Melbourne in Southern Australia has been dubbed one of the most livable cites in the world because it manages to combine perfectly all the essential ingredients for a great life such as employment prospects, standard of living, social and leisure activities, climate, location, accessibility and desirability.

If you’re looking for a seriously great place to emigrate to, a wonderful city location for an extended vacation or just someplace other than Sydney to visit when on a trip to Australia, here are just five reasons to visit Melbourne in Australia out of the hundreds or possibly even thousands of reasons why so many people say that it is such a fabulous location in which to live, work, rest or play.

1) The Great Ocean Road – Melbourne is the starting off point for the world famous Great Ocean Road drive. The road winds its way along some of the most stunning and dramatic coastline in Australia and if you travel out early you can take in eucalyptus forests with koalas, rain forests with dramatic flora and fauna and the incredible natural rock formations in Port Campbell National Park before returning to the city and watching it come alive after dark.

2) The Yarra Valley – the Yarra Valley can be experienced in many ways, you could fly over it at dawn in a hot air balloon, you could travel deep into it on the oldest steam train in Australia or just hike or drive into this, Australia’s finest wine country. Situated right on Melbourne’s doorstep, Yarra Valley makes Melbourne even more special because you can go from city living on the streets of lively Melbourne into the rural tranquility of the vineyards in Yarra Valley in under an hour.

3) The Wildlife – Melbourne is home to the oldest zoo in Australia and it is also home to a number of excellent animal rescue and eco centres where you can go and get close to the indigenous Australian wildlife – see if you can spot kangaroos, emus, wallabies, cockatoos and koalas on the streets of Melbourne!

4) The Nightlife – whether you fancy an epicurean experience in a hot air balloon, a private cellar door trip in the Yarra Valley, a night time gastronomic cruise experience or perhaps a late night tour of the Fosters brewery you can find what you’re looking for in Melbourne where all cultures and tastes are very well catered for.

5) The Shopping – Melbourne is famous for its fabulous shopping and is a shopaholic’s dream destination. You can wander its hidden fashion lanes and old arcades if you’re looking for unusual and eclectic pieces or you can hit the Fashion Triangle which is made up of just three blocks - QV, Melbourne's GPO, and Melbourne Central – but which is home to well over 500 fashion boutiques, shops and stores. You can pick out quirky local designers’ pieces or shop for big name brands or international designer essentials in Melbourne.

Submitted by: Rhiannon Williamson Rhiannon Williamson writes about living and working abroad with specific focus on living in Australia for example, as well as New Zealand, Belize and Canada. If you’re thinking of going to live or work overseas then her resource http://www.ShelterOffshore.com has all the information you need.