Holiday rentals in Melbourne

Sitting on Port Phillip Bay in Australia, with sweeping beaches on its doorstep, Victoria’s capital boasts a diverse cultural heritage that’s reflected in its myriad food hubs. You can grab an Italian meal in Carlton, or tuck into pho from more than a mile of Vietnamese eateries in Richmond. In the city centre, Lonsdale Street is home to an array of Greek restaurants, while Chinatown is known for its dumpling houses and karaoke bars. Some of the best fine dining and innovative restaurants in the country sit alongside beloved coffee spots in Fitzroy and St Kilda.

Melbourne is also great for retail therapy. You’ll find high-end fashion brands in South Yarra’s Chapel Street, independent boutiques in Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street, and fresh produce and souvenirs at the famous Queen Victoria Market — the biggest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere. Camberwell Market is the place to go for vintage and secondhand treasures, and you’ll find one-of-a-kind handmade artisan pieces at the Rose Street Artists’ Market.

Regarded as Australia’s cultural and sporting capital, Melbourne is home to a host of international festivals and world-class events, including a huge tennis competition and a show-stopping auto race through Albert Park. Art lovers can explore contemporary works at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Southbank and the Heide Museum of Modern Art in Bulleen, home to fascinating works of art and architecture, in a metropolis where creative expression easily moves from gallery and museum walls to the city streets.

Melbourne has a reputation for having four seasons in one day. In summer (December through February), you can experience searing heat one moment and rain the next, so pack a waterproof layer along with your hat. In winter (June through August), the days are mostly cold, with frosty mornings, but it’s not surprising to see sunshine in the afternoon, so bring sunscreen regardless of season. The most pleasant times to holiday in a rental apartment are spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May), when the weather is mostly mild.

The Royal Melbourne Show is 10 days of family fun and carnival rides in September, while a big international jazz festival takes place in early December. One of Australia’s most popular music festivals for indie and alternative acts happens in February, while one of the biggest comedy festivals in the world runs for a month across March and April.

Queen Victoria Market

This much-loved Melbourne institution is a lively spot to explore. Locals come to buy fresh produce, fish, and artisanal cheeses here from the rows upon rows of stalls. This is also the place to buy clothes and jewellery, souvenirs, homewares, and electrical goods, with a book fair on weekends. There are cafes to grab a coffee and a snack; in summer, you can browse the Wednesday night market and try street food from dozens of world cuisines.

Street Art

Melbourne is regarded as one of the street art capitals of the world, and the city has designated areas where artists can legally showcase their skills. The scene mostly centres on Melbourne’s famous laneways, with eye-catching pieces in Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane, and Centre Place, where you’ll find changing and topical work by big names and budding artists alike.

Royal Botanic Gardens

One of Australia’s finest inner-city parks, the Royal Botanic Gardens features expansive lawns, ancient trees, and serene lakes dotted with ducks and swans. The 99-acre park has more than 50,000 plants and is a haven for native wildlife, including turtles, possums, and swamp wallabies. The award-winning Aboriginal Heritage Walk provides an insight into the local Kulin Nation’s traditional medicinal uses for the native plants in the gardens.