32 Things to do in Melbourne

Melbourne’s botanic gardens are a sanctuary in the heart of the city. These vast gardens feature a lake, a cacti garden and flower-strewn greenhouses. On a summer’s day, pack a picnic and blanket and find a grassy patch by the lake to soak up the sunshine.

This has to be one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets, that not even Melburnians know about. This stunning Victorian mansion is set among luscious gardens complete with a duck pond and renaissance style swimming pool. I was shocked to have it all to myself on a weekend morning as it’s possibly the most beautiful building I’ve seen in Melbourne.

Located in the bustling Fitzroy neighbourhood, you’ll find these serene gardens with tree-lined pathways and shaded benches. There are plenty of things to be uncovered in these gardens from the Fairies’ tree to Cook’s cottage.

Start at the top of Smith Street at the all-white Acoffee which brews fantastic coffee made with beans roasted on-site. Next up is Burnside, a hip and minimalist coffee shop with a plant-strewn interior. No coffee tour of Smith Street without mentioning the coffee institution Proud Mary, one of the pioneers of the flat white.

Sydney may have beautiful beaches, but Melbourne has the Yarra River. It has become a meeting point for Melburnians and expats alike, who stroll along the river banks on a summer’s day or gather at the riverside terraces in the evening.

The word is out – Lune Croissanterie bakes the best croissants in town and the daily queue is proof. Baked with expert precision, each croissant is treated like a piece of art. Overflowing with sticky almond paste and piled high with flaked almonds, their almond croissant is one delicious mess. Sticky-fingered and wide-grinned customers leave feeling chuffed that they’re in on the secret.

You can’t come to Melbourne and not take a day trip to the Great Ocean Road. Of all the lookouts, the Twelve Apostles is the most impressive where you can see powerful waves crashing against the monumental rock formations.

Australia’s oldest railway station, this historic building with its copper-domed roof has become something of an icon. It is the central hub for the city and is always bustling with people from dawn to dusk.

Take a tram up to the inner north and you’ll be rewarded with some primo street art like the ‘Welcome to Sunny Fitzroy’ mural on the side of the Night Cat and the Keith Haring work in Collingwood.

This breezy coastal track starts at Brighton’s rainbow-coloured bathing boxes and ends in trendy St Kilda. The walk takes just over an hour and passes along Melbourne’s beaches with views of the city way in the distance.

For a slice of Europe in Melbourne, head to these heritage-listed gardens which feature an Italianesque fountain and the historic Royal Exhibition Building.

Undulating hills and verdant vineyards make up the picturesque landscape of the Yarra Valley, one of Australia’s finest wine regions. Spend your time wine tasting at a handful of the region’s charming cellar doors.

Splashing colour onto Brighton beach are these multi-coloured bathing boxes that line the shore. Visited by tourists, but owned by locals who spend their free time enjoying the beach from the comfort of their personalised boxes.

Mount Dandenong makes for a beautiful day trip out of the city. It is an oasis for nature lovers with plenty of national parks, waterfalls and arboretums. A perfect day would start with breakfast at the Sky High observatory overlooking the city, continue with a visit to the William Rickets sculpture garden, a picnic at R.J Hamer arboretum and a stroll through the National Rhododendron Gardens. There is so much to do in the area, you could even make a weekend of it.

Not as impressive as the Royal Botanic Gardens, but these ones in St Kilda still make for a pretty picnic spot if you’re in the area. They also feature a glass greenhouse with all kinds of tropical plants.

Raising the bar on the brunch game, these sister cafes are serving up dishes that wouldn’t be out of place in a restaurant. It’s their berry and ricotta hotcake which has received celebrity status, sprinkled with edible flowers, fresh berries and lilac sugar granules.

Transport yourself back to Paris by meandering through this historic shopping arcade. You’ll pass windows overflowing with pastries, chocolatiers and old book stores along the way.

Located in the Royal Botanic Gardens, this monumental shrine was built to honour Australians who have served in war.

After paying your respects at the Shrine, climb to the top for sweeping views over the city. The 360-degree terrace offers beautiful views of the surrounding grounds with Melbourne CBD in the distance.

Can you believe I’d never tried to dumplings until I moved to Australia? Let me tell you this changed when I moved to Melbourne. Chinatown is a hub for steaming dumplings which fly out the kitchen seconds after they’ve been ordered. Try soup-filled dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) from Din Tai Fung and spicy chili wonton from HuTong.

Collingwood is not short on street art, but no work is more famous than the Keith Haring mural, painted by the man himself. This iconic mural is yet another notch on Melbourne’s belt, reinforcing its status as the culture capital of Australia.

St Kilda pier is a lovely place for a stroll with views over Port Phillip Bay. In the evening, you’ll get the chance to see the colony of little penguins who come home to the pier after a day of fishing. Seriously, the cutest thing ever.

The Victoria State Library isn’t your normal library, it has become a Melbourne institution with art galleries and exhibitions inside. Photographers from around the world come to take photos of the light-drenched Trobe Reading Room with its glass ceiling, octagonal design and colour-coordinated book shelves.

Located in upmarket South Yarra, Como House is another of Melbourne’s beautiful National Trust Houses. It often holds exhibitions, but it’s always a beautiful place to visit.

Prahran Market is a mecca for foodies with stands selling all kinds of fresh produce as well as dishes from around the world.

Hidden down cobbled backstreets and graffiti-painted alleyways you’ll find bustling cafes and sprawling terraces which make up Melbourne’s iconic laneways. One of my favourites is Degraves Street which is home to Dukes Coffee Roasters who make excellent coffee, Laneway Greens who offer killer nourish bowls and Pidapipó who pour melted Nutella over your gelato of choice.

You don’t need to go out of your way to stumble across graffiti-painted alleyways in Melbourne, they’re everywhere. Prominent artwork can be found along Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane and Blender Lane, all in CBD.

There is so much that I love about this gelateria. I love that all the staff are Italian and that they greet you in Italian, even when you clearly don’t speak a word of the language – it adds to the experience. The selection of flavours is amazing, but for some reason I can’t steer myself away from my favourite pistachio – it’s that good. Did I mention that they have melted Nutella on tap, yes you heard right, melted Nutella.

Lui Bar is located high above the city on the 55^th floor of the Rialto Tower. With a menu of carefully crafted signature cocktails, it’s not just the dizzying view that will make your head spin. I opted for the Leatherwood – a take on the Old Fashioned made with leatherwood honey instead of sugar and it packed a punch.

Escape the city for a day and make a beeline for the picturesque wineries and dramatic coastline in the Mornington Peninsula. It’s also home to the steaming Peninsula hot springs which are the perfect place to relax and unwind after a busy day of sightseeing.