Australia uses a Decimal currency system, where 100 cents = one dollar ($). We have six coins – 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, which are silver coloured, and $1 and $2, which are gold. We have five notes, made from plastic – $5 (pink /purple), $10 (blue), $20 (red), $50 (yellow), and $100 (green).
If you have had a licence in your own country for more than a year, you can apply for an Australian Driving Licence but you must pass a driving test. If you are on a Student or Working Holiday visa and studying for 10 weeks or less you can drive using your International Licence if you already have one. VicRoads advises that if you are going to live in Victoria for 6 months or more and you want to drive in Victoria, you'll need to change your overseas licence. The 6 months that you can drive in Victoria using your overseas licence starts from the day you start living in Victoria
Melbourne may be known for its fickle weather - the city has been described as having four seasons in one day - but it can still be enjoyed all year round. Plan ahead with this information on temperature and rainfall.
Summer (December – February)
Melbourne warms up in summer with mean temperatures between 14 - 25.3°C (57.2 - 77.5°F). These months are dry, with occasional hot spells that can last more than three days. Melbourne’s top temperatures are usually in January and February, when temperatures can occasionally soar past 30°C (86°F).
Autumn (March – May)
Autumn sees cooler weather with average temperatures ranging from 10.9 – 20.3°C (51.6 - 68.5°F). Morning fog usually clears to welcome fine, sunny days, however toward the end of the season there can be extended periods of light winds.
Winter (June – August)
In winter, average temperatures range from 6.5 - 14.2°C (43.7 - 57.6°F), and snow falls in the north-east of Victoria, known as High Country. The weather is frequently cold and cloudy, and nights can be accompanied by frosts. Heavy rain is rare at this time of year.
Spring (September – November)
During spring average temperatures range from 9.6 - 19.6°C (49.3 - 67.3°F). The season is known as the most variable of the year, when weather can quickly change from calm and sunny to cold and windy. Pack your umbrella – October is the wettest month with roughly 10 days of rainfall.
Melbourne’s earned its spot as one of the great big cities of the world. It’s got it all: parks and nature, colourful neighbourhoods, a hip food scene, and plenty of history. Sip flat whites in cosy cafes, go thrift shopping on Brunswick Street, and spend your afternoons laying out in Fitzroy Gardens. There’s also endless art and culture to explore—take a stroll down Hosier Lane for the city’s most iconic street art, or check out the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre in the Melbourne Museum to learn more about indigenous history.
Melbourne is a diverse city that knows how to live. Choose from high-end cuisine to basement rock gigs, plays, festivals and blockbuster sporting events – all happening across a city full of parks, gardens and historic architecture. There's always something exciting happening in Melbourne, whatever your taste.
Laneways and byways - Explore historic arcades and laneways lined with fine dining restaurants, chic cafes, hidden bars and fashion boutiques or head to one of the many lush gardens throughout the city.
Cheer on your heroes - Discover Melbourne's obsession with football, cricket and soccer, as well as hockey, tennis and just about anything else that involves working up a sweat. Head to the sports precinct to visit the iconic ground of the MCG.
Live music - In Melbourne everything is live and full of energy. Turn up the volume at a concert hall, bar, pub, or open air stadium with music from local and international talent taking over venues across the city.
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Every month Melbourne has exciting events to offer. From musicals, theatre, and art exhibitions to food festivals, markets and sporting events. When you choose to study in Melbourne, you also choose it's vibrant lifestyle.
Some of the major events include Good Beer Week, Melbourne Chinese Lunar Year Festival, Melbourne Day, Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and The Moomba Festival with many being free to join.