Internationally, there are few cities that can boast a theatre offering as diverse and glamorous as Melbourne – only London’s West End and Broadway come to mind. From the heart of the city to the inner beach suburb of St Kilda, residents and visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to continuing the ancient tradition of going to the theatre. In Melbourne, it is standard practice to expect the unexpected and when it comes to stage productions, you will be presented to everything from high-energy musicals to intimate dramas and contemporary dance performances.

A super walkable neighbourhood that is just as easy to get around by bike, the free City Circle tram also loops through the former working port, making this family-friendly destination an easy stop from the city centre. There is public art aplenty, outlet shopping with many of your favourite brands at Harbour Town and fine waterside restaurants for the fussiest diner.

More than 320 animal species from around the world call Australia’s oldest zoological gardens, Melbourne Zoo, home. Modelled on London Zoo, it was opened in 1862 and included a number of popular enclosures, such as the Butterfly House, Orang-utan Sanctuary and heritage-listed Elephant House.

Melbourne is affectionately known as Australia’s most European city and the Yarra River, whose ever-flowing current has constantly shifted in position over centuries of settlement for everything from agriculture to mining, is at the core of this sentiment.

The city’s alleyways, fine dining and love of a good espresso may give it points as contender for Paris of the South, but the Yarra River, which flows to the immediate south of the city beneath grand bridges and alongside majestic architecture, promenades and parkland, is the real reason it has got such European flair.

No visit to Melbourne is complete unless you have taken some time to shop through the city’s delightful arcades, extravagant emporiums and monolithic shopping centres. If there is one thing for certain – Melburnians know how to shop and their shopping hotspots are like places of worship.

Just an hour from Melbourne, Yarra Valley is a worthwhile day trip for anyone after an experience that is the exact opposite to what you could get in the heart of bustling Melbourne. The region is especially beautiful in autumn and is famous for its quaint villages and towns, dotted among more than 160 wineries.

The Yarra Valley’s beautiful bushland and waterways make for charming walking and hiking, and are also an ideal habitat for native wildlife such as kangaroos, wombats and cheeky lyrebirds. Alternatively, take to the skies in a hot air balloon for a unique perspective of the region’s verdant rolling hills and neatly shaped vineyards.

There are natural attractions and family fun around every twist and turn on a seaside getaway to Phillip Island, some 90 minutes and 140 kilometres southeast of Melbourne. Featuring rugged coastlines ideal for spotting surfers and wildlife alike, migratory birds and gentle ocean giants, including humpback and southern right whales, roam the skies and seas.

Stroll along the Nobbies, get up close to Australia’s cuddliest marsupials at the Koala Conservation Centre and tick off the number one Phillip Island bucket list item – see the delightful Penguin Parade, where little penguins return ashore at sunset after a busy day fishing.