Your guide to Melbourne

Climate

Australia's climate varies greatly. Melbourne enjoys a temperate climate with four seasons:

Spring: September-November
Summer: December-February
Autumn: March-May
Winter: June-August

Summers are beautiful and warm with temperatures ranging from 28-38 degrees Celsius. Spring and autumn are mild. Winters can be cool but often with clear blue skies. Snow doesn't fall in Melbourne but does in the alpine areas.

Living Costs

The choices you make about accommodation, transport, food and entertainment will greatly vary your living costs in Melbourne. The Live in Melbourne website offers some guidance on typical expenses.

Currency

Australia uses a decimal currency system made up of dollars and cents, with 100 cents in a dollar. Australian currency is the only legal tender accepted within Australia. Money exchanges are located throughout the city.

Banking

Major banks in Australia include:

Commonwealth Bank
ANZ
Westpac
National Australia Bank (NAB)
St George.

A number of major international banks also have outlets in Melbourne. Normal trading hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Some banks also open on Saturday mornings.

Eating out

Melbournians love good food. The city and suburbs are full of cafes, restaurants and, bars serving cuisines from all over the world. Certain parts of the city are famous for their culinary speciality:

Italian: Lygon Street, Carlton
Spanish : Johnston Street, Fitzroy
Vietnamese: Victoria Street, Abbotsford
Chinese and Asian: Chinatown, City Centre
Greek: Lonsdale Street, City Centre
Jewish: Carlisle Street, St Kilda.

Shopping

Shopping is a popular activity in Melbourne. The streets and laneways of the city are full of shops, from the small and quirky to major international brands. Most suburbs have their own area to shop with a mix of retailers.

Melbourne's city centre has a number of supermarkets. Within five minutes walk from the Monash College city campus and UniLodge accommodation you will find a Coles on the ground floor of Melbourne Central and a Woolworths on the ground floor of the QV complex.

There are also Asian grocers in and around the city if you're looking for a taste of home.

Transport

Melbourne's public transport network is efficient, convenient and easy to use. You can choose from trains, trams, buses and yellow taxis.

The Monash College city campus is located within easy access to three major city train stations:

Flinders Street
Melbourne Central
Parliament

A ticketing system called 'myki' has recently been started in Melbourne. This system uses a reusable swipe card. If you will be using public transport frequently, we recommend purchasing a yearly or monthly myki zone 1 pass.

Visit of the many bike and walking tracks near the city to see how many people in Melbourne get around. Public bikes are also available to hire from the City of Melbourne.

Things to do

From sporting events to festivals, art exhibitions to concerts, local barbeques to outdoor cinemas – Australians love to go out and socialise. There are plenty of opportunities for international students to join in.

Melbourne is home to a number of amusement parks, recreation precincts, zoos, parks and gardens. Have a look at the following sites to find out what's on and where to go:

Monash College organises various social events through the year. If you are living at UniLodge complex, their social team will also organise events for students.

Living in Melbourne