What Are The Things To Do In Melbourne At Least Once In Your Life?

We might be a little partial, but we think Melbourne is the best major city on the planet. Whether you're a first-time visitor or you've lived in Melbourne your whole life, there are several things that should be at the top of your list whenever you're in town. We think you should visit Melbourne at least once in your life and partake in its world-class cuisine, drinks, coffee, art, theatre, and sports culture.

So, here is our complete guide to the best of what Melbourne has to offer, including the city's best attractions, bars, restaurants, and events. Check out our in-depth recommendations to the top restaurants and bars in Melbourne to learn more about two of our favourite activities.

Things To Do In Melbourne At Least Once In Your Life

Some of the best things to do in Melbourne include exploring the city's world-renowned touring routes, seeing the city's incredible fauna, visiting its World Heritage-listed attractions, and participating in "once-in-a-lifetime" experiences.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

The Royal Botanic Gardens are the best place to get away from the chaos of the city centre without having to travel far. This huge garden on the outskirts of town features tranquil lakes and green lawns in addition to its 8,500 different plant varieties.

The gardens are highlighted through a variety of workshops, excursions, walks, and talks, from astronomy-themed walks through the Melbourne Observatory to science seminars examining topics like the phylogeography of coconut. Explore the rich history of the Koolin people on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk.

During a traditional smoking ritual, your indigenous guide will walk you through the gardens and explain how various plants may be used for both food and medicinal purposes. Looking for a fresh perspective of the Gardens? Schedule a trip on a traditional punt for a leisurely tour around Ornamental Lake and its bays and little islands. You can even take the paper parasol you ordered with you.

So, you want to go your own way? There are numerous trails and herbaria to peruse at your leisure. The Tropical Glasshouse is home to vibrant blooms and palm trees, while the Camellia Collection, with over 950 varieties, is considered to be among the best in the world. More than 1.5 million specimens of plants, algae, and fungus are kept in the National Herbarium of Victoria, which is located within the Royal Botanic Gardens.

River Cruise On The Yarra

Melbourne is a fantastic city, and one of the greatest ways to see it is from the ocean. Discover the finest of what Melbourne has to offer as you float lazily along the Yarra River on a cruise.

Enjoy a Melbourne River cruise down the Yarra or a boat ride to historic Williamstown as you learn about the city from a new perspective while on the water.

You can take a boat along the Yarra and see the city centre, Victoria Docks, and the sites where early settlers landed, or you can see the city's beautiful parks, gardens, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is renowned worldwide.

The central business district (CBD), shipping channels, and Docklands of Melbourne can all be seen from the water as you make your way to the historic marine harbour of Williamstown. This river excursion will take you to an early colonial hamlet with beautiful gardens and a wide variety of lovely restaurants, cafes, and galleries.

Overlooking The CBD In Hot Air Balloons

Experience Melbourne like never before with a hot air balloon journey. The stunning view of the city skyline at daybreak is well worth the early rise and the cost.

Get an early start so you can see Melbourne's skyline come to life as you float serenely above it at sunrise. 

Enjoy the peaceful scene of Melbourne as the city wakes up to the dawn light, only to turn into a bustling metropolis of over 4 million people. Hot air ballooning over Melbourne is the best way to take in the city's breathtaking panoramas. We were quietly riding the breeze, passing by many of Melbourne's beautiful sights.

You can find out for yourself why Victoria is called the Garden State by flying over the city centre (CBD), the inner suburbs, parks, and gardens. The flight itself will take about an hour, but the experiences and stories you take away will last a lifetime.

Include a champagne breakfast in your hot air balloon adventure. You can also fly a hot air balloon over the Yarra Valley or the Great Ocean Road. Regardless of how you choose to accomplish this, you may add it to your list of must-dos.

Drink A Cocktail At Driver Lane's Hidden Bar

Beneath Driver Lane is the basement of your dreams if you enjoy drinks, whisky, blues, fantastic service, and eating Reuben sandwiches at 2 in the morning. This pub, located in a repurposed bank vault in the Central Business District, has a Harry Potter vibe that stands out in a city with a dearth of well-used underground places.

