My husband and I lived in Australia for 3 years and we’ve been back in the states for almost 10 now. It recently came to me that I never shared much about Melbourne. I’ve written a lot about Australia, it’s one of my favorite topics but because Melbourne became home, I didn’t think of it as travel.
That changes with this post. I love Melbourne and I think it’s a great city to visit and there’s a few places and activities you don’t want to miss on your first trip there.
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When Should You Visit Melbourne?
Before we get to what you need to do to when you visit, we need to discuss when you should visit. There is a best time for this. You’ll want to head to Melbourne in the summer months (which means Jan-March in Australia).
The reason for this is that the weather is better (less rain) and there are more events as well, which is all part of the Melbourne Australia experience.
What to do on Your First Trip to Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne doesn’t get the love that Sydney does and don’t get me wrong, Sydney is amazingly beautiful but Melbourne has character Sydney just doesn’t have. The first time I went to Sydney I thought it was the most gorgeous city I’d seen, and I still feel that way about the Harbor.
However, when you go beyond the opera house, the harbor bridge, and Bondi beach, you don’t have a lot. I miss the character and livability of Melbourne every day. There is always something new and amazing around every corner in that city. So if it’s your first time, don’t miss out on that. You’re not going to get the Opera House and the beautiful beaches (they are still pretty amazing) that Sydney has but if you do it right, I think you’ll love it just as much.
Iconic Melbourne, Australia Activities
Get Coffee in Fitzroy
My husband still brings up Fitzroy on a weekly basis. He loved the coffee there and I loved just walking the streets. The artwork, small shops, and general quirkiness makes for great people watching too.
Wander the Laneways for Art
Melbourne is made up of laneways, both above and underground. You can easily get lost wandering them. Hosier Lane is the most famous of these for street art but don’t just stick there, keep going. Keep walking the lanes and you’ll find so much art.
Go Wine Tasting at the Largest Outdoor Market
The Queen Victoria Market is largest outdoor market and it’s well worth a visit. However, expect of find cheap souvenirs and not the high quality art you sometimes get at markets. Nevertheless, you should definitely not miss it and have a wine tasting at one of the stalls. You can also get fresh groceries there.
Shop the Laneways for Boutiques Galore
Now if you do want cute shops with local products, don’t worry, Melbourne has it. Just start walking the laneways and you will be met with so many shops. There are arcades as well with lots of shops in one place.
Eat Cake in St. Kilda after the Beach
Now if you talk to the Aussies, they will tell you that Melbourne’s beaches aren’t that great. However, as a girl from Texas, I can tell you that they are beautiful and the water is clear. It’s amazing. St. Kilda is a great beach to hang out on and you an even walk from there to Brighton (or vice versa) for a lovely beach walk. No, it’s not the best in Australia but when you grew up with the closest beach being the Gulf of Mexico, you appreciate St. Kilda, believe me.
The best part of St. Kilda is not the beaches though, it’s the cake. Head to Acland Street for a row of local cake shops and buy some cake, please. You can buy it by the slice or by the cake. Take it to go or have it right then. Trust me on this one.
Catch a Movie at the Moonlit Cinema
If you paid attention to the first part of this post, you know you should be going to Melbourne Australia in the summer months. If you do this, you’ll also get Melbourne events which is a big part of the city. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is the Moonlit Cinema.
The summer evenings are so nice and you can head to the gardens to watch a movie under the stars. Take blankets, a picnic (including alcohol), and pillows for a cosy experience. As a Texas girl, the summers are too brutal for sitting outside watching a movie so I loved this so much.
Don’t Miss a Sporting Event
Another great part of visiting Melbourne in the right months is that the Australian Open is happening in February. Even if you’re not into tennis, hear me out. I didn’t even know the rules of tennis when I went the first time. It’s still very exciting and you’ll learn as you go. There’s also a whole set up outside where you can watch the matches on the lawn for free. It’s all happening right in the middle of the city.
Splurge on a Hot Air Balloon Ride over the City
This next idea with cost you a bit but it’s worth it, I promise. Melbourne is one of (if not the only I’m not sure exactly) where you can ride a hot air balloon over the city. It’s pretty spectacular. I love it so much I have a tattoo of a hot air balloon to remind me of Melbourne.
Take a Day Trip Out of the City
The last great thing about Melbourne is that it’s in the smallest state and therefore makes it easy to take day trips. Much easier than any other city in Australia. Victoria is the state it is in and there are several beautiful day (or longer) trips I highly recommend.
Mornington Peninsula
One of the easiest day trips with the biggest rewards is the Mornington Peninsula. You’ve got wine, beaches, and hot springs. Spend the morning at the hot springs, then head to a winery for lunch and the beach in the afternoon. Just writing this makes me miss it.
Great Ocean Road
This next road trip is an iconic Australian adventure. Don’t miss the Great Ocean Road when you head to Melbourne. If all you have time for is a quick tour, then do it, but I definitely recommend spending a weekend out there if you can.
Penguins to Prom
Also not far from Melbourne is the penguin sanctuary where you can watch them come out of the water each night to their homes. It’s pretty cool to see and from there you can drive out to Wilson’s Promontory National Park. We did this exact trip over three days and it was plenty of time.
Yarra Valley
Yarra Valley is an area of Victoria that has wineries galore. Take a tour from Melbourne so you can taste to your heart’s delight. They usually stop at the chocolate factory as well which is a delicious treat.
Healesville Sanctuary
Finally, this last one is one of my favorite. Healesville Sanctuary is a beautiful day trip from Melbourne Australia. It is an all Australian animal sanctuary. If you want to hangout with kangaroos and koalas, this is the place for you.
Melbourne Australia Tours
I’m a big fan of DIY travel but sometimes a tour can be a great way to see a place and learn more about a specific area. I don’t want to leave you hanging, so I’ll complete this post with a few tour options for you. My favorite is the wine ones. š
Melbourne Tour Ideas
Street Art Great
Ocean Road
Yarra Valley Wine
Balloon Flight
Penguins
