1. STREET ART + LANEWAYS
The city also has a bunch of cobbled laneways, or alleyways, which are filled with coffee shops, cafes, and boutiques. It’s a lot of fun to get lost and wander the city through the laneways.
In some of the laneways, you will find incredible street art. Here are some notable ones:
- Hosier Lane is easily the most famous and the most crowded.
- AC/DC Lane + Duckboard Place
- Centre Place
- Caledonian Lane
- Pro Tip: When we walked down a bit further to AC/DC Lane and Duckboard Pl, the crowds thinned out.
2. COFFEE
We may have OD’d on some coffee while we were in Melbourne. I know I was walking around jittery. Was it worth it? Absolutely.
There is a rich coffee culture in Melbourne. Many reputedly say it’s the coffee capital of the world. With thousands of cafes to choose from, you could spend an entire trip just hunting down some of the best baristas.
Pro Tip: The Flat White is Australia’s signature coffee. Similar to a latte, it’s an expresso-based drink with a thin layer of steamed milk. Don’t say it to an Aussie, but there’s still a feud going on about whether the Flat White was invented in Australia or New Zealand.
3. QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET
Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia, mapQVM aka Vic Market or Queen Vic is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere covering 2 city blocks.
We spent a few hours wandering up and down the rows and buildings, picking up snacks along the way. There was so much to see and eat that it can get overwhelming without a plan. You’ll find everything here from general goods, fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, delicatessen foods, and more.
We braved the long line at the American Doughnut Kitchen truck. It’s hard to see in the photo below, but the line keeps going. Maybe it’s because we come from the land of doughnuts but it didn’t taste all that special either. Pretty standard donut. We did enjoy the fresh oysters, but it’s also the most touristy part of the market.
Pro Tip: Bring cash. We found several spots we wanted to eat at only accepted cash. The market is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays so be sure to plan accordingly. During the summer, they open it up on Wednesday evenings as a night market.
4. FEDERATION SQUARE
Swanston St & Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia, mapFederation Square is a great spot to relax and people watch. As a center for arts, culture, and public events, you’ll find yourself surrounded by beautiful architecture, locals picnicking outside, and restaurants.
We picked up some Luna Croissants and devoured them as we people watched.
Local Tip: There are a lot of pigeons in the area that really come after your food!
5. FLINDERS STREET RAILWAY STATION
Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia, mapThis iconic metro hub opened in 1909 as the first railway station in an Australian, and is still one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. The station is responsible for two of Melbourne’s busiest pedestrian crossings.
The photo below is from our hotel room window at DoubleTree. You can see the station and the pedestrian crossing.
Note: If you hear a local say “I’ll meet you under the clocks,” they are referring to the row of clocks above the main entrance.
6. YARRA RIVER
The Yarra River runs right through the heart of Melbourne so it’s hard to miss it. I love a good cityscape with a river. A great way to see the city from the river is via a river cruise or kayak tour (or a hot air balloon from above it!).
7. FITZROY GARDENS
Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia, mapThis Fitzroy Gardens is a huge garden located right in the city. It reminded us a lot of the Mall in Central Park. Within the park, you’ll find historic sites, unique fountains, memorials, and even a conservatory.
8. ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS
Birdwood Ave, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia, mapTalking a walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens transports you out of the busy city. That’s what we love about these urban green spaces. There are over 8,500 plant specifies covering 94 acres of land, right in the center of the city.
You’ll often find walkers and joggers here, and it’s the perfect spot to picnic.
Pro Tip: Stop by the Visitor Centre to get details on their audio tour.
9. EUREKA SKYDECK
The Eureka Skydeck gets you 88 floors above the city with panoramic views and photo ops. After riding the fastest elevator in the South Hemisphere, you get to enjoy the floor-to-ceiling views. If you dare, you can also step out on The Edge, which was the world’s first glass cube.
Pro Tip: You can see Dandenong Ranges National Park from the skydeck!
10. NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA
The NGV is Australia’s oldest and largest art museum. Admission to the permanent collection is free and features art from all over the world.
They also have special exhibits with an entran
They also have special exhibits with an entrance fee, and while we there, there was a Yayoi Kusama exhibit.
11. ART GALLERIES
Melbourne has over 100 art galleries scattered throughout the city. Here are some worth checking out:
- The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia – dedicated to Australian art
- Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
- Buxton Contemporary
- Centre for Contemporary Photography
- Heide Museum of Modern Art
- NGV International
12. PENGUINS AT ST KILDA
Head to the St Kilda Breakwater to see this unique penguin habitat. They live in the breakwater and return here every evening. There are volunteers there to help protect the penguins, answer any questions, and they even have red flashlights to help point out the penguins without disturbing them (white light and flash is prohibited). The best viewing time is 30 minutes after sunset, although some may show earlier.
We arrived an hour before sunset and the viewing platform was already packed. By the time the penguins arrive, it’s practically dark and most people start leaving.
Local Tip: The volunteer told us that it’s better just to come after sunset so you don’t have to wait around and that’s what most local photographers do.
13. LUNA PARK MELBOURNE
This historic amusement park is a great spot for families. We came to St Kilda for the penguins and happened to park right next to it.
The Luna Park in Melbourne was built in 1912, 9 years after the Luna Park on Coney Island was built. It’s not affiliated with the original Luna Park but found its inspiration from it.
14. STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA
The state library is another cultural landmark that is popular amongst locals and tourists. The building was built in 1956 and is now a mix of old and new architecture.
Don’t miss the La Trobe Reading Room, which is the centerpiece of the library and super photogenic. The six-story high domed space is absolutely stunning and worth checking out from the ground level as well as from higher levels.
Pro Tip: If you want to learn more about the library, head to an information desk and ask about the free tours.
15. AUSTRALIAN CENTRE FOR THE MOVING IMAGE (ACMI)
ACMI is Australia’s national museum of film, TV, video games, and digital culture. We didn’t make time to visit this round, but it’s one of the spots we’re bummed we missed after the fact. We checked out a moving image museum in NYC that we loved, and ACMI is apparently the most popular moving image museum in the world.
Source: https://t24hs.com