The building once housed the Nant Whisky Bar, but its new incarnation exudes a more cosier, lived-in vibe. Brick-arched booths, walls covered in black-and-white images, and the soft glow of candles and low-hanging lamps create an atmosphere that's cosier and more complete than anything you'd find in Nant. John Lee Hooker's twelve bar grinds over the airwaves, creating an atmosphere that is equal parts Melbourne, Chicago, and Diagon Alley thanks to the decor and the prompt service.Fun touches include thick leather coasters placed beneath drinks and traditional chrome serving trays above which water bottles are displayed.

All of the people working behind the bar are seasoned pros: kind, knowledgeable, and well-presented in their black chef jackets. The ingredients they're blending together are quite potent. Have your Martini served in a wine glass chilled with liquid nitrogen for a truly unforgettable experience. Or, for a more tropical feel, try the sweet and complex Storm Master, which is led by guava but finishes with a pleasantly sour kick.

Cucumber and lavender Old Fashioneds, with their floral richness, can be overbearing if they lack any acid or considerable bitterness. The acid in this otherwise exquisite stirred-down rye drink is really unnecessary and completely destroys the richness of the whisky. One hundred or more bottles of whisky, including rare gems like Yamazaki 18 and Pappy Van Winkle, are stored in the spacious and well-rounded back bar.

Wine bars in Melbourne are known for having some of the greatest food in the city, in contrast to cocktail and spirits bars. This is not the case. Attractions include the bar's food, many of which are available until 2 a.m. The roasted heirloom beetroots, for example, are served on a bed of pureed raisin, caper, and dill and are mixed with black lentils; bar food has never tasted so good for you. In contrast, the morcilla sausage buns are not for the faint of stomach.

Almost everyone has arrived by 11 o'clock, and the room is getting louder to meet the crowd, but it never gets out of hand. Moreover, the bartenders here won't look down on you for ordering "dessert shots," despite the place's vintage decor. It's great that there are places like this one that promote responsible drinking without passing judgement on those who choose to partake in the nation's harmful and immature drinking culture. If you're looking for a place to drink like an adult while still feeding your inner child, go no further than what's hiding beneath Driver Lane.

NGV International's Blockbuster Exhibit

The oldest and most visited art museum in Australia may be found in this stunning modernist structure on St. Kilda Road. This honour is due to the consistently high quality of the gallery's permanent collection, the impressive quality of its visiting collections, and the wide variety of supplementary programmes it hosts for both locals and visitors.

This gallery has been open since the middle of the 1800s, yet they already have a Rembrandt, a Bonnard, and a Tiepolo in their permanent collection. The water wall is a mandatory passageway for all NGV guests, and we know it can be difficult to refrain from touching it.The gallery's flagship displays are typically found on the bottom floor, beneath the Great Hall's iconic stained-glass ceiling, which resembles a boiled candy.

The permanent collections and smaller temporary exhibits are located on the upper floors. Keep a tight check on any minors planning an escape because the huge chambers reminiscent of the colonial era are easy to get lost in. The NGV's 19th Century Gallery is a mandatory stop for any guest (or Salon Gallery). The exhibition's most dramatic piece, "Anguish," by August Friedrich Schenck, is displayed in a room given its name for its arrangement of artworks.

If you plan to spend the day here, plan to take frequent breaks; the Garden Restaurant has seasonal menu items, and the Tea Room serves high tea and small lunches.

A Sporting Event At MCG

It's common knowledge that Aussies as a whole are sports fanatics, but few places can match Melbourne's level of enthusiasm. The city's central location makes it impossible for Melburnians to not be sports fans, with the MCG (also known as the 'G'), Etihad Stadium, and Rod Laver Arena all within easy reach.

Attend an Australian Football (AFL) game in the winter or a cricket match in the summer at the magnificent Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Take in all the excitement of the game from the comfort of the grandstands and feel like you're part of the home crowd. You should definitely check out this one-of-a-kind event.

For sports aficionados, there is the National Sports Museum, which houses Australia's greatest sporting collection, and the MCG Tour, which takes visitors behind the scenes to experience the MCG's passion and character.

