The first stop on any visitor's itinerary should be the Melbourne Visitor Centre, Federation Square, Swanston and Flinders streets (tel. 03/9658 9658). The center serves as a one-stop shop for tourism information, accommodations and tour bookings, event ticketing, public transport information, and ticket sales. Also here are an ATM, Internet terminals, and interactive multimedia providing information on Melbourne and Victoria. The center is open daily from 9am to 6pm (except Christmas and Good Friday). The Melbourne Greeter Service also operates from the Melbourne Visitor Centre. This service is available in 15 languages and connects visitors to enthusiastic local volunteers who offer free one-on-one, half-day orientation tours of the city. Book at least 3 days in advance (tel. 03/9658 9658) if you can. The Melbourne Visitor Centre also operates staffed information booths in Bourke Street Mall, between Swanston and Elizabeth streets.

You'll find some information services at Information Victoria, 356 Collins St. (tel. 1300/366 356 in Australia). In the central city area, also look for Melbourne's City Ambassadors -- people, usually volunteers, who give tourist information and directions. They'll be wearing bright red shirts and caps.

Good websites about the city include CitySearch Melbourne; as well as the official City of Melbourne site and the official tourism site for the city. Also worth a look are locally run sites, Only Melbourne and Thats Melbourne.