Melbourne: Relish the culture

If the winter blues are getting the better of you, then now is a great time to perk yourself up with a break in Melbourne.
The great Victorian metropolis has cemented its status as the cultural epicentre of Australia, crammed with attractions and events around the clock.
Here is a thumbnail sketch of my favourite sights which can be readily condensed into a two-night stay.
Federation Square is an architectural frenzy of steel, glass and abstract geometry - and Melbourne's recently moulded downtown heart. Adjacent to the genteel waters of the Yarra River, and opposite the majestic Flinders St Station, Federation Square has fast become the natural gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
If the weather is inclement, treat your eyes to the artistic wonders of the Ian Potter Centre. The gallery boasts a permanent collection of well-known Australian painters spanning the ages, from colonial times to the modern day. With more than 20,000 artworks in the collection, a sample browse may suffice.
Federation Square is studded with an array of exhibition and performance centres, in addition to the handily located Melbourne Visitors Centre.
Walk across the historic Princes Bridge for panoramic vistas of the Yarra and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Crossing the road brings you to the vibrant Southbank entertainment precinct. Sleek shopping, gourmet dining and swanky bars are just part of the mix here.
The riverside walking trail offers superb perspectives across the river and gracious, glassy skyline, before seducing you to stroll through Crown Casino and its ritzy extravagance This glitzy temple-like complex not only boasts the largest casino in the Southern Hemisphere, but is replete with top-flight shops, eateries and a luxury hotel.
Even if you can resist the temptation to try your luck on the pokies, be sure to soak up the visual splendour of the dancing water fountains in the casino atrium. This beguiling symphony of water, light and music is quite the show-stopper - and it's free, too.
Be sure to stop off at one of the city's most venerable institutions, that has been open for business for more than 130 years. The Queen Victoria Market is the mother of all markets, and throngs of visitors and residents flock here to shop for a sprawling variety of goods and produce. Fresh, discount produce determines the trading rhythm, with voluble stall-sellers reciting the day's bargains with unrelenting gusto. In addition to the fruit and vege stalls, the arcade-lined indoor market plays host to a delectable array of booth-like shops bursting with gourmet produce.
TOP TIPS
* The City Circle Tram circumnavigates the heart of the city and is free to use. Running every ten minutes, with a generous number of pick-up/drop-off points, this fantastic initiative enables visitors to access all precincts of bustling Melbourne.
* Whether it's for a heritage stay in style, or a fleeting fling to partake in Afternoon Tea, bookings can be made on-line. www.thehotelwindsor.com.au