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Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, melbourne itinerary: what to see, eat and do in 5 days for first-timers.

I’ve been lucky to be able to visit many places in Australia . I gotta say, Melbourne is hands down my top three favorite cities in the world. It’s right up there with Tokyo as the place I hope I end up living in one day.

I felt validated in this opinion when I found out that Melbourne was recently ranked as the most liveable city by The Economist for seven years in a row. An impressive feat, right? And I can see why – after visiting the city three times over the past five years, it’s hard not to fall in love with Melbourne.

Travel tips for visiting Melbourne

Should i exchange some cash for australian dollars (aud), when is the best time to visit melbourne, how long should i spend in melbourne, where to stay in melbourne.

• Day 1 : Melbourne Central
• Day 2 : Melbourne Arts & Culture
• Day 3 : Fitzroy
• Day 4 : St Kilda and Brighton Beach
• Day 5 : Day trip from Melbourne
• Where to eat in Melbourne

Seasonal Activities in Melbourne

1. Flying into Melbourne – There are two airports in Melbourne, Tullamarine and Avalon Airport. You’d probably land at Tullamarine Airport since it’s the primary airport for Melbourne.

2. Getting to the city from the airport by bus – Take the Skybus Airport Transfer from Tullamarine Airport to the city (pre-book using this link for a cheaper rate). This is probably the most cost-effective and fastest way to get to the city from the airport. Taking the Melbourne City Express Route , you will be dropped off at the Southern Cross Station. From there, you can take the free city tram to your accommodation.

3. Taxi and Ride-sharing – If you aren’t too keen on public transport, you can take a taxi or Uber from the airport, which will run about AU$ 55-65 depending on where you are staying. And yes, Uber is widely available in Melbourne! You can definitely use Uber, though I found it to be quite pricy.

4. The Melbourne City Tram is FREE for everyone traveling in the free tram zone – So, make use of it! This was one of my main modes of transportation when I was in Melbourne. This free tram zone circles the city center of Melbourne (aka “The Grid”). Click here for a map of the free tram zone in Melbourne . In addition to that, there is also a City Circle Tram (no. 35) which is always free. This tram line stays within the boundary of the free tram zone.

5. Get a Myki card for Public transportation in Melbourne – If you’re planning to use public transport in Melbourne outside of the free tram zone, you’ll need to buy a Myki card at any 7/11 shop. Myki card can also be topped up online or on 7/11. If you have an Android phone, you can use your phone as a Myki card wth Mobile Myki! Find out more about Myki card here . If you are an iPhone user, you can use the PTV app to use Myki with your phone .

6. Be ready for all kinds of weather – Melbourne weather is notoriously fickle. When I was there in April, I experienced everything from sunny, to rain, to cold wind… all in ONE day!

7. Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking a lot – One of the reasons why I love Melbourne so much is because of its walkability. Trust me, you’ll want to walk and explore on foot while you’re here. On my first day in Melbourne, I clocked in 30,000 steps which is over three times what I normally walk in a day!

8.  Wise Card  worked super well in Australia  – If you’re an international visitor like myself, definitely get yourself  a Wise Debit Card . You’ll save the foreign transaction fee with it. Australia is the perfect country to use this card because everything has been contactless in this country for a while!

No! You should not.

For as long as I’ve been going to Australia, they’ve embraced the digital side of payments. In Australia, you can use your credit card pretty much everywhere. I didn’t use cash for most of my trips here, so much such that I still have no idea what AUD bills look like.

However, if you prefer to transact in cash, then you should exchange your money before the trip, while you are still outside of Australia. Do NOT exchange your money in Australia, especially at the Airport . They don’t give you a good exchange rate and will apply a fee for the transaction – check out this article for horror stories .

Anecdotal experience: My friend tried to exchange AUD for SGD at Sydney Airport and was given a rate of $1.43 when the going rate was $1.04. His A$163 became S$115 when it should have been S$155. I know as a general rule you are not supposed to change money in airports, but to his defense, we’ve changed currencies in other airports and were not ripped off as badly as in Australia.

Remember that Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, so its seasons are different from what you might be used to. Here are the seasons in Australia:

With this in mind, the best time to visit Melbourne is in the fall from March to early May . It won’t be too hot since summer has just finished, and it won’t be too cold yet since winter will only come in July.

You will need at least 3 days to properly explore Melbourne if you are not planning to get out of the city. I recommend allocating 5 days though, so you could do some day trips outside of Melbourne too.

Generally, I try to find accommodations within the central area (aka within “ the grid “) when I’m visiting Melbourne. Central Melbourne is a small area and totally walkable, and most points can be reached by the free city tram line.

Here are some places I’ve personally stayed in Melbourne and would recommend:

• Rydges Melbourne – Rydges is a chain hotel in Australia. I’ve stayed with them in Hobart and Brisbane too! Rydges in Melbourne boasts one of the best locations to stay in Melbourne. It’s close to all of the spots you’d want to visit and close to a city tram stop. That’s how I ended up walking everywhere.
• Melbourne Central YHA – I love budget accommodations and YHA in Australia is perfect for it. They always have the best accommodation at the best location. YHA is budget, but the location is so good – right on Flinders Street which is the main street in Melbourne. And although it’s a budget, it doesn’t mean you have to share a room – I stayed in one of the private rooms on the rooftop. It had a nice view of the Melbourne business district.
• Melbourne Metro YHA – Unlike the Central YHA, this location isn’t as premium, but it is still within central Melbourne and is very affordable. It’s still not a bad location since it’s close to public transportation, but I’d only book this over the Central YHA if you really want to save money.

Melbourne Itinerary Map & Overview

Finally, we are at the itinerary portion! Here is the overview of my Melbourne itinerary:

• Day 5 : Day trips from Melbourne

And to make it easier to visualize, here is a map to go with the itinerary! (If you can’t see the map,  click here )

🗺 Save this map to your phone!  If you are a Google user, click on the image of the map above. The map will then be saved to your “Recent” maps viewed.  Click here for instructions on how to view the map later . It will work from your phone too.

OK, let’s get to the details of my 5-day Itinerary in Melbourne:

Day 1: Get your bearings around Melbourne Central

The Melbourne Central area is not a big place. With the City Circle tram being free for tourists, it makes for an easy first-day itinerary of Melbourne!

First of all, as I have alluded to before, the center of Melbourne is called the Hoddle Grid . And that’s because that’s how central Melbourne looks like – it’s made up of a perfectly rectangular, neat grid of streets.

1. Queen Victoria Market

Start your day at the famous Queen Victoria Market, a large open-air market that is a landmark of Melbourne. You can explore the market and sample the food as you walk around. I ended up buying a few bottles of wine and some cheese from the market.

It’s also the perfect place to grab breakfast and a cup of coffee. By the way, it’s a crime to come to Melbourne and not drink their coffee. This city has the best cafes in the world. For one that is close to the market, you can try Market Lane Coffee.

2. Eureka Skydeck on the 88th floor of Eureka Tower

From Queen Victoria Market, you can take the City Circle tram down to Flinder Street and cross the Yarra River to the Southbank area, where Eureka Tower is located.

Tip! You can buy the Eureka Skydeck 88 Entry Ticket for cheaper using this link .

Eureka Tower is the second tallest skyscraper in Australia and they have an observation deck open for the public on the 88th floor, where you can get a good view of Melbourne and beyond (Trivia: The tallest building in Australia is the Q1 building in Gold Coast, which I also went up to !)

PS: While I loved the Skydeck, I do NOT recommend paying extra for “The Edge” experience unless maybe you’re traveling with kids. We did, and it was more akin to a ride at a local amusement park. I would have much preferred just spending more time in the Skydeck itself.

3. Walk around Southbank

After the Skydeck, you should definitely take some time and walk around the Southbank area. Especially if the weather is great and if you happen to be here during Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. The entire area would just be buzzing with activities and live music.

Along the Yarra River, you’ll find nice restaurants, cafes, and places to chill before continuing to the next destination.

4. Melbourne Parliament House

Also located along the city circle tram route, the Melbourne Parliament House is a cool spot to spend a few hours in. I was lucky they were having their open day when I was in Melbourne – the parliament house is open to the public on weekdays from 8:30 – 5:30 pm ( see hours and visiting information here ).

You can take a look at beautiful architecture that dates back to the gold rush days and visits the chambers where Victoria MPs make the laws and debate the issues that affect the residents.

5. State Library Victoria

State Library Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library, opened in 1856. It is also one of the world’s first free public libraries. Aside from being a library, it also houses the city’s most beautiful heritage architecture, as you can see from the highly photographed La Trobe Reading room.

6. Explore the Alleys of Melbourne

Once you’re done with the library, it’s time to get off the city circle tram route and enter the central area. I don’t think you need to have a specific destination for this, the central area can be easily explored on foot.

You can of course do this by yourself, but if you prefer to be guided, here are some walking tours you can check out.

• Melbourne Walking Tour
• Melbourne Hidden Bars Tour

Day 2: See arts and culture in Melbourne

One of the huge reasons why I love Melbourne so much is for the arts and culture. If you like visiting museums, you’ll love this itinerary!

1. Melbourne Museum

I almost missed out on this museum – I had left this to visit on my very last day in Melbourne, and that’s only because my mate Mitch (who lives in Melbourne) recommended me to visit on my second to last day. But I’m SO glad I didn’t miss it! Melbourne Museum was such a fun place to visit. There are bits of natural history and science as well as cultural Australian history sprinkled in, as well as interactive displays. Unfortunately, I had to rush when I visited this museum, but you should definitely dedicate at least 3 hours here if you love natural history. I found the gemstone exhibit to be particularly memorable – they’re all so sparkly!

The Melbourne Museum is open 9am–5pm daily ( more info )

2. National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

Often referred to by its abbreviation NGV, this museum was one of the best contemporary art museums I’ve ever been to. As with many museums, their exhibit changes but you can see what’s currently on here .

During the time of my visit, I was lucky to catch the last month of the Triennial exhibit. The exhibit featured the work of over 100 artists from around the world including the likes of Yayoi Kusama (made even more famous by Instagram through her Infinity Room installation at The Broad in Los Angeles ) and Ron Mueck (known for his lifelike yet bizarre sculptures and whom I later found out is a native Melbournian).

Entry to NGV is free, and it’s open daily 10am–5pm

3. See the Street Art and Graffiti lanes in Melbourne

Just like how it’s a crime to not drink coffee while in Melbourne, a visit to this city is not complete without seeing the street art! You don’t even have to try hard as the city is already filled with amazing graffiti and street paintings, but the most famous streets are AC/DC Lane, Hosier Lane, and Desgraves Street . If you like what you see there, I recommend going to Fitzroy to check out the street art there too – but don’t worry, I have an entire day dedicated to Fitzroy in this itinerary already 😉

Tip: For those of you who want to gain more insights into the graffiti and street art culture of Melbourne, I recommend booking the Melbourne street art tour , run by the street artists themselves.

4. Have some Melbourne “Magic” Coffee

We all know that a flat white is an Australian thing, but have you heard of magic? I spotted this at one of the cafes in Melbourne and I just had to order it. Turns out Magic is just another coffee drink, specifically, it is steamed milk poured over a double ristretto, served in a 6-ounce cup, which results in a stronger-tasting coffee.

Personally, I’m not bougie enough to appreciate the difference. All coffee with milk taste similar to me, but I definitely kept ordering magic when I was in Melbourne. I haven’t seen it anywhere else in the world, and besides, it’s more fun to say “Can I have magic?” to your barista 😛

5. Stroll around Fitzroy Gardens

The garden is called Fitzroy Garden, but it’s actually closer to the central area than it is to Fitzroy. It’s actually only a block away from the central area and it’s a great place to have a morning stroll, or if you’re in Melbourne during fall, you can catch some autumn foliage here!

Make sure to stop by Cook’s Cottage , a reconstruction of an original brick cottage originally built in England in 1755 by the family of Captain James Cook. Yes, they brought them from England to Australia brick by brick and rebuilt the house here!

Day 3: Explore Fitzroy

Fitzroy is Melbourne’s super cool alternative side. It’s located not too far away from the central area – in fact, you can walk to the heart of Fitzroy from Melbourne Central in about half an hour. Or you can grab an Uber for AU$ 10-15.

Tip: If you want to know more about Fitzroy, you can book this walking tour .

I recommend starting out with coffee and croissant at Lune Croissanterie (be prepared to queue, it’s very popular) or brunch at Stagger Lee’s Cafe or Smith & Daughters (vegan restaurant), before exploring the fun shops along Brunswick Street. They’ve got all kinds of shops from vintage to high-end shops along the street.

Don’t forget to walk around the alleys in Fitzroy too! You never know what you’ll find. We walked along a small alley between Brunswick Street and Young Street near Johnson Street and found a ton of street art there.

For dinner, you can head to Easey’s , a super cool burger joint on a converted train car that’s on a rooftop of a building – don’t ask me how they got that up there. Then after dinner, go back to Brunswick Street for a fun night out! The area is buzzing with activity especially if you’re there during a weekend night. You can check out Naked for Satan for a rooftop bar.

Special thank you to mates Mitch & Chay for showing us around! <3

Day 4: Enjoy the beach at St Kilda and Brighton

You cannot visit Melbourne without going to St Kilda and Brighton, a suburban area south of Melbourne central that’s known as an affluent beachside area. They are pretty close to each other and easily accessible from Flinder street station, so take your Myki card and head down there!

I didn’t make it down to Brighton last time, but the most popular thing on Brighton Beach are these colorful bright bathing houses from the early 1900s, used for ladies to change into their swimming suits back in the day. Nowadays, they are not just empty small wooden houses – they have become one of the most expensive real estate in Australia, with one of the boxes sold for $285,000 in 2016 !

If you’re up for it, you can walk from Brighton up to St Kilda. The walk is a scenic route through the coastal line and would take you approximately 2 hours.

I recommend visiting the St Kilda Pier and walking around the boardwalk area, where you can find booths set up by local jewelry designers and artists. If you’re around until sunset, you might be able to spot the St Kilda Penguins at the pier too!

Day 5: Escape from the city – do a short day trip!

While Melbourne is a super cool city, a trip to Australia isn’t complete without a road trip to see beautiful nature outside of city life! In Australia, it’s always a good idea to rent a car and explore on your own. You can rent a car here in Melbourne and drive on the great ocean road.

However, if you cannot drive, then you can join a tour instead. Here are some destinations you can go to escape the city:

Great Ocean Road Day Tour – I went on this tour on my first visit to Melbourne. The Great Ocean Road is a famous driving route, often referred to as one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives. This is the perfect place to visit if you have a few days for a road trip. However, it’s doable as a day trip from Melbourne too! One of the most popular highlights of the drive is called the Twelve Apostles, a collection of limestone pillars that are slowly being reclaimed back by nature. It’s reachable from Melbourne in a few hour’s drive.

Yarra Valley Wine and Cheese Tour – I’ve always seen wine bottles from Yarra Valley, so if you’re a wine and cheese enthusiast, you definitely need to make it out here! There’s nothing like sipping on a glass of wine and cheese locally produced right on the spot.

Grampians National Park – If you are the adventurous type who enjoys being in nature, hiking, and chasing waterfalls, then this is the perfect destination for you. Much like Great Ocean Road, Grampians is great as a multi-day trip destination but it’s doable as a day trip from Melbourne although it will require you to wake up early and come back late.

Mornington Peninsula Hiking Tour – This place is a popular day trip destination for those who want to get out of the city for a hike but something not too far from Melbourne. It’s only about an hour away from Melbourne.

Phillip Island Day Tour – Philip Island is yet another popular day trip option from Melbourne. The island is famous for its wildlife – you can see penguins and koalas!

Skydive in Melbourne – Australia is one of the best places in the world to do skydiving! From Melbourne, you can choose skydiving locations from Yarra Valley, the Great Ocean Road, or near the city center.

