Melbourne has been hailed as a vibrant and diverse city well worth visiting for any backpackers or gap year travellers planning to head to Australia in the near future.
The city is undoubtedly a popular hub for shoppers, having been named as the country's best retail destination for the second year running - receiving 73 per cent of the vote in a recent poll by 'Shop Til You Drop' magazine.
It has a number of renowned fashion districts such as Chapel Street and Flinders Lane, and recent construction projects have also added 400 new stores to its portfolio.
But furthermore, a new study by travel website TravelBite.co.uk has suggested that any arts-loving travellers heading to the city in the coming weeks will be in for a real treat.
The 2008 Melbourne International Film Festival is running from July 25th to August 10th, and will incorporate a 400-film marathon that has been described as "audacious".
The Melbourne International Design Festival starts today (July 17th) and runs for ten days, featuring the 'Melbourne Open House' day, which will give visitors unprecedented access to some of the city's "hidden architectural gems".
And finally, the State of Design awards event is also up and running until July 24th, featuring Victorian designers - all in all, something for everyone with a passion for the arts.
