Beautiful, crazy, fun Melbourne is Australia’s hub for all things arts, culture, entertainment, and food and drink. If you are about to book your hotel in Melbourne for your holiday, there are an abundance of apps available that can help you maximise your stay and ultimately make the most of all that Melbourne has to offer. Read on for 10 of the best apps.
10 – Melbourne Official Visitors Guide
Produced by Destination Melbourne, the Melbourne Official Visitors Guide app can serve as your personal tour guide complete with information around what to see, where to go and what to do. The app also gives information on special offers and special events, whether that is in regards to pop-up bars or annual festivals. Best of all — it’s free!
09 – Broadsheet
The producers, writers and editors of Broadsheet Magazine, available online and in print, bring you this amazing independent review app of Melbourne restaurants, shops, bars and cafes. With over 500 listings, the app allows you to search for new spots by price, location and features. Great for out-of-towners, you can also choose restaurants based on their proximity, for those “Where do we even start?!” moments. It then links to the restaurant booking service Dimmi for quick and easy reservations.
08 – Play Melbourne
Tourism Victoria’s app of things to do and explore in Melbourne, Play Melbourne is a one-stop shop for finding great food, cocktails, stores and galleries. Set up like a game, it provides you with different options for activities, depending on what is close to your location. Based on what criteria you select, i.e. “Basement Bar” vs. “Rooftop”, it will recommend experiences tailored to your liking. When you’re not in the mood for games, it also gives you the option of scrolling through its extensive directory.
07 – The Wine Regions of Victoria
Get your drink on with Tourism Victoria’s The Wine Regions of Victoria app. Another fun freebie, this app is based on Tourism Victoria’s popular guide booklet. It contains information on all of Victoria’s 22 wine regions and provides details on more than 200 wineries.
06 – The Age Good Food Guide – 2013
Considered one of the best annual printed food guides in the world, this year’s edition of The Age Good Food Guide, and its accompanying app, is better than ever before. Find the best in wine and dine from all over Melbourne as chosen by some of the top food reviewers in the country.
05 – MyMarkets Vic
Melbourne means markets, and this app is your guide to the coolest ones across the city. From farmers’ markets to craft fairs, it gives you the lowdown on everything, including opening times, contact info and locations. It also has a social element, allowing users to interact with other people, exchange info and rate their market-going experiences.
04 – Vic Heritage
For the history buffs out there, Vic Heritage provides the public with easy access to the Victorian Heritage Database. It consists of audio guides and information on architecture, history and heritage. The social tool also allows users to record their thoughts and experiences. If you are ultra-keen, you can even create your own tour and share it with other like-minded tourists and locals.
03 – ArtsView
This is a go-to guide for all of Melbourne’s current and upcoming exhibitions. It also profiles various works and artists every month, and has a directory of galleries with accompanying contact and location information. It’s updated every month without delay.
02 – TramTRACKER
The best way to get around Melbourne is by tram, and this clever app by Yarra Trams makes the experience a lot easier. Available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android devices, tramTRACKER provides timetable information, a stop locator, and details concerning delays and disruptions.
01 – Our City
Our City is a new walking tour app released by The National Trust — just in time for Melbourne’s 178th birthday celebration. Described as a ”social history of our city” by the National Trust, the app offers walking tours as well as facts about particular places and special people. It also contains a feature in which the public can leave notes on what places are particularly special to them, and why.
Melbourne city photo credit: Photo credit: Vermin Inc / CC BY-NC-SA
About the Author: Courtney Gilbert is a blogger from country Victoria.