Luxico's Melbourne Guidebook

Many of Melbourne’s best cafes and boutiques are situated on the laneways and alleys that traverse the city grid. You can happily while away the hours meandering through the laneways, however if you’d like insider’s tips on where to find the best hidden gems, Laneway Walking Tours depart hourly from Federation Square for just $80 per person.

With Melbourne’s largest array of global street food, free live music and roving entertainers, specialty and vintage shopping and all the atmosphere of a summer festival, there is no other experience like the Summer Night Market. Wednesday nights from 5pm – 10pm. http://www.thenightmarket.com.au/

The City Circle Tram service provides free hop on/ hop off transport around the city. It’s a great way of exploring the city and hitching a lift back to your start point. The trams are vintage heritage W class trams decorated a distinctive maroon colour with gold trimmings. Every 12 minutes, the tram travels both sides of the track and takes around 48mins to complete the loop. Jump on board along Flinders St, Spring St, LaTrobe St, or Spencer St.

Many locals don’t realise that a trip to Phillip Island is not necessary to see native Fairy Penguins, or Little Penguins as they are also known, in the wild. For a fun, free up-close encounter with these cute little swimming birds, you simply need to find your way to the end of St Kilda pier at dusk to catch watch them come into roost under the pier. Native only to a small part of the Victorian coastline, these penguins come within metres of the path along the end of the pier allowing visitors to get closer than you would at the zoo.

Melbourne is a city with depth and style. It has so much to offer you’d be forgiven for never venturing beyond the grid. Still, every local knows, many of the city’s real treats lie just beyond its limits. Let Localing curate a private tour of Melbourne’s most interesting local neighbourhoods and they will scout of the best hidden gems to suit your interests. See the city through the eyes of the locals and meet some of the characters who helped to shape them. To book, contact Luxico Concierge http://www.localing.com.au/melbourne-tours

What better way to see the city than floating just above the buildings in a hot air balloon with a view of the sun rising over the Dandenong Ranges in the distance? Scenic balloon tours over the city operate on Wednesday mornings at dawn. Bookings essential. To book, contact concierge@luxico.com.au

Whilst wandering through the city laneways, you are likely to spot some of Melbourne’s famous street art, the most famous of which can be found in Hosier Lane. Street Art is welcomed in many of Melbourne’s back alleys and laneways, some of which is actually protected by the local council to prevent it being painted over. Many local artists have made a name for themselves using the laneway walls as their canvas and such is the quality of the artwork, that the street artists’ unwritten code of honour protects the artwork from being defaced or replaced by other artwork.

Night sky guided tours are held on Monday evenings. Bookings essential. P: 9252 2429

Take a traditional punt cruise on the lake with the swans in the middle of the Royal Botanic Gardens. 8 seater punts run every 30 mins. Cost: $25 Adults, $12 kids, $65 Family. No booking required. https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/whats-on/list/all/melbourne

Hop on/ hop off commentary guided tour on buggy style vehicles  10-4pm Daily. No booking required. https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/whats-on/list/all/melbourne

This wonderful, cultural walking tour of Melbourne will give you a feel for this city that only comes with spending time with a passionate, knowledgeable local. During the tour you will be able to enjoy a chocolate and coffee tasting, experience a customised mix of history, architecture, street art, galleries, shops, interesting stories and more in a small group of no more than 10 people. meltours.com.au/tours/laneways/

Pack a picnic, pack the kids, sit on the grass and enjoy the show on the lawn outside the Melbourne Observatory at the Royal Botanic Gardens. See program for show times and further details. Operates throughout the warmer months only. P: 9252 2429

Melbourne’s newest shopping Mecca underneath the big Observation Wheel is a great place for a bargain with its factory outlets. harbourtown.com.au

Melbourne’s grid layout includes a myriad of back alleys, arcades and laneways, which are home to some of Australia’s top designer brands and boutiques. Some of the most popular for shopping include The Block Arcade, The Royal Arcade and Flinders Lane.

