MELBOURNE
WHAT TO DO IN MELBOURNE?
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If you like (great) coffee, and (great) city, Melbourne is certainly on your bucket list
Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, is a cosmopolitan and very lively city that will delight many travelers. You can't get bored here, and your days are sure to be busy as there is no shortage of activities. The second Australian city which is in constant competition with Sydney has a wide choice of things to do: culture, beaches, cool districts, nightlife, gardens, sports, etc ... everything is there. It is a city with a very European style as much for its climate as its population and its habits. We have put together for you a list of things to do in Melbourne to inspire you during your stay!
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1. Drink your best coffee ever !
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Around the world, Melbourne is renowned for its obsession with coffee. The city offers more than 2,000 kinds of coffee prepared by some of the best baristas in the world. The love story between Melbourne and coffee goes back to World War II, with the arrival of Italian and Greek immigrants. This attraction for coffee is now considered an art in its own right. To never disappoint the refined palate of their customers, the city's coffee leaders roam the best producing regions of the world in search of coffees of unique origin. These experts not only offer espresso, “flat white” or cold brewed coffee, they also use filters and siphon coffee makers.
2. Walk around the "famous" laneways and check out the amazing street art
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Melbourne, like Berlin or New York, is one of the capitals of street art (stencil capital of the world, they say). We walk there with our noses in the air to spot the design that we could have forgotten, we explore each lane, amazed by the colors, the patterns, the creativity. Street art in Melbourne is like the city: multicultural. Here, the origins mix, and it shows on the walls. To understand the importance of street art in Melbourne, you must first look at the laneways, these tiny alleys that are found everywhere in the city. Formerly reserved for the storage of garbage cans, these alleys crisscross the city center. At the same time hidden from view but clearly visible, the laneways quickly became the playground for graffiti artists. The population generally found their account there, considering that these paintings made the alleys less gloomy. However, the government has put in place very tough laws around street art. But it was too late, Melbourne was already becoming famous for its graffiti, and a compromise had to be found to satisfy tourists, artists and politicians.
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3. Stroll the Royal Botanic Gardens
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From Federation Square in the CBD you have the continuity of 3 large gardens along the Yarra River: Alexandra Gardens, Queen Victoria Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens. In order to access these parks which are located on the other side of the river, you have to go through Princes Bridge from where you will have a magnificent view of the Yarra River (to be done day and night, with the lights it is wonderful). Our favorite being the Royal Botanic Gardens, have a picnic at the edge of Ornamental Lake. You will be able to admire the boats passing by and there are often wedding ceremonies, it's really cute.
4. Take a day trip to the beautiful Yarra Valley
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Located just 1 hour east of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is mainly known for its wine-making activity. However, this region offers many more activities and places to discover. Some wine tastings are inevitable in the Yarra Valley. The “Cellar Door” (tasting counters) are very developed in Australia. We recommend Maddens Rise for its calm and original Cellar Door, offering very good organic wines with European roots. Also visit Riverstone Estate for the breathtaking view and warm welcome. Plan a visit to Tarrawarra for their great wines, the immensity and the beauty of the place. Finally, Medhurst Wine is to be tested for the quality and passion invested in their wines, as well as a menu of elegant and tasty dishes. If you love gin, the new and intimate Alchemy Distillers offers an unforgettable experience and unique creations. The same is true for the famous and majestic Four Pillars Distillery, 200 meters away, which is growing and improving day by day.
About us
Hey there !
​
We are Hammer and Guillaume, a fun couple who loves traveling and always being on new adventures !
We would like to share with you some of our top 10 things to do in the places we've visited or lived in for a while.
​
Like everyone else who is going to new places, we always wonder what are the best things to do. For that purpose, we've compiled a list of 10 best things to do in some of our favorite places on earth.
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5. Sunbath in Melbourne most famous beach: Brighton Beach
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In Brighton Beach, expect to see 82 very cute and multi-coloured bathing boxes. It is one of the symbol of Melbourne, and a must-see if you travel to Melbourne. Brighton beach is also a very nice beach, ideal sport for swimmers and sunbathers. If the wind is strong enough, it can also be a good spot for surfing. The beach is also very close from all the restaurants and cafés that make Brighton one of the most popular suburbs.
