{"id":1411,"date":"2018-03-13T15:43:54","date_gmt":"2018-03-13T04:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns?p=1411&#038;preview=true&#038;preview_id=1411"},"modified":"2019-05-15T09:30:09","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T23:30:09","slug":"ultimate-guide-to-melbourne-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/ultimate-guide-to-melbourne-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>This blog originally appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/melbourne-australia-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Journal<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>When you tell someone you\u2019re visiting <a href=\"\/melbourne\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Melbourne<\/a> and are after some insider tips, the most common things you\u2019re likely to hear are \u201coooh, make sure you explore Melbourne\u2019s famous graffiti laneways\u201d and \u201cahhh, you HAVE to get a latte in Hardware Lane\u201d and \u201cthe pizza and pasta on Lygon Street are soooo authentic\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>These are all fine enough tips, but there is SO much more to the World\u2019s Most Liveable City (seventh year in a row, guys!) than what we\u2019re stereotypically \u2018famous\u2019 for.<\/p>\n<p>So please, join me as we walk (and catch a tram or two) around Melbourne.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>CBD (aka Central Melbourne)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_1413\" style=\"width: 809px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1413\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/nathaniel-watson-503221-unsplash-e1520914243751.jpg\" alt=\"State Library, Melbourne\" width=\"799\" height=\"499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/nathaniel-watson-503221-unsplash-e1520914243751.jpg 799w, https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/nathaniel-watson-503221-unsplash-e1520914243751-700x437.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/nathaniel-watson-503221-unsplash-e1520914243751-585x365.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1413\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Nathaniel Watson on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n<p>You can easily spend a day (more, actually) wandering around the city. The bulk of the shopping\/cheap eats stuff is concentrated in the Russell to Elizabeth\/Collins to La Trobe block, but wander further afield and you\u2019ll hit cute boutiques, tucked-away cafes, and sprawling parks and gardens.<\/p>\n<p>Mosey south along Flinders Street to Federation Square, where you can visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.acmi.net.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACMI\u00a0<\/a>for an arthouse film or exhibition, or cross the Yarra River and hit up the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ngv.vic.gov.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NGV\u00a0<\/a>or\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/mpavilion.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MPavilion\u00a0<\/a>for talks, meetups and music. Wander the other way for the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.slv.vic.gov.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">State Library<\/a>\u00a0(its magnificent reading room is not to be missed) or the iconic\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.melbourne.vic.gov.au\/community\/sports-recreation\/melbourne-city-baths\/Pages\/melbourne-city-baths.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">City Baths<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Melbourne city is FULL of great places to eat and drink. Chinatown, which takes up two city blocks on Little Bourke Street (between Swanston and Exhibition streets), is great for \u2013 yep \u2013 Chinese, while Swanston Street boasts many cheap and cheerful Vietnamese, Thai and Malaysian spots. You\u2019ll find bars and pubs just about everywhere you look \u2013 down alleys, on rooftops, inside shipping containers\u2026 you get the idea.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/australia-outback-yarns\/why-every-aussie-should-explore-their-own-backyard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>RELATED: WHY EVERY AUSSIE SHOULD EXPLORE THEIR OWN BACKYARD<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately (or fortunately for some) many of Melbourne\u2019s best restaurants don\u2019t take bookings in advance, so be prepared to line up (or eat much earlier \u2013 or much later \u2013 than you may be used to) if you want to hit up somewhere a bit special. That said, it\u2019s not hard to find an eatery to suit your noshing needs in Melbourne\u2019s CBD (at the time of writing, there were around 1,600 restaurants and cafes in the city alone). Check out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.broadsheet.com.au\/melbourne\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Broadsheet\u00a0<\/a>or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theurbanlist.com\/melbourne\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Urban List<\/a>\u00a0for suggestions, or try one of our favourites:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lonelyplanet.com\/australia\/melbourne\/restaurants\/pellegrinis-espresso-bar\/a\/poi-eat\/366275\/362494\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pellegrini\u2019s\u00a0<\/a>for cheap, homely Italian fare in a no-fuss coffeehouse<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arbory.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Arbory<\/a>\u00a0for craft beers, fancy spritzers, and pub-style meals, wedged between Platform 10 of Flinders Street Station and the Yarra River (on Thursdays and Fridays they have a roving oyster cart, where you can grab a freshly shucked oyster for $2)<\/li>\n<li>Rooftop Bar, at the top of Curtin House, is a great spot to visit on sunny days for burgers, craft beers and incredible views across the city. In summer, you can kick back in a deckchair for a flick at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/2018.rooftopcinema.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rooftop Cinema<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NORTHSIDE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_1414\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1414\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1414\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tim-bennett-583067-unsplash-e1520914306435.jpg\" alt=\"Fitzroys Smith and Deli vegan deli\" width=\"800\" height=\"498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tim-bennett-583067-unsplash-e1520914306435.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tim-bennett-583067-unsplash-e1520914306435-700x436.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/tim-bennett-583067-unsplash-e1520914306435-585x364.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1414\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Tim Bennett on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Jump on the 11 or 86 tram (or walk) to Fitzroy and Collingwood. Brunswick Street used to be the boho centre of all things alternative, but has seen better days. There are still some good cafes and restaurants along the strip (Vegie Bar, Mario\u2019s and newcomer Mukka), but a lot of what made Fitzroy \u2018edgy\u2019 has been scrubbed away, painted over, and re-graffitied (on commission). It\u2019s definitely worth a visit, but spend more of your time wandering on Smith and Gertrude streets \u2013 filled with galleries, boutiques, cafes and bars \u2013 and in Fitzroy\u2019s back streets (if you\u2019re a croissant lover, DEFINITELY get a pastry from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lunecroissanterie.