Melbourne Shopping Experiences/Outlet Shopping Tours brings you a relaxed and fun day of discount retail therapy without the worry of carrying bags or finding directions. Explore Melbourne's famous discount outlets, accessories, bag and shoe shops and hard-to-find warehouse sales. The tour host will help you to discover back street warehouses, one- off sales and discount shopping strips such as Bridge Road, Swan Street and Smith Street. The tour includes shopping focused city tour, lunch and a drink. You deserve some retail therapy www.melbourneshoppingexperiences.com.au

Learn why Melbourne is known as the fashion capital of Australia with this private tour of inner-city boutiques featuring premium Australian designers. Your private group of one to six guests, accompanied by your experienced personal stylist will explore both iconic Australian brands as well as smaller independent labels, up-and-coming designers and cutting edge fashion. Your day will be tailored to your specific tastes and interests and you will be treated to an exceptional level of service with champagne and hand-made delicacies and an individual styling session with your host.

Parking in Melbourne can be tricky. Street parking is time restricted within inner suburbs or may require a resident’s permit. Avoid overstaying and never park in a permit area as parking fines vary, starting at $68. If parking in the city, Crown Casino Multilevel carpark has plenty of parking ranging at the cheapest rate of $6-$16. If you dine within certain restaurants in the Crown precinct, you can get your parking validated to receive discounted rates.   A multitude of smaller private car parks with casual parking exist throughout the city, however, prices start from $10 per hour.

Taxis are in abundance and can be hailed from the street, or called in advance. All taxis are metered, with surcharges applicable if you travel on a toll road. If you are travelling with small children, they can legally travel in a registered taxi without a child seat, however, you can request a taxi with child seats if you book in advance. Silvertop Taxi P: 131008 | 13CABS P: 132227 Useful apps: 13 CABS

Uber is less expensive than taxis and offers an easy, safe and convenient mode of car transport. Download the Uber app to book. Note that Uber drivers won’t have car seats available for small children, and are consequently not suitable for transporting children aged under 7 years.

Melbourne Bike Share has stations located throughout Melbourne. $2.90 per hour/$8 a day Useful app: Spotcycle Melbournebikeshare.com.au

To use public transport in Melbourne, you will need a Myki card. This can be purchased from any newsagent or supermarket or at main train stations. The reusable smart- card needs to be topped up prior to your journey. You can top up your Myki money at 7-eleven, train stations, on board buses, by calling 1800 800 007 or online at mymyki.com.au   To use your Myki, you will need to ‘touch on” and “touch off’ by swiping your card against the card reader on board at the start and end of each journey. Car reader machines are located on each tram, bus and train near the doors.

Tram Federation Square is the main tram intersection in inner Melbourne. There you will find numerous staff wearing high visibility vests who are there to help tourists with directions & tram routes. A Free Tram Zone operates in Melbourne's CBD bordered by Spring Street, Flinders Street and La Trobe Street. Additionally, the tram routes along Victoria Street, William Street and Elizabeth Street that surround Victoria Market are also included as well as the Docklands area. All stops within the zone are clearly marked and tram drivers will make announcements when approaching.

Visit the ‘Public Transport Victoria’ website and use their ‘Journey Planner’ feature to plan your trip. Useful App: Train Trapper ptv.vic.gov.au

Ride in comfort and hop on and off at any of the 13 stops at key attractions along the route. Discover bustling markets, cultural precincts, lush gardens, shopping arcades, sporting stadiums and more. Cost: $10 for up to two days. Children under 9 years of age travel free www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/shuttle

Have a professional groomer come to your holiday home to salon groom your pooch. P: 0403 301 839 4pamperedpaws.com.au

Mobile Dog-sitter / Trainer / Walker Are your planning a day trip and can’t take pooch? Have one of the Loose Lead team members look after your puppy for the day, after all it’s their holiday too. P: 0416 924 743 looseleadpets.com.au

A unique food and wine experience with your dog. Travel on their dog welcoming bus to the great wine regions of Victoria or socialise at one of our Melbourne based events, all with your pooch by your side. P: 0488 702 840 GourmetPawPrints.com.au