last minute accommodation melbourne

Melbourne is a shoppers, foodies and art-lovers delight. Nowhere else can you find more activity down side streets and alleyways than you can on the main drags! And just a short stroll or tram ride from the city centre you trip over more opportunities to indulge your passions.

With oodles of choice for places to stay from smaller budget to indulgence, check out last minute accommodation Melbourne deals – on Cancellations.com.au. Both central Melbourne and its surrounds provide plenty of last minute accommodation options. For an extra bargain try Last Minute Classifieds – Availability Posted for a great stay in central Melbourne.

Melbourne city centre itself offers numerous activities for the visitor. Bourke St is the commercial heart of Melbourne and the Mall runs between Swanston and Elizabeth Sts. You can’t miss the major department stores and large chain stores, as well as numerous arcades full of boutiques and independent retailers. The GPO on the corner of Elizabeth and Bourke Sts, once the General Post Office, is now a spectacular retail experience full of designer stores and restaurants.

Central Melbourne between Flinders and Lonsdale Sts is also a rabbit warren of laneways and alleyways full of cafes and concept shops, so be sure to explore!

If you are luck enough to find a great last minute accommodation in Melbourne, well, don’t miss the beautiful Block Arcade on Collins St, built in 1891, and its amazing confectionary shop where you can watch the confectioners construct their tantalising delights through the window. Downstairs at the Block Arcade is the Charles Dickens Tavern. It’s full of suits in the afternoon but is family friendly and has an awesome atmosphere, as well as a restaurant serving tasty English pub fare.

Keep walking down Swanston St to find the architectural expanse of Flinders St Station, and nearby the intriguing Victoria Arts Centre which houses the Australian Ballet. Take a stroll along Southgate, redeveloped in 1992, for some amazing Yarra River-side bars and restaurants.

The Queen Victoria Markets, on the corner of Victoria and Elizabeth Sts, is a must for any visitor to Melbourne. It is the largest open-air markets in the Southern Hemisphere, opened since 1878. The Markets boast fresh fruit and vegetables, and undercover delicatessens with all sorts of continental delights. Take a picnic basket and make your selection for a delicious lunch.

From central Melbourne it is a 15 minute stroll to the little Italy of Melbourne, Carlton. The main attraction is Lygon St for a delicious authentic Italian meal, coffee or a gelato (or all three!). Enjoy the atmosphere along Lygon St as restaurateurs pounce for your business with promises of free wine and plenty of smiles. For those in the know, head to the quieter north end for places such as Tiamos and University Café.

Of course no trip to Melbourne is complete without taking the number 96 tram to Acland St, St Kilda, a vibrant seaside town at the edge of Metropolitan Melbourne. It will be impossible to walk along Acland St without being compelled to buy a pastry from one of the many pastry shops, with their windows full of gastronomical delights. St Kilda has some funky shops, and if it tickles your fancy, be sure to visit the bottle shop selling almost every type of vodka from around the world. And don’t miss the street art. In St Kilda even a seat becomes an opportunity for sculpture, with bright mosaic sculptures dotting the landscape, doubling as chairs and tables. St Kilda pier is worth a look, as is historic amusement park, Luna Park, built in 1912. Be sure to visit St Kilda’s cultural icon The Esplanade Hotel, or Espy. Opened since 1878, the Espy is beloved of locals for its witty realism, six bars and live bands.