Where to Eat and Drink in Melbourne

I guess after visiting a city three times, I have a thing or fifteen to recommend. Here are some places I enjoyed while I was in Melbourne! (Don’t worry, this is all marked in my Melbourne travel maps I shared before)

Brunch and Cafes

• The Hardware Societe – the chorizo baked eggs are their most famous dish!
• Higher Ground – Beautiful place and very popular with loooong wait so you must come early. We tried going, but was turned down by the long line.
• Stagger Lee’s Cafe (in Fitzroy)
• Smith & Daughter (in Fitzroy) – Vegan restaurant
• Lune Croissanterie (in Fitzroy) – voted as the best croissant in the world. Expect to queue.

It’s a crime to visit Melbourne and not try their coffee. This city has the best cafes in the world. Don’t forget to try Melbourne Magic Coffee!

• Manchester Press (also great for Brunch)
• The League of Honest Coffee
• Brother Baba Budan
• Market Lane Coffee – in Queen Victoria Market

For Lunch or Dinner

• Cookie – Modern Thai dishes in the middle of downtown Melbourne.
• Chin Chin – Asian-inspired menu. Quite possibly the most popular restaurant in Melbourne. requires a reservation, especially on weekend dinner/brunch time
• Cumulus Inc – delicious Australian food. The menu changes, so I can’t recommend a specific dish but I’ve been here twice and it was a really good experience both times
• Royal Stacks – Great place for burgers!
• Betty’s Burgers – I had Betty’s Burget in Gold Coast and I was glad to see them here in Melbourne too!
• Easey’s (in Fitzroy) – Super cool eatery, where you eat inside a train car… but on a rooftop of a building.
• Menya Ramen – This is not the typical Melbourne recommendation, but this restaurant is super famous among Asian visitors (or maybe it’s just us Indonesians?), not for the ramen but for the great value Gyu Tan Don – aka grilled beef tongue over rice.
• Chuckle Park Bar – get your cocktails and craft beers from a caravan, in a nicely decorated alley!
• Rooftop Bar at Curtin House – a chilled-out, open-air bar on the rooftop in the middle of central Melbourne.
• Cherry Bar – Iconic bar located in Melbourne’s AC/DC lane. They had a live rock band when we visited.
• Brunswick Street in Fitzroy – a street in Fitzroy known for cafes, live music venues, and alternative fashion shops. Check out Naked for Satan if you want drinks and enjoy the nightlife!
• Australia Open in (usually) January – If you’re a tennis fan and in town while the tournament is happening, don’t miss a chance to go down to Melbourne Park.
• Australian Grand Prix (usually) in the first half of the year – For F1 fans, if you are in town for the Grand Prix, the Albert Park circuit is not too far from central Melbourne!
• Melbourne Cup in November – This horse racing event is arguably one of Australia’s biggest annual sporting events. The event is held on the first Tuesday in November each year and is known locally as “the race that stops a nation” as every Australian will stop what they’re doing and crowd around the telly. People will also dress up in race day attire (formal) and attend the race, which (in a true Aussie fashion) often involves day drinking.
• The World’s Longest Lunch in March – this is an annual event usually held as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in March, where diners get to enjoy a meal at the 500m long table. Check out the Melbourne and Wine Festival website for more information!
• Regional World’s Longest Lunch in March – If you can’t score a seat at the Melbourne Longest Lunch, fret not! They hold the longest lunch in regional areas outside of Melbourne too. I attended one in Yarra Valley last year, and it was an amazing experience. Read about my Regional World’s Longest Lunch post here.
• Not visiting during these months? Fret not, check out the Melbourne events calendar here to see what’s on during your visit!

That’s all I have on Melbourne! If you are visiting the city, let me know what you think of it!

29 Comments

• March 31, 2023

Awesome tips! As a local we definitely agree with many of these!!

• February 21, 2023

Excellent article! Melbourne has so many great little nooks for food and adventures.

• March 29, 2024

Are 3 stars hotel good to stay in? Any good locations so I can check prices? 4 stars would be good to. And are they all on the free tram line?

• October 28, 2022

Good read! Amazing! Would love to visit Melbourne someday. And if I ever get to visit, I will definitely comeback to this post! Thanks!

• September 2, 2022

Awesome tips and stunning pictures. Thanks for sharing.

• August 13, 2022

This was so helpful when I was looking for ideas of thing to do with my parents. Thank you!

• June 30, 2022

I will be going to Melbourne from 25 to 30 Dec 2022. I intend to spend 26 Dec and 27 Dec exploring Melbourne City. 29 Dec I intend to go Chadstone The Fashion Capital as it is late night shopping This leave me 28 Dec free. I am torn between going to visit Penguin Island as a day trip or use 28 Dec to explore Melbourne or catch some musical like Phantom (it is showing) since 26 Dec likely most shop are close. I did not conside Yarra or Mornington since I don’t drink. GOR I think 2 days is better and I intend to cover GOR next year when u am back in Melbourne.

What is your suggestion? Thanks for advice.

Hey Yien! It really depends on your preference! I personally would go for Penguin Island just because I love the nature in Australia. December in Melbourne should have good weather too, so I would definitely prefer to be outside.

• February 22, 2022

Thank you very much for all your beautiful pictures and ideas!! We are going to visit Australia next month. You give/ gave us a lot of inspiration!!!

• February 21, 2022

Hi, I’m thinking of going solo to Melbourne. Would you say it’s safe for a solo female traveller?

Hi Eity, absolutely! I’ve been to Melbourne 3 times now, and 2 of those were done solo and I would highly recommend it. Of course as always exercise common sense and always be vigilant.

• December 14, 2021

Great itinerary! Thanks for sharing informative and helpful content.

• December 6, 2021

Nice article, it helped us a lot to explore. I am an entrepreneur by profession and a traveler by heart. Your article made our stay exciting.

• November 17, 2021

Oh wow, this is a great guide! I hope I can visit Australia someday 🙂 Great photos too!

• December 8, 2019

Stunning photos Melissa. I’m currently in Vietnam and the coffee culture here is crazy. I’ve got hooked on coffee in Vietnam completely. Can’t wait to visit Melbourne and try the coffee there.

• November 13, 2019

Parliament house at Melbourne has a beautifully built architecture. Very English. Getting here is quite easy, the central circle tram stops here.

• November 10, 2019

As a Melbourne native I really enjoyed your fascinating insight into my city. I am always surprised by what visitors find worthy to recommend. Thank you for your insight… great stuff.

• November 11, 2019

Thanks Wayne!

• October 6, 2019

Can you recommend me a zoo in Melbourne?

Melbourne Zoo is excellent but I would recommend the Werribee Open Range Zoo west of the city. You would need to drive as public transport to that part of Victoria is only average. The safari out there with the Rhinos etc is fascinating… and the Elephants from Melbourne Zoo have recently been moved there as well. For native Australian animals you need Healesville Sanctuary. Probably a day trip as it’s a solid hours drive from the city centre. Have fun.

• September 20, 2019

What are the halal food outlets in CBD?

Hey Shana, I don’t have dietary restriction so did not pay attention to halal eateries. However, I suggest checking out this page: https://www.havehalalwilltravel.com/14-muslim-friendly-eateries-melbourne they listed some places in CBD.

• September 9, 2019

what tourist sim card with data to use for melbourne & sydney on a 2 week tour?

Hey Elle, I used prepaid from vodafone when I was there, but I heard Boost is good too.

• June 21, 2019

Great, your Blog on Melbourne tour is very nice & informative. The contents provided by you is good. Keep going..!!

• June 18, 2019

Very comprehensive list, Girl Eat World — this Melburnian approves 😉 A few of my favourite places that I always take friends visiting are: – Rooftop Bar in the CBD – Section 8 bar in the CBD – Lentil as Anything in Abbotsford Convent – Dolan Uyghur Food Heaven in CBD – Yarra Valley Dairy for cheese in Yarra Valley – Colourful Yunnan near Melbourne University (yes, Melbourne is a hub for fantastic Asian food) – I live in Brunswick, and some of my favourite places in Brunswick to eat are: A1 Bakery for cheap Lebanese pizza and pastries, A Minor Place for brunch, Small Axe and Padre for coffee, Very Good Falafel for an exceptionally good falafel. Brunswick is a good place to get an affordable AirBnb because it’s only 20 mins by train/tram away from the CBD.

THanks Maz!!! I’ll bookmark these places for my next visit to Melbourne!!

• May 20, 2019

How to use free city circle tram get to st kilda beach?

• May 21, 2019

hey rosli. you can’t get to st kilda using the free city tram. you have to get a myki card and take the paid tram

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19 comments

State Library of Victoria is way x3 better than National Library of Malaysia. I love to go there to read science journals. Anyone can go read anything for free. Royal Exhibition Building was where I had my exams. Oh time flies.

Yes! I love there too

Hi, Morming. I plan to go great ocean road. Any recommendation of the accommodation?

can try search on those booking website. I have no recommendation since I wrote I never overnight at there

You just got me super excited planning my trip to Melbourne !! Thanks for sharing! Mick

welcome <3

you always great on sharing blog. i love to read.

Thanks for the love <3

Hi ChanWon, Just checked with you. Your trip to melbourne is spring or autumn?

Hi Stated on this blog post. Highlighted it in the weather there. lol

hi.. nice pic. mind to share what camera u using? btw, if staying jus one accomodation, will it be far to travel all?

HI, like to ask you guys rented car during your trip? Is the parking lot easily to get for those places that you went?

Hello, love the way you travel. Do you drive by your own for the trip? Is those places accesable by public transport?

hi i would like ask how if you able to access to the wifi??

dekorasi ruang tamu dekorasi ruang tamu dekorasi ruang tamu dekorasi ruang tamu thanks for the tips!! i am gonna visit soon! dekorasi ruang tamu dekorasi ruang tamu dekorasi ruang tamu dekorasi ruang tamu

thanks for the tips. i'm going there soon and yet haven't plan where to visit.

I live in Melbourne and I can confirm it's amazing. melbourne tour

Your blog was so interesting that I spend one whole hour in reading it completely and I must say you have phenomenon talent of writing such effective blogs. Best homestay in sakleshpur

Hey ! thanks for such a great post.and many interesting point are cover in this blog. again thanks for a posting a interesting artical...

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MELBOURNE TRAVEL GUIDE with Budget Itinerary

Our first day in Melbourne was a series of unfortunate events.

We spent our first two hours wandering aimlessly along its almost empty streets. I was supposed to rely on data roaming on my first day, but for some reason, my service provider decided to cut my line despite having paid my bill in full even before my trip. It would have been easy finding a pocket wifi or SIM card but our plane landed in the early morning, at 3am, and none of the shops at the airport or the city were open. I connected to the airport wifi for a minute to load Google maps and search for some info and decided to head out to my hotel.

Without access to the internet, we took the bus and successfully reached the city only to end up boarding the wrong tram, taking us farther from my hotel. LOL. We tried hailing a cab, but there weren’t that many passing by and none of them would stop. With luggage in tow, we decided to just walk to the taxi queue that we spotted earlier, eight blocks away. The cold, cold mid-autumn wind was sweeping Melbourne’s wide streets. When we finally arrived at the hotel, the receptionist greeted us with a warm, warm welcome. I knew it would be too early for check-in, but she smilingly shared that there was already an available room and that we could check in if we so preferred. “It’s your lucky day,” she said. She had no idea.

When I finally hit the bed to rest, I was immediately reminded of the first years of The Poor Traveler. We built this blog to document our misadventures and share tips to our readers so they could learn from our mistakes. This trip is one of our most unforgettable because we made a lot of mistakes along the way. So here’s our Melbourne Travel Guide, and here’s hoping you’ll learn from it.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

UNDERSTANDING MELBOURNE

Melbourne is located along the southern edge of Australia. It is cradled in the sheltered Port Phillip Bay, which opens up to Bass Strait, separating the mainland from the island of Tasmania.

Way before Europeans arrived, Australian Aborigines have inhabited the area for thousands of years. In the 19th century, free settlers from Tasmania (called Van Diemen’s Land at the time) moved to this corner of the Australian continent. Other groups of settlers followed. Back then, the area was part of the British colony of New South Wales. On 30 August 1835, the city was founded, named after the Prime Minister of Britain at the time, William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne. The next decades saw a gold rush fueling the fast development and population growth of the city.

Today, Melbourne is the capital of the Australian state of Victoria. Next only to Sydney, it is Australia’s second largest city, home to around 5 million residents, and one of the most visited by travelers, with its main airport welcoming over 35 million passengers in 2016-17.

Here are some useful bits about Melbourne.

• Location : Melbourne is part of Victoria, Australia. It’s on the southern hemisphere, so they enjoy summer in December-February and winter in June-August. Coordinates: 37°48′49″S 144°57′47″E.
• Time Zone : UTC+10. Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Melbourne is ahead of the Philippines, Singapore or Malaysia by 2 hours, and ahead of Japan by 1 hour. Daylight saving time is in effect in summer: AEDT (UTC+11).
• Language : English is spoken by the majority. But Mandarin, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese are spoken by a significant fraction of the population.
• Currency : Australian Dollar (AUD). AUD1 is roughly PHP36, USD0.7, SGD 0.95, EUR0.62, (as of July 2019). If you have Maestro, Cirrus, Visa, MasterCard Debit cards, you can withdraw from ATMs. Or before your flight, go to your local bank and buy AUDs.
• Modes of Payment : Cash and credit cards are both commonly accepted but the city is moving in the cashless direction.

WHERE TO STAY IN MELBOURNE

If you look at the map of Melbourne, you’ll find that it is split into two by the Yarra River. The city is further divided into several districts, but travelers can focus on five areas, which I’ll discuss below.

• Central Business District (CBD) , located north of Yarra River. In many cities around the world, the financial district is separated from its old town. In Melbourne, the CBD is also its historical core, which makes it the most ideal place to stay for tourists. It is well-connected to many other parts of the city and surrounding suburbs.
• Docklands , also north of Yarra River but west of the CBD. Think of it as Melbourne’s marina. There isn’t much activity here on a regular day, but attractions include the Marvel Stadium, the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, and some shopping centers.
• Southbank , which stands on the southern banks of the river, hence the name (duh). This is the city’s entertainment center with a theater complex and the Crown Casino area.
• Inner North , the area in the immediate north of the CBD. Its map is shaded by a number of gardens and parks, but the most popular tourist spot is the Melbourne Zoo.
• St. Kilda , south of the city center. It has emerged as the city’s backpacking district; thanks to its vibrant nightlife, accessible bay beach, and a multitude of affordable hostels and restaurants. Attractions include Luna Park and the Sunday art market.

BEST AREA TO STAY IN MELBOURNE

Which is the best area? Well, it depends on a lot of things.

If I’m traveling with family or friends, I’ll definitely choose the CBD. Everything else is also easily accessible from here. But if I’m traveling alone, I’ll probably consider St. Kilda. There are also direct buses from the airport to both areas.

If you choose to stay in CBD, pick a hotel or hostel near a train station, so you don’t need to walk long distances or rely on the tram too much if you decide to see attractions outside the city. In particular, consider the areas close to the following:

• Central Station
• Southern Cross Station

Both are in a good location: bursting with cheap lodging, dining, and shopping options. But I believe that Southern Cross Station is more ideal. I stayed near Central because I cluelessly assumed that it is the city’s main station. It turned out that Southern Cross Station is the real heart of the city because most train arteries pass through this area especially if you plan on seeing the suburbs and attractions outside the city like Werribee. In fact, I often find myself making a transfer at Southern Cross when I’m coming from Central.

Several bus lines also start or terminate at Southern Cross. Many organized tours also have their meet-up points somewhere around the area. So yep, it’s Southern Cross for me.

The most common accommodations in Melbourne are hotels. All of them are expensive, especially if you’re used to Southeast Asian rates. But cost of living in general is pretty high. There are budget hotels available in the CBD. Another slightly more affordable option is booking an apartment or a room in a residential building or area. Hostels are also available.

Below are the top-rated properties on Agoda, as scored by customers.