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lune Croissanterie<\/a>\u00a0on Rose Street).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Also worth a visit:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On sunny days, pack a picnic and soak up the sun in North Fitzroy\u2019s Edinburgh Gardens<\/li>\n<li>Hire a bike and ride along Merri Creek. The trail joins up with the Capital City path, so you can make a day of it<\/li>\n<li>Check out the animals at the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.farm.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Collingwood Children\u2019s Farm<\/a>, then grab a coffee and some lunch at the farm caf\u00e9, or next door at the Abbotsford Convent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>SOUTHSIDE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_1415\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1415\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1415\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/josh-withers-539602-unsplash-e1520914373544.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of the Brighton Baths\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/josh-withers-539602-unsplash-e1520914373544.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/josh-withers-539602-unsplash-e1520914373544-700x438.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/josh-withers-539602-unsplash-e1520914373544-585x366.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1415\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Josh Withers on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The 96 tram will take you to the heart of St Kilda, via the South Melbourne Market \u2013 make a pit stop there on Wednesday, Friday or weekends to grab a couple of dim sims, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.urbanadventures.com\/Melbourne-tour-multicultural-markets-of-melbourne\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">throw back fresh shucked oysters and sea urchins<\/a>\u00a0at the main counter at Aptus Seafood. St Kilda has loads of great spots to eat and drink \u2013 the West Beach Bathers Pavilion, a former nude beach, is a great spot to watch the sunset (or a beach volleyball match) over a burger and a cold beer. Pull up a stool at the Nelson (serving up rum, rum and more rum), the Vineyard (a converted boat house with great wines) or 29<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Apartment (boasting buffalo wings and giant Jenga sets). At dusk, head down to the St Kilda pier and watch the fairy penguins hopping along the rocks (please don\u2019t take photos with a flash or shine torches at them \u2013 it damages their eyes).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/australia-outback-yarns\/traveller-stories-grampians\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>RELATED: TRAVELLER STORIES &#8211; BLOWING A GALE IN THE GRAMPIANS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Also worth a visit:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Catch a movie at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.astortheatre.net.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Astor<\/a>, a classic single-screen cinema in St Kilda<\/li>\n<li>Stroll around the Tan, a 3.8 kilometre track surrounding the Royal Botanic Gardens<\/li>\n<li>On Saturdays, hit up Alma Park for the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hankmarvin.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hank Marvin Market<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 we\u2019re talking food trucks hawking burgers, donuts, ice cream, the list goes on\u2026 oh, and there are usually dogs you can pat too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>GETTING AROUND<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_1417\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1417\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1417\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/fabian-mardi-119168-unsplash-e1520914481623.jpg\" alt=\"Flinders Street Station\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/fabian-mardi-119168-unsplash-e1520914481623.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/fabian-mardi-119168-unsplash-e1520914481623-700x438.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/fabian-mardi-119168-unsplash-e1520914481623-585x366.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1417\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Fabian Mardi on Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The easiest way to get around in Melbourne is by tram, train or on foot; you can also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.melbournebikeshare.com.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hire a blue bike<\/a>\u00a0for around $3 if you fancy riding, but make sure you\u2019ve got a helmet. Trams in the CBD are free (as long as you\u2019re in the Free Tram Zone, marked at the tram stop), but you\u2019ll need a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ptv.vic.gov.au\/tickets\/myki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Myki card<\/a>\u00a0to travel further afield. You can grab one from most convenience stores for about $6; top it up with enough cash to get you around ($20 should be enough for a couple of days). On trams, touch your Myki on the card reader in the door when you get on (no need to touch off); on trains, you\u2019ll need to touch on AND touch off at the station. There\u2019s also a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/yarratrams.com.au\/using-trams\/visitors-new-users\/city-circle-tram\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free tourist tram<\/a>\u00a0that runs around the perimeter of the city that provides an audio history on various points of interest.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Ready to take on Melbourne? Explore Victoria\u2019s capital before (or after) your <a href=\"\/melbourne\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">next Australia adventure!<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Feature image by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/tB4Gf7ddcJY?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Annie Spratt<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/search\/photos\/melbourne?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Unsplash<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eat, drink and stroll your way around the world\u2019s most liveable city. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":1418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,154],"tags":[10,326,272,325,324],"class_list":["post-1411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-guides","tag-australia","tag-city-guide","tag-melbourne","tag-things-to-do","tag-tips-and-advice"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1411"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2002,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions\/2002"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adventuretours.com.au\/australia-outback-yarns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}