Best Things to do in Melbourne 2024

If you have mentioned on your traveling bucket list to visit Melbourne city, then It’s time to take a break and get your bags ready to fulfill your bucket list. One of the best ways to escape from your busy and hectic routine is to take a vacation. Australia’s coastal capital, Melbourne, is famous for its breathtaking coastline. This city attracts explorers, adventurers, foodies, and lovers of nature thanks to its distinctive cultural past. Melbourne is a trendy, vibrant city with a bustling downtown. Here you can find incredible remote beaches, a magnificently jiggered shoreline, emerald green lush forests, sky-piercing mountains, and fascinating wildlife.

Also, with its massive range of bars and best restaurants to its live music venues, there is something for everyone in Melbourne. This city even hosts plenty of festivals throughout the year that includes the Melbourne International Arts Festival, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and many more. So, if you are living in Melbourne or planning to visit, you can definitely spellbind your heart with a plethora of must-to-do experiences over there. So, what are you waiting for?

The 12 Apostles is one of the most amazing spots to visit. About 45 meters tall and 7 kilometers wide, these limestone stacks result from millions of years’ worth of erosion. It is situated in Victoria’s Port Campbell National Park which is about 4 hour’s drive away from Melbourne city. Try to arrive early if you want to catch the sunrise at this location, which is renowned for its magical pastel illumination of the coastline. Every year, almost 1.5 million visitors come to this location from around the world.

In order to see the 12 apostles which is basically the real highlight of the Great Ocean Road, you can also take a helicopter ride over this stunning location. People gather along the beach to witness the astonishing view of these ancient limestone stacks, which at sunrise take on unremarkable shapes. You can likewise plan to visit a nearby tourist attraction spot – Gibson Beach, which is just over a kilometer away. You need to cover 86 steps to reach this stunning beach, where you can even come across the spectacular sight of penguins.

The Royal Australian Air Force Museum is the official museum of the RAAF and also the second-oldest air force in the world. It is located at RAAF Williams Point Cook, Victoria, Australia. Furthermore, it is the world’s first military air base to have been in continuous operation. From the time the RAAF was founded as the Australian Flying Corps to the present, significant aircraft are on display in the museum. This Museum was established in 1952 by Air Marshal Sir George Jones and was managed by Headquarters Point Cook until 1988. Currently, the Air Training Wing of the force is in charge of it.

It is a place where you can find Australia’s largest collection of antiques and aircraft from the long history of the Australian Flying Corps and RAAF. All age groups, from young children to grandparents, will surely find something to enjoy at the museum as it highlights the Royal Australian Air Force’s contributions from World War I to the present. As a regular part of the Interactive Flying Program, flying demonstrations take place if the weather is good enough to allow it. This flying program is led by the museum’s pilots as you peruse the cutting-edge heritage gallery. Furthermore, you can take a behind-the-scenes tour of the restoration specialists’ workspace.

If you are searching for a peaceful and environment-friendly place to escape from the bustle of the city, in that case, the best option has to be the Royal Botanic Gardens which is situated in Melbourne Central. It is one of the biggest public gardens in Australia which span more than 38 hectares of gardens. There are more than 8500 varieties of plant species, zen lakes, and dense lawns in this expansive garden. In addition, there are many different kinds of vibrant flowers and palms all over the Tropical Glasshouse. This location traces the Koolin people’s historical development.

If you reach this place early, you can not only witness the phenomenal sunrise but also you can enjoy it to the fullest while exploring this beautiful area with not much crowd. There will be a guide who will assist you by explaining the value of plants as food and medicine. It’s a fantastic location for a picnic, and if you’re bringing the kids along, there’s even a playground with lots of entertaining games. There is also a track of approx 4 km around the Royal Botanic Gardens where you can go for a walk or run.

Just three kilometers away from Melbourne city, Albert Park is a famous spot where you can go with your family and friends. It has about a five kilometers walking path lined with palm trees that are mostly crowded. Albert Park has a wide range of activities that includes dog walking, jogging, cycling, sailing, and rowing. This location is one of the lovely outskirts’ most peaceful and natural scenic spots. Every year in March, there is an Australian Grand Prix organised every year at Albert Park lake.