Top Budget Hotels in Melbourne

• ibis Melbourne Central. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Brady Hotels Central Melbourne. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Rendezvous Hotel Melbourne. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• The Jazz Corner Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Top Melbourne Apartments for Rent

• The Escape in Southern Cross Station. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• AML Apartment. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Nest-Apartments Sea View Apartments. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Top Melbourne Hostels & Dormitories

For budget travelers and backpackers, staying at a hostel is a great idea. Not only do you save some bucks, you also get to meet other travelers. You can find hostels near Southern Cross Station (Melbourne Central YHA) or other parts of CBD that offer beds for as low as A$30 per night.

Most hostels also have an open kitchen where you can cook your own meals. You get to save a lot on food this way.

• United Backpackers. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Melbourne Central YHA. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Space Hotel. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Europa Melbourne. Check Rates & Availability! ✅
• Nomads Melbourne Backpackers. Check Rates & Availability! ✅

Search for more Melbourne Hotels!

How to get to melbourne.

As one of Australia’s most popular destinations, Melbourne is connected by air to numerous cities around the world and over 30 other destinations in Australia. It is served by two airports:

• Melbourne Airport (MEL), also known as Tullamarine Airport because it’s located in the suburb of Tullamarine, north of the city center. As the bigger airport, it is used by more airlines including Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
• Avalon Airport (AVV), located in Avalon in Geelong City, 50 km southwest of Melbourne. It’s used primarily by JetStar and AirAsia.

If you’re coming from Manila, the easiest and most convenient flights are offered by Philippine Airlines. PAL, the country’s four-star flag-carrier, uses a 309-seater Airbus A330-300. They use the Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Travel time is only around 8 hours.

Regular fares can go as low as USD233 one-way, which can still go lower when there’s a promo. All bookings come with FREE 25kg baggage allowance and a hot meal, a snack, and complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

All seats are equipped with personal TV screen featuring an impressive collection of movies and series, and in-seat USB power supply! I binge-watched episodes of Young Sheldon onboard! Haha. It’s also myPAL wi-fi enabled!

MELBOURNE AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER

The easiest way to travel between the airport and the city center is by taking the SkyBus , which runs for 24 hours (varying frequencies throughout the day). The journey lasts 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic.

After emerging from the Immigration and Customs inspection area, head to the exit to your right. Immediately outside, you’ll fine the SkyBus stop. You’ll know you’re at the right place when you see the electronic ticket kiosks and a ticket booth.

You can book a SkyBus ticket via the electronic machines here. Note that these machines don’t accept cash, only credit cards. Fare: AUD 19.75, one-way; AUD 38, roundtrip. All buses are equipped with FREE wifi.

You can also book online. You can score a slight discount if you book with Klook ahead of time.

There is also a cheaper option: taking the public bus. But it takes a lot longer! If you’re interested, you can read about it here: MELBOURNE AIRPORT TO CITY CENTER!

AVALON AIRPORT TO MELBOURNE CITY CENTER

Avalon Airport (AVV) is located in the city of Geelong, roughly an hour away from Melbourne CBD. Just like at Melbourne Airport, you can catch the SkyBus to the city center. However, it is NOT available 24 hours.

• First trip: 9am
• Last trip: 12 midnight

The bus passes through Werribee before reaching Melbourne. It terminates at Southern Cross Station.

• Fare: A$24 one-way, A$46 round-trip.
• Travel time: 1 hour.

You can book at the airport when you arrive but you can also book online in advance for a slight discount.

SOUTHERN CROSS STATION TO YOUR HOTEL

Whether they’re coming from Melbourne Airport or Avalon Airport, all SkyBus units bound for Melbourne CBD terminates at Southern Cross Station . If your hotel is nearby, you can just walk from the station. This is just one of the reasons why the Southern Cross area is the best place to stay in the city. Just use Google Map to navigate.

If your hotel is located in other parts of the CBD, you have plenty of options too. If you’re arriving between 6:30am and 7:30pm, you can avail of the complimentary transfer from Southern Cross Station to a stop near your hotel. This is FREE-OF-CHARGE for those who took the SkyBus. It operates 7 days a week, 06:30 to 19:30. You can find the stop closest to your hotel here .

If your hotel is closer to Central Station, you can also travel by tram (free), train (fare: A$4.40), taxi (fare: around A$10.6), or Uber (around A$8.6) to Central area.

HOW TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE

If traveling within CBD, I prefer walking. Melbourne is a very pretty city, with a distinct European vibe that other Australian cities don’t possess. You’ll also stumble upon delightful surprises like artful graffiti and food kiosks.

By Public Transportation

There are plenty of options to get around including trams, trains and buses. But how do you know which is the best option for your desired destination? If you own a smartphone, you can download the PTV app. PTV stands for Public Transport Victoria, the agency that governs and runs the tram, train, and bus systems in this part of Australia. You can download here: iOS , Android .

On the app’s Journey Planner, enter your origin and destination and it will present a selection of routes that you may take. Pick one based on your schedule and preferences.

FREE Tram Zone

For visitors, one of the best things about Melbourne is its iconic FREE TRAM . You don’t need to get any sort of pass or ticket to avail of this; just hop into the tram. It’s FREE as long as you’re traveling WITHIN the FREE TRAM ZONE.

If your starting or ending point is outside the zone, the A$4.40 2-hour rate will apply.

Outside the free tram zone, you have plenty of options. But wait, before that, let me introduce to you the myki .

How Does the myki Card Work?

Melbourne’s public transportation systems no longer accept cash payments. Instead, they use the so-called myki , an electronic reloadable card. Even if you’re a tourist staying in Melbourne for a few days, you will need to get a myki card if you want to use the train and the bus, and the tram outside the free zone.

The problem is: myki is confusing to newbies.

So how does it work? Using it is easy to understand. Onboard the tram and the bus and at the entrance gate to the train station, you simply “touch on” the card at the start of the journey and “touch off” when you reach your destination. Easy.

It’s the pricing that is a bit complicated. But it gets less confusing once you get the hang of it. Let us break it down:

• The card costs AUD 6. That’s just for the card itself. You will need to top it up after.
• The standard fare is AUD 4.40, which is good for 2 hours — that is 2 hours from the moment you first use or touch on the card. However, if you touch on after 6pm, the 2-hour fare is valid until 3am the next day.
• The daily fare is AUD 8.80. This is the maximum you can spend per day as long as you’re traveling within Melbourne City (Zone 1) and suburbs (Zone 2). Meaning, if you use the card once, you’re gonna get charged A$4.40 for the first 2 hours. If you use it again after 2 hours, you’ll be charged A$8.80, valid for another 2 hours. But if after 2 hours, you decide to use it again, you will no longer be charged because the A$8.80 daily cap is already reached. Same with succeeding uses on that day. It sort of automatically becomes an unlimited pass.
• On weekends, the daily cap is only AUD 6.40. Same reduced rate applies to public holidays.
• A 7-Day myki Pass is available for only AUD 44. This is a good deal if you’re exploring Melbourne for 7 days. Note that these are consecutive days.
• Passengers 5-18 years old can avail of the 50% concession discount. The card price becomes only A$3, weekday fare A$2.20 for 2 hours, daily rate A$4.40, weekend daily cap A$3.2, and 7-day pass cost A$22. Passengers younger than 5yo can travel for FREE.
• You don’t need a myki when traveling by tram within the FREE Tram Zone. If you have a myki, you DO NOT need to touch on your card if within the Free Tram Zone. But if your starting or ending point is outside the zone, the A$4.40 2-hour rate will apply.

Here’s a quick summary of the fares (as of 2019).

There is actually a lower fare that applies when traveling within Zone 2 (suburbs far from the city center), but since most tourists will be coming from Zone 1, let’s not go into detail because it will just make matters more complicated.

IMPORTANT! Don’t forget to touch on and touch off when traveling outside the free zone. Ticket inspectors sometimes patrol the area and make random checks. I’ve seen it before. If you’re caught trying to score free rides, you may be fined around A$250!

MORE INFO: MELBOURNE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

By Uber or Taxi

If you’re in a hurry and money is not an issue, you may take the taxi or Uber.

Uber is generally cheaper than taxi. I once tried taking a cab from Southern Cross to Central Station and I was charged A$ 10.60 for the ride. Another day, I used Uber on the same route and paid only A$ 8.60.

By Sightseeing Bus

Another way to get around Melbourne conveniently is by taking the Sightseeing Bus, which passes by 27 attractions throughout the city (including St. Kilda). As you go around, you can get more information about each stop with the audio commentary guide installed at each seat. If you feel like you want to explore a site further, you can hop off easily and just wait for the next sightseeing bus when you’re done.

There are two routes: Melbourne City Tour and St. Kilda Tour. You can switch to experience both, if you have the time. There are two variants available: 24-hour and 48-hour passes.

THINGS TO DO IN MELBOURNE

Great ocean road.

Melbourne is already my seventh destination in Australia but I have to say that the Great Ocean Road is one of the most breathtaking journeys I have taken. This 243-km road runs along the southern coast of Victoria, Australia. Constructed by soldiers from 1919 to 1932, it is the largest war memorial ever built in the world.

The Great Ocean Road starts from the city of Torquay and ends in Allansford, but tours usually culminate at the 12 Apostles site, a group of limestone isles at the Port Campbell National Park. The park and its spectacular views became the highlight of our entire trip. If you can do only one tour from Melbourne, make it this one!

I don’t think it’s ideal to do this by public transport, so you’re left with two options: by car or by group tour. If you know how to drive and you have a driving license, do it. Otherwise, join a group tour, like we did. (We don’t drive!)

The great thing about joining a group tour is you get to learn more about each stop. Along the way, you’ll drop by some scenic viewpoints and meet koalas and native birds like the Australian cockatoo!

Melbourne City Tour

The map of Melbourne’s city center is dotted with several historic landmarks and interesting spots including the following:

• Federation Square
• Melbourne Museum
• Old Melbourne Gaol

Queen Victoria Market

• Melbourne Zoo
• Fiztroy Gardens

You can go around in many ways. For short distances, you can simply walk or take the free tram. For longer distances, you may take the train or the bus, as detailed in the How to Get Around section above. Just enter the attraction or the nearest station on the PTV app and follow the directions.

You can also take the hop-on hop-off bus tour. The City Sightseeing Bus will take you to 27 spots around the Melbourne city center and St. Kilda. Booking a pass means you have unlimited access to this bus for 24 or 48 hours.

The Queen Victoria Market, aka Vic Market, is one of the most popular spots in Melbourne. At seven hectares occupying two blocks, this 19th century market is the largest market in the city and the largest open-air market in all of the Southern Hemisphere.

It is divided into several sections trading a smorgasbord of products — meat, deli, organics, and dry goods, to name some. There’s also a small food court within the complex. But the most popular section among tourists is the Dairy Produce Hall, where you can enjoy tasty international snacks. Here are some of the treats you shouldn’t miss.

• Borek Shop (Dairy Produce Hall). A borek is a Turkish delicacy which is basically baked filled pastry. The filling can be a number of ingredients, but here at Vic Market’s Borek Shop, they offer three versions: cheese and spinach, potato and vegies, and spicy lamb. Cheese-and-spinach seems to be the most popular, but I have a love-hate relationship with cheese, so we got the lamb borek. We loved it. My mom, especially. She even bought another one and took it back to our hotel. Haha. Price: A$4 each.
• Bratwurst Shop & Co. (Dairy Produce Hall). Bratwurst is a variety of German sausage traditionally made of veal or beef. Not sure what type of meat is used by this shop, but I think it’s beef and pork. They have a wide selection: spicy, mild, cheese, black pepper, weisswurst. The sausages are grilled nicely and then put in a roll. You also get to choose the trimmings including mustard and sauerkraut. Price: A$5 for the sausage only, A$5.80 with all the trimmings.
• American Doughnut Kitchen (Outside, Queen Street). This donut shop whips out jam-filled goodness, best enjoyed hot. After trying it, I even returned another day to have another dose of it. That’s how much I enjoyed these donuts! Set in a 1950s van, you’ll find it parked along Queen Street, right in front of the Organics section. It’s impossible to miss because of the long, long queue leading to it. Don’t worry because the line moves fast. Price: A$5.50 for 5 dougnuts.

Some months, they also open a Night Market at the same site, but this is not open year-round. Usually there’s one in winter.

You can totally do this on your own (as I did), but if you want to learn more about the market — historically and gastronomically — you can join a food tour!

Klook’s food tour includes not only the stroll but tasting some of the best that the market has to offer. You’ll also enjoy a glass of Victorian wine!

How to get to Queen Victoria Market: Ride a Yarra Tram (Route 19, 57, 58 or 59), which stops outside the Market. If you’re staying near Melbourne Central, you can just walk. It’s only a few blocks away. Operating hours: Tuesday, Thursday, 6am-2pm; Friday, 6-am-5pm; Saturday, 6am-3am; Sunday: 9am-4pm. Closed: Mondays, Wednesdays.

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel

Spinning slowly at the Docklands, the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel faces Port Phillip Bay. At 120 meters, its highest point offers wonderful 360-degree views of the harbor and the central business district. It is perfect for families.

Klook sells DISCOUNTED and skip-the-line tickets to this wheel. When you book with Klook, all you need to do is print out or save the voucher on your phone. No need to fall in line for tickets. No need to exchange it for another ticket. Just walk straight though the entrance and find the boarding queues. There are two lines: alcohol and non-alcohol. An in-cabin audio guide will add depth to your experience.

Eureka Skydeck

At 297m, the Eureka Tower is the tallest building in Melbourne and the second tallest building in Australia. Visitors may take the southern hemisphere’s speediest elevator to its observation deck, at 285 meters above ground, for a fantastic 360-degree view of the city.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can avail of the Skydeck+Edge package and stand on the glass floor!

How to get there: Take the train to Flinders Street Station then travel on foot over the bridge to the other side of the river. The walk should take about five minutes. Hours open: 10am – 10pm, daily. Last entry is 9:30pm.

Phillip Island

Phillip Island is situated southeast of Melbourne, over 3 hours away by train/bus or around 2 hours by car. As a tourist destination, it is best known for the nightly Penguin Parade, in which fairy penguins, walk on the shore in groups after a day of fishing. The fairy penguins are the smallest species of penguins in the world. It attracts about 3.5 million visitors every year.

Although it doesn’t look much on the map, Phillip Island is huge. Aside from the Phillip Island Nature Park, where the penguin parade happens, it is also home to the historic Churchill Heritage Farm, the Koala Conservation Centre, and the Seal Rocks, where you can see dozens of fur seals frolicking on the coast.

It’s easy to reach Phillip Island by public transportation. You can catch a V/L bus at Southern Cross Station going to Cowes, which is the main township of Phillip Island. ( Schedule here! ) But there’s a catch. The buses are few and far between. That’s not all.

‼️ IMPORTANT! Public transportation on the island is very limited, so it’s pretty difficult to get around. There is a taxi service, which is expensive. Moreover, the last bus back to Melbourne leaves Cowes at around 6:30pm. It’s a problem if you plan to watch the penguin parade, which is the highlight of any Phillip Island visit. The parade happens at sunset, which is sometime between 5:30pm in summer and 8:45 in winter. Cowes and the Penguin Parade area are 20-30 minutes apart so even in summer, it is unlikely that you’ll catch the last bus out. Some visitors choose to just stay overnight in Cowes.

If you don’t want to stay overnight in Phillip Island, you can rent a car or join a group tour instead. Driving on your own is the most ideal so you have total control of your car. You can even drop by St. Kilda or Brighton Beach along the way. But if you can’t drive or you don’t have a license, you can join a group tour instead. Some tours also make a stop at Brighton Beach.

There are many Phillip Island offers on Klook but I’ve narrowed it down to only two. (See links below.)

