MELBOURNE NEIGHBOURHOODS; A VISUAL TOUR
Travelling in its conventional sense of the word has never appealed to me, but I’ve found it really refreshing to have five solid weeks of exploring a new city with no pressure to do anything other than what I wanted, while equally having a permanent form of residence. I definitely would have felt uncomfortable staying in a hostel, sharing a room with half a dozen other people and having no option but to eat out for every meal of every day.
I have spent a lot of my time in coffee shops across the city making countless lists of places and sights to visit. This is to add to the extensive log of notes I have on my phone from walking past restaurants and staring into their window displays’ in mind of ticking off this list throughout my time here. The culture around food here is incredible and those who know me well will understand why I am finding it difficult to resist spending my money on eating out all the time (that’s not to say my photo gallery is short of the classic “Insta” shots of food I have tried so far, oops…). Thank god I have settled into a gym or else I would be the size of a house already 😶
So without further ado, here is a timeline of some of the areas I have visited so far.
Prahran, Windsor and South Yarra
Just an 8 minute walk from where i’m living, the iconic Chapel Street. Famous for its fashion, food, and an abundance of bars and social spots. It spans across numerous suburbs (from St Kilda, through to Windsor, Prahran, South Yarra and into Richmond) each bringing their own personalities.
I particularly love the Windsor end of Chapel for it’s thriving food scene and a great selection of bars. A friend and I tried Mr Miyagi last week and I think it’s going to be a tough contender for the title of my favourite restaurant here! I’ll have to dedicate an entire post to my foodie adventures.
Fitzroy, Richmond and Collingwood
Fitzroy (a Central-Northern suburb to the CBD); renowned for its lively, bohemian vibe. There are elements to Brunswick Street that really remind me of Sydney Street back at home in Brighton!
Lots of vintage shops, vegan cafes, and home to the ‘world’s best croissants’ by Lune Croissanterie (bottom left). Famous for its long queues of those wanting to try its flaky pastries from 7am!
Central Business District and The Laneways
My first venture into the CBD was completely unplanned and a typically busy Saturday. As I got off the tram at Swanston- Bourke Street I was surrounded by hundreds of tourists, all hitting the towering high street stores to grab a new year bargain. It felt very much like Oxford Street!
I had no real idea of where I wanted to go which made the whole experience quite overwhelming. But since then I have navigated some of my favourite areas in the city and now manage to avoid a lot of the madness!
St Kilda, Brighton and Black Rock
St Kilda; a short tram ride out of the CBD and an easy 40 minute walk from where I’m living. It’s the nearest beach to the city which would explain why it has a slightly touristy feel to it!
Just a suburb or two along the coast is Brighton; one of the most desirable suburbs of Melbourne.
Though St Kilda and Brighton each bring their own personalities, my favourite coastal suburb has to be Black Rock for its residential feel and peaceful environment.
