24 Hours in Australia's Capital of Cool

Making the most of your time in Melbourne, outside of your meeting, conference and networking schedule, is simple. In just 24 hours you can experience the culinary, cultural or retail delights of the city.

8am

Melbourne is a city that breakfasts. Cafés open early throughout the city and surrounds for that early morning caffeine fix or something heartier. Whether you are looking for a place to read the papers, catch up on your email messages, or to meet colleagues, Melbourne is always open for breakfast.

9am

Get your bearings. Eureka Skydeck 88 is Melbourne's loftiest tourist attraction. Eighty-eight floors up, it is the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere. Take in the 360-degree views of Melbourne and surrounding regions through floor-to-ceiling windows or dare to make your way to The Edge, a glass cube that projects three metres out from the building, high above the streets below.

11am

Time to refuel - head to a market. Discover exciting new produce and how best to prepare it on a Foodies Tour of Queen Victoria Market, or ask the friendly butchers, fishmongers, deli shopkeepers and greengrocers about the produce they sell.

Noon

Lunch. Choosing a place to stop is the hardest thing about lunch in the city. Many of the city's premium restaurants, such as the Press Club and The Brasserie by Phillippe Mouchel, offer good-value business lunch menus. Head into the laneways for a more casual café culture.

1pm

Work off lunch with a spot of retail therapy. Call in at Craft Victoria for corporate gift ideas or wander through Melbourne's historic arcades and hidden laneways to discover the work of young Melbourne designers, quirky original fashion, antique jewellery and accessories. For familiar boutiques and brands, head to the elegant GPO, QV and Melbourne Central emporiums.

3pm

Enjoy the tradition of high tea at the historic Windsor Hotel, then take in the latest exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria. The Ian Potter Centre and NGV Australia galleries are housed in vibrant Federation Square. Nearby, NGV International houses Victoria's international collection. Call in at the shop for designers gifts.

5pm

Discover Melbourne's waterfront. Beyond the recently expanded Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf is the city's newest dining and retail precinct, and includes luxury accommodation in the new 5-star Hilton Melbourne South Wharf.

7pm

Dinner. Fitzroy, on the edge of the Central Business District, is one of Melbourne's most exciting dining destinations. Start the evening at Gigibaba to sample modern Turkish bar food, or enjoy tapas at Panama Dining Room bar and restaurant. Call in for pizza at Ladro, a glass of wine at Enoteca, or the freshly shucked oysters at Cutler & Co.