Explore The Queen Victoria Market Sheds

The outdoor Queen Victoria Market resounds with the voices of seasoned stallholders who are committed to providing the best possible selection of locally sourced, fresh produce to their customers (and are happy to tell you about it). In addition to being a favourite destination for locals in search of high-quality produce, meat, and a wide selection of dairy and quaint souvenirs, it has also become a major tourist attraction.

The markets have become more than just a location to acquire one's weekly groceries due to the proliferation of stalls offering clothing, accessories, and other BRIC a brac. The market's surrounding cafés are typically bustling with weekend brunch goers. Queen Vic is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays, so plan your visit accordingly, and don't go without a hot jam doughnut!

The Night Markets are a must-see all year round, but especially in the summer and winter, and they take place every Wednesday night. In this garb, the market is a gathering place for artists, mobile eateries, and musicians.

Harry Potter And The Cursed Child Review

The number one rule of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is that it is strictly forbidden to discuss the play itself. Anyone who goes to the first live performance set in the Potterverse has a duty to keep spoilers to themselves. Even a hashtag, #KeepTheSecrets has been created. They have, however, been concerned (at least in terms of theatre criticism). The plot of this five-hour extravaganza is so vast and intricate, so gloriously and shamelessly elaborate, that it would take many thousands of words beyond the scope of any theatre review to begin to describe it.

Although we are not at liberty to discuss the plot of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, we can say that the play is deserving of the acclaim it has received. Not only because of the high calibre of manufacture, either. The producers, lead by playwright Rowling, have gone far beyond putting on a play in order to create an immersive experience. So, the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, has been given a $6.5 million renovation from top to bottom to give it a Hogwarts-like, Potter-inspired look and feel.

If this seems like a waste of money, then you probably won't enjoy the play. Due in large part to its insistence on being an exclusive club, Cursed Child has broken box office records on Broadway and the West End. Those who aren't familiar with Harry and the gang will be completely lost. You should have at least a passing knowledge of the books or the movies based on them. Still, the show's many in-jokes, subtle nods, and canonical call-backs provide a rewarding example of growing returns for proud Potter tragics.

True fans of Harry Potter might even prefer the play's tone to the movies. The conversation is more lighthearted, and the characters are better suited to humour than in the movies. The score by Imogen Heap, who writes cheerful pop music, contributes to the film's optimistic, joyful mood. When compared to Hollywood's adaptations, the book version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child more accurately captures the wizarding world. However, there is a clear homage to the cinematic in the play's brief scenes and rapid scene changes.

But with such a passionate fanbase also comes ardent possession. Backlash would have been fast and nasty if the Cursed Child had compromised Rowling's novels' reputation or failed to live up to those sky-high expectations. The play steers clear of this trap by beginning right where the last book ends, with Harry, Ron, and Hermione waving off their children on the Hogwarts Express, destined for their alma mater, 19 years after the defeat of Voldemort.

Having three of our top Australian actors in those three iconic roles is a welcome departure from the current pattern of foreign actors directing Hollywood blockbusters. Gareth Reeves, who plays Harry, has the most chance to shine as a weary, furrowed-browed hero who is struggling to cope with the responsibilities of motherhood. For their parts as Ron and Hermione, however, Gyton Grantley and Paula Arundell are severely underutilised. Despite giving it their all with their frequent OneNote, expositional conversation, there is a lingering sense of a squandered opportunity due to the limited opportunities for them to showcase their talents.

However, you won't have much time to concentrate on that deficiency. The tightly honed ensemble, the nail-biting pace of the action, and Steven Hoggett's lightning-quick, cape-flapping movement ensure that the audience is never at a loss for excitement.

Equally mesmerising is the remarkable intricacy of the stagecraft, which includes more than a few truly unbelievable coups de theatre. The scenery, costumes, lighting, and—most importantly—illusions in this show are all intricately linked together in a way that has likely never been done before in live theatre. As a result, the programme not only competes with the high-end CGI of its film brethren, but frequently outperforms them.

