A Naturally Attractive Environment
1. Contrary to popular belief, Melbourne has one of the lowest rainfalls of an Australian capital city. It also enjoys a temperate climate which is not given to extremes. (Source: www.undergraduate.law.unimelb.edu.au)
2. The city is situated on the banks of probably one of the cleanest capital-city rivers in the world, the Yarra River. The headwaters of the Yarra River flow from the pristine flanks of Mt Baw Baw in Victoria's West Gippsland region. (Source: http://www.yarrariver.info/history.htm)
3. Melbourne was ranked first in a 1998 international survey, which measured the extent of public parks in 17 capital cities (463 hectares of parks and gardens within a three kilometre radius of the CBD). (Source: www.vmec.com.au)
4. The Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the world’s best gardens of this type and other beautiful public gardens found in and around the CBD include the Alexandra Gardens, Birrarung Marr, Carlton Gardens, Fawkner Park, Fitzroy Gardens, Flagstaff Gardens, JJ Holland Park, Kings Domain, Princes Park, Queen Victoria Gardens, Royal Park, Royal Park Wetlands, Shrine Reserve, Treasury Gardens, and Yarra Park. (Source: www.newcomersnetwork.com)
5. Within an hour or so of Melbourne lie a breathtaking choice of places to see and visit, including beaches, rainforests, mountains, lakes, rugged coastline and rolling countryside. These can easily be reached by car, train or bus. (Source: www.law.unimelb.edu.au/)
6. In under a day’s drive from Melbourne, visitors can experience natural attractions such as mountains, temperate rainforests, rugged coastal scenery, volcanic plains, vineyards, lakes, magnificent rivers, wildflowers in spring and snow in winter. Across Victoria’s 13 regions are more than 30 national parks, regarded as some of the best in the world, protecting the state’s valuable natural assets. Victoria’s fascinating native wildlife includes kangaroos, koalas, wombats, platypus, echidnas and lovable little penguins, which parade nightly along an island beach. Its extensive coastline also provides plentiful opportunities to get up close to dolphins, seals and whales. What’s more, the state’s lush forests and parklands are havens for stunning varieties of native birds – the extraordinary mallee fowl, the elusive lyrebird, emus and reed warblers, to name a few. (Source: www3.visitvictoria.com)
7. Victoria's many walking and riding trails are close to Melbourne with most within easy driving distance of the city. (Source: www3.visitvictoria.com)
8. Melbourne is home to Australia's first zoo. It opened on its current site in 1862. Significant historic features such as the design of the Main Walk and an early 20th Century menagerie exhibit are preserved for visitors in an historic zone. More than 350 animal species from around the world are on display in the zoo’s attractive enclosures and botanical settings, just 4 kilometres from the CBD. (www.zoo.org.au)
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