The first link will take you to the Klook page where you can book DISCOUNTED attraction tickets only, no transfers, good for those with their own ride. The second link will take you to the DISCOUNTED DAY TOUR page. It’s a guided day tour package inclusive of transfers to and from Melbourne, hotel pick up and drop off, and a guide-driver service. The tour also stops at Brighton Beach where you can see their famous colorful beach boxes.

Werribee Open Range Zoo

We had to choose between Melbourne Zoo and the Werribee Open Range Zoo, and we chose the latter. Although both are managed by Zoos Victoria, the Werribee Open Range Zoo is much, much larger. It’s vast, spanning 225 hectares of land next to Werribee River, giving the animals plenty of space to move around.

The Australian Journey Walk will lead you to the kangaroos, emus, and koalas. But the rest of the site is impossible to be explored on foot. You can take the FREE safari bus tour to see much of the site. Yep, the bus tour is already covered by the entrance fee. Multiple tours happen a day. You just need to show up and queue up at the Safari Station. From the main entrance, turn right — multiple times a day. Along the way, you’ll spot dozens of animals including rhinoceros, hippopotamus, ostrich and zebra.

If you want to take your experience to the next level, you can join an off-road safari tour . This is different from the bus tour, which follows a fixed path. The off-road tour uses a smaller open vehicle that goes off the trail and much closer to the animals. This tour happens only twice a day so if you choose to do this, make sure you make it to the zoo in time for your schedule.

Klook offers both discounted entry tickets and the off-road safari tour. The cost of the off-road tour already covers the entrance fee so you DON’T need to book separate tickets.

How to get to Werribee Zoo: From Melbourne CBD, take the train to Werribee Station (A$ 4.40). Outside the station, you’ll immediately find the bus stop. Catch Bus 439 Werribee South and alight in front of Werribee Zoo. Note that there’s only one bus per hour. First bus leaves Werribee Station at around 6am, last bus around 7pm. See updated schedule here . (Click To Werribee South !) Hours open: 9am-5pm, daily. Entrance fee: Adult, A$38; Child 4-15yo, FREE on weekends/holidays, A$19 on weekdays.

Brighton Beach

Although located 14 km south of the city center, Brighton Beach has become an icon for Melbourne. Thanks to its 82 brightly painted and uniformly shaped bathing boxes! Along with St. Kilda, this is one of the most accessible beaches from the city so you can come here to swim, lounge on the sand, or simply admire the view. There are also cafes around the area.

How to get to Brighton Beach: From Melbourne CBD, hop on the train on the Sandringham Line and get off at Middle Brighton Station. From here, it’s a 15-minute walk to the Brighton Bathing Boxes.

St. Kilda is a suburb located 6km southeast of Melbourne CBD. It has emerged as the city’s backpacking district because it has the right ingredients — exciting nightlife, accessible beach, and a wide array of budget-friendly hostels, restaurants, and cafes. Key tourist sites include Luna Park and the Sunday art market.

You can explore St. Kilda on your own by using the public transportation. You can also use the City Sightseeing Bus (hop-on hop-off service), which also plies a St. Kilda route, stopping at major attractions in the city.

Other Melbourne Attractions

• Old Melbourne Gaol. Standing along Russel Street, this museum used to be a prison, where 135 people, including some of Australia’s most notorious criminals, were executed by hanging. Today, you can also do a ghost tour of the premises. Entrance Fee: A$28. Hours open: 9:30am — 5pm. Last entry: 3:30pm.

SAMPLE MELBOURNE ITINERARY

Here’s a sample 5-day Melbourne itinerary. This assumes the following:

• You’re arriving at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.
• You’re staying at a hostel in the city center for A$30 per night.
• Your hostel has a shared kitchen where you can prepare your breakfast and dinner. For lunches, you can eat out with a budget of A$15 per meal.
• Prices below are in Australian dollars.

Note that the times here are just estimates, for sample purposes only. Actual times may vary so double check before your trip.

Feel free to change anything in the itinerary in order to match your preferences or flight schedule.

DAY 4 – BRIGHTON BEACH & ST. KILDA 07:00 am – Train to Middle Brighton Station, A$8.80 (whole day) 07:41 am – Walk to Brighton Bathing Boxes 08:00 am – Enjoy the beach, explore nearby sites 10:00 am – Train + tram to St. Kilda 10:36 am – Explore St. Kilda Beach 11:30 am – Lunch, A$15 12:15 am – Continue exploring St. Kilda 02:00 pm – Luna Park, A$22 (2 rides only) 04:00 pm – Tram back to Melbourne 05:00 pm – Explore Melbourne CBD, buy souvenirs 07:00 pm – Back to hotel, dinner

DAY 5 – DEPARTURE 04:00 am – Check out 04:37 am – SkyBus to Melbourne Airport 05:10 am – Arrival at airport 05:20 am – Flight check-in 08:00 am – Flight out

If you follow the itinerary above, prepare to shell out at least AUD 415 (PHP 14800, SGD 393, USD 290, EUR 257) per person excluding accommodations, airfare, travel tax, and shopping expenses.

If you’re able to book $30-accommodations, the itinerary will cost you AUD 535 (PHP 19100, SGD 507, USD 373, EUR 331) per person excluding airfare, accommodations, travel tax, and shopping expenses.

We added a little bit of extra allowance to cover incidental expenses, price adjustments, and other costs we might have missed.

There are many ways to reduce the budget. If you’re a group, you can split some of the costs. If one of you can drive and has a license, you can also save a lot by renting a car instead of joining the Great Ocean Road Tour.

More budget tips in the next section.

OTHER MELBOURNE TIPS FOR THE POOR TRAVELER

• Book a hostel with an open kitchen so you can prepare your meals on your own. On your first day, hit the grocery and shop for ingredients or ready-to-eat food. I usually buy bread and some filling, and it lasts for days. Doing this can drastically reduce your food expenses.
• If booking a hotel, choose one with a ref and microwave. You can buy cooked food items at the grocery too. Sometimes, I would purchase a pack of ready-to-eat chicken wings then I put the leftovers in the ref and just reheat it.
• If you must eat out, do so for lunch. Often, you’ll be out exploring in the day anyway. They have your dinner at the hostel/hotel. Note also that Australian servings are huge. You can just buy one and share.
• For dinner, you can also visit food courts at closing time (around 8pm). They usually pre-pack the last servings of the day and put them on sale. At Melbourne Central, many of the shops sell 2 rice meals or noodles with protein for only A$10. Yep, that’s only $5 each. But it only happens at closing time.
• Melbourne tap water is potable. You don’t need to purchase bottled water. Just bring a reusable water bottle with you and refill whenever you’re back at the hotel. A small bottled water costs A$4 at restaurants. If you must buy bottled water, drop by a grocery store or supermarket and buy a big bottle instead, which costs only $1.5-2.5.
• For souvenirs, you can find cheap ref magnets and keychains at specialty shopping section of the Queen Victoria Market. Ref magnets are at A$4 per pack or A$10 per 3 packs. Each pack contains 4-12 pieces.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MELBOURNE

Is melbourne safe.

Melbourne is a low-risk destination. Australia in general is one of the safest in the world.

Like most big cities around the globe, pickpocketing and transport accidents can happen, so you must never be careless. But if you’re worried about violent crimes, while it’s there, it doesn’t happen all the time. Just practice common sense, keep your valuables with you, and don’t invite trouble.

Do we need a visa to visit Melbourne?

Australia requires all visiting foreigners to have a visa, e-visa, electronic travel authority (ETA), or similar document. The only exception are the citizens of New Zealand, which can avail of a Special Category Visa (SCV) which can be obtained upon arrival.

Thankfully, nationals of several countries (including the Philippines) can apply for a visa online. It’s easy to apply. Here’s our step-by-step guide: AUSTRALIAN VISA REQUIREMENTS!

Are Immigration and Customs in Melbourne strict?

Yes. Immigration and Customs officers in Australia in general are very strict. Make sure you’re not bringing in any prohibited items or undeclared regulated items. They often do thorough baggage inspection. Aside from using sniff dogs, they may also require you to open your bags and show the content to them.

Cigarettes and food served to you on your flight are PROHIBITED.

Most food items must also be declared.

To check whether or not the item you’re bringing with you is allowed, visit this page: Australian Border Force .

When is the best time to visit Melbourne?

First of all, Australia is in the Southern hemisphere, so Australians enjoy summer in December-February and winter in June-August.

The amount of rainfall is pretty consistent year round, but the period between June and November gets drenched the most. Summer is the driest, but downpours are not uncommon even in these months.

Hence, the best time depends on the activities you want to enjoy. If you like the beach or you’re feeling festive, summer is a good time to visit. It’s also when the Australian Open happens. However, it is also the peak season so expect most attractions to be crowded and cost of almost everything to be higher than usual.

If you’re on a budget winter is okay because airfare and accommodation rates fall.

I personally prefer traveling to Australia in the shoulder periods: autumn (March-May) and spring (October-November). The temperatures are pleasant — not too hot, not too cold — and prices are great.

What type of power plug / socket is used in Melbourne?

Is Melbourne expensive? What are the usual costs of common items?

The cost of living in Australia in general is pretty high. Melbourne is not an exception. Here are the usual costs (in Australian dollars):

• Meal without drink from budget restaurant: $10-15
• Meal without drink from mid-range restaurant: $15-20
• Meal with drink from fast food chain: $10-20
• Fried rice from restaurants: $6-10
• Bottled water (350mL) from restaurant: $4
• Bottled water (1.5L) from grocery: $2
• Tram/Train/Bus fare: $4.40
• Coffee: $4-5
• Beer from restaurant: $10
• Beer from grocery: $5-6
• Bread (500g): $3-5

What is the tipping custom in Melbourne?

You don’t need to tip. Tipping isn’t obligatory in Melbourne or anywhere in Australia.

But if you can if you enjoyed the service! 5% is safe. For exceptional service, 10% should suffice. You can also just round off the bill.

What is the escalator etiquette in Melbourne?

Stand on the left, walk on the right.

Where is the best place to exchange money in Melbourne?

I spotted a lot of money changers around the Central area, and the rates aren’t that bad when I checked.

However, I still prefer just making withdrawals from an ATM. If you have Maestro, Cirrus, Visa, MasterCard Debit cards, you can withdraw from ATMs. Or before your flight, go to your local bank and buy AUDs.

What is better: Sydney or Melbourne?

Never been to Sydney (yet) so I can’t compare. But I know one thing: I love Melbourne. It is perhaps my favorite Australian city so far!

2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ • 7️⃣ • 3️⃣

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Thanks for this Yosh! Been waiting for this.

No prob! Took me a long time to finish it, haha. Hope you find it useful! :)

Hi Sir Yosh! How did you get connected while in Melbourne? Did you buy local sim card or rented a pocket wifi? Thanks po in advance.

Great article. Thanks for sharing.

Have a great day.

Hey ! thanks for such a great post.and many interesting point are cover in this blog. and this post is helpful for me . again thanks for a posting a interesting artical…

Love that you have stuff on Australia. I have a list of things to do with kids for free in melbourne, but I’m excited to try the grown ups list! :)

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Planning a trip to Melbourne and Sydney

Melbourne and Sydney in a week? This is the breakdown and review of the trip I took with my dad back in 2015. Dad travels a lot but he’s never ever been to this continent and neither have I. He let me do all the planning which is fine by me cause I loveeeeeeeeeee planning trips.

We chose to check out the south-east part of Australia:

Map for reference (credits to Google Maps) – Australia is huge. I think we’ll definitely return one day.

Malaysia to Australia

We flew via MAS (Malaysia Airlines) for 7 hours and 40 minutes. We chose to go in October (which is Australia’s spring time).  I think we got lucky with the flight as MAS (Malaysia Airlines) was having a promotion that time. For ~8 hours flight, RM1.5K sounds good to me.

The price below (RM3.3k) is what Google suggested as of 2017Dec06.

Melbourne and Sydney in a week (7D6N)  Itinerary  

Here is the itinerary – we decided to go for a week and cover both Melbourne and Sydney. The only thing I regret about it is that we didn’t get to go on the Puffing Billy train ride in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges.  

Cost Breakdown (7D6N – Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne & Sydney)

Here’s the cost breakdown – all prices are per person, in RM (Malaysian Ringgit). I’ll take the opportunity here to put out a disclaimer that this was not a backpacker budget sort of trip. Would place it in the mid-range of prices because there are three-star hotels and guided tours in our trip. If you want to cut further on the cost, stay at hostels (or couch-surf) and possibly rent a car.

We splurged on a helicopter flight too somewhere in there and that certainly added a dent in our budget but I think we could have saved a lot more (maybe even 50%) where accommodation was concerned.

In addition, we took this trip back in 2015 so the prices might be a little different.

Budgeting for food and other things

I did not include food as this is subjective to how much you eat and if there’s going to be alcohol. I find budgetyourtrip to be a very good site for planning local costs though. Simply key in the city that you’re going to and they will tell you what the average costs are. Here is a sample picture, just to show you.

I will probably write a post on how to use the site in case anyone wants to know. It is pretty straightforward though.

What to see in Melbourne

Sydney is great but Melbourne really captured my interest:

It has a great mix of urban and outdoor places to see. This is why we chose to spend the majority of the week here rather than Sydney.

Melbourne city center or CBD (Central business district) – there are city tours available but we prefer to explore on our own. St Patrick’s Cathedral, Federation Square, Flinders Street Station and Hosier lane (famous graffiti street) are all pretty close to each other.

Philip Island

Penguins in the wild- need I say more?? They have a wildlife park on the island too so you can actually spend a day here. Great for the kids! Respect the rules that no photography of the penguin is allowed here.

And this is a reference photo of the fairy penguins you will see at Philip Island (this photo was taken in Featherdale wildlife park though).

Queen Victoria Market

Great for souvenir shopping – we especially like the handmade soaps. The market is closed on Mondays and the night market is only open on Wednesday from 5-10pm. For the full schedule, check it out on their official website , under Visitor Information.

Great Ocean Road

Allow and entire day (or two) for this. Do not miss this if you are coming to Melbourne, the views are fantastic!

Other things to do in Melbourne

• Puffing Billy – old steam train ride (fare can range from $33 to $75 for adults, return – that’s ~RM 100-220) that passes through and overlooks beautiful fern valleys (Dandenong Ranges, east of Melbourne) and ends up at a small lakeside town (Emerald Lake) before returning back to the originating station. That depends on the route you choose too.  Either way, allow a day for this as the old train station (Belgrave) is about an hour’s journey from the city via public transport.
• Yarra Valley vineyards – there are tours for wine-tasting, hot-air balloons and even paragliding. Or you can opt for a combination package for Puffing Billy and Yarra Valley for around RM500+.
• Beaches for surfing – there are quite a few along the Great Ocean Road – Lorne and Torquay.
• Melbourne Botanical Gardens – Big, beautiful garden with free entrance! It has a 4.5 rating on Trip Advisor.
• Eureka Skydeck88 – I personally think observation towers are overrated. Only interesting for the first 10 minutes. Costs $20 for adults too.
• Shrine of Remembrance – Better to see Melbourne from above from this iconic war memorial. This place is right next to Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens too.
• Melbourne Aquarium – it’s about 10 mins drive from Royal Botanic Gardens and about 20 mins if you take public transport. For the ticket prices, refer to their official website. There is a 20% discount if you book early.

A free app for visiting Australia, CamperMate – here’s a guide on how to make the most of it

What to see in Sydney

Couldn’t skip this famous city out since it was only two hours flight away from Melbourne.

Sydney Harbour bridge &  Opera House in Circular Quay

The Sydney Harbour bridge is here along with the Sydney Opera House.

Whale watching at Circular Quay

Boat departs from Circular Quay. The tours are only available from May to November as this is when the whales are heading back to their home to Antarctica.

The Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney

Walking distance from the harbor so you might as well check it out if you are at the opera house already. Once in the gardens, walk all the way (another 20 minutes)  to the east of the gardens. There is an outlook here with a great view of the city, Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.

Blue Mountains National Park

It’s almost a 2.5 hour drive from Sydney to this national park. Depending on the weather, this park is great for the views and a hike. You can also go mountain biking, camping or mountain climbing.

