One of the key reasons why the Australian city of Melbourne attracts so many visitors from around the country and abroad each year is because there is just so much to see and do. No visitors will ever get bored in Melbourne. In fact, you’ll find that you simply don’t have enough time to see and do everything you would like to.
In this post, we’ll look at some key places everyone should visit on a trip to Melbourne.
#1 – Williamstown
Williamstown is Melbourne’s first port settlement and one of the oldest places in the city. In fact, there is so much history attached to Williamstown that many claim the area is haunted. For a bit of fun, you can go on an organised ghost hunt with a group of people, experiencing all the creepiness first hand after dark.
#2 – The MCG
One of the 10 biggest sporting stadiums in the world, the Melbourne Cricket Ground holds over 120,000 fans, who gather to watch sports like AFL, cricket and Rugby Union. Originally built as the centrepiece for the 1956 Olympic Games, the MCG becomes an electrifying environment when filled to capacity. So even if you don’t understand the sport being played, it’s well worth a visit just to soak up the atmosphere.
#3 – Laneways In the CBD
One notable thing about the Melbourne CBD is the number of laneways that snake through the city centre. Now, these are not dark and dodgy alleys, but quaint little streets covered in art and places where you can really find some hidden treasures. Discover some of the best food, hidden bars, secret cafes and some awesome little stores selling wares that you won’t find anywhere else.
#4 – Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse is one of Australia’s oldest and most famous horse racing circuits, and each year on the first Tuesday in the month of November it plays host to the annual running of the Melbourne Cup. The race is Australia’s most celebrated thoroughbred horse race, so much so that when it’s on, everyone in the country stops to watch it. Melbourne Cup 2019 is sure to be no different.
#5 – Royal Botanic Gardens
If you’re staying in the CBD, you can virtually walk the distance to the Royal Botanic Gardens. It’s a great place to take it easy and soak up some nature right in the centre of Melbourne. The place spans a massive 89 acres, boasting lakes, rainforests, colourful seas of flowers, grassy plains and riverbanks, bushwalks, wetlands and Australia’s native wildlife, such as kangaroos, birds and koala bears. Spend a few hours or an entire day exploring the gardens, then kick back at one of the kiosks for a bite to eat and a cold drink, or take in a film at the Moonlight Cinema.
Photographer: Adrian Vittorio [CC BY 4.0]
#6 Southgate Promenade
Just south of the Melbourne CBD, a stone’s throw across the Yarra River is the Southgate Promenade. Here you can kick back at a bar, restaurant or cafe and soak up the sights of the city and the river while just chilling out with a meal, or sipping your favourite beverage. You’ll also find the area loaded with boutique shopping, specialty stores, as well as small art galleries and live entertainment. Day or night, Southgate is always happening.
#7 – St Kilda
The bayside suburb of St Kilda is Melbourne’s playground. Here you can enjoy the sun on a sandy white beach, go out and party the night away at the many bars and clubs in the area, take pleasure in some of the city’s best coffee and food, or even pay a visit to Luna Park; a theme park which boasts one of the world’s oldest roller coasters still in operation. St Kilda is all about having fun.
#8 – Arts Centre Melbourne
The Arts Centre Melbourne is instantly recognisable because of the small replica Eiffel Tower that sits atop it. At night, this tower lights up in vibrant colours that are constantly changing, and it really is a landmark in the skies of Melbourne after dark. The Arts Centre itself is filled with theatres and concert halls, where you can listen to the opera, watch the ballet or take in a musical. It’s the home of performing arts in Victoria’s capital.