6. Watch Penguins at Philipp island (yes, we said PENGUINS!)
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Phillip Island is not very large with a length of 26km by a width of 9km. To access it, there is a bridge that connects it to the mainland. This island is mainly known for its penguins who, every evening, return by the thousands to spend the night there. The island is also famous for the presence of the largest Australian colony of sea lions! These little penguins will offer you a stunning spectacle. A grandstand has been built for you to attend the show without disturbing them. As soon as dusk appears, these few little black heads will come out of the water and you will see them start to come out in small groups. The best part is that they are all waiting for the exit of the water before starting their long walks to the coast. Seeing them waddle and advance to the dunes is a magnificent sight. They also utter little cries, strident enough to communicate! It is prohibited to take photos because the flash dazzles and disturbs them.
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This number of visitors are limited every day, hence we recommend to book your entry ticket in advance. You can book it here:
7. Visit Melbourne Federation Square
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Federation Square is perhaps the most popular place in the city of Melbourne. Real center of Melbourne, this unique space brings together many places of interest such as the Melbourne tourist office, the national gallery of Victoria, the Australian Center for the Moving Image, offices but also many cafes, bars and restaurants or shops of all kinds. The space, with an original and modern design, constantly hosts many cultural events. Music festivals, food festivals such as markets.
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FLIKR: Jules Antonio
8. Queen Victoria Market
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This place is not just an ordinary market where people come to buy their food. This market which opened in 1878 is a historic monument, a tourist attraction and an institution for all the inhabitants of Melbourne. Every Wednesday, the Queen Victoria Market opens its doors in the evening to welcome thousands of visitors who come to eat, drink and listen to live concerts. An opportunity to taste local specialties and international food from Italian, Greek and Indian communities, but also wine from the Yarra Valley.
FLIKR: a.canvas.of.light
9. Go on your most memorable road trip on the Great Ocean Road
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Not all of the best activities are found in Melbourne itself. One of Australia's most visited attractions is the Great Ocean Road. It is a very winding coastal road of almost 250km, which is reputed to be magnificent. The route begins around Torquay, 1 hour and 15 minutes from Melbourne. The most beautiful and spectacular point is the site of the Twelve Apostles, impressive rock formations, 4h30 from Melbourne. This is an opportunity to enjoy superb landscapes during a long weekend away from buildings.We wrote another article about it in our blog here:
10. Shop until you drop
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Think Melbourne, think Bourke Street Bourke Street is the best spot in Melbourne to go crazy on shopping. There are many shops in the area as well as major departments store such as Myer and David Jones.
Also try your luck down one of the nearby lanes or alleyways. Spy some of the city’s most creative street art in Union Lane or at The Melbourne Shop in the gorgeous Royal Arcade.
Melbourne is a great and pleasant city, with plenty of things to do and amazing food, coffee and wine !
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Get your guide about Melbourne here:
Locate our top 10 recommendations here:
Where to stay in Melbourne ?
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Melbourne is a large city with many neighborhoods of different styles, history and ambience.
CBD:
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Melbourne city center is truly atypical. Even if this one, like many Australian cities, is made up of huge buildings hosting business, separated by wide avenues, the center of Melbourne has a fascinating historical side. Indeed you will easily find many small alleys, buildings in Victorian style but also many parks which make this hyper center of Melbourne more pleasant. You will find countless cafes, bars, restaurants and museums. An ideal place to stay during your visit to Melbourne.
Carlton:
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Former bohemian district of Melbourne, Carlton, the Italian district of Melbourne is today a residential area with a wealthy population. The district is dotted with imposing Victorian buildings. Carlton is located north of the CBD, in the direct vicinity of the hyper center.
ChinaTown:
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Melbourne also has a Chinatown. This population immigrated in the middle of the 19th century at the time of the gold rush which made the wealth of the city. This district includes many Chinese restaurants but also Japanese, Vietnamese or Thai.
Fitzroy:
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Neighborhood located northeast of the CBD, Fitzroy is the bohemian neighborhood of Melbourne. Place where all artists meet, you will find many fashion stores, thrift stores, bookstores but also designer stores.
Docklands:
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The Docklands district is one of the newest districts in Melbourne. The old dock district has been completely rehabilitated and is today an ultra modern district with brand new buildings, shopping centers and attractions. Here, for example, you can find the new Melbourne stadium: the Etihad Stadium, the Harbor Town Shopping Center and the huge Melbourne Ferris wheel, the Melbourne Star.
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About us
Hey there !
​
We are Hammer and Guillaume, a fun couple who loves traveling and always being on new adventures !
We would like to share with you some of our top 10 things to do in the places we've visited or lived in for a while.
​
Like everyone else who is going to new places, we always wonder what are the best things to do. For that purpose, we've compiled a list of 10 best things to do in some of our favorite places on earth.
Related articles
Follow our travels
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