Melbourne Activities

There are enough child-based activities in Melbourne that parents won’t have any problem finding something to do to entertain the kids. Top of the list is the city’s amazing zoo, followed closely by its modern aquarium. Both of these attractions are among the world’s finest and rarely fail to please. Another good choice is a trip to the IMAX theatre. If your kids have never experienced an eight-storey movie screen, it’s well worth a visit.

IMAX Theatre
If you have never been to an IMAX movie theatre, you’re missing out on something quite extraordinary. With a screen rising eight storeys and wrapping around the auditorium in a panorama, the viewing experience is truly amazing. There’s always something interesting being shown such as movies about the deep ocean, outer space and the African Serengeti. The IMAX is located in the Melbourne Museum Complex. Phone: +61 3 9663 5454.

Melbourne Aquarium
One of the world’s newest aquariums offers visitors a comprehensive look at the ocean realm around Australia. There are three levels to explore, with highlights such as a vast tank with a passage through the centre allowing guests a close-up view of sharks, manta rays and other predators. The exhibit on the Great Barrier Reef is popular, as are the numerous displays featuring jellyfish. The aquarium is located on Wharf road. Phone: +61 3 9620 0999.

Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne Zoo may be the oldest zoo in the world, but it still ranks among the very best. What makes this place so special is that all of the 3,000 animals live in natural outdoor habitats. This gives the zoo the feel of a garden rather than a pet shop. Kids can check out kangaroos, koalas, platypus and other Australian natives, along with some impressive gorilla enclosures. Be sure to visit the aviary and butterfly house where the thousands of flying creatures are allowed to move about freely. The zoo is located on Elliot avenue. Phone: +61 3 9285 9300.

Being the cultural melting pot that it is, Melbourne offers a nice range of activities for visitors looking to learn more about the history of Victoria, Melbourne and its many residents. There are museums for just about every subject, but to really get a good understanding of Melbourne simply head out into the different neighbourhoods and wander around. This city has the world’s second-largest population of Greeks outside of Athens, if that’s any indication of the depth of its cultural diversity.

Chinese Museum
Chinese migrants have been an important part of Melbourne’s population since the mid-1800s, and this impressive museum in the heart of Chinatown wonderfully presents its heritage. Five levels feature art galleries, photographs, artefacts and other interesting displays about the migrants role in the building of Melbourne. The museum is located in Chinatown. Phone: +61 3 9662 2888.

Government House
Built during the famous gold rush of the 1800s, this grand Italian-style mansion is considered the finest home in Victoria. Located within the Botanical Gardens, it is the official residence of the governor, but tours are offered daily to give visitors giving a glimpse at the long colonial heritage of the governors of Victoria. The building is located on Government House drive. Phone: +61 3 9656 9800.

Ian Potter Centre for Australian Art
The other branch of the National Gallery of Victoria was recently opened and has 20 galleries dedicated exclusively to Australian art. The highlight and focus here is the impressive Aboriginal and colonial art collections, although there are plenty of classic international pieces of art on display as well. With some 20,000 pieces of Australian art, the exhibits are constantly changing, complemented by a nice selection of temporary exhibitions. The centre is located in Federation square. Phone: +61 3 8662 1555.

Melbourne Museum
Australia’s largest museum is a highlight, encompassing just about every natural and anthropological topic you can imagine. Many of the exhibits are interactive, especially those in the impressive Children’s Museum wing. Most of the highlights focus on the natural world such as an indoor rainforest and one of the world’s greatest insect exhibits. But there’s also the award-winning Bunjilaka Aboriginal Culture Centre and other displays related to Australian history. The museum is located on Nicholson street.

National Gallery of Victoria
There are now actually two separate branches of the National Gallery. The main gallery on St Kilda road houses Victoria’s main international collections which have some real masterpieces such as gems by Picasso and others. If you are an art fan, this exquisite museum makes a nice half-day excursion. The gallery is located on Federation square. Phone: +61 3 8620 2222.

Old Melbourne Gaol
The oldest remaining prison in Victoria provides a powerful look into the life of a 19th century Australian gaol. The dauntingly thick walls enclose the Hangman’s Box and many gory yet fascinating relics from this period in Australian history are on display. The infamous Ned Kelly was among the 135 men and women hung at the gallows, and his story is retold by a hangman several times a week to the squeals and delight of the courageous audience. The gaol is located on Russell street. Phone: +61 3 9663 7228.