Featherdale Wildlife Park

This wildlife park is en route to the Blue Mountains National Park so it’s worth coming here to get up close with native Australian wildlife.

Bondi & Bronte beaches

Highly recommend doing this 1 hour+ coastal walk. The scenery was spectacular. Do allow more than just an hour to really soak it in. There are cafes along the way if you need a quick pick up. Another 30 minutes walk will take you to Coogee beach which we didn’t manage to squeeze into our Itinerary.

Other attractions in Sydney

• Taronga Zoo Sydney – Trip Advisor recommends a 3 hour duration for this zoo. Tickets are pricey at $46 (~RM180) for adults ($41 if booked online). More prices listed on the official website . The zoo is a ~15 minute ferry ride from the city. Reviews on Trip Advisor mostly have great things to say about the zoo and how they look after their 4000 or so animals. Something to note is the parking fee (at ~$18) if you do drive here and also, the zoo is quite hilly. Apparently, the view of Sydney Harbour from the zoo is really good too.
• Sydney harbour bridge climb – they have a lot of different guided climb options from halfway climb, to full climb, to climbing at night, dusk or dawn, etc. They even offer one in Mandarin. Prices range from $183-383 (~RM732 – 1,532) for adults.
• Sydney Tower Eye – 360° views of the gorgeous Sydney city. This observation deck is open all year round. Needless to say sunset is always the busiest or crowded time of the day. Do come as early as 1hr before the sunset.
• Hyde Park Barracks Museum
• St Mary’s Cathedral
• Government House Sydney
• State Theatre Sydney
• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

Melbourne to Sydney (and vice versa)

There are four options to get from Sydney to Melbourne and vice versa ,

• You can rent a car or caravan and do a road trip (min: 9hours). I don’t have personal experience with this but these look like reliable companies.
• Economy:  $65 – $85
• First:  $90 – $120
• Sleeper:  $160 – $190
• You can take a bus – fireflyexpress (journey is one hour more than train – 12 hours and it has 10 stops). The price ranges from $45 – $60.
• You can take a flight (we took JetStar) for ~1.5hours at ~RM700 per person at economy class.

The tour company we chose

This is not a sponsored post. We had a good experience with our tour packages from Viator and would recommend them. Viator offer many other tour packages on their site. We took packages from Viator for both Melbourne and Sydney, booking and paying for them online.

Flight Cost Comparisons

Here are some flight comparison costs (updated graphs are from Skyscanner as of 10 December, 2017). Again, this isn’t sponsored. I just like to use Skyscanner to create price alerts before I book a flight.

So if we look at the graphs below, the prices between Melbourne and Sydney for 2018 are fairly comparable. AirAsia being the cheapest airlines you can go with. The lowest prices (~RM830) occur during the winter season (June to August) which is awesome if you intend to do some skiing there. The temperatures in spring (September – November) and fall (March – May) are comfortably cooler at around 10-20C as compared to summer (December – February) which can get up to 14-27C.

Accommodation ( with AirBnB recommendations)

Our accommodations for our trip were Ibis Styles Victoria Hotel and Causeway Inn on the Mall for Melbourne and Sydney Metro on Pitt (for Sydney, obviously) – no complaints on any of them except maybe the size of the rooms? Pretty small (we took the twin bed options in all of them) but they come with all the amenities you could want and the locations are really close to the city center. I think only the Sydney Metro on Pitt had included breakfast though.

I found some pretty cozy stays while browsing AirBnB and thought they were worth mentioning – especially if you’re travelling with family or a group of friends.

Melbourne AirBnB stays

Option 1 (couple) at $55/night (~RM220) – CBD. New. Stylish. Modern. Cosy. , hosted by Debbie

Option 2 (family/group) at $45/night (~RM180) –  New modern self contain entire unit, hosted by Saiphin

Option 3 (private room and bathroom, double bed) at $39/night (RM156) – Melbourne CBD Apartment, hosted by Wenyu

Sydney AirBnB stays

Option 1 (couple) at $62/night (RM248) – Self contained studio close to Sydney harbour, hosted by John

Option 2 (couple) at $48/night (RM192) – Charming Potts Point Studio, hosted by Hannah

Option 3 (family/group) at $42/night (RM168) – Cosy 2bed apartment 15min walk from Harbour Bridge, hosted by Gonzo

Option 4 (private room and bathroom, double bed) at $37/night (RM148) – Large room with easy access to City & Airport, hosted by Denise & Ivan

Other things to do before your trip to Melbourne and Sydney

Visa application – I applied for my visa from here  (Yes, fellow Malaysians  – you need a visa to visit Australia). It was easy to fill and cost me RM50 and I received the visa in less than 2 weeks in my inbox. Application was easy but that doesn’t mean you can leave these things to the last minute. 😉 Note- the price is now RM60.

Plugs – Australia uses a 3 pin plug that has a round base . Make sure you bring a suitable adapter.

Local transport – it’s fairly easy to navigate around both Sydney and Melbourne city centers. The tram service is also reliable and highly convenient in Melbourne. If you want to get a mykiExplorer card, it costs around $15 (RM60).

Hopefully, that was a decent guide to start you off on your trip.

Australia can be an expensive place for Malaysians to visit (the exchange rate typically hovers around 1 Australian dollar to 3 ringgit). My dad likes to say if you’re gonna go that far, spend some money. Don’t stinge if you really want to bungee jump or take that helicopter ride. Save where you can to prioritize on what you really want to experience.

Sydney and Melbourne are both fascinating places to visit. This guide will hopefully assist you in choosing an airline right down to accommodation and the best places to go if you’re considering visiting both in one shot. If you can’t choose between them, my personal favorite is Melbourne for the way it balances nature with city life.

Will you visit both? Or just choose one. Leave a comment below.

Or maybe you should choose New Zealand instead:

1 month itinerary for a New Zealand across both North and South island

The wild side of New Zealand – explore Fiordland while on a budget

A must do hike in New Zealand – Tongario Alpine Crossing

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The Ultimate 7-Day Melbourne Itinerary 2023

Planning a trip to the land down under, but not sure where to start? We’ll do the heavy lifting for you. Here’s our 7D6N Melbourne itinerary that covers everything you need to do in this bustling city!

Often known as the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne sure does live up to its reputation. With hidden gems tucked away in iconic laneways, amazing coffee shops at literally every corner, and a thriving art scene that never fails to inspire us, this city is teeming with excitement and wonder, and we can’t wait for you to explore all that it has to offer. 

From cult-status cafes to nature’s marvels and other local gems, discover all that Melbourne has to offer in our comprehensive week-long travel guide! Read on for a glimpse of your next adventure 👇

💜 Stay Up To Date: –  YouTrip’s Guide To Finding Halal Food In Non-Muslim Countries –  YouTrip’s Japan Bucket List: Best Things To Do In Kyoto & Osaka 2023 –  #YTFam-Huddle: Our YTFam Ambassadors Party It Up YouTrip-Style!

Pre-Trip Essentials:

While there are physical SIM card options, enjoy greater convenience and flexibility when you opt for an eSIM card. Purchase a 14-day pass unlimited 4G option from Klook for $42.39 here . Don’t forget to use YouTrip perks to enjoy a 5% cashback on your purchase!

Getting Around

While there are plenty of taxis you can hail on the street, there are ridesharing options like Uber, Ola, and Shebah, an all-female rideshare service, which offer more convenience.  However, you should definitely make use of their trams and extensive train and bus networks as these tend to be more affordable and just as convenient. Purchase a Myki Card for fuss-free travel!

Day 1: Melbourne City Centre

As with most guides you’ll find online, you’ll be advised to start off your Melbourne adventure in the CBD — and with good reason! Here’s where all the magic happens and it’s where you can find some of the most iconic cafes and restaurants.

Manchester Press

Image Credits: Visit Melbourne

No trip to Melbourne is complete without a trip to Manchester Press, home of some of the most to-die-for bagels. Order the Bacon and Maple — a sweet-savoury dream machine that’ll leave you wanting more, we promise.

🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 8 AM – 3:30 PM

📍 Address: 8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

The Ultimate 7-Day Melbourne Itinerary 2023: Find out more here

Queen Victoria Market

Image credits: Eater

Then, make your way towards Queen Victoria Market just a short distance away to feast your eyes and stomach on more food and fresh produce.

🕒 Opening Hours: Tues, Thurs, Fri, 6 AM – 3 PM. Sat, 6 AM – 4 PM. Sun, 9 AM – 4 PM. Closed on Mondays and Wednesdays

📍 Address: Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Shotstop Coffee & Donuts

Image credits: Concrete Playground

Continue ambling along the laneways and discover hidden gems of all stripes. Don’t forget to stop by Shortstop Coffee & Donuts for their artisanal donuts and purchase a box or two, because you’ll likely want to try them all.

🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 8 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 12 Sutherland St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Hosier Lane & St. Paul’s Cathedral

Image credits: Nomad + Living

If you enjoy art, visit Hosier Lane for the iconic wall murals. Then, pay a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral just across the street to admire the Neo-Gothic architecture. Because the CBD falls within the Free Tram Zone, you can easily cover most of the attractions in the area. However, we reckon travelling by bike would be the best option — you get to look out for hidden gems and more importantly, work up an appetite!

Lucky Liu Kitchen & Bar

Image credits: TripAdvisor

Cap off your first night with a meal at the famed Lucy Liu Kitchen and Bar, conveniently located a walking distance from Hosier Lane. Order their Soft Shell Crab Jianbing and Fried Chicken Ribs, but if you’re hungry, they have omakase-style set menus too. We’d recommend making a booking ahead of time to avoid disappointment!

🕒 Opening Hours: Daily, 12 PM – 11 PM

📍 Address: 23 Oliver Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Day 2: South Melbourne

South melbourne market.

Image credits: Alto Cibum

Make a trip down south and explore one of Melbourne’s oldest suburbs. Start the day over at the iconic South Melbourne Market, where you’ll be able to enjoy an impressive variety of food and drink, from freshly baked French-style pastries to authentic Banh Mi, and even homely Turkish food. 

Grab your daily cuppa from the many roasters in the area, and explore the rest of the market. From fresh flowers to gorgeous boutiques, there’s plenty to see and do in this versatile market!

🕒 Opening Hours: Wed, 8 AM – 4 PM, Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM, Sat & Sun, 8 AM – 4 PM. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

📍 Address: 322-326 Coventry St., South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

National Gallery Of Victoria

Image credits: Public Galleries Association Of Victoria

Then, make your way toward the National Gallery of Victoria. While we think the permanent collection of Australian, Indigenous, and international art pieces will keep you occupied for the most part of the day, you can also expect a wide variety of special exhibits too. However, entry fees may apply to these exhibits. Otherwise, entry into the museum is free!

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 10 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia

The Kettle Black

Image credits: Broadsheet

A midday snack is always in order when on holiday, so head over to The Kettle Black for their delicious selection of pastries, desserts, and their stellar coffee.

🕒 Opening Hours: Mon – Fri, 7 AM – 4 PM, Sat & Sun, 8 AM – 4 PM

📍 Address: 50 Albert Rd, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Image credits: Visit Melbourne

Then, take a nice stroll towards the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria for some serious eye candy. Spend the rest of the afternoon walking through the 36-hectare garden and discover all sorts of plants and flowers that are native to Australia. Stay for the sunset, and catch a movie in the park with their Moonlight Cinema series. Remember to book early and bring a cosy blanket!

Naked For Satan

Image credits: Freewheel Weekends

If you’re staying in the city, make your way to Naked For Satan for a nightcap. We love its rooftop bar, delicious cocktails, and tapas-style snacks — the perfect end to a long day out! 

🕒 Opening Hours: Mon – Thurs, 12 PM – 12 AM, Fri & Sat, 12 PM – 2 AM, Sun, 12 PM – 4 PM

📍 Address: 285 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Day 3 & 4: Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges

Coming from Singapore, a trip out to Melbourne is already a huge change of pace. But if you’re really looking to immerse yourself in nature and disconnect from the real world just for a little while, we’d recommend spending a couple of days out in the famed wine region and its surroundings.

Image credits: ST.ALi

Start your day with a hearty breakfast at the iconic ST. ALi to fuel up for your hour-long drive out. If you’re a fan of a savoury brekkie, their Koo Koo Ca Choo hits the spot. Otherwise, their decadent Banoffee Madelines are a must-order. Don’t forget to order yourself a cuppa or two — you’ll need it!

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 7 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 12 – 18 Yarra Pl, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia

Embark On A Wine Tour In Yarra Valley

Image credits: Tourism Guide Australia

Once you arrive in Yarra Valley, take your pick from over 70 wineries. If you’re a self-professed wine connoisseur, go ahead and curate your very own cellar door experience. Otherwise, there are plenty of tours you can choose from on Klook for a fuss-free experience.

Warrartina Lavender Farm

Stay for the night in one of the many hotels and Airbnbs in the vicinity before making your way out to the Dandenong Ranges for a day of peace and tranquillity in nature. Stop by Warrartina Lavender Farm en route to the national park, and admire the stunning views as you savour a variety of lavender-themed sweet treats, drinks, and snacks.

🕒 Opening Hours: Wed – Sun, 9 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 105 Quayle Rd, Wandin North VIC 3139, Australia

Dandenong Ranges National Park

Once you arrive at Dandenong Ranges National Park, amble along the trails that give you breathtaking views of waterfalls and mountain ranges. Don’t forget to pack a small snack to fuel your adventure!

Day 5: St. Kilda & Prahran

Galleon cafe.

Image credits:  Klook

Grab a quick breakfast over at Galleon Cafe, a cosy, unpretentious coffee house located just three minutes from our highlight of the day, the historic Luna Park. Remember to eat light because of all the exhilarating rides you’ll be taking!

🕒 Opening Hours: Fri, 6 PM – 10 PM, Sat, 11 AM – 10 PM, Sun, 11 AM – 7 PM

📍 Address: 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia

Chapel Street Bazaar

Image credits: Chapel Street

Make your way over to the melting pot of cultures that is the suburbs of Prahran, located just a short tram ride from St. Kilda, where you’ll be greeted by a vibrant array of shops, bars, and cafes. Check out the Chapel Street Bazaar, and if you’re lucky, you’d be able to find some hidden gems while rifling through dozens of vintage clothing and furniture stalls.

🕒 Opening Hours: Mon – Sat, 10 AM – 6 PM, Sun, 12 PM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 217 Chapel St, Melbourne VIC 3181, Australia

Greville Street

Image credits: Chapel Street

Then, head over to Greville Street, a must-visit when you’re in Prahran. Once the epicentre of bohemian culture in Melbourne, Greville still retains its boho aesthetic, which has been a draw for many local independent retailers. Not to be missed along this charming street, include shops like Brick + Mortar Supply, Handworks Nouveau Papery, and the iconic Grenville Records.

Yoku Ono Ramen + Sake

Image credits: SBS

For a hearty dinner and a cheeky drink or two, head over to Yoku Ono Ramen + Sake. Prahran is known for its wide array of Asian cuisine, and this Japanese joint does not disappoint.

🕒 Opening Hours: Wed – Sun, 12 PM – 3 PM, 5.30 PM – 10 PM

📍 Address: 6A Anchor Pl, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

Revolver Upstairs

Image Credits: Time Out

Finally, head over to Revolver Upstairs, a Melbourne establishment not to be missed, and prepare for an evening of fun at this highly respected and notorious party institution.

🕒 Opening Hours: Hours vary

📍 Address: Level 2/229 Chapel St, Prahran VIC 3181, Australia

Day 6: Bush Rangers Bay, Cape Schanck

If you plan to get out of the city once more but don’t intend on doing the whole Great Ocean Road trip, then Cape Schanck is a great alternative that isn’t too touristy.

Image Credits: Broadsheet

You know the drill — start your day at a cafe of choice. Today, we recommend Hardware Société for a hearty breakfast. Go for their baked eggs for a protein-packed meal or treat yourself to their fried brioche. Then, grab their coffee to-go and begin your journey down south.

