where you may not know anyone can feel incredibly daunting - so here are our tips to help you make friends and settle in when you arrive:
- Be open-minded - making friends can be as simple as saying 'hello' and seeing where the conversation will take you.
- Participate in Greenwich College’s social functions
- Get a job and participate in social occasions with fellow workers, such as Friday night drinks
- Join clubs and take-up other social activities as they are great chances to meet and make new friends, including locals
- Join a sporting club
- Don’t turn down social invitations
- Meetup - for people looking to meet others in the same city with similar interests
- The Couch - located in Carlton, a safe and free lounge space in Melbourne run by a non-profit organisation. Open in the evenings for international students to socialise, relax, study, and seek assistance.
Things to do
A packed agenda of food, wine, sport, shopping and arts is your best introduction to Melbourne - from its creative, vibrant city centre to its buzzing neighbourhood hubs.
Explore historic arcades and laneways lined with fantastic restaurants, chic cafes, hidden bars and fashion boutiques or head to one of the many lush gardens throughout the city. Many bars become a hive of activity at nighttime with venues hosting live music and comedy to keep you entertained.
Discover Melbourne's obsession with football, cricket, soccer, attend an art, comedy or pop culture exhibition. In Melbourne, virtually everything has its own festival. From food, film, art and music festivals to celebrations of writing, design and projections – get involved and experience the city through the arts.
If you love to experience the great outdoors, hire a bike and cycle around the Royal Botanic Gardens, Port Melbourne harbourside, and down to St Kilda Beach - you will not be disappointed.
Safety
Melbourne is one of the safest cities in the world to live, work and study. However, it is still important that you take precautions to reduce the chance of an incident occurring. Read our safety tips and note the emergency contacts.
General safety tips:
- Ask local friends about places to avoid, especially at night
- Keep valuable possessions out of sight and be aware of surroundings on public transport
- Travel in the front carriage near the driver when the train is almost empty
- Check transport timetables in advance, to help avoid long waits. Stand in well lit areas
- Walk in well lit areas, even if this means you must walk a longer distance
- Avoid short cuts through dark, isolated areas
- If you feel threatened in any way when walking, go to a shop or house (with lights on at night) – and ask a person to phone police
- Avoid using cash machines when you're in an isolated area at night.
Help available at Greenwich:Business hours: Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Phone:+61 3 8609 0000 Email:info@greenwichcollege.com.au
Emergency assistance:Dial triple zero ‘000’ , or ‘112’ from a mobile phone for police, ambulance and fire brigade.
Food & Drink
Melbourne is a major hotspot for food lovers, offering an extensive array of the world’s greatest cuisines, popular cheap eats to fine dining with world-famous chefs. For authentic flavours, head out to Richmond for Vietnamese, Carlton's 'Little Italy', Fitzroy for Spanish and Brunswick for Lebanese.
Discover Melbourne streets and laneways peppered with nightspots. Whether you're after a cocktail with a million dollar view, bar-hop like a local, dance to world class DJs, or a late night snack, you're bound to find something that suits your mood and budget.
Weather
Melbourne has a reputation for its changeable weather, often referred to as having ‘four seasons in one day'. However generally, the city enjoys a temperate climate.
Melbourne heats up in December to February (summer), is mild from March to May (autumn), cools down during winter (June to August) and warms up again from September to November (spring). Temperatures average 25°C in summer and 14°C in winter. Rainfall is highest from May to October.
Given the changeable weather, a good tip is to be prepared for anything - take an umbrella and wear layers that can be worn as needed.
Major Attractions
There is always something to do in Melbourne! Here is our must-see guide:
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Melbourne is known as one of the world’s great street art capitals for its unique expressions of art displayed on approved outdoor locations throughout the city. -
The State Library of Victoria is the central library of the state of Victoria holding over 2 million books, the folios of Captain James Cook and the original armour of Ned Kelly. -
St Kilda Beach is located just 6km from the Melbourne city centre. It is Melbourne's most famous beach and is protected from ocean swell for easy swimming. -
It's the MCG was the 1956 Olympic Games stadium and 2006 Commonwealth Games, and attracts up to 100,000 fans to the annual AFL Grand Final. -
The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne are internationally renowned botanical gardens located near the centre of Melbourne on the south bank of the Yarra River. -
From the moment you step inside Mr Moon’s giant mouth, you're exposed to a world full of carnival flair, from the rides that send you sky-high, to historical carousel rides. -
Soak up the atmosphere at the Queen Victoria Market, the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. -
Home to major cultural attractions, world-class events, tourism experiences and an exceptional array of restaurants, bars and specialty stores, this modern piazza has become the heart and soul of Melbourne.
Day Trips
Melbourne’s surrounding areas are not to be missed! Take a day-trip to experience the beauty of Phillip Island and Mornington Peninsular or enjoy a weekend escape filled with adventure at Mt Buller.
Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
Take a camping trip to soak up the relaxed beach lifestyle of the Mornington Peninsula or escape to the hinterland for the award winning wineries in the Yarra Valley.
Phillip Island
Phillip Island
Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, this little island with a big reputation provides a perfect getaway filled with natural wonders of land and sea. See Phillip Island's little penguins emerge from the sea, visit endless coastlines and world-class surf beaches, and feel the action at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
Mt Buller
Mt Buller
Just a few short hours from Melbourne, escape the city life and find adventure and relaxation at Victoria's most accessible ski resort. Its proximity to Melbourne is perfect for both day trips and longer ski holidays in winter, and hiking during warmer seasons.
Download your free guide
Download your FREE guide to Melbourne suburbs.
