Melbourne always finds a way to catch you unprepared, so a guide called “Melbourne" is best kicked off with a story from scratch. I'm going to start with the Brighton Savoy because, to be fair, I’ve had countless mornings starting there — whether that's finding somewhere to crash, scouting wedding venues, or just wandering through galleries and cruising the coastline, this city just keeps handing you surprises at every turn — usually with a side of those classic four-seasons-in-one-day conditions.
I've worked in the travel industry for years in Aus & Europe, but Melbourne still feels like the place that's really ‘North’ in my books. It's got depth, plenty of attitude, & moves fast — but at the same time it's rooted in Country that belongs to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation — and that's a piece of knowledge every traveller should carry with awareness.
You can spend your whole life darting between Melbourne's laneways, the golf courses, the windy bay and those evening cruises on the Yarra, and there's still always something else to discover the next day. That's the secret of Melbourne — it never runs out of surprises, & chances are it'll keep evolving with you.