Hotels in Port Melbourne

You'll love the relaxed but vibrant atmosphere of this sophisticated area in the southwest of the city of Melbourne. It's modern, elegant and full of amenities such as high-quality restaurants, quaint old pubs and amazing scenery. It's also a busy port with a ferry service to Tasmania and a terminal for international cruise ships. Port Melbourne has been established since 1860. It's hard to believe it was once one of the most heavily industrialised regions of the city. In the last few decades, concentrated schemes for urban renewal have transformed its image. Now it's an exciting destination where you can enjoy all types of outdoor activities and discover the heritage of a fascinating district.

Accommodation in Port Melbourne includes plenty of hotels overlooking Port Phillip Bay. They include cosy boutique establishments that love to welcome families. There are also pet-friendly hotels and multi-storey, luxury hotels offering five-star service. If you're hoping for a carefree holiday, you can even rent self-catering apartments with beautiful views of the beach. Whatever your preferred style, you'll be able to make a hotel reservation in Port Melbourne.

Neighbourhoods in Port Melbourne

You'll find Port Melbourne lines the coast of Port Phillip Bay. It is divided into three main neighbourhoods.

• Beacon Cove: This is the most exclusive neighbourhood where you should find hotels in Port Melbourne with elegant, contemporary architecture. It's a great place for shopping and visiting trendy cafes and bars. There are palm trees along the promenade, which is adjacent to a fine, sandy beach.
• Garden City: Port Melbourne's western district is the Garden City, so named for its well-laid-out residential streets. Many of the properties date back to the 1920s. There's a high number of parks and green spaces in the neighbourhood.
• Fishermans Bend: This is the oldest district of Port Melbourne. It was originally a small fishing village and later became industrialised. Today, the neighbourhood still has technology and aviation enterprises, but there's a marina for private yachts alongside the docks. There's also a wetland nature reserve at Westgate Park.

What to see and do in Port Melbourne

There are many outdoor activities you can enjoy in Port Melbourne.

• Trugo: This local game developed as an improvised form of croquet amongst the district's factory workers in the 1920s. It's great fun to play. You have to strike a rubber ring with a mallet and try to score points by landing it between two goalposts.
• Beach activities: The beaches along Port Phillip Bay are ideal for all types of activities. You can enjoy a gentle stroll or try something energetic such as beach volleyball.
• Watersports: There are plenty of choices if you love watersports. You can go snorkelling, scuba diving or even jet skiing. There are also opportunities for parasailing, paddleboarding and windsurfing.
• Art galleries: When you want some peaceful relaxation, there are several art galleries in the area, particularly around Norma Barnett Lane. You should be able to view original artworks inspired by the local scenery.

What to eat in Port Melbourne

Seafood has always been popular in Port Melbourne. You can often eat al fresco while admiring magnificent views of Port Phillip Bay.

• Grilled barramundi: This local dish is often on the menu. It's a type of sea bass and usually served with mixed vegetables or salad.
• Pub food: Hearty pub food is a firm favourite in Port Melbourne, highlighting the region's working-class roots. You can dine on delicious, home-cooked meals of sausages, mashed potatoes, traditional roasts, and steak and kidney puddings. Desserts may include fresh fruit salads and apple pies served with generous amounts of custard.
• Bahn mi: This Vietnamese speciality has become an iconic part of Port Melbourne's cuisine in the last fifty years. Everyone loves these toasted baguettes filled with a variety of fillings such as pork, lamb, shredded cabbage and lettuce leaves, daikon, pickled carrots and lashings of mayonnaise.

Typical events and festivals in Port Melbourne

• Gasworks Farmers' Market: You'll love the friendly atmosphere of this market that is held every third Saturday of each month. It includes locally grown fruit and vegetable, homemade jam, chutney and delicious cakes. You can also buy freshly cut flowers.
• Live music: There are regular performances by local bands at many of Port Melbourne's pubs. There are events during the week and particularly at the weekends.
• Cinema performances: Port Melbourne has a great selection of cinemas where you can watch the latest films that are shown throughout the week.

How to move around in Port Melbourne

There's a reliable bus service connecting all the different suburbs and the waterfront. Two light rail tram services also operate in Port Melbourne. You can easily find taxis in every district.

The climate in Port Melbourne

The weather is relatively moderate, making April to May and September to October some of the best times to visit. The hottest month is January which reaches an average of 25.8 ºC (78.4 ºF). The coolest month of the year is usually July when the temperature is around 12.4 ºC (54.3 ºF).