Flinders St, Melbourne (CBD), VIC 3000

Flinders Street forms the southern boundary of the Melbourne CBD.

It is a great spot for accessing all that Melbourne has to offer. All the shops, businesses and dining options of the CBD are a two second stroll away. The entertainment and leisure precinct of Southbank is just across the road. The huge Flinders Street Station is on your doorstep, so you can catch a train to wherever you would like in the whole of Melbourne. The recreational facilities along the Yarra and in the parklands are at your fingertips, and for sporting fans the Rod Laver Arena, Telstra Dome and MCG are all just moments away.

However I'm not sure I would like to live here. The accomodation is high density apartment style living. The area is always busy, and being near a train station can attract a few undesirable characters. Very convenient yes, but perhaps not Melbourne's nicest spot.

Flinders street runs along the north bank of the Yarra River and offers some lovely views of places such as Batman Park. It's many people's first look at Melbourne as they arrive at the railway station there. Many historic buildings are in this part of town such as St. Paul's Cathedral and the Forum Theater. It's a very welcoming vibe as there are many small shops and cafes that cater to tourists as well as everyone working downtown (a favourite lunch place). If you're visiting don't miss the Aquarium, also on Flinders.

This is the best place to start exploring Melbourne, Flinders Street station on the corner of Flinders and St Kilda Roads, is a major train terminus and trains from all directions arrive and leave from here regularly. Across from the station is Federation Square, the square hosts the Center for the Moving Image, National Gallery and restaurants and clubs so there is something going on most of the time.

If you head away from the city along Flinders Street it eventually becomes Bridge Road but it's a long walk. You will hit the entrance to the MCG going that way but it's best to catch a tram if you are going to catch a footy game or cricket match.

Heading into the city along Flinders there are some small shops on the station side of the road, there is a milliner just down under neath the stairs from Flinders Station that's pretty cool. There is also a couple of hobby shops along there.

Across the road from Flinders Street Station there is a pub Young and Jacksons which is on the corner and has the famous painting of Chloe.

Flinders Street has the main train station in Melbourne situated on it and as well as being the main place to catch a train in and out of the city the architecture of the station is one of the most beautiful and most recognized places in the city. The street also has a few places to shop, like Dangerfield, but is mainly lined with souvenir stores and hostels and hotels. It is also smack bang in the moddle of the city so the station can be a great meeting place because of how easy it is to recognize..

Flinders St has the famous Flinders St Station (funny about that) stretching along it between Spencer St and Elizabeth St (and slightly further up). Trams run up and down it all day long (until just after midnight) and taxis drive around in prides. Flinders St plays host to some of the largest pedestrian crossings in all of Melbourne with the station itself playing as the central point for many outings.

I worked on Flinders St for 4.5 years during the 90s and was glad to have such easy access although trying to find (and pay for!) a parking spot would be hellish. It's a short walk to almost everything in the city from Crown Casino and Southgate to Federation Square (which is actually ON Flinders St) to the Burke St Mall and Melbourne Central.

During the day there are people everywhere in 1 of 2 types of groups. The first group are the people who work in the city who are often in a huge rush to get wherever it is they're headed. The other group are the shoppers who walk along (usually in large groups) as slowly as they can often blocking the footpaths and annoying the busy workers. You may also get hassled by a foul-mouthed dero outside Young and Jacksons or set upon by someone asking for a dollar to get to some fictional train station.

There are plenty of places to choose from when it comes to dining from your little bar-only sushi places to complete restaurants with waiters and whatnot...