Victoria (Melbourne Region)
Accommodation in Melbourne
When looking for somewhere to stay in Melbourne, the most obvious areas to head for are the city centre (and the adjoining suburbs of North Melbourne, Carlton, Fitzroy and East Melbourne) and down by the sea around St Kilda. Some of the cheap accommodation areas on the fringes of the city centre are fairly dead at night, though they are within easy reach of all the action. St Kilda is very lively, if a bit rough around the edges, with an abundance of hostels and inexpensive hotels and motels. Richmond, South Melbourne and South Yarra offer a good compromise, handy for both the centre and St Kilda’s nightlife, and with enough tasty eating options of their own to keep you going.
The most exclusive hotels are downtown around Collins Street, and there’s a collection of large and recently revamped hotels around Spencer Street Station. Melbourne has plenty of backpackers’ accommodation, ranging from fairly basic, even scruffy places to salubrious Victorian-era mansions with dorms attached. Campsite cabins and vans are an alternative worth considering for those with their own transport.

Tullemarina Airport

City Center

East Melbourne
  • George Street Apartments, 101 George St, East Melbourne. Bright, serviced self-catering studio apartments 1km from the centre, on a quiet street running off the east side of Fitzroy Gardens. Laundry and off-street parking. Excellent value; rates include light breakfast.
  • Georgian Court Guesthouse, 21–25 George St, East Melbourne. Standard rooms with shared facilities, and en-suite rooms equipped with colour TV, fridge and radio; all are bright, tastefully furnished and serviced daily. Rates include light breakfast. Quiet but very central location.
  • Magnolia Court Boutique Hotel, 101 Powlett St, East Melbourne. Elegant hotel in a quiet street, but within walking distance of Fitzroy Gardens, the city, MCG and the Tennis Centre in Melbourne Park. Very tastefully furnished rooms with all facilities in two older, lovingly restored buildings and in a newish motel section. Spa pool in the cottage garden. Breakfast available.

North Melbourne, Carlton and Fitzroy
  • Downtowner on Lygon, 66 Lygon St, Carlton. Attractively refurbished rooms with all mod cons (some with spa) in the heart of Carlton. Undercover parking.
  • Lygon Lodge, 220 Lygon St, Carlton. Good motel in central Carlton; attractive rooms, some with small kitchenette. Undercover car parking.

South Melbourne, Richmond, Albert Park and South Yarra

  • Victoria Hotel, 123 Beaconsfield Parade, South Melbourne. This grand hotel, built in 1888, has been restored to its Victorian splendour. The upstairs accommodation is in a more modern style, the bright front rooms have good views of the waterfront but intrusion of traffic noise. Choose between stylish en-suite doubles and cheaper rooms with shared facilities.
  • West End Hotel, 76 Toorak Rd West, South Yarra. An old-fashioned B&B overlooking a shady park and close to the heart of exclusive South Yarra. Doubles and singles with shared facilities. Take tram #8, or the train to South Yarra.

St Kilda

Camping and caravan parks
There are no campsites anywhere close to the centre; the nearest is Melbourne Holiday Park, with scenic Hobsons Bay not much further on.
  • Crystal Brook Holiday Centre, corner of Anderson’s Creek and Warrandyte rds, East Doncaster. Modern campsite and holiday park with tennis courts and a pool, 21km northeast of the city centre (20min via the Eastern Freeway).
  • Hobsons Bay Caravan Park, 158 Kororoit Creek Rd, Williamstown. Thirteen kilometres west of the city. Pitch your tent facing St Kilda across Hobsons Bay.
  • Melbourne Holiday Park, 265 Elizabeth St, Coburg East. Ten kilometres north of the city, the closest spot to camp, with a kitchen and a swimming pool. Bus #526 to the city (daytime only, no service Sun).

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