There are fun activities too including sports facilities, a gym, an aquatic center, and a golf course for your entertainment. You can even admire the exquisite views of the city skyline while overlooking the multicoloured sailboats on the lake. The park is also an important location for Victoria’s and Melbourne’s sporting cultures because it is home to numerous sporting venues, including the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Center and Lakeside Stadium.

You can take a road trip to reach the Yarra Valley which is surrounded by the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. Yarra Valley is one of the most well-known wine territories in Australia. Some of the best wineries in the country are located in the valley, where they make a variety of wines, including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. But the Yarra Valley is famous for more than just wine. Bird watching, cycling, riding the Puffing Billy steam train, wandering through a field of lavender,  and hiking are other popular activities in the area.

There are plenty of trails located in the valley that can be explored by tourists, who can also eat at farm-to-table restaurants and even go hot-air ballooning. A hot air balloon ride is a spectacular and lavish way to take a phenomenal view from the sky (You can also take a hot air balloon ride from Melbourne and Mansfield too). The Yarra Valley is undoubtedly worth a visit regardless of whether you’re a foodie, a nature enthusiast, or just a fan of fine wine. The peacefulness of purely kept gardens, soaring forests, and misty waterfalls can also be found in Yarra Valley. You’ll take some outstanding cool-climate wine with you as well as a deep appreciation for the beauty of Australian nature when you return home. You can even taste the excellent artisan and handcrafted Yarra Valley Dairy cheeses, which are made by using fresh cow’s milk and locally sourced goat’s milk.

If you are an animal lover and love to know about them, you must add Melbourne Zoo to your bucket list. This zoo is located inside Royal Park in Parkville which is approx 4 kilometers north of central Melbourne. It serves as Melbourne’s main zoo and Australia’s oldest zoo which has more than 320 different animal species from Australia and around the world including lions, tigers, elephants, koala bears, kangaroos, and many more. This zoo even has plenty of gardens and exhibits too. The Melbourne Zoo stays open every day and provides a variety of educational programs for its visitors (both kids and adults).

It is a great place to pay your visit if you want to learn more about animals and their habitats or just have fun with your family and friends. You can also have a nighttime experience by staying in the zoo. After enjoying a delightful and opulent dinner and an evening of wild and wonderful animal tales, take a round of the zoo at night with a torch. After dinner, sleep over in your personal tent because you will be spending the night at the famous elephant show there. In the morning, wake up to the sound of birds and gibbons chirping, then start your day while exploring the surroundings and having animal encounters.

Melbourne’s Eureka Tower should be noticed on your Melbourne trip. It is one of the tallest buildings in Australia that is soaring above the city’s sophisticated Southbank neighbourhood and is home to the highest observation platform in the southern hemisphere. Eureka Sky Tower shoots with sparkling brilliance, the epitome of the Kangaroo country’s fast-paced cities and first-world design. Bring your camera to record the breathtaking scenery, which offers magnificent views of the entire city. The tower’s peak offers an incredible outlook.

You can take in 360-degree spectacular views of Melbourne city’s popular landmarks. On the sky deck, there are thirty viewfinders. The Eureka Tower has 91 stories, giving it a huge height of 297.3 meters. So From the Eureka Tower, begin your journey with breathtaking cityscape views. This place is also the best spot to witness the phenomenal colours of the sky during sunset.

Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market is undoubtedly the most recognisable place which has been serving the city for about 140 years. It is the largest open-air market within the Southern Hemisphere. The joyful and crowded environment is a reason enough to visit this market. You will come across more than 600 small businesses in this area and a great place to find specialty and fresh foods, hand-crafted goods, unique items, clothes, delicious food, and great coffee.

You will not only find an abundance of fresh food, but also come across friendly vendors, a lively, multicultural atmosphere, special events, and festivals, as well as a sense of community that goes along with it. Every Wednesday night, Queen Victoria Market hosts the Night Market, which features street food from foreign countries, live entertainment and music, festival celebrations, the best bars, and a shopping adventure, which makes it a great spot for Melbourne’s night out. Along with a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, The Market also provides a historic venue space.

The Shrine of Remembrance is a war memorial commonly known as The Shrine which is located in Kings Domain on St Kilda Road, Melbourne, and is one of the largest war memorials in Australia. This was constructed in 1934, in honour of Victorians who battled in World War First and you will come across over 800 artefacts of the 1850s period. It is currently considered as both one of the city’s most magnificent landmarks and one of the most famous architectural creations. If you visit this location on Anzac Day (April 25), you can join the crowd for the Dawn Service and witness the spectacular sunrise. It comes among the top sunrise spots where you can appreciate the beauty of the sun and nature. You’ll be brought back to mind by the valiant soldiers who fought for the nation.

