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Bourke St

"Ok shops in the center of town"

Bourke Street mall between Elizabeth and Swanston Streets is good for shops, your major retailers, Myer and David Jones dominate here. Lots of buskers as there is no traffic except for trams on this block. Outside of the Bourke Street mall there isn't that much that appeals to me on Bourke. It is a bit rough with a Target store and an eclectic mix of corporate buildings, students (an RMIT city building), movie theaters and smaller mix of shops.

Bourke Street although is always busy, hence the term "busier than Bourke Street", so maybe i am missing something here, Bourke Street feels like it is still trying to develop a personality. Make sure you check out the David Jones food court in the basement of the DJ store, it has a great collection of freshly cooked and pre-cooked foods, so you can stock your cupboard or head there for lunch.

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Swanston Street

"An interesting start, but don't spend too long here..."

There really are nicer places in Melbourne, but this is a good starting point. Start at Flinders St end and walk into the city, you'll walk past the Melbourne Town Hall, you might get to see people playing chess on the street with the giant chess pieces (usually on a Saturday afternoon). There are plenty of shops, the shops along here are not Melbourne's best work but there are a few gems. Lush the soap place is awesome, but can be a little strong on the nose. You have to try tidbits of food along here, there is a restaurant serving food from a range of nationalities so eat light and often as you shop.

Eventually you will hit QV, they have a supermarket and food court down the bottom but the upper levels are the best for shopping and eating. Make sure you check out Max Brenners - Chocolate by the bald man. It is certainly rich. If you are looking for something healthier before you hit RMIT (the city university campus) there is a few Vietnamese restaurants, try Vietnamese noodle soup and then head to QV for a Boost Juice.

Anyway the point is this is a really busy, hectic, crowded area but it's great fun shopping and plenty of food options. It's a once you've been there you won't go back, there is nicer shopping and better food elsewhere but this is a nice introduction to the vibe of Melbourne. Remember you can branch off Swanston at almost any point and generally hit a nice street with shops and/or food options.

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Elizabeth Street

"Shops and more shops"

On the corner of Elizabeth Street and LaTrobe Streets in Melbourne you have access to Melbourne Central a major shopping center in the heart of the city. A number of smaller restaurant/cafes have opened up at the bottom of Melbourne Central Tower so don't get lost inside with the shops - there is Kikki.K's the paper store just off Elizabeth Street under the tower and check out places like Cafe Era.

If you're looking for a motorbike, there are a few places along Elizabeth. I guess you can almost get anything here. There's also a Minator comic book store and some really nice book and paper shops along between LaTrobe and Bourke. Once you get to the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth St you are at the beginning of Bourke Street mall. There is a large building called the GPO, this actually used to be the main Melbourne Post Office building but the transformed it into a high end shopping center. There are some nice little cafe's nestled into the bottom and a great place that sells flat bread pizza nestled into the back of this building on Bourke Street near Elizabeth St.

Incidentally the street is named after Queen Elizabeth, you should note the order of the streets - King St, William St, Queen St and then Elizabeth Street - King William, Queen Elizabeth.

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Collins St

"My Favorite Place"

I love Collins Street, the shopping and atmosphere are great. Australia on Collins is the best place to start, the shopping center stretches between city blocks. There are heaps of up market shops in the central city blocks, heading south on Collins takes you to a business district that is dominated by large corporates like the ASX. You should explore a bit though because the Rialto is on Collins and has a nice observation deck.

There are plenty of little side streets so make sure you explore the shops and small streets the break off Collins Street, you will find the best food and the nicest people and you're likely to discover a really unique shopping experience.

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Saint Kilda Road

"Rivers, Parks, Shops"

St Kilda Road and Flinders Street is a great starting point for exploring Melbourne. If you head away from the city across the bridge you have access to either side of the Yarra River where you can get to Southbank and/or the Tennis Center and MCG depending on which way you go.

If you keep going you can wander along through the Botanical Gardens and even up along to the Shrine which is a very peaceful place unless you happen to be there on Anzac day or New Years eve. It's a great walk but a much nicer ride, so you should bring your bike in or hire a bike and ride along St Kilda road exploring the parks and the Yarra river.