Rippon Lea House Museum and Historic Garden
If you want to see how the upper crust lived during the early days of Melbourne’s explosive prosperity, pay a visit to this grand old Victorian mansion situated a few miles outside of the city. Built between 1868 and 1903, this expansive mansion recalls the glory days of days past. But the real attraction is the 13-acre garden which contains extensive flower beds, a lookout tower, lake and conservatory. At weekends, the tea room is open for classic tea service. The mansion is located on Hotham street. Phone: +61 3 9523 6095.

Perhaps even more than in other Australian cities, the residents of Melbourne love their food. There are thousands of cafés, restaurants, coffee shops and food stalls serving up virtually every style of cuisine known to man. The quality, variety and affordability of eating out in Melbourne is one of its biggest attractions for visitors and residents alike.

As in most cities, some of the best places to eat are local secrets tucked away down the side streets of one neighborhood or another. Yet plenty of excellent choices exist in all the main tourist areas, and most residents will be happy to steer you to their favourite haunt. Melbourne’s incredibly diverse ethnicity has created one of the world’s most dynamic culinary scenes.

If you crave authentic Asian fare, head to Chinatown in the heart of the city. Richmond district is packed with Greek restaurants, while Carlton’s Lygon street is the neighbourhood for Italian fare. The central business district has great swanky cocktail bars and some of the finest dining in town, but you can also wander South Yarra and St Kilda with the trendy art crowd who hang around Fitzroy, Acland, and Chapel streets. Southbank may seem overly commercialised, but the dining here is actually very good.

The cheaper places to eat in Melbourne have a BYO policy, where you can ‘bring your own’ beer or wine and drink it in house. Smoking is not allowed in any restaurant, and servers tend to get tipped around 15 per cent.

Melbourne is widely regarded as the shopping capital of Australia. Everything from quirky souvenir shops to top fashion designer outlets and global department stores await dedicated shoppers. To fully appreciate the importance shopping plays in Melbourne’s urban life, head to one of the city’s lovely arcades like Block Arcade with its 30 quaint shops. The concept of outdoor shopping is big in Melbourne, so you’ll have countless choices of where to spend your Australian dollars.

South Yarra is a nexus of Australian fashion, as is Toorak road and Brunswick street in Fitzroy. International fashion shops cluster around eastern Collins street and Chapel street. If it’s something more down-to-earth you’re looking for, try the engaging arts and crafts market that appears every Sunday on the Esplanade in St Kilda. Acland street is another strip that comes alive every Sunday with special outdoor markets.

From sunrise balloon rides over the city to some of the best golfing in Australia, Melbourne is one of the most sporting cities on earth. Visitors can get around via the extensive bike path system for some exercise, or catch a cricket match at the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground. For serious action, check out Australian rules football which is unlike any other sport around.

Australian Rules Football
Without question, Melbourne’s favourite sport is Australian rules football, known simply as ‘footy’. This game combines skill, agility and violence in a way unseen in any other sport, and Australia is the only country where you can watch it live. Melbourne is home to 10 of the 16 clubs in the national league, and the season runs from March through September.

Ballooning
One of the most memorable ways to see Melbourne is by floating overhead in a hot air balloon. This is one of the more popular tourist excursions in the city, and a couple of companies offer a range of different flights. The sunrise trip at dawn is one of the most popular times to partake in ballooning, but make your reservations well in advance.

Biking
Melbourne is a biking city, and has created a dedicated network of bike paths that wind through the city and out into the suburbs. Visitors can easily rent a bike of their choice and pedal for as long and as far as they like. Cycling is a great way to see the city and get some exercise at the same time.

Cricket
Australia’s most famous cricket ground is located in Melbourne, and every year from October to March there is little else the sporting crowd in this city talks about. Nearly 100,000 spectators can fit into the Melbourne Cricket Ground, so try and catch a match if you want to initiate yourself into this popular global sport.

Golfing
There are dozens of excellent golf courses around Melbourne, ranging from the public to the ultra exclusive. One of Australia’s finest public courses, Yarra Bend, is the best place to start. Their green fees are very affordable and the course is open to everyone. If you belong to an upscale golf club back home, try and get into the prestigious Royal Melbourne Golf Club, which is rated as one of the world’s top 10.

Horseracing
Melbourne has four race tracks which host competitions throughout the year. The highlight of the season is the annual Melbourne Cup in November. Since 1861 this thoroughbred race has been contested by the best horses in Australia and many from around the world.