Top 3 reasons to go to Melbourne soon

It is hard not to adore the stylish and arty city of Melbourne, so while it's always worth a visit on a road trip, there are a range of reasons why you should plan to drive here sooner rather than later.

Why, you may ask? Let these top three reasons tantalise you into travelling to this hopping Victorian city. 

1) There is a baby Pygmy hippo at the Melbourne Zoo, and he just learnt to swim 

Prepare for cuteness overload. Just look at this adorable face!

This wee gem, named Obi, was only 5 kilograms when he was born and has steadily grown, but is still adorably small. He recently embraced the wonders of the water and started swimming deeper, under the careful care of his mum, Petre.

Little Obi will melt your heart with his charms, which is fitting because his name means 'heart' in the Igbo language of Nigeria. Don't miss this chance to admire Pygmy hippos up close, as they are an endangered species in the wild. Not to mention, exploring the rest of the zoo is also a lovely way to spend a Melbourne afternoon, with intelligent orangutans and cuddly koalas to gush over. 

2) The Glow Winter Arts Festival is on

Light up the end of your winter by delighting in the dazzling array of lit-up installations, comedy, cinema and live music at this festival, running from August 13-23. The Glow Festival Hub is the centrepiece of the festivities, with a delectable range of food and drinks on sale as well as dancefloors and creative pop-up stalls to peruse.

The opening night has circus performers and puppet shows planned, which will set the tone for the rest of the evenings as a jam-packed event schedule unfolds over the rest of the festival. Running the gamut from hip hop dancing to special effect roving light shows, there is never a boring evening here. 

The crowning jewel of this festival is the open air Ice Skating Rink, located in the heart of the Prahran neighbourhood. Certain nights also host skating classes and performances. Lace up your skates and unleash your best Frozen moves – if you're travelling with kids and they are fans of the blockbuster Disney film, they will love unleashing their inner Elsa, Anna and Olaf and just letting it go! 

In true wintry joy, mulled wine is available and live DJs turn the hub into a club on Friday and Saturday nights. Best of all, Melbourne city is going to present a free fireworks display at the Docklands every Friday this month. Watch the spectacle while sipping a beer or wine from one of the waterfront bars or restaurants, or take a rug and see the sky explode in colour from the New Quay Promenade.

3) You can flaunt your best fashion at the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2015

Spring isn't just a time for the flowers to bloom, but also for fashion lovers to blossom as they get snapped by street photographers or attend designer runway shows. This glamorous event runs from August 28 until September 4.

What makes attending this particular season so special is that this is the inaugural year for the Vogue Fashion Night Out, which entails a three-day long shopping extravaganza throughout the city. Whether you indulge in some retail therapy at the Emporium or dwindle along the lanes at Collins Street, there's something for every styleista. 

It's not all about having a ticket to the runway shows in the Melbourne Town Hall, though. A plethora of free events are also organised in the event's Hub at City Square, with free workshops, runways and samples on offer. Oo la la!