Heading into the city St Kilda Road becomes Swanston St, cars are not often allowed on Swanston Street so it is dominated by pedestrians, trams, police cars and bikes, shopping, food, the Melbourne Town Hall and students from nearby RMIT Universities city campus.

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Labbit

The location has close to parks, restaurants, cafes and the best in entertainment. Public transport at your doorstep allows for easy access to the city, South bank, Fitzroy Street and the beach.

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Flinders St

"Best Place To Start"

This is the best place to start exploring Melbourne, Flinders Street station on the corner of Flinders and St Kilda Roads, is a major train terminus and trains from all directions arrive and leave from here regularly. Across from the station is Federation Square, the square hosts the Center for the Moving Image, National Gallery and restaurants and clubs so there is something going on most of the time.

If you head away from the city along Flinders Street it eventually becomes Bridge Road but it's a long walk. You will hit the entrance to the MCG going that way but it's best to catch a tram if you are going to catch a footy game or cricket match.

Heading into the city along Flinders there are some small shops on the station side of the road, there is a milliner just down under neath the stairs from Flinders Station that's pretty cool. There is also a couple of hobby shops along there.

Across the road from Flinders Street Station there is a pub Young and Jacksons which is on the corner and has the famous painting of Chloe.

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Spencer Street

"Spencer Street Station"

The Spencer Street Station was just remodelled a few years ago and it looks fantastic, on the corner of Flinders St and Spencer Street the station has wave like structures, that house the train terminals. Walking away from Flinders Street along Spencer, just past the station there is a set of stairs that takes you across to Telstra Dome. Just go up and across the bridge.

Spencer street is really the business end of the city, I used to work down near Spencer Street on Collins St and there are cafes and eateries open during the day but after 6pm and on the weekends there isn't much life down this end of the city. Although if you head across the bridge over the Yarra River you get to the start of South Bank, a nice strip of restaurants and shops which is a lively area. If you keep going you will reach Crown Casino, this street soon becomes Clarendon Street and if you catch a tram along here it will take you all the way to Albert Park lake where they hold the Grand Prix year as well as plenty of other events and there is Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center - they held events for the Commonwealth Games there.

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Little Smith Street

"Quirky Bohemian Village"

This is part of the artsy, bohemian district of Fitzroy but towards northern end of Smith Street there is some large factory outlets for some major stores, places like Nike, Fila and a hiking/outdoors chain store where you can get great winter coats.

There's some nice places to eat closer to the Johnson Street end and you can find a great nursery one block north on Brunswick St about half way between Johnson and the end where the factory outlets are that has some cool steel sculptures.

Spend some time in this area, the people are cool, there is art or photography or music posters plastered on the walls, doors and windows in most cafe's and it is a very relaxed atmosphere. It can get a bit rowdy during the evening though.

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Victoria St

"Best Vietnamese Food"

Victoria Street has the best and most prolific range of Vietnamese restaurants, heading out of the city on the far side of Punt Road there is plenty of places to eat along a stretch of about two or three streets/blocks. It's hard to find parking and can be a bit of a dingy area after the restaurants are closed but during the day and early evening this is the best place for hungry people. My three favorite places in order - Pacific House, Two Two's and Than Phong. Pacific House is the best by far, only takes cash though. All the restaurants along here are quick service/turn around places so when visiting the plan should be to eat and leave, there also isn't much elbow room so be willing to sometimes get squashed in with a group of people you don't know.

There are some nice little asian grocery stores and you can pick up fresh vegetables and asian ingredients at these places.

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Bridge Road

"Food, Fashion, Fun"

Bridge Rd Richmond is the best place in town to grab a bite to eat and go shopping on a Saturday afternoon. Don't drive, take the tram (number 48 goes right along there) or the train to Richmond station and spend an afternoon browsing the racks in some unique fashion stores or diving through some of the factory outlet bargains. The Country Road and Portmans outlets are by far the best for ladies clothes.

Bridge Road is one of the best places to experience Melbourne's cafe culture, find one of the cafe's with seats out on the street and order a coffee and biscotti and enjoy the busy atmosphere.

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