There is plenty to see and do in Melbourne. Here are some things you won’t want to miss while you’re here. Whether you’re appreciating the art, following the sport, or checking out some famous Australian landmarks, there will never be a dull moment in Melbourne.
The Great Ocean road
The Great Ocean Road The largest war memorial in the entire world, it is quite the sight to see with its really long with windy roads broken up by surf towns, koala bush walks, shipwrecks, and natural wonders. It’s also a great place to go on a road trip with friends, whether you rent a campervan or take a tour along The Great Ocean Road. A great recommendation for a tour along the Great Ocean Road would be Ride Tours. They offer great backpacker experience tours and even do day and two-day tours!
Melbourne Aquarium
Located under the Flinders Street Viaduct, you’ll be able to find the Sealife Melbourne Aquarium. Not too far from anywhere, relative to the city. Sea Life offers a variety of amazing sights to see, such as its collection of archer ish which is the largest collection in the world, or maybe even three types of penguins, or better yet, their 5-meter saltwater crocodile! Sea Life opens around 9:30am to 6pm, daily. The best time to visit is during the week.
Phillip Island
Head over to Phillip Island and watch thousands of penguins waddle their way inshore to their burrows at sunset. Be sure to see Moonlit Sanctuary, where you may have the chance to get up close with a koala or feed some kangaroos. Visiting Phillip Island is a great way to see some Australian natives, hang out by the beach, and enjoy some nice boardwalks.
Yarra Valley
Sip on some locally made wine with your significant other or some mates. The Yarra Valley is the place to be for any wine enthusiast with a taste for great wine. With a long stretch of greenland, farm houses, and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Beautiful scenery, local food, and wine sounds like the perfect day out.
Queen Victoria Night Market
Operating seasonally on Wednesday nights from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Night Market is a great place to dive into culture and cuisine in a tasteful parallel fashion. Often introducing different themes for different times of the year, you’ll be able to experience a wide variety of said culture and cuisine depending on the time of year you go. Past
themes being Oktoberfest, Asian Night Market, and European Night Market, you can never go wrong when visiting.
The National Art of Victoria
It’s quite impressive, meshing historical artifacts with the deep-rooted culture of art, but one place comes to mind when I think of where it’s been perfectly executed. The monumental Art Gallery of Victoria You will be able to experience art and history for free by viewing art in history and vice versa. Hosting multiple exhibits ranging from Old English art to Aztec statues, Greek pottery, paintings sculptures, no matter what your artistic taste buds desire, it’ll be met when you visit the NGV Ground)
Melbourne Iconic Laneways
Hoiser, ACDC, Center Place, Hardware Lane, Block Arcade, and Degraves Lane—that’s just a few of the amazing and individually unique laneways. each with its own set of colors and themes. Art, history, food, and architecture are all things you can delve into when exploring these hidden lanes of Melbourne’s city. It’s definitely possible to make a great day out of it.
Take a Self-Guided walk through the laneways
The Australian open
In Melbourne every year in mid-January, a grand slam tennis tournament known as The Australian Open is held, which has now become one of the biggest sporting events in the southern hemisphere. Grab tickets to see some of the best tennis players in the world battle it out for the championship.
Watch the AFL
I’m sure if you hear football, you may be a little taken back when you see Australian rules. When watching the AFL, some essentials include a meat pie and a cold beer. Then all you need to do is scream at the empires, and you’ll fit right in. Any team is great to watch, and you can now even watch the WAFL, which is the women’s league. If you get a chance to see a game, you have to go to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). It is the largest sporting stadium in the southern hemisphere.
Brighton Beach Boxes
Brighton Beach is most known for its seaside bathing boxes. Painted over a century ago, most still remain untouched. There are so many designs and colors on the 82 different bathing boxes. Take photos with your favourite designs and enjoy a beautiful beach day while you’re there.
St. Kilda Beach
The highlight of a Melbourne summer might be international travelers, beachgoers, or just party people. You’ll enjoy the social atmosphere of Saint Kilda Beach. Not only does Saint Kilda have a beach, it also presents live music and the arts, including drum circles and dance groups. It’s definitely a place to enjoy a warm summer day or a warm summer night. St. Kilda is a must-see for its long stretch of boardwalks and grassy fields.
ACMI
Australia’s national museum of screen culture is located in Fed Square, where you are taken on an interactive journey through the past, present, and future of the moving image. It is completely free to do, and it is a great way to head out for the day and experience art in different forms and learn about how our technology is evolving.
Formula One Australian Grand Prix
Every year, Albert Park in Melbourne hosts the Australian Grand Prix, a race in the Formula One series. A great atmosphere where you will be surrounded by thousands of people and get to watch one of Melbourne’s biggest sporting events of the year.
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup, also known as “the race that stops the nation,” is a thoroughbred horse race held at Flemington Racecourse every year on the first Tuesday of November. Overall, it’s a fun day out where you can dress up, have some drinks, and wager on your favourite horse. The Melbourne Cup is such an important day not only for Australians but for people from around the world.
Fitzroy markets
From food to vintage clothing, the Fitzroy market has it all. The Fitzroy market is held every Saturday year-round from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with over 70 different stalls. The perfect start to the weekend with friends where you can enjoy live music, coffee, fresh food directly from farmers, handcrafted goods, and vintage clothing.
Peninsula Hot Springs
Need a self-care day or want to spend time relaxing with your significant other or friends? The hot springs are in a beautiful location just 90 minutes outside of Melbourne. With over 50 different bathing options, you are spoiled for choice. Although the naturally heated baths are the main reason to visit, they offer so much more, including massages, facials, and body treatments.
The Grampians National Park
Find amazing hiking trails with beautiful views, waterfalls, and mountain views at The Grampians National Park. Keep a special eye out for some Australian natives, such as kangaroos, wallabies, emus, and native birds. A variety of walks can be found near Halls Gap and the Wonderland Range, or you can hike to Mount William, the highest point in the Grampians.
There is plenty to see and do while visiting Melbourne. Read our other blogs with our personal experiences. Travelling the Great Ocean Road