As with the books, it is exciting to see where the established characters go next, but this is Albus Potter's journey (Sean Rees-Wemyss). He has a tense connection with his famous father because he is afraid of letting down the family name. Despite his legendary reputation, the latter can't shake the ghosts of his own childhood traumas.

Albus forms an unexpected relationship with Scorpius, the son of his father's old foe, demonstrating the enduring strength of friendship. The magic of The Cursed Child is in the depth and complexity of the relationships between its characters. There is a tremendous, real, and absolutely mesmerising core of sadness and emotional depth at the heart of every multimillion-dollar pop-culture smash.

The Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre Tells The Stories Of Melbourne's First Peoples.

Wominjeka! Bunjilaka is an ongoing exhibit at Melbourne Museum that aims to portray the Koorie way of life. The Indigenous people of south-east Australia gave birth to the Bunjil, the original wedge-tailed eagle, hence the name of the show.

Bunjilaka's three primary areas are the Birrarung Gallery, the Millar Garden, and the Kalaya performance space, all of which have been curated in part by members of the First Nations community. Birrarung Gallery hosts three exhibitions a year featuring the work of modern Koorie artists. Meanwhile, eels are fed daily at 1:45 p.m. at Millar Garden, where native flora from Victoria are also grown.

By seeing art and live performances, guests of Bunjilaka will gain insight into the history and thriving culture of Victoria's first nation peoples. Among the permanent exhibits are First Peoples (a display highlighting the Indigenous people of Victoria's history, culture, achievements, and survival) and Wurreka (Artist zinc etching of a scene in Victoria, depicting the region's Indigenous population and the natural scenery).

Excluding Easter and Christmas, you can visit Bunjilaka every day of the year. The cost of admittance to the Melbourne Museum includes this attraction.

Melbourne’s Dining & Nightlife

Melbourne's cuisine and nightlife are unrivalled in Australia, with a plethora of world-renowned chefs, award-winning baristas, and flavour-defying bartenders. When it comes to food and entertainment, Melbourne has Australia green with envy. There is a pub, bar, café, or restaurant on every corner of the city, a testament to the devotion Melburnians have to their culinary and social pursuits.

With its multinational population, Melbourne’s eating culture thrives on the unusual, distinctive cuisines that have accompanied immigrants to the city. Chinatown in the central business district and Little Vietnam on Victoria Street in Richmond are great places to get a true flavour of Asian Melbourne.

If you're looking for something out of the ordinary to do for dinner in Melbourne, go no further than the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. Diners on the shiny burgundy trams sip the finest Australian wines as they glide through Melbourne's picturesque streets. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Discover Melbourne's Iconic Laneway, Degraves Street.

Degraves Street is the slightly wider and more Parisian extension of Centre Place that connects Flinders Lane and Flinders Street.

There is less graffiti but more waffles (due to Waffle On) and wine is as readily available as coffee in the area's cafes. Degraves is also a terrific place to find unique gifts, such as the handcrafted stationery at Il Papiro or the stunning jewellery at Sine Qua Non.

Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Australia because to its breathtaking scenery and thrilling hairpin bends. But the Great Ocean Road area is so much more than a drive; it's a trip that everyone should take at least once in their lives. It links a wide variety of must-do activities and sights along a road trip that will remain unforgettable.

Along the 106 km (66 mi) of coastline that stretches from Torquay to the South Australian border, you'll find breathtaking scenery, including towering cliffs, panoramic ocean views, sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and magnificent rock formations. Explore the Limestone Coast and its stunning natural splendour, home to the Twelve Apostles. Torquay, the state's surfing capital, Lorne, the fishing village of Apollo Bay, ancient Port Fairy, and the old whaling town of Warrnambool are just a few of the magnificent beach towns worth visiting on your trip.

Spend The Day (Or Night) At Melbourne Zoo.

It's never the same when you visit the Melbourne Zoo. Even though it has been there longer than any other zoo in Australia, Australia Zoo is always adding new exhibits, activities, and animals of all shapes and sizes.

