Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne

Melbourne Market Photos

Queen Victoria market is a great place to idle away some hours any day of the week in downtown Melbourne, though Saturday morning is the peak time to see stuff and watch people. Think about taking the Victoria Market Foodie Tour to learn some history and munch some delectable samples in the Dairy Hall, fruit and veggie aisles (note the oldest tomato stand in Australia), and the Meat and Fish Hall.

The Queen Victoria Market is about two blocks from Melbourne's Nomads Hostel, a good place to base yourself in Melbourne.

• Melbourne's Southbank Market
• Melbourne's Prahran Market
• Melbourne's Nomads Hostel
• Melbourne's Victoria Market website

I bought one of the cooler souvenirs of my life in the Queen Victoria market -- a didgeridoo made by Stan Yarramunua, Yorta Yorta man and wonderful artist. I shipped it home to the US via UPS (how would one carry a didgeridoo on a plane?) and thought I'd give it to my significant other as a Christmas gift surprise -- but it beat me home, and here's a clue regarding the surprise factor: UPS Australia ships didgeridoos in a didgeridoo-shaped box clearly and largely printed and labeled with, "UPS Didgeridoo Box."