Melbourne - is it the best you can get?

You bet. For long Melbourne has been adjudged as one of the best cities to live in. In 2002, and again in 2004, Melbourne was adjudged the best city to live in, by Economic Intelligence Unit, a sister concern of The Economist. The annual poll is conducted among around 130 cities around the world, and has parameters covering five diverse fields: stability, healthcare, culture & environment, education, and infrastructure. With terrorism being a creeping worldwide threat, safety and security was also a consideration. Melbourne's numero uno position is a reflection on the ideal living conditions it offers not just to the citizens, but also tourists and expatriates. The state capital of Victoria, Melbourne was the first Federal Capital of Australia, from 1901 to 1927. It derives its name from 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Willam Lamb, the former PM of UK. European settlement of Melbourne started in 1835 when settlers arrived from Tasmania who had trouble finding land there. Indigenous Kulin people have been living here for thousands of years, however. Melbourne grew quickly after the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s, when it became the chief port and service area for south Victoria. During the 1880s, it was the second largest city of the English Empire, called 'Marvellous Melbourne' those days. Today, the city has the largest number of surviving Victorian era buildings, after London. Till very recently, Melbourne was the largest city in Australia (Sydney now holds the title). Melbourne is a haven for tourists. It has something for everyone. Called Australia's 'Garden City', it is home to numerous parks and gardens. One of the oldest gardens is the Flagstaff Garden. Royal Botanic Gardens and King's Domain are highly regarded. There is also the Queen Victoria Gardens and the Alexandra Gardens. The Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building are listed as a World Heritage Site. In these verdant spaces one can find the varied hues of nature, from English Oaks, White poplars, plane trees, to elm, conifers, cedars, Turkey oaks, Araucarias. Melbourne hosts a disproportionately large number of spectator sports, and every year thousands of sports fans visit the city to witness the very best in sporting. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, regarded as the best cricket stadium in the world, is host to sports besides cricket, like Australian football and rugby. Scheduled to host the 2006 Commonwealth Games, it is undergoing renovation. Melbourne also hosts the Australian Open tennis tournament. Melbourne has many architectural wonders, like the Rialto and Eureka towers. Other spaces of tourist interest include the Melbourne Museum, Royal Exhibition Building, National Gallery of Victoria, Hamer Hall (now Melbourne Concert Hall), and much more. Melbourne has moderate climate throughout the year attracting tourists round the year. Situated near numerous suburban attractions, it has many wonderful beaches within its city limits, and many outside. The nearby Mornington Peninsula is a charming village with both sheltered and open sea beaches. Far from the crowd of Melbourne, it offers easy access to the best city of the world, as well as its own handsome charms. VerveBeachside offers various accommodation solutions for all types of needs, from private beach-side retreats, bayside beach houses to villas and self-contai ned service apartments at various places in the Mornington Peninsula. The peninsula is situated very near Melbourne.