Situated on the Yarra River, at the head of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne is Australia's second largest city, with a population of almost 4 million people. Melbourne, a city with tree lined boulevards, parks, elegant buildings and churches.

Downtown

Melbourne's central business district is located on the northern bank of the Yarra River, opposite the popular Southbank precinct on the Yarra's southern bank and surrounded by the suburbs of West Melbourne, North Melbourne, Carlton, East Melbourne and the new Docklands precinct. One of Port Phillip Bay's most popular seaside resorts, St Kilda beach, is located just a few kilometres south of the city.

St. Kilda

Originally a seaside resort in Melbourne's early years, St Kilda has developed into a trendy and cosmopolitan inner suburb. St Kilda is famous for its restaurants, bars, cafes and nightlife. On the foreshore, popular visitor attractions include the St Kilda Pier, the St Kilda Sea Baths, the marina and calm sandy beaches lined with parks and bike tracks.

The suburb is home to a number of elegant gardens and reserves, including the 6.5 hectare Botanical Gardens. For entertainment, there is the historical Palais Theatre as well as Luna Park for family fun and amusements. St Kilda is home to one of the best known pubs in Melbourne - The Esplanade (or "Espy").

Southbank

Southbank is located on the southern bank of Melbourne's Yarra River, just opposite the city's central business district. It has developed into a modern high-density residential, cultural and entertainment area with the convenience of being just across the river from the heart of Melbourne. Most residents live in apartment buildings which are situated close to attractions and facilities such as the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, the Melbourne Maritime Museum which is home to Polly Woodside sailing ship, the National Gallery of Victoria, and Southbank's Arts Centre which includes a concert hall and several theatres dominated by a landmark white spire which soars into the sky.

Some of the things to see in Melbourne:

• Federation Square
• Queen Victoria Market
• Crown Casino
• Southbank
• Great Ocean Road
• Yarra Valley
• Docklands
• Williams Town
• Melbourne Museum

Where to Eat

Eating in Melbourne is a joy, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the bill. A culinary mix of European, Mediterranean and Asian flavours and a stable of imaginative chefs have resulted in a modern Australian style with a flair all of its own.

Transport

Melbourne's automated ticketing system operates on all train, tram and bus services in the metropolitan area, with electronically-encoded tickets called Metcards. A wide range of Metcards are available and they are not valid on Melbourne's airport bus services.

Melbourne’s public transport network is divided into two zones. The cost of a journey depends on which zones are being travelled in (2 different zones).

What areas do the zones cover?

Zone 1 - Covers Melbourne's city centre and surrounding inner suburbs, including Carlton, Footscray, Prahran, Preston, Richmond, South Melbourne, St Kilda and North Melbourne.

Zone 2 - Covers the area surrounding Zone 1 and extending out in all directions including Box Hill, Broadmeadows, Cranbourne, Clayton, Dandenong, Frankston, Greensborough, Hastings, Hurstbridge, Lilydale, Melton, St Albans, Sunbury, Warrandyte and Werribee.

Immigration Office, Melbourne

Address
Ground Floor
2 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Phone
131 881

Opening hours
09:00 - 16:00 (Monday - Friday)* except Wednesday
09:00 - 13:30 (Wednesday)