Melbourne's west

Footscray, Yarraville and Seddon

Dynamic Footscray is constantly changing, with a growing arts scene, and ever-fascinating multicultural make-up. Pay your respects to the Goddess of the Sea, Mazu, at Heavenly Queen Temple, or fill up on authentic Vietnamese or African fare after raiding local markets for fresh produce.

Yarraville is a bustling, eclectic community with cafes, restaurants, boutiques and bars housed in a beautifully preserved Edwardian village.

Tiny, vibrant Seddon will sweep you off your feet with its charm. A growing number of understated and excellent cafes beckon with their aromas of coffee and cakes, and a short but sweet list of wine bars and restaurants is bound to introduce a new favourite.

Williamstown and surrounds

Get the best of bayside with a western edge in waterside Williamstown, steeped in maritime history and heritage buildings. Splash about on the beach, take in a guided heritage walk, browse the bustling weekend market or cycle the extensive coastal bike trails. Altona is framed by parks and a wide sweeping beach, with the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre and Tuesday Beach Market among the neighbourhood's urbane highlights. 

Nearby Newport and Spotswood offer comforts to match Melbourne's edgy inner north. Spotswood is best known as the home of the fascinating Scienceworks Museum, and Hudsons Road's glut of top-notch cafes will have you planning a return trip. Newport's gritty industrial heritage has been converted into a cutting-edge arts facility – there's always something worth catching at the former Substation, from music to theatre, dance, circus and visual arts.

West Footscray and Sunshine

West Footscray's bustling shopping strip houses multiple Indian, Philippine and Nepalese restaurant and supermarket options, while further afield Sunshine boasts 100 year old Memorial industrial gardens and a replica blacksmith hut.

Getting to know the west

You'll be rewarded for exploring a little further on a visit to Melbourne's west. Watching the trots at Melbourne's Tabcorp Park is a great night out, while Keilor's Organ Pipes National Park is breathtaking. The wineries around Plumpton and into Sunbury will have you stocking up your home wine cellar, and the Walter Burley-Griffin–designed Incinerator Gallery in Moonee Ponds is always worth a look.

Wild about Werribee

There's a surprising amount of wildlife and aviation history in this lively pocket just over the West Gate Bridge from Melbourne's CBD. Werribee Park and Mansion and the stunning State Rose Garden are perennial drawcards, along with Werribee Open Range Zoo and the Point Cook Marine Sanctuary – and there's plenty more to reward a longer visit.