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 8 AM – 2:30 PM

📍 Address: 123 Hardware St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Bushrangers Bay Walking Track

The journey will only take you slightly over an hour, so this leaves you plenty of time to explore all that Cape Schanck has to offer. Head for the Bushrangers Bay Walking Track, and enjoy the gorgeous coastal scenery — a sight for sore eyes. Then, make your way to the tidal rock pools hidden amid the hulking basaltic landscape and relax to the sound of crashing waves from a distance. Don’t forget to pack lots of water and some snacks — it can get very warm. 

After a long day by the Bay, you can start to make your way back to the city. But before that, remember to fuel up! There are plenty of eateries peppered along Cape Schanck and en route to Melbourne city with small bites to help tide you through till dinner.

Image Credits: The City Lane

For some reason, fast food always tastes best after a long day out. We recommend heading over to 8bit, a retro video game-themed burger and hot dog joint that serves up some of the most delicious fast food there is. Grab the 8bit dog, a side of chilli cheese fries, and wash it all down with a Nutella milkshake, then head back to enjoy that delightful food coma.

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 11 AM – 11 PM

📍 Address: 8 Droop Street, Footscray, Melbourne VIC 3011, Australia

Day 7: Fitzroy

On your last day, it’s all about taking things slow. An eclectic suburb, the Fitzroy neighbourhood is the perfect place to visit if you love all things artsy.

If you happen to be around over the weekend, pay a visit to the Rose Street Artists’ Market where you’ll get to meet talented local artists and makers selling a wide array of artisanal products — the perfect place to get some unique souvenirs for your loved ones. 

🕒 Opening Hours: Sat & Sun, 10 AM – 4 PM

📍 Address: 60 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Lune Croissanterie

Image Credits: Nice Food And Healthy

No trip to Melbourne is complete without paying a visit to Lune Croissanterie, and thankfully, there’s an outlet just a couple of minutes away!

🕒 Opening Hours: Mon – Fri, 7:30 AM – 3 PM, Sat & Sun, 8 AM – 3 PM

📍 Address: 119 Rose St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Lost & Found Market

Then, wander along the streets and check out the thrift shops in the area. We’d recommend visiting the weird and wonderful Lost & Found Market, a huuuuge warehouse full of vintage fashion, furniture, art, records, and all things quirky and kitschy.

🕒 Opening Hours: Open daily, 11 AM – 5 PM

📍 Address: 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Cutler & Co

Image Credits: Cutler & Co

Once you’ve worked up an appetite with all that shopping, make your way down for your final dinner of the trip. This time, we’re going fancy, paying Cutler & Co, part of Andrew McConnell’s repertoire of establishments which includes the likes of Cumulus Inc. and Supernormal, a visit. Housed in a former metalworks factory, Cutler & Co is truly an establishment not to be missed — so book early!

🕒 Opening Hours: Wed – Sat, 5:30 PM – 11 PM, Sun, 12 PM – 11 PM

📍 Address: 55/57 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Gelato Messina

Image Credits: The Weekend Edition

As we know, dessert stomach is a thing. After dinner, make your way to Gelato Messina and take your pick from over 50 different flavours, with Hokey Pokey, Pear & Rhubarb, and Coconut & Lychee our top picks. Grab your cones, sit by the road, and watch the world go by, a fitting way to end your Melbourne trip!

🕒 Opening Hours: Sun – Thurs, 12 PM – 10:30 PM, Sat & Sun, 12 PM – 11 PM

📍 Address: 237 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

A Week of Adventure Awaits In The Land Down Under

As you can tell, there are simply too many things to experience in Melbourne. So we hope that this list can help take away the stress of planning out an itinerary. And no matter if you’re off thrift shopping or drinking your weight in coffee, don’t forget to use your YouTrip Card to enjoy those wholesale exchange rates !

As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with promo code < YTBLOG5 > to get FREE S$5 in your account! Then, head over to our YouTrip Perks page for exclusive offers and promotions — we promise you won’t regret it. For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.  

And while you’re at it, why not join the conversation with thousands of #YouTroopers in our very own Community Telegram Group @YouTripSquad ? Get tips and tricks to everything YouTrip including exclusive invites to exciting events and experiences, & be part of the #YouTripSquad! 💜

Stay safe and happy travels!

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at Don Quijote Japan!

Up to 10% tax free + 5% additional discount

• Valid till 01 Oct 2024
• Flash this at the payment counter & pay with YouTrip during checkout in store
• Enjoy additional 5% discount with min 10,000 yen (JPY) spent excluding tax
• We want to help you get your discount! 1. Ensure that you follow through with your purchase once you click on “Redeem Deal” on YouTrip Perks. 2. If you jump out of the check-out process (even if to check on a message or just happen to close your browser), click through YouTrip Perks again to re-purchase to get your discount.
• Valid until 01 October 2024.
• [Japanese temporary returnees] who purchased tax-free goods are eligible for the coupon.
• Foreign diplomat(s) are not eligible for tax exemption.
• Eligible Stores: Don Quijote, APITA, and PIAGO Stores in Japan (Excluding some stores)
• Tap the coupon banner below to go to the barcode screen.
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• This coupon is valid only once for tax-free transactions of 10,000 yen (excluding tax) or more.
• Please note that the following items are not included & eligible for the discount: Alcohol, cigarettes, POSA cards, game consoles, products costing more than 100,000 yen (excluding tax), and products with price restrictions, etc.
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Up to 9% cashback at Charles & Keith!

9% cashback (New Charles & Keith users)

• Valid till 31 December 2023
• Pay with YouTrip during checkout
• Receive cashback within 45 days after checkout

3% cashback (Existing Charles & Keith users)

• Valid from 31 December 2023
• We want to help you get your cashback! 1. Ensure that you follow through with your purchase once you click on “Redeem Deal” on YouTrip Perks. 2. If you jump out of the check-out process (even if to check on a message or just happen to close your browser), click through YouTrip Perks again to re-purchase to get your cashback.
• Only purchases made through the Charles & Keith affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Charles & Keith whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Purchase must be made within the same window.
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• Cashback will not be awarded for cancelled or refunded orders.
• Cashback will be awarded after 45 days from the date of purchase.
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• Cashback rate for Charles & Keith varies for each item and the exact cashback rates would only be known when the item is successfully tracked.
• Purchases made via the Charles & Keith mobile app will not be eligible for cashback.

8% off at SGPomades!

$8 off min S$50 spend

• Valid till 31 December 2021
• Pay with YouTrip and apply code 'YOUTRIP8' during checkout
• Enjoy 8% off min S$50 spend upon checkout
• Promo code only applicable when using your YouTrip Mastercard upon checkout.
• 1 redemption per customer only
• Promo codes are not exchangeable for cash.
• Valid only for original price items.
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• Exclusions Apply.

3% cashback at Dyson!

3% cashback

• Only purchases made through the Dyson affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Dyson whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Dyson accessories will not be eligible for cashback.

4% cashback at UNIQLO!

4% cashback

• Only purchases made through the UNIQLO affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to UNIQLO whenever you are making a new transaction.

Up to 6% cashback at Trip.com!

Up to 6% cashback

• Receive cashback 45 days after checkout
• Only purchases made through the Trip.com affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Trip.com whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Cashback rate will be subjected to the merchant’s discretion and the eligibility of selected activities.
• Cashback rate for Trip.com varies for each item and the exact cashback rates would only be known when the item is successfully tracked.
• Please refer to the table below for full cashback rates.

25% off at HOUZE!

25% off min $60 spend

• Pay with YouTrip and apply code 'YOUTRIP25' during checkout
• Enjoy 25% off min $60 spend upon checkout
• Only 1 promo code may be used at a time.

25% off at Table Matters!

Up to $260 cashback and KrisShop e-Vouchers at Singapore Airlines!

$20 cashback with min $500 spend

• Valid till 26 November 2021
• Pay using YouTrip at checkout
• Register through YouTrip's campaign registration form
• Enjoy up to 4x cashback rewards per booking
• Receive cashback by 31 December 2021
• Limited to the first 1,000 redemptions
• Only bookings made via the SIA website, Mobile App or selected list of SIA appointed travel agents within the campaign period and redemption limit will be eligible for cashback.
• For full T&Cs, please visit https://www.you.co/sg/youtrip-singapore-airlines-cashback-tnc/

$30 KrisShop e-Voucher with min $500 spend

• Enjoy up to 6x KrisShop e-Vouchers per booking
• Limited to the first 4,000 redemptions
• Only bookings made via the SIA website, Mobile App or selected list of SIA appointed travel agents within the campaign period and redemption limit will be eligible for KrisShop e-Voucher rewards
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• For full T&Cs, please visit https://www.you.co/sg/youtrip-singapore-airlines-krisshop-tnc/

Up to 10% off at Expedia!

Up to 10% off

• Valid till 30 Jun 2023
• Pay with YouTrip and apply code 'MASTER10' during checkout
• Enjoy 10% off (Capped at S$70) upon checkout
• Booking period Now till 30 Jun 2023
• Stay period: Now till 31 September 2023
• Participating “Expedia Rate” hotels refer to hotels labelled “Expedia Rate” and are not on the exclusion list available at the booking page.
• Up to 10% discount coupon on hotel bookings at thousands of participating properties globally. 10% savings with promo code MASTER10 – Singapore: Discount value capped at SGD70 per transaction
• No minimum stay requirement.
• Coupon only applies to first room in the booking.

Up to 6% cashback at JD Sports!

6% cashback (Regular-priced items)

2% cashback (Sale Items)

• Only purchases made through the JD Sports affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to JD Sports whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Cashback rate for JD Sports varies for each item and the exact cashback rates would only be known when the item is successfully tracked.

Up to 5% cashback at ASOS

Up to 5% cashback (New ASOS users)

3% cashback (Existing ASOS users purchases via Web)

2% cashback (Existing ASOS users purchases via App)

• Only purchases made through the ASOS affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to ASOS whenever you are making a new transaction.

10% off at SweatSpot!

10% off all packages

• Valid till 12 April 2022
• Pay with YouTrip and apply code 'YOUTRIP' upon checkout
• Enjoy 10% off upon checkout

10% cashback at Taobao!

10% cashback with min S$50 spend

• Valid till 31 January 2022
• Register and spend a minimum of $50 and pay with YouTrip during checkout
• Register for promotion here
• For first 750 users only
• 10% cashback with minimum spend of $50.
• Limited to the first 750 users on a first come, first served basis. 
• Payment must be charged to a YouTrip Mastercard. 
• The required minimum spend must be in a single transaction before any other promo codes, vouchers or coupons. Minimum spend excludes all taxes and fees, including but not limited to shipping and handling, unless otherwise stated.
• All purchases made in conjunction with the Offer are subject to prevailing taxes and service charges where applicable. 
• YouTrip makes no warranty or representation as to the quality, merchantability or fitness for purpose of any goods or services purchased from the merchant. Any dispute about the same must be resolved directly with the merchant. 
• YouTrip shall not be responsible for any loss, injury, claim, damage or expense arising from the redemption of the Offer or the use of the goods and services purchased from a merchant.
• YouTrip is not an agent of Taobao or any merchant, or vice versa.
• All information is correct at time of print. YouTrip will not be responsible for any changes which occur after print.
• YouTrip reserves the right to vary the terms and conditions of the Offer or withdraw or discontinue the Offer by providing written notice to the other party at least 7 days in advance and indemnify the direct economic loss of the other party caused by YouTrip’s behavior under the clause.

Up to 10% cashback at Shopee!

Up to 10% cashback (New Shopee users)

3% cashback (Existing Shopee users)

• All cashback will be capped at S$5.00
• Only purchases made through the Shopee affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Shopee whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Cashback rate for Shopee varies for each item and the exact cashback rates would only be known when the item is successfully tracked.
• Please refer to the table below for product cashback rates

Up to 7% cashback at Sephora!

7% cashback (New Sephora users)

2.5% cashback (Existing Sephora users)

• Only purchases made through the Sephora affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Sephora whenever you are making a new transaction.

$20 cashback at Circles.Life!

$20 cashback (For new Circles.Life customers)

• Only purchases made through the Circles.Life affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Circles.Life whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Not applicable for purchases made via the Circles.Life mobile application

Up to 12% cashback at AirAsia Food

12% cashback (New AirAsia Food Customers)

• Valid till 31 December 2022

6% cashback (Existing AirAsia Food Customers)

• Only purchases made through the AirAsia Food affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to AirAsia Food whenever you are making a new transaction.

10% cashback (New Lazada users)

• Valid till 31 December 2024

3% cashback (Existing Lazada users)

• Pay with YouTrip on Lazada (LazMall excluded) during checkout
• Only purchases made through the Lazada affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Lazada whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Cashback rate for Lazada varies for each item and the exact cashback rates would only be known when the item is successfully tracked.
• Products not eligible for cashback: Sports shoes and clothing, Electronics Accessories, Groceries.
• Cashback capped at $10

10% cashback at Puma!

10% cashback

• Valid till 30 Dec 2023
• Only purchases made through the Puma affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Puma whenever you are making a new transaction.

15% off at iShopChangi

15% off with no min. spend (For traveller purchases only)

• Pay with YouTrip and apply code 'YOUTRIP15' during checkout
• Enjoy 15% off with no min. spend
• Valid for traveller purchases only.
• Payment must be made with YOUTRIP Mastercard.
• Only one Promo Code may be used at a time.
• Promotion is valid until 31 December 2023.
• Promotion is not exchangeable for cash, prizes, products or other vouchers.
• Promotion is not valid in conjunction with privilege holder discounts.
• Chanel and Dior are excluded from this promotion.
• The Shilla Duty Free reserves the right to amend or withdraw any terms & conditions without any prior notice.

S$15 off at The Shilla!

S$15 off min S$150 spend in store

• Flash this at the counter and pay with YouTrip during checkout in store
• Enjoy S$15 off min S$150 nett spend
• Valid until 31 December 2022.
• Limited to one redemption per customer.
• Any outstanding balance after deducting the face value of the voucher must be paid in full using YouTrip Card
• The promotion must be fully utilised and any unutilised amount will be forfeited.
• Not exchangeable for cash, prizes, products or other vouchers.
• Not valid in conjunction with privilege holder discounts.

5% cashback at Chemist Warehouse!

5% cashback

• Only purchases made through the Chemist Warehouse affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Chemist Warehouse whenever you are making a new transaction.

Up to 10% off at Qatar Airways!