Visit the Melbourne Zoo and spend the day there. Penguins and seals sun themselves on land before making their way into the clean waters of the Wild Sea, the largest display, where they demonstrate their graceful aquatic abilities. Orang-utans, who are both gorgeous and very clever, can be seen in their natural habitat at the expansive Orang-utan Sanctuary. The Trail of the Elephant is another option; it takes visitors through a simulated Asian town and garden, which is home to five Asian elephants.

We might go on and on about the lemurs, lions, meerkats, butterflies, and other native wildlife you'll see, but instead we'll just let you find them for yourself. Throughout your time at the Melbourne Zoo, you'll find out about the zoo's efforts to protect animals and their habitats, educate the public about issues like palm oil labelling, and more. Visiting the animals at the Melbourne Zoo is a great way for kids and grown-ups to learn about the world's diverse and delicate ecosystems.

Tired of not being able to see well enough during the day? The Melbourne Zoo also offers an overnight camp called "Roar 'n' Snore," where guests can spend the night in the zoo's original elephant exhibit. Fall asleep to the animal sounds, and when you wake up, you can chat with the zookeepers and get up close and personal with an animal before the zoo opens to the public.

Tents, camping mats, dinner, breakfast, and breakfast are all provided by Melbourne Zoo. You may spend the next day at the zoo discovering the animals you heard about during the night at Roar 'n' Snore, as your ticket to the zoo is included in the price of your overnight stay. If you haven't attended in a while, you are missing out on a fantastic opportunity.

Conclusion

Melbourne leads the world in food, drink, art, and culture. The Royal Botanic Gardens offer a break from city life. Our top Melbourne restaurants and bars are below. Hot air balloons or Yarra River cruise the city. The sea offers views of Docklands, Victorian Docks, and Docklands.

John Lee Hooker's twelve-bar grinds evoke Melbourne, Chicago, and Diagon Alley across the airwaves. The spacious rear bar holds over 100 whiskies, including Yamazaki 18 and Pappy Van Winkle. Melbourne's National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is Australia's leading art museum. The gallery's best exhibits are usually on the ground floor under the Great Hall's stained glass ceiling. Sports fans must visit Australia's largest sporting collection at the National Sports Museum.

The Queen Victoria Night Markets are great year-round but shine in summer and winter. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has broken records on Broadway and the West End. Melbourne's Princess Theatre looks like Harry Potter's Hogwarts. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins 19 years after Voldemort's defeat. Ron and Hermione underutilize Gareth Reeves, Gyton Grantley, and Paula Arundell.

The well-rehearsed group thrills audiences. The Cursed Child's attraction is its complex interpersonal interactions. Bunjilaka, a Melbourne Museum exhibit, attempts to capture the Koorie way of life. Art and performances teach visitors about Victoria's indigenous peoples. Chinatown and Little Vietnam showcase Asian Melbourne.

Australia's Great Ocean Road draws tourists. Visit Melbourne Zoo's penguins, seals, and orangutans. In addition, the Melbourne Zoo has lemurs, lions, meerkats, butterflies, and more. The Melbourne Zoo's first elephant exhibit hosts the "Roar 'n' Snore" overnight camp.

