History had witnessed considerable advent of Europe, while visiting this side of Australia. The Gold miners in 1850s visited this Great Dividing Range and brought business to the country. Apart from the business, undulating landscape also reminded them about North Italy and Ticino region of Switzerland. Later these gold miners’ settled on small farms for orchards, olives, grapes, olives and lavender.

The descendents also bring the native fare that includes, smoked eel, sausages and prosciutto. The Macedon Ranges are popular to produce pinot noir, Cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and the Riesling. These hard-working settlers shortly realized that they were the owners of a remarkable asset of the mineral spring, and the most famous is the Spa and Hepburn Bathhouse that opened in 1899. This alluring old Victorian asset is a forest reserve, located on the outskirts of Hepburn Springs that offers renovated, and ultra-modern facilities.

A lot of locals in Melbourne visit these exquisite spas on weekends and enjoy the pampering along with some organic and delicious lunch or dinner in their exotic in-house restaurants. Wine lovers can also taste superior wines available in the famous wine cellar that includes Old and New World wine.

These days, the tourist wants to spend their Australian Holidays in the hillside and mystique spas. The European-style spas come with a number of mineral bath pools, steam bedrooms and salt therapy spots. The signature spa provides a sizzling bath in vitamin baths, which will aim to enhance circulation, loosen up the body and clean the brain.

Melbourne is the sort of cultural cocktail that is five parts elegance, five parts soul, served with a dash of pizzazz seven days a week. Strong on history and heritage, the city is a hub of theatre, art, festivals, movies and music, fine food, elegant fashion and lots of sports.

One notices harmony between nature and urban development. There are wide beaches that beckon visitors, a vast bay stretching further than the eye can see, hills, forests, and rich wine country. And there is the Yarra River. Melbourne was born on the banks of the river and the stories have always been closely intertwined. Seeing the city from the river offers a whole new perspective and one can take leisurely cruises up stream or down on anything from passenger ferries to Venetian gondolas and luxury cabin cruises.

Melbourne is more action packed than any other Australian city. Formula 1, Australian open, Cricket, Australian rugby and much more, it is the race that stops a nation….. More then anything else, it is this wide variety of attractions that make the city what it is- a bustling, urban melting pot. You can’t take the city by surprise because of the fact that it is always providing memories around every corner.

With the setting sun comes a different Melbourne. One that brooks no excuses for staying home, away from the swinging restaurants, cabarets and night clubs, where good, easy fun comes naturally. The brightest lights, biggest games, and headiest atmosphere are to be found in the Crown Entertainment complex.

People don’t seem to talk much about it but lost somewhere in the sporting activity and ballets and things, is some incredible wining and dining, ala Australian style. Melbourne is a ‘cut and come again’ magic pudding and its people explore food and appreciate its familiarity while searching for new ways to indulge.

What people do talk about here is the shopping, and it’s certainly worth a shout or two. It isn’t so much what you buy but the way you buy it, and the surroundings in which every thing is set. A fashion center since 19th century, Melbourne continues to set standards in customer service,. Move around, shop and explore at leisure.

The city awaits its visitors. It stays wide-awake even in the dead of night and its soul and spirit are there for all to see. This is no place for the bashful, certainly no place for the staid visitor who likes his sightseeing with the help of a guidebook and map. This is the kind of place where they encourage asking for directions, seeking advice on the best place to eat, or any conversation that touches in the city and its fortunes.

So, keep talking, mate….