Boat Tours

One of the best ways to see Melbourne is to board the Parks Victoria Yarra River Shuttle Service, which takes in Federation Square and Docklands, with stops at Southbank, the aquarium, the casino, and Victoria Harbour. Ferries depart every 30 minutes, every day. Daily pass tickets, which allow passengers to jump on and off en route, are available daily and cost A$14. The ferry operates on weekends and public holidays from 1 AM to 8 PM.

The modern, glass-enclosed boats of the Melbourne River Cruises fleet take 1- and 2½-hour Yarra River cruises daily (A$19.80 and A$33.80, respectively), traversing either west through the commercial heart of the city or east through the parks and gardens, or a combination of the two. Daily tours run every half hour from 10 to 4.

Melbourne Water Taxis pick passengers up at all piers and landings along the Yarra River from Victoria Street, Richmond, to Williamstown. The company operates daily year-round.

Gray Line also has boat tours.

Information

Gray Line (180 Swanston St., City Center. 1300/858687. www.grayline.com.au). Melbourne River Cruises (Vault 18, Banana Alley and Queensbridge St., City Center. 03/8610-2600. www.melbcruises.com.au). Melbourne Water Taxis (Melbourne Maritime Museum, South Wharf Rd., Southbank. 03/9686-0914). Parks Victoria (535 Bourke St., City Center. 13-1963).

Bus Tours

Gray Line has guided tours of Melbourne and its surroundings by bus and boat. The Melbourne Experience tour visits the city center's main attractions and some of the surrounding parks. The three-hour, A$55 tour departs daily at 8:45 from the company's headquarters.

AAT Kings, Australian Pacific Tours, and Melbourne Sightseeing all have similar general-interest trips and prices.

Information

AAT Kings (33 Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne. 1300/556100). Australian Pacific Touring (APT) (475 Hampton St., Hampton. 03/9277-8555 or 1300/675222). Melbourne Experience (Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston St., City Center. 03/9650-7000). Melbourne Sightseeing (184 Swanston Walk, City Center. 03/9663-3377. www.ozhorizons.com.au).

Food Tours

Foodies Dream Tours (A$25) and cooking classes (2½ hours, A$70-A$75) are available at the Victorian Arts Centre. The center is open Tuesday and Thursday 6-2, Friday 6-6, and Saturday 6-3.

Chocoholic Tours offers several different Saturday touring options for chocolate lovers: the Chocoholic Brunch Walk (10-noon), the Chocoholic Indulgence Tour (12:15-2:15), and the Chocolate and Other Desserts Walk (2:15-4:30). Each offers a different combination of chocolate-fueled tastings and activities, and each costs A$28.

Vietnam on a Plate runs a guided walking tour of the Asian precincts, visiting traditional Chinese herbalists, food stalls, spice and herb specialists, and the "Little Saigon" shopping district of Footscray. The tour includes lunch, numerous food tastings—from the weird (chili, pork blood, and pickled pig's lung) to the wonderful (fresh ginger and lemongrass tea). Be sure and call ahead; tours are usually held Saturday 9:30-12:30, and cost A$50. Reservations required.

Information

Chocoholic Tours (14 Rae St., Hawthorn. 03/9815-1228. www.chocoholictours.com.au). Foodies Dream Tours (Queen and Victoria Sts., City Center. 03/9320-5822. www.qvm.com.au). Vietnam on a Plate (Footscray Market, Footscray. 03/9689-1186).

Town Hall Tour

Yours truly can learn about the history and architectural significance of Melbourne's beautiful Town Hall with these tours. Among the sights you'll see are the Council Chambers and the 30-foot-high Town Hall Organ, which was built in 1929 and has more than 10,000 pipes. Tours are available weekdays at 11 AM and 1 PM; although they're free, reservations are essential.

Information

Melbourne Town Hall (Swanston and Little Collins Sts., City Center. 03/9658-9658).

Walking Tours

The Melbourne Greeters service, a Melbourne Information Centre program, provides free half-hour personalized tours by pairing you with a local volunteer who shares your interests. Melbourne's Golden Mile Heritage Trail runs guided walking tours of the city's architectural and historic sites. Tours, which cost A$20 and take 2½-3½ hours, depart daily at 1 from Federation Square and finish at the Melbourne Museum.

Information

Golden Mile Heritage Trail (03/9650-3663 or 1300/130152. www.visitvictoria.com). Melbourne Greeters (Federation Sq., Flinders and Swanston Sts., City Center. 03/9658-9524. 03/9654-1054. greeter@melbourne.vic.gov.au).