Up to 10% off 

• Click through to Qatar via YouTrip Perks, apply code 'YTQR23' & Pay with YouTrip during checkout
• Enjoy up to 10% off upon checkout
• Sales period: 8 May 2023 – 31 December 2023
• Travel period: 8 May 2023 – 31 March 2024
• Booking must be made using promo code YTQR23 to avail of the discount
• Full payment must be made with a YouTrip Card
• Save 10% on Business Class Comfort fares
• Save 10% on Economy Class Convenience fares
• Save 7% on Economy Class and Business Class Classic fares
• Valid only on Qatar Airways flights from Singapore
• Valid to the following destinations: Abu Dhabi, Almaty, Amsterdam, Ankara, Athens, Atlanta, Baku, Barcelona, Belgrade, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Bucharest, Budapest, Cape Town, Casablanca, Chennai, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dallas, Dar Es Salaam, Doha, Dubai, Dublin, Durban, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Geneva, Harare, Helsinki, Houston, Islamabad, Johannesburg, Kilimanjaro, Larnaca, London, Los Angeles, Lusaka, Luxor, Madrid, Malabo, Manchester, Medina, Miami, Milan, Mombasa, Montreal, Moscow, Mumbai, Munich, Nairobi, New York City, Oslo, Paris, Philadelphia, Pisa, Prague, Rome, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Seattle, Seychelles, Sharjah, Sofia, St Petersburg, Stockholm, Tbilisi, Venice, Vienna, Warsaw, Washington, Windhoek, Yerevan, Zagreb, Zanzibar, Zurich
• All-in fares include all taxes, fees, and surcharges which are subject to currency fluctuation
• Blackout dates and surcharges may apply. Please refer to the fare rules for details at the time of booking.
• Blackout Periods: 18 Nov – 20 Dec 2022 (Doha and Middle Eastern Countries), 1 Jan – 10 Jan 2023 (All destinations)
• Peak period surcharges may apply
• Fares are subject to change without prior notice
• Discount applies to return base fare only of selected fare classes
• Discount does not apply to taxes and all other surcharges
• Seats are limited and are subject to availability of the relevant booking class
• Minimum and maximum stay as well as advance purchase rules apply dependent on the booking class
• Please refer to the fare rules at the time of booking for changes, cancellations and no-show conditions
• Any change or cancellation less than 3 hours prior to the stated time of departure will be considered as no-show
• For travel involving multiple booking classes, the most restrictive fare rules apply to the entire itinerary
• Standard child/infant discount apply
• Please note that market-specific promotional fares may be available for selected dates and destinations, and may not be eligible for the discounts under this offer. All available options, together with the applicable terms & conditions for each fare will be displayed at time of booking for you to make your selection
• Qatar Airway’s terms and conditions will also apply to your booking, please review these at the time of booking
• Other terms and conditions apply. Please review at the time of booking

2.1% cashback at Watsons!

2.1% cashback

• Only purchases made through the Watsons affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Watsons whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Cashback rate for Watsons varies for each item and the exact cashback rates would only be known when the item is successfully tracked.
• Cashback will be calculated based on the final checkout price, excluding taxes, delivery fees, any additional fees, service charges.

3% cashback at 24S!

• Only purchases made through the 24S affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to 24S whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Celine, Louis Vuitton and Dior products are not eligible for cashback.

8% cashback at On The List!

8% cashback

• Only purchases made through the On The List affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to On The List whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Purchases made via the On The List mobile site or app are not eligible for cashback.

5% cashback at AirAsia Grocer!

• Only purchases made through the AirAsia affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to AirAsia whenever you are making a new transaction.

Up to $12 off at FairPrice Online!

$10 off min $135 spend

• Valid till 22 December 2021
• Pay with YouTrip and apply code 'MCXMAS21' during checkout
• Enjoy $10 off min $135 spend
• First 2,500 redemptions only

$12 off min $150 spend

• Enjoy $12 off min $150 spend
• Redemption of promo code is applicable only for purchases made on FairPrice online at www.fairprice.com.sg and FairPrice Mobile App upon login, and for home delivery only.  
• Only one promo code can be used for each transaction. FairPrice reserves the right to reject any order that has violated this.
• Promo code is to be used for one-time redemption only.
• Promo code cannot be used for the purchase of certain restricted products, for example, certain infant milk formulas. Please visit FairPrice online for more details.
• Qualifying spend refers to a nett spend of at least S$135.00 (excluding delivery fee, service fee, and any other surcharge) in a single transaction at NTUC FairPrice online during the promotional period.
• Using a promo code in conjunction with other free gift promotions, may alter the minimum amount for delivery.
• Additional charges, service fees and minimum nett purchase amount for free home delivery may be required and may differ for promotional periods and will be in accordance to that stated on FairPrice online.
• It is advisable to have at least S$5 nett purchase amount in cart after application of promo code in order to be able to checkout.
• Promo codes are not exchangeable or refundable for cash or other goods and services.
• FairPrice reserves the rights to vary/amend the privileges or terms and conditions of this promotion without prior notice. 
• Other terms and conditions on FairPrice online (https://help.fairprice.com.sg/hc/en us/categories/360001184571-FairPrice-Online) apply.
• Mastercard does not assume any responsibility for the products and services offered under this promotion. The products are sold and services are provided solely by the relevant vendors, under such terms and conditions as determined by such vendors, and Mastercard accepts no liability whatsoever in connection with such products and services. The products and services have not been certified by Mastercard and under no circumstances shall the inclusion of any product or service in this promotion be construed as an endorsement or recommendation of such product or service by Mastercard

2% cashback at Razer!

2% cashback

• Only purchases made through the Razer affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Razer whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Cashback rate for Razer varies for each item and the exact cashback rates would only be known when the item is successfully tracked.

20% off at Zoey!

20% off supplements

• Pay with YouTrip and apply code 'ZOEYYT' during checkout
• Enjoy 20% off supplements upon checkout

20% off at noah!

• Pay with YouTrip and apply code 'NOAHYT' during checkout

$19 cashback at Starhub!

$19 cashback (For new broadband signups)

• Only purchases made through the Starhub affiliate link provided by YouTrip will be eligible for cashback.
• Return to YouTrip Perks and clickthrough to Starhub whenever you are making a new transaction.
• Only new broadband sign-ups are eligible for cashback

$10 off at Beauty Emporium!

$10 off (No min spend)

• Valid till 30 November 2021
• Pay with YouTrip and apply code 'YOUBF10' during checkout
• Enjoy $10 off upon checkout
• Limited to one time use per transaction.
• Discount will be given to total bill spend. Discounted products and services are eligible for this redemption.
• Discount cannot be used in Strip Merchandise and Clean Beauty Brands.
• Shipping fees apply if the minimum spend for free shipping is not met.
• Cannot be used in-conjunction with any other voucher, codes or redemption of Beauty Rewards points.
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Explore Like a Local: The Ultimate 7-Day Melbourne Itinerary

Jan 14, 2024 | Australia , Victoria | 0 comments

Is the allure of Melbourne calling you? Known for its vibrant arts scene, world-class dining, stunning landscapes, and rich history, Melbourne is a city that captivates the imagination. Whether you’re a culture enthusiast or an adventurer, Melbourne’s diverse offerings cater to all tastes.

So, are you ready to experience the best of Melbourne like a local? Buckle up as we take you on an unforgettable seven-day Melbourne itinerary that will make your Melbourne trip exceptional.

This seven-day Melbourne itinerary covers everything from the hustle and bustle of the central business district (CBD) to the breathtaking views along the Great Ocean Road.

But it’s not just about the well-known landmarks – we’ll also venture into Melbourne’s charming suburbs, discover its vibrant nightlife, and indulge in the city’s exciting culinary scene. Each day of this Melbourne itinerary, you’ll find a new facet of this dynamic Australian city.

Explore Like a Local: The Ultimate 7-Day Melbourne Itinerary.

Critical Takeaways for When You Visit Melbourne

• Explore Melbourne’s iconic landmarks, vibrant laneways and street art.
• Embark on Yarra River adventures & uncover the city’s diverse art scene.
• Sample delicious cuisine & experience lively nightlife in Melbourne!

Click here to see the very best of Melbourne with these incredible day tours!

It’s hectic, and time is limited, so make sure you prepare your Melbourne Itinerary in advance.

Exploring Melbourne’s CBD

Melbourne’s CBD, also known as the Hoddle Grid, unravels itself at every turn, revealing iconic landmarks and vibrant laneways adorned with street art. Located north of the Yarra River, Melbourne CBD offers visitors a treasure trove of experiences. So, put on your comfy shoes and get ready to explore! Why don’t we begin by visiting some iconic landmarks?

Flinders Street, Federation Square, Collins Street and Bourke Street Mall often serve as the starting point for most Melbourne itineraries. These must-visit spots encapsulate the city’s spirit. Melbourne’s CBD caters to everyone, from history buffs and shopaholics to curious travellers.

Federation Square

A short walk from Flinders Street Station leads you to another landmark, Federation Square. This modern public space is a melting pot of culture and events, attracting locals and tourists alike. With its cutting-edge design and dynamic atmosphere, Federation Square offers a glimpse of Melbourne’s creative spirit, not far from the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Federation Square is the venue for approximately 2000 events on an annual basis, including New Year’s Eve celebrations and the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. It is also home to the Ian Potter Centre and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), showcasing how TV, film, and other forms of entertainment have evolved in Australia. Federation Square promises a unique cultural experience catering to art enthusiasts and casual visitors.

Bourke Street Mall

Bourke Street Mall is a paradise for shopping enthusiasts. Nestled within the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District, it offers a pedestrian-only shopping area with many retail stores, boutiques, and street performers.

From high-end brands to local artisans, Bourke Street Mall is a vibrant slice of Melbourne’s CBD, brimming with energy and activity. And while you’re there, remember to look out for the iconic Myer and David Jones retail stores, a Melbourne Central shopping scene staple!

Flinders Street Station

As you take a leisurely walk through the city centre, the bright yellow front of Flinders Street Station is impossible to overlook. This iconic railway station is not just a transportation hub; it’s also a well-liked gathering spot and a beloved Melbourne landmark. Built in 1854, Flinders Street Station symbolises Melbourne’s rich history and ongoing journey.

The Station’s architectural grandeur is equally captivating. Flinders Street Station is a feast for the eyes with its Art Nouveau design, signature dome, arched entrance, tower, and iconic clocks. When lit at night, the Station takes on an ethereal glow, reflecting off the Yarra River and adding to the city skyline near Southern Cross Station.

But the natural charm of the historic Station lies in its bustling atmosphere. The pedestrian crossing outside the Station is always alive with locals and tourists. Whether boarding a train or simply passing by, Flinders Street Station warrants a visit on your Melbourne travel itinerary.

It’s a famous sport in Melbourne, Flinders Street Station, as a tram travels past.

Southbank & Yarra River Adventures

Moving away from the business district, Melbourne’s changing scenery reveals the vibrant Southbank area and the stunning Yarra River. Offering a mix of cultural landmarks, dining options, and scenic spots, Southbank is the place to be for an all-rounded Melbourne experience.

A walk along the Southbank Promenade offers breathtaking views, and a cruise on the Yarra River provides a fresh perspective on the city’s landmarks. Embark on an unforgettable river adventure, exploring the wonders of Southbank when you visit Melbourne!

Southbank and the Crown Casino are must-visit locations in the city.

Southbank Promenade

Offering a lively riverside experience, Southbank Promenade is a must-visit spot on any Melbourne trip. With many restaurants, cafes, and entertainment options, it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the city’s vibrant atmosphere.

As you stroll along the Promenade, marvel at the city skyline, watch rowers glide across the Yarra River, and soak in the energy of this bustling precinct.

Yarra River Cruise

Finish your exploration of Southbank by hopping aboard a Yarra River Cruise, offering a fresh perspective of Melbourne. Gliding along the river, you’ll be treated to stunning views of Melbourne’s skyline, iconic landmarks, and beautiful landscapes. The Yarra Cruise is not just a journey but an experience showcasing Melbourne in a new light.

The Cruise offers a panoramic view of Melbourne’s best sights, from the historic Polly Woodside sailing ship and Docklands Crown Entertainment Complex to sporting arenas like the MCG and Government House. So, please sit back, relax, and let the river tell its tale.

Enjoy a Yarra River Cruise and take in the best sites.

Uncovering Melbourne’s Art Scene

The art scene in Melbourne is both diverse and vibrant. From world-class galleries to its famous street art, the city offers a feast for the eyes at every turn. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or a casual observer, Melbourne’s thriving art scene promises to captivate and inspire.

Delve into this creative world by visiting Melbourne, where you can explore the renowned National Gallery of Victoria, immerse yourself in the Melbourne Museum’s diverse exhibits, experience the city’s vibrant street art scene, and stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens.

National Gallery of Victoria

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is a cornerstone of Melbourne’s art scene. As Australia’s oldest and most visited art museum, the NGV holds a diverse collection of over 75,000 ancient and contemporary works.

This premier art museum offers more than just a viewing – it provides an experience. With its innovative exhibitions and commitment to showcasing diverse art from around the world, a visit to the NGV is a must for any art lover.

Melbourne Museum

The Melbourne Museum offers a window into the region’s rich history and culture. As the largest Museum in the Southern Hemisphere, it houses a vast collection of historical and cultural artifacts that tell the stories of Melbourne and its people.

The Melbourne Museum offers a comprehensive view of the area’s heritage and environment, from natural history to cultural displays. The Museum is a treasure trove of discoveries for history buffs, science enthusiasts, and curious explorers alike.

Street Art Exploration

The street art in Melbourne City stands as a testament to the city’s creative spirit. With its vibrant laneways, stunning murals, and unique graffiti, the city’s streets are a canvas for artists to express their creativity.

From the iconic Hosier Lane to the eclectic AC/DC Lane, Melbourne offers many opportunities for street art exploration. Melbourne’s vibrant street art scene promises to leave a lasting impression on art lovers and casual observers.

Melbourne is known for its fantastic architecture and its art scene.

Beach Day: St Kilda & Brighton

Are you ready for a beach day? Melbourne’s beach scene is as diverse as the city, with popular spots like St Kilda and the picturesque Brighton Bathing Boxes. Each offers unique charm and a chance to experience Melbourne’s laid-back beach culture.

Melbourne’s beaches offer a perfect escape from the city hustle, whether you want to soak up the sun, dip your toes in the water, or enjoy a scenic stroll. Time to hit the Beach!

Brighton Bathing Boxes

On the sandy shores of Brighton Beach, you’ll find an iconic Melbourne attraction – the Brighton Bathing Boxes. With their vibrant colours and unique designs, these beach huts are popular among photographers and beachgoers.

Dating back to the late 1800s, the Bathing Boxes are a reminder of a bygone era when beachgoers used these huts to change into their swimwear. Today, they stand as a vibrant and picturesque attraction against the serene backdrop of Brighton Beach.

The Brighton Bathing Boxes provide a unique and colourful beach experience, perfect for capturing Instagram shots or simply enjoying the Beach.

St Kilda Beach

St Kilda Beach is a bustling and lively seaside destination that offers more than just the typical sun, sand, and sea experience. With its vibrant St Kilda Pier, the quirky and fun-filled Luna Park, and many dining options catering to every palate, the famous Beach is a lively hotspot that attracts locals and tourists alike, making it a must-visit on any trip.

Whether you’re seeking a day of relaxation under the Australian sun, a stroll along the picturesque Promenade, or a thrilling ride at Luna Park that’ll have you laughing and screaming in delight, St Kilda promises a day filled with fun, excitement, and fulfilling experiences that you’ll remember long after your visit.

St Kilda Beach is a top reason to visit Melbourne.

Exploring Melbourne’s Suburbs

Beyond Melbourne’s bustling city centre lie its charming suburbs, each offering distinct character and attractions. Some of the notable suburbs include:

• Fitzroy: Known for its trendy cafes, bars, and street art
• Carlton: Influenced by Italian culture, with great restaurants and beautiful gardens
• Prahran: A stylish suburb with boutique shops, vibrant nightlife, and the iconic Prahran Market

These suburbs offer a glimpse into Melbourne’s diverse neighbourhoods.

Melbourne’s suburbs provide a unique and engaging experience, whether you want to explore unique shops, indulge in local cuisine, soak in the local vibe, or blend in with the city’s fashion.

Fitzroy, a suburb synonymous with Melbourne’s hipster culture, is a must-visit destination during your Melbourne escapade. This vibrant neighbourhood is renowned for its eclectic mix of unique shops, bustling cafes, and stunning street art.

Fitzroy’s colourful murals and graffiti-adorned laneways testify to the city’s thriving arts scene. Moreover, the suburb’s lively dining scene, featuring a variety of trendy eateries and cosy coffee shops, offers a delectable array of culinary delights.

Thus, Fitzroy, with its unique blend of creativity, culture, and cuisine, offers a truly unique Melbourne experience that should be noticed.

If you’re looking to experience Melbourne’s local charm and vibrant culture, add a visit to Hawthorn to your itinerary. Located just a few minutes from the city centre, Glenferrie Road is a bustling hub of activity and a must-see destination for any traveller.