Content Summary

• We might be a little partial, but we think Melbourne is the best major city on the planet.
• We think you should visit Melbourne at least once and partake in its world-class cuisine, drinks, coffee, art, theatre, and sports culture.
• So, here is our complete guide to the best of what Melbourne has to offer, including the city's best attractions, bars, restaurants, and events.
• Some of the best things to do in Melbourne include exploring the city's world-renowned touring routes, seeing its incredible fauna, visiting its World Heritage-listed attractions, and participating in "once-in-a-lifetime" experiences.
• The Royal Botanic Gardens are the best place to escape the city centre's chaos without having to travel far.
• Explore the rich history of the Koolin people on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk.
• Discover what Melbourne offers as you float lazily along the Yarra River on a cruise.
• Enjoy a Melbourne River cruise down the Yarra or a boat ride to historic Williamstown as you learn about the city from a new perspective while on the water.
• Experience Melbourne like never before with a hot air balloon journey.
• Hot air ballooning over Melbourne is the best way to take in the city's breathtaking panoramas.
• Include a champagne breakfast in your hot air balloon adventure.
• You can fly a hot air balloon over the Yarra Valley or the Great Ocean Road.
• The building once housed the Nant Whisky Bar, but its new incarnation exudes a cosier, lived-in vibe.
• John Lee Hooker's twelve-bar grinds over the airwaves, creating an atmosphere equal to Melbourne, Chicago, and Diagon Alley, thanks to the decor and the prompt service.
• Wine bars in Melbourne are known for having some of the greatest food in the city, in contrast to cocktail and spirits bars.
• Attractions include the bar's food, many of which are available until 2 a.m. The roasted heirloom beetroots, for example, are served on a bed of pureed raisin, caper, and dill and are mixed with black lentils; bar food has never tasted so good for you.
• Australia's oldest and most visited art museum may be found in this stunning modernist structure on St. Kilda Road.
• This gallery has been open since the middle of the 1800s, yet they already have a Rembrandt, a Bonnard, and a Tiepolo in their permanent collection.
• The NGV's 19th Century Gallery is a mandatory stop for any guest (or Salon Gallery).
• It's common knowledge that Aussies are sports fanatics, but few places can match Melbourne's level of enthusiasm.
• The city's central location makes it impossible for Melburnians not to be sports fans, with the MCG (also known as the 'G'), Etihad Stadium, and Rod Laver Arena all within easy reach.
• Attend an Australian Football (AFL) game in the winter or a cricket match in the summer at the magnificent Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
• The number one rule of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is that it is strictly forbidden to discuss the play itself.
• The plot of this five-hour extravaganza is so vast and intricate, so gloriously and shamelessly elaborate, that it would take many thousands of words beyond the scope of any theatre review to begin to describe it.
• Although we are not at liberty to discuss the plot of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, we can say that the play is deserving of the acclaim it has received.
• So, the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, has been given a $6.5 million renovation from top to bottom to give it a Hogwarts-like, Potter-inspired look and feel.
• True fans of Harry Potter might even prefer the play's tone to the movies.
• The conversation is more lighthearted, and the characters are better suited to humour than in the movies.
• Compared to Hollywood's adaptations, the book version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child more accurately captures the wizarding world.
• However, there is a clear homage to the cinematic in the play's brief scenes and rapid changes.
• Having three of our top Australian actors in those three iconic roles is a welcome departure from the current pattern of foreign actors directing Hollywood blockbusters.
• Gareth Reeves, who plays Harry, has the most chance to shine as a weary, furrowed-browed hero struggling to cope with the responsibilities of motherhood.
• As with the books, it is exciting to see where the established characters go next, but this is Albus Potter's journey (Sean Rees-Wemyss).
• The magic of The Cursed Child is in the depth and complexity of the relationships between its characters.
• Bunjilaka is an ongoing exhibit at the Melbourne Museum that aims to portray the Koorie way of life.
• The Indigenous people of southeast Australia gave birth to the Bunjil, the original wedge-tailed eagle, hence the name of the show.
• Bunjilaka's three primary areas are the Birrarung Gallery, the Millar Garden, and the Kalaya performance space, all of which have been curated in part by members of the First Nations community.
• Excluding Easter and Christmas, you can visit Bunjilaka every day of the year.
• The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most popular tourist attractions because of its breathtaking scenery and thrilling hairpin bends.
• But the Great Ocean Road area is so much more than a drive; it's a trip everyone should take at least once.
• Explore the Limestone Coast and its stunning natural splendour, home to the Twelve Apostles.
• It's never the same when you visit the Melbourne Zoo.
• The Trail of the Elephant is another option; it takes visitors through a simulated Asian town and gardens home to five Asian elephants.
• Visiting the animals at the Melbourne Zoo is a great way for kids and grown-ups to learn about the world's diverse and delicate ecosystems.
• The Melbourne Zoo also offers an overnight camp called "Roar 'n' Snore," where guests can spend the night in the zoo's original elephant exhibit.
• You may spend the next day at the zoo discovering the animals you heard about during the night at Roar 'n' Snore, as your ticket to the zoo is included in the price of your overnight stay.