Every year on 11th November at exactly 11 a.m. (Remembrance Day), a ray of sunlight enters the sanctuary through a hole in the roof to brighten the word “Love” engraved on the marble Stone of Remembrance. Under the sanctuary, there is the crypt which holds a father and son soldier bronze statue and also panels listing each unit of the Australian Imperial Force. The Shrine of Remembrance was designed by architects Phillip Hudson and James Wardrop, who were World War I veterans.

If you are coming to Melbourne city during summer then you must get the experience of having a movie night at Moonlight Cinema in the Botanic Garden. It is the perfect way to spend a beautiful evening with your family or friends. The most popular and substantial outdoor theatre in Australia is Moonlight Cinema. Get comfortable with the atmosphere, carry a blanket and a snack with you, and settle in for an outdoor movie experience like never before.

You can watch early screenings, summer blockbusters, and cult classics all summer long, there’s something for every movie lover to watch and enjoy. You can check their website for showtimes and movies playing before visiting. Moonlight Cinema is the perfect place to escape and enjoy your night of cinema under the stars.

One of Melbourne City’s busiest beaches is named after Brighton Beach in the popular Brighton, United Kingdom. But instead of the sand or sea, it’s more famous for the 82 colourful bathing boxes that are lined up on the shore. These identical bathing wooden boxes were constructed well over a century ago in response to very Victorian ideas of morality and seaside bathing, and they have hardly changed. All still have the traditional elements of Victorian architecture—timber framing, weatherboards, and corrugated iron roofs—while also displaying the distinctive artistic and vibrant adornments of each licensee.

These unique decorations transform Brighton’s seaside into an instantly recognisable, iconic beachscape that can change hourly depending on the season, light, and colour thanks to the boxes. Your trip to Melbourne city wouldn’t be complete without taking an official photo in front of these technicolored beauties, which are a must-see when in Victoria’s capital.

One of Australia’s oldest and biggest art museums, the National Gallery of Victoria was opened in 1968. It has two magnificent galleries (the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square and the NGV International on St Kilda Road ) that are situated a short distance apart and both offer free access to come across their permanent collection. There are more than 70,000 pieces of art collections of European, Asian, Oceanic, and American art that are stored in the gallery, which is home to a vast range of international art.

There are plenty of visual arts experiences including temporary exhibitions, collection displays, conversations, tours, programs for children, movies, late-night openings, and performances, held at the gallery throughout the year. The National Gallery of Victoria also has many things to offer its visitors including a library, a cafe, and a store with a collection of artwork. A variety of free guided tours are available at the gallery, which remains open every day excluding Christmas Day. If you are an art and museum lover and want to know about their history, this place is a must-visit for you.

One of the best things you can do in Melbourne is to spend an afternoon with your loved ones in St. Kilda. Along with its beach, this hip spot of the city is well-known for its plenty of bars, best cafes, and shops. The two of the most famous shopping streets of St Kilda Pier are St. Kilda Road and Acland Street. It takes only a short trek to reach St. Kilda beach which is wonderful for relaxing, soaking up the sun, and watching the magical sunset.

St Kilda Pier is a very popular location for walking, cycling, skating, and fishing while relishing the magnificent sights of the Melbourne skyline and Port Phillip Bay. The iconic St Kilda Pier Kiosk was constructed in 1904 and has undergone a lot of renovations since then. You can even take a boat ride to reach Williamstown where you can enjoy delicious snacks at the kiosk, or witness penguins and native water rats from the barrier. Regardless of your preferences, St Kilda Pier offers a unique experience in the middle of Melbourne.

Melbourne is the perfect tourist destination for those who are looking for a unique and memorable experience. From its hip beaches to its vibrant nightlife, Melbourne offers endless options for exploration. Whether it’s taking a stroll through the streets or visiting the art galleries, you are definitely going to have an unforgettable experience. Melbourne is the ideal place to discover and take advantage of the best that it has to offer, as this blog has highlighted. So, whenever you are planning your next vacation to Melbourne, don’t forget to include these places on your to-do List.

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