Experience in Melbourne, Australia by Athan

Melbourne - A Local's Perspective

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What is it like to live in Melbourne? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Melbourne is an incredible city to live in - after all, it has been rated the #1 most liveable city in the world for years! Melbourne has a lot to offer, both to visitors and locals alike, and there is never a dull moment. There is plenty to see and do, and everything is just a short drive or train ride away! Melbourne is extremely multicultural and there is evidence of that all around the city and outer-suburbs. You can never get bored in Melbourne, and there is so much hidden away to discover - even I haven't seen the most of it!!

The city has an amazing feel and vibe. The architecture is absolutely beautiful, and you can often get lost looking up at the incredible structures that have been preserved on top of the shopfronts. Melbourne constantly has a buzz and has a very unique feel to it, and is definitely an exciting place to explore! Another thing about Melbourne which I LOVE is the beautiful parks and gardens we have in the city. They are so good to relax and unwind in, and you feel like you're not even in the heart of the city at all!

                            Source - an example of the beautiful architecture

Another thing to know about Melbourne is that the weather is extremely unpredictable! Locals love to complain about the weather and it is a great conversation starter! We like to say that Melbourne has "4 seasons in 1 day" and you could leave the house in the morning in shorts and a t-shirt, and come home wishing you took an umbrella!

What is the student lifestyle like in Melbourne?

The student lifestyle is really enjoyable in Melbourne! Obviously, each university has different characteristics and has different vibes, but overall there is a commonality between them. Whichever university you go to, you will certainly find students lounging in groups on the grass, eating at the cafeterias, chatting in the libraries and enjoying time together. There are always heaps of parties and events run by the many student societies, both on and off campus, so there is always something to do! Uni students are really friendly, and we all love meeting exchange students and learning about their culture and lifestyle overseas!

How much does it cost to live in Melbourne?

Whilst Melbourne is not the most expensive city in Melbourne (Sydney wins that competition), it is still quite pricey in comparison the other major cities. Cost of living in the heart of the city especially can be quite expensive, especially if you eat out each night. However, there are always exceptions to this and you can often find great shops and restaurants which have incredible prices and are great value! The markets are a great place to amazing ingredients at cheap prices! Shopping can be quite expensive in Australia in comparison to other places of the world, because of all the import taxes, but you can find some good sales around the city.

                                      Source - Some produce at the markets

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Melbourne? Is there any advice you can give?

I wouldn't say its hard to find accomodation in Melbourne, as there are plenty of hotels and apartments. However, Melbourne is in a bit of a housing slump at the moment and the price of renting and buying can be quite high, and finding rental places might be challenging as many locals are trying to get their own flats and apartments too.

My advice would be to look at the suburbs surrounding the city. Renting in the city centre might be extremely costly, so needless to say that the further out you look, the cheaper it will be. Melbourne is also very well connected with public transport, so you shouldn't find it hard getting to where you need to go even if you live a bit further out!

                 Source - Trams in Melbourne that can get you all around the city

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Melbourne is a gastronomer's dream! There is SO much on offer in Melbourne and so many incredible places to try! As an extremely multicultural city, you can find cuisines from all around the world - you will never get bored! The city is filled with restaurants and cafes which serve amazing quality food that tastes delicious!

Melbourne is also really big on "brunch" culture. Brunch is a breakfast and lunch combined, usually eaten around 11am. There are so many places to go all around Melbourne which serve some amazing food for brunch, many which serve it right up until 3pm!! Along with this, Melbournians love their coffee and we have so many variations for you to try - just be prepared to pay up to $8 for a cold brew!!!

                                A brunch I had in Elsternwick just the other week!

Melbourne is also really inclusive of dietary requirements and lifestyles. There are plenty of restaurants which are exclusively vegetarian and vegan, as well as almost all having options for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, halal, etc.

What places would you recommend visiting in Melbourne?

Where do I begin! In the city, it is imperative that you visit the SkyDeck in the Eureka Tower - this is the tallest building in Melbourne and from the top you can see a 360 degree view of the whole of Melbourne! It's certainly a great attraction to see as a visitor to get a feel of what the city looks like from above, and you can even book a twilight session and watch the sunset and see the city by night (which is beautiful)!

                                                Source - The Eurkea Tower

Melbourne also has a lot of things to do for a variety of interests. If you like art, the National Gallery of Victoria is definitely one to see, as they have many free and paid-entry exhibitions. If you like dance and music, the Arts Centre has many productions throughout the year of ballet, theatre, opera and orchestras. For sporting enthusiasts (and everyone in general) it is vital that you go to a game of AFL at the MCG at some point whilst you're here! And if you love shopping, whilst the city has some amazing shops, it is definitely worth going to Chadstone Shopping Centre - it is the biggest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere and has recently built a new section which features some awesome shops... just try not to get lost!!

I'd also definitely recommend venturing out of the city and seeing the different suburbs. Each suburb has a very unique vibe and different people too, and are definitely worth exploring! It is also an amazing experience to drive out of the and visit the Dandenong Mountain and its quaint shops, as well as visiting the little country towns in Victoria!

Another thing to check out is the amazing alleyways which are all around the Melbourne city. They often have amazing cafes, restaurants, bars and shops to enjoy. More importantly, though, they have incredible graffiti which make for great photos!!!

                                          Source - Graffiti in a Melbourne laneway

Is it good to eat out in Melbourne? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

As I've said in the above section, Melbourne has so many amazing restaurants and cafes to eat out at! We are a food hub and there is such a variety of delicious places to eat at. Definitely take a look online to see where all the popular places are. Popular places to eat include Chin Chin in the city, Mr Miyagi on Chapel Street and Nobu at Crown Casino.

                   Source - a laneway with many restaurants that extend onto the street!

If I was to recommend anything, though, it would be to find the cultural areas of Melbourne which have a huge variety of restaurants to eat at. ChinaTown in the city centre is filled with incredible Chinese restaurants, Victoria Street in Richmond is filled with Vietnamese delights, and Eaton Mall in Oakleigh has countless Greek restaurants.

                                                      Source - ChinaTown

Is the nightlife good in Melbourne? Where is good to go?

Melbourne's nightlife is really good and has so much to see and do! There are clubs all around the city, and generally Friday and Saturday nights are the most popular nights to go out. The best bars and clubs are mainly located around the city, but also in the surrounding suburbs like South Yarra, Windsor, Richmond and Brunswick.

Melbourne is also known for having a wide variety of clubs featuring different music styles and DJs, and very different crowds too! Definitely look out for the music festivals which happen throughout the year as they are heaps of fun!

What advice would you give future students heading to Melbourne?

Definitely take the time to go and explore everything that Melbourne has to offer! There is so much that I as a local have done, but also SO SO MUCH more that I still have to explore - so there is definitely heaps for you to see and do! And when you're in the city... look up! Most of all though, enjoy your time here!!!

            Source - Brighton Beach, with its colourful beach boxes and wind-surfing!