| One of the greatest pleasures of a visit to | | | | garden. |
| Melbourne is the opportunity to sample its | | | | Italian immigrants once favoured the inner-city |
| cosmopolitan offerings. Where else in the world | | | | suburb of Carlton. Though many have moved to |
| can you sip an espresso in Little Italy, shop in | | | | the suburbs, this leafy stretch lined with Victorian |
| Chinatown and wander through Little Vietnam all in | | | | terraces still house scores of Italian shops, cafes |
| one morning? And you still have the rest of the | | | | and restaurants. It’s a fine place to go for an |
| day to dine at Greek restaurants and savour | | | | espresso or a full Italian meal. |
| Turkey, India and the Middle East in the Brunswick | | | | The Vietnamese have made Victoria Street into |
| district. | | | | their community and the area's famed for its |
| To say that Melbourne is cosmopolitan is an | | | | good, cheap food including pho (noodle soup) and |
| understatement. For one thing, Australia's | | | | spring rolls. |
| second-largest city is home to more people of | | | | If you arrive in Melbourne during one of these |
| Greek descent than any other city except | | | | many festivals you're in for a special treat. |
| Athens. In fact, nearly a third of Melbournians | | | | Chinese New Year is a time of gongs, fireworks |
| were either born overseas or have parents who | | | | and gambolling dragons, Divali the Hindu festival of |
| were born overseas. What this means to you the | | | | lights a time of flickering candles and oil lamps, and |
| holiday maker is the chance to savour a uniquely | | | | the Lao have their own dignified Buddhist |
| international Australian experience. So what are | | | | celebrations. Melbourne’s Italians hold the |
| some of the more interesting ethnic quarters? | | | | Lygon Street Festa every October which |
| The city’s Greek Precinct situated in and | | | | features the Italian waiters’ race and a |
| around Lonsdale Street has its origins in the 1930s. | | | | spaghetti-eating contest. If you want to learn |
| Today the area is home to Greek restaurants, | | | | more about Melbourne’s cosmopolitan history, |
| cafes and cake shops along with travel agents, | | | | visit the Immigration Museum. Here you can find |
| book and music stores, and specialised shops that | | | | out all about the city’s multicultural past and |
| provided wedding and christening garments.. | | | | present. The museum is located in the restored |
| Melbourne’s Chinatown is Australia’s | | | | Old Customs House building which was formerly |
| oldest, dating back to the 1850s gold rush years. | | | | the gateway to a new life for those who aspired |
| It began as a few shops and boarding houses in | | | | to make Melbourne their home. Melbourne's |
| Celestial Avenue to cater for arrivals from | | | | multicultural makeup adds a tremendous zest to |
| southern China. Today's Chinatown is a vibrant, | | | | the city. Another of the city's joys is the fine |
| colourful place jammed with shops and | | | | range of accommodation. Among the fine range |
| restaurants. | | | | of Melbourne City hotels are the Comfort Inn and |
| There's a Chinese Museum in Cohen Place with | | | | Suites Flagstaff City Melbourne and the |
| five floors of exhibitions and the Tianjin Garden | | | | HarbourView Apartment Hotel Melbourne. |
| houses a Chinese pavilion, rockery and water | | | | |