Glenferrie Road offers something for everyone, whether an avid foodie or a savvy shopper, from trendy cafes and boutique shops to world-class restaurants and bars. And with its friendly locals and laid-back atmosphere, you will feel right at home in this vibrant Melbourne suburb.

Hawthorn Catholic Parish on Glenferrie Road.

For a taste of Italy in Melbourne, head to Carlton. With its strong Italian influence, Carlton is a charming suburb known for its cafes, restaurants, and cultural attractions.

Whether craving authentic Italian cuisine or seeking a cultural adventure, Carlton offers a unique and engaging experience. Take a stroll down Lygon Street, home to many Italian restaurants and cafes.

Prahran is a stylish suburb in Melbourne known for its unique blend of eclectic shops, vibrant dining scene, and trendy vibe. A visit to this suburb is a must if you want to experience the bustling Prahran Market, its shopping district on Chapel Street, and its vibrant dining scene.

Prahran promises a unique and engaging experience whether you’re in the mood for some retail therapy or looking to sample local produce at the Queen Victoria Market.

Moonee Ponds

If you want a unique experience in Melbourne, consider adding Moonee Ponds to your itinerary. This vibrant suburb offers a range of street shopping opportunities that will impress locals and tourists alike. Take a stroll down Puckle Street and browse the many boutique stores and specialty shops for unique finds.

And suppose you’re a horse racing enthusiast captivated by the incredible Melbourne Sporting scene. In that case, you won’t want to miss the legendary Moonee Valley Racecourse – home to some of the most exciting races in the country. With its bustling energy and unforgettable attractions, Moonee Ponds is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring all Melbourne offers.

Wander through the sights of Moonee Ponds and enjoy shopping, churches and a racecourse.

Day Trips from Melbourne City

Are you ready to venture beyond the city limits? Melbourne’s location makes it a perfect base for exploring some of Victoria’s most iconic destinations. From the breathtaking Great Ocean Road and the charming Phillip Island to the renowned Yarra Valley, there’s plenty to discover on a day trip from Melbourne.

Each of these destinations offers its own unique experiences and attractions. These day trips promise to enrich your Melbourne journey with unforgettable memories, whether you’re a nature lover, wine enthusiast, or wildlife explorer. Take advantage of the perfect Melbourne itinerary for your interests.

Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is among the world’s most picturesque coastal routes. Offering stunning coastal views, quaint towns, and the famous Twelve Apostles, a day trip along the Great Ocean Road is an experience like no other.

This 243 km long route takes you through breathtaking landscapes, stunning beaches, and iconic landmarks. The Great Ocean Road promises an unforgettable journey, whether cruising along the winding path, exploring quaint towns, or soaking in the stunning views.

But the star of the show is undeniably the Twelve Apostles. These majestic limestone stacks rising from the Southern Ocean are awe-inspiring, especially at sunset when the setting sun casts a golden glow on the piles.

Click here for a fantastic day tour and witness the Great Ocean Road Stretch!

Philip Island

A visit to Philip Island offers a unique blend of wildlife and natural beauty. Known for its famous Penguin Parade, Philip Island is a must-visit destination for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. The Beach comes alive every sunset as little penguins waddle ashore back to their burrows in the dunes. This nightly ritual, known as the Penguin Parade, is a heartwarming sight that never fails to captivate visitors.

But there’s more to the tourist Island than just the Penguin Parade. The island is also home to abundant other wildlife, including koalas, seals, and various bird species. It has several walking trails that take you through its diverse landscapes, from sandy beaches and rocky shores to wetlands and woodlands. The island also has a rich history, with several heritage sites and museums that tell the story of its past.

Want to visit the famous Penguins march on Philip Island? Click here for the best day trips!

Yarra Valley

Nestled just an hour outside Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is a hidden gem often overlooked in tourist itineraries. But those in the know realize this region is the ultimate destination for wine lovers, foodies, and nature enthusiasts alike.

With over 80 world-class wineries, gourmet restaurants, and stunning landscapes that take your breath away, the Yarra Valley is the perfect day trip or weekend getaway from Melbourne. Whether you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city or want to indulge in the finer things in life, visiting the Yarra Valley is an experience you’ll never forget.

The Dandenongs

The Dandenongs is a must-visit destination for anyone travelling to Melbourne. The stunning mountains offer breathtaking views and endless opportunities for outdoor adventures like hiking, picnicking, and even zip-lining.

Located just an hour east of the city, the Dandenongs are the perfect day trip for nature enthusiasts looking to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life. Whether you visit the famous Puffing Billy railway, explore the quaint local villages, or soak up the tranquil atmosphere of the forest, the Dandenongs will undoubtedly leave you feeling reinvigorated and inspired.

Click here and click fast as the Puffing Billy Tickets in the Dandenongs sell out quickly. 

Ride the Puffing Billy in the Dandenongs and be one with nature.

Food & Nightlife in Melbourne

Melbourne’s food and nightlife scene offers many options to suit every taste and mood. Some highlights include:

• World-class restaurants
• Trendy cafes
• Lively pubs

With such diversity and vibrancy, spending a few days in Melbourne truly offers something for everyone.

Melbourne caters to foodies seeking culinary delights, coffee lovers searching for the perfect brew, or those looking to experience the city’s nightlife.

Dining Recommendations

Melbourne’s dining scene is a culinary journey around the world. From Asian fare in Chinatown to Italian dishes in Carlton, the city offers many dining options that cater to every palate and budget.

For a taste of Asia, head to Melbourne’s Chinatown, where a range of eateries offer everything from dumplings to dim sum. To taste Italy, visit Carlton and indulge in traditional pasta and pizza at the many trattorias along Lygon Street.

Melbourne’s diverse dining scene offers a gourmet adventure, catering to high-end dining experiences and budget-friendly options.

Nightlife Hotspots

As the sun sets, Melbourne’s nightlife scene comes alive. From lively pubs and rooftop bars to trendy clubs and live music venues, the city offers many nightlife options that cater to every mood and preference.

For a laid-back evening, head to one of the city’s many pubs to enjoy a pint of craft beer and catch up with friends. If you’re in the mood for a night of dancing, Melbourne’s clubs and dance floors promise a night of fun and frolic.

Melbourne’s vibrant nightlife scene promises a memorable night, whether you’re a party animal, a music enthusiast, or simply looking to unwind.

Melbourne’s food scene is electric, and you’ll never run out of places to dine.

Summary of your Melbourne Itinerary

Melbourne’s allure is undeniable, from its vibrant arts scene and world-class dining to its picturesque landscapes and rich history. Whether you’re a culture enthusiast, foodie, adventurer, or leisure traveller, Melbourne offers diverse experiences that cater to all tastes.

With each day of this 7-day itinerary, you’ll discover a new facet of Melbourne, from the hustle and bustle of the CBD to the breathtaking views along the Great Ocean Road, the vibrant art scene, the charming suburbs, and the exciting food and nightlife scene.

So, are you ready to embark on an unforgettable journey? Pack your bags, free your spirit, and let Melbourne captivate your heart.

Visit the Cultural City of Australia/ Click here to find accommodation in Melbourne!

What are you waiting for? Explore Melbourne today and see the best tourist attractions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is seven days too long for melbourne.

Seven days in Melbourne is not enough to experience all the city has to offer, but it’s plenty of time to taste the best things to see, do, and eat. Make your trip memorable with this 7-day itinerary.

How many days is enough in Melbourne?

Four nights in Melbourne gives you enough time to explore the main attractions, but for a complete experience of the surrounding region, plan on adding a few extra days.

Is seven days enough for Australia?

A week in Australia is enough time to experience some of the Aussie culture and natural beauty, mainly if you’re sticking to the middle east coast. You’ll be able to get a good taste of what Australia has to offer in 6-10 days, but make sure you pick either the east or west coast for your visit.

What are some must-visit spots in the CBD?

Flinders Street, Federation Square, and Bourke Street Mall are must-visit spots in the CBD that you won’t want to miss during your Melbourne Itinerary!

What can I expect to see on a Yarra River Cruise?

On a Cruise on the famous Yarra, you can take in the stunning views of the Melbourne skyline and explore the historic landmarks, such as the West Gate Bridge, the Polly Woodside sailing ship, and Docklands.

Is the Melbourne Zoo worth visiting?

Many visitors to Melbourne may wonder if the city has a zoo. The answer is yes! The Melbourne Zoo is the oldest in Australia, established in 1862. It is also one of the oldest zoos in the world. The zoo houses more than 320 species of animals from Australia and around the globe.

The Queen Victoria Market is one of Melbourne’s most famous shopping scenes.

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The Perfect Melbourne Itinerary (2023) – Things to Do, Travel Guide & Places to Eat

March 30, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

Two days in Melbourne might seem like an awfully short time to explore a fantastic Australian city but if you are faced with limited time as I was when I visited for just over 48 hours a couple months ago, it is still possible to cover a bit of ground when it comes to the sights and eats in this world-class city Down Under.

Here is a suggested itinerary that you can do easily for two days to four days in Melbourne even without renting your own car.

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Melbourne CBD

Laid out in a grid, the streets of Melbourne’s CBD are highly easy to navigate. This is an intuitive place to start your exploration of the city where many of the attractions are within walking distance of each other or just a short tram ride apart. I would recommend starting from the west and working your way to the center and the east where most of the interesting places are located. A hidden gem in Melbourne is 333 Collins Street , an unassuming office building from the outside but housing a beautiful lobby and dome. You’d be forgiven to think you’re somewhere in Europe!

melbourne’s block arcade

From here, walk to the Block Arcade and Royal Arcade , a duo of historic shopping centers dating back from the Victorian era. The shops here are mostly high-end but it’s worth a short stroll to check out the fascinating architecture. As you are window-shopping anyway, might as well catch a ride on the free tram and head northwards to the Queen Victoria Market (open daily except Mondays and Wednesdays), the most well-known market in the city. If you are there at around noon, grab lunch in one of the specialty food stalls. There’s always something interesting being sold here – from fresh seafood, pastries and even drinks. Alternatively, if you’d like to explore more of Melbourne’s markets, you can check out Prahran Market or the South Melbourne Market .

If you are feeling peckish while walking around Melbourne’s downtown, you can check out Kariton Sorbetes (177 Russell Street), a Filipino-inspired ice cream shop. Try the ube gelato that is served with purple yam fudge, blackberry jam and caramelized coconut curds. 

state library of victoria

After spending a couple of hours in the sprawling market, make your way down via tram or foot to the State Library of Victoria . Another attraction that you should not miss in Melbourne, the building is known for its highly instagrammable La Trobe Reading Room which has an octagonal shape and a dome which was the largest in the world when it was completed back in 1913.

hosier lane

Head south via the Swanston Street tram to Flinders Street Railway Station , a city landmark. Other notable attractions such as the St. Paul’s Cathedral and Hosier Lane are within reach from here. The latter is especially known for its graffiti and at any given time, you’ll find people spraying paint all over the walls – making for a new scene with every visit. While Hosier Lane is probably the most well-known, Melbourne has several interesting lanes and some other examples include the following:

• Centre Place – very photogenic due to its many neon signs lining either side of the narrow path that mimick busier places like Tokyo or Hong Kong. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars here.
• Hardware Lane – atmospheric area filled with restaurants and cafes, giving off an European vibe.
• AC/DC Lane – tribute to the Australian rock band. You’ll find some bars and night clubs here dedicated to rock and roll.

melbourne federation square by rob young

A short walk from Hosier Lane is Melbourne’s Art Precinct . Located south of the Yarra River and connected through the Princes Bridge, the Art Precinct comprises of attractions such as the futuristic Arts Centre Melbourne , a performing arts venue, as well as the National Gallery of Victoria . This is a free tour that is held at 11AM on most days and runs through some of the more notable artworks by local artists. In the nearby Federation Square , one will find the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia which also has a focus on local artists. 

For dinner, I would recommend heading to Rice, Paper Scissors (19 Liverpool Street, +613 9663 9890). It is a Southeast Asian restaurant but even I (who also comes from Southeast Asia) was blown away by the food. There is a distinct Australian twist to the dishes with influences that range from Thailand to the Philippines but most are worth trying.

Day 2 – Fitzroy and Collingwood

crumpets at stagger lee’s cafe

While Melbourne already has a reputation for being a “hipster city” – this is probably nowhere else more apparent than in Fitzroy and Collingwood .  The area is filled with art galleries, studios, hip cafes as well as independent fashion brands. These two suburbs are best explored by going on a walking tour that takes in Brunswick Street – Johnston Street – Smith Street and then Gertrude Street where most of the interesting establishments are. If you are feeling peckish, check out Naked for Satan (285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy; +61  3 9416 2238) which also has a nice rooftop bar. If you are there for lunch, all dishes are priced at S$9 – around half of the usual price. If you prefer to have breakfast/brunch food instead, check out Stagger Lee’s Cafe just across the street. Aside from great coffee, they also have excellent crumpets.

carlton gardens by denisbin

If you don’t mind the fifteen to twenty minute walk, you can head to the Carlton Gardens – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – to soak in some greenery and the magnificence of the Royal Exhibition Building which dates back from 1880.

brighton bathing boxes

Many visitors who intend to explore the day trip destinations around Melbourne hire a car but even without one, it is possible to venture to some attractions via public transport. An example is the Brighton Bathing Boxes which has become an ubiquitous part of most tourists’ Melbourne itinerary.  A 40+ minute train ride from Parliament Railway Station which is a short walk from Carlton Gardens, the row of colorful and brightly decorated beach houses are highly instagrammable and considered one of the most iconic attractions around Melbourne.

For dinner, you can’t go wrong with Red Spice QV (37 Artemis Lane, +61 3 8660 6300). The Five-Spiced Pork Belly is a must!

Day 3 – Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most spectacular stretch of road. Covering 240 kilometers, visitors can expect plenty of twists and turns as well as natural attractions along the way. 

twelve apostles by josselin berger | cc 2.0

To cover the Great Ocean Road, allocate at least a day. You can choose to rent a car or book a day tour . Must-see stops include Port Campbell National Park , Great Otway National Park as well as the Twelve Apostles . You will also get to see some scenic towns along the way such as Geelong and Torquay. 

While most visitors invariably drive up until the Twelve Apostles area, do note that the Great Ocean Road actually stretches longer than that – up to the town of Warrnambool. From that additional stretch from Twelve Apostles to Warrnambool, you will get to see some more rock formations and lookout points such as the Magic Rock and Bay of Islands . These are not as impressive as those found on the main trail so I’d suggest extending until Warrnambool only if you really have lots of spare time.

Day 4 – Yarra Valley

yarra valley vineyards by the 3b’s | cc 2.0

Explore the lush green valleys immediately to the east of Melbourne by going on a gourmet tour of Yarra Valley . Typical trips take you to three wineries and you can sip different types of wines and have some of Yarra’s fresh farm cheese to go along. Lunch is typically provided in these tours with a customary stop at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie at the end. Allot an entire day for the trip. You can book this tour here .

Day Trips If You Have More Time to Spare

To save on costs, you can also consider going with a pre-arranged tour for your day trip destinations. Check out Shopback in order to gain cashback with tour operators such as Klook and Voyagin. Better yet, check out their ShopFest in order to get even better deals during special sale days like single’s day or the 12/12 online fever.

• Philip Island – sighting of penguins
• Ballarat – a glimpse of Australia back in the days of the gold rush
• Grampians National Park

Tip: If you need a local sim card for all your data needs, you can conveniently purchase one here . You can pick-up from the lockers regardless of the time of day you arrive in Melbourne.

Getting to the City From Airport

You can either try a ridesharing app such as UBER (around A$40 to A$50) but the cheapest way to get to town is by taking the SkyBus (A$20.05 for a one-way trip). 

Where to Stay in Melbourne

Budget:  Situated at the fringes of the city center and a few minutes walk from the State Library, Space Hotel is a colorful budget hotel filled with amenities such as a jacuzzi/hot tub in their rooftop and sweeping views of the CBD. You can choose between dorm beds, private rooms with shared bathrooms or private rooms with your own bathroom. 