Melbourne is quite safe in the CBD but keep away from Swanston Street near the Railway Station after about 7pm.
The city is well lit and heaps of people around at night. Lots of trams take you up and down the main and across the streets of melbourne. Its really pretty at night. Its also safe to walk along South gate up to the Casino lovely walk along the Yarra, again you can get there by tram.
I lived and worked in Melbourne for 20 years still my favourite city.
have fun.

Hi Mbi,
Daylight saving will still be on and, in addition to RosieR's reccs, I'd add St. Kilda. It's cosmopolitan - zillions of restaurants and a lovely walk along the beach side. If you have a look at the Melbourne map, the area from, say, Brighton** back to Albert Park is very attractive.
** Brighton Beach is worth a visit, just to see the old English style "Bathing Boxes".http://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/beachguide/beaches1.htm

Another area, on your way to Southbank if you're staying in the CBD., is Federation Square. Lots of interesting restaurants and often a concert/band/event on there. If you like Japanese/Asian - do try the Chocolate Budda. Not sure what it's hours are, but the Ian Potter (Art) Gallery in Fed square is excellent. Also, a most interesting museum of thoroughbred racing.
http://www.federationsquare.com.au

Melbourne has a lively theatre & music culture, whether it's rock or opera, stand-up comic or drama, there's usually something interesting on.
I'm not sure how good this link is, but if you google "Melbourne - what's on", you might find a better one.
http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

Have fun - like Rosie, I've lived & worked there too, & would go back in a heartbeat. Not that I don't like Sydney's Northern Beaches (LOL)
PS. If you're there on business, you'll find Melbournians amongst the most genuinely hospitable people in the world.

Sydney:
Around Sydney Opera House.
Darling Harbour is buzzy on the weekend.
Go for a play or show - Sydney Theatre Company or at the Opera House.
The Rocks area.

Nightime activities for a women travelling alone who is not into clubs are pretty much the same as they would be anywhere in the world.

Well - not in Timbuktu - but you know what I mean! And yes, it is something I know a bit about!!!!!!!

Both Melbourne and Sydney have a vibrant arts scene. Go to a play or a concert. Actually, even if you are not normally into that sort of thing you would be missing out hugely if you did not go to something at the SOH.

Honest!

There's movies by moonlight too, but sadly I think they will be over by the time you get here. The other thing you could do in Sydney is take a nighttime cruise around the harbour. And the Art Gallery of NSW is open late on Wednesdays - and it's free.

It would be nice if there was a website somewhere for us lone females to link up with others for nightime exploring.
But I don't know of one.

In both Syd and Mlb just find yourself a nice place to eat outdoors and savour. I can't imagine it would be unsafe. Don't know about PD - never stayed there.

Port Douglas: not a lot, apart from restaurants, and there's some very nice ones. Some find it exciting to watch the cane toad races at the Iron Bar, personally I couldn't think of anything more boring. But a nice place to chill out, have an early night so you're ready for reef or rainforest in morning.

Hi MBI,

A new tour (new to me) that I tried out in December was the Ghost Tour in Sydney (meet at Cadman Cottage in the Rocks area). Even if you're not "into" ghosts, I found it a fun tour as well as learning some Sydney history and the opportunity to get into areas (back alleys)of Sydney that you'd not normally see.

On a clear night, the Bridge Climb is awesome!

Everyone covered Melbourne thoroughly, so for Port Douglas, I vote for the Cane Toad races (Pat's just grumpy because she's had to explain about the flooding 47 times)...while the "races" might not be that exciting, it's fun to watch the participants pick their toad out of the bucket! Hey, for $5 admission....

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Melodie, you didn't tell me! You could have chucked a few in a bucket when you dropped in - I just didn't think. We had 163m of rain in 24hours, about a week ago - cane toads hopping (and swimming) all over the place, having a glorious time.

Before I scare everyone about recent flooding, would just like to say that all is well now with clear blue skies and calm - only 5-10knot breeze on reef today, so perfect reef conditions. And the Barron Falls are magnificent right now, just a measly trickle in dry season.

ooohhh Pat, stop it! I want to be on the next flight up there! And everyone's having such good specials to FNQ it's criminal that I can't just drop everything & go!

Hi RosieR

Just a query - as a Melburnian who has lived all her life (if I must tell you 55 plus years!) in Melbourne, I'm very curious why you say Swanston St near the railway is not safe after 7pm.

As this is the major rail station in the CBD there are always lots of business people and students still catching trains home at this time of the evening, plus travel police and traffic police around the station precinct....... I'd actually consider this a safe area. What's the isssue?

Melbourne, is, in my view, as a much travelled person, absolutely one of the safest cities in the world. Of course normal precations should be taken - i.e. stay away from drunks, unlit laneways and the King Street "nightclub/stripper" zone.

Agree absolutely Libretto - never had a problem on any trip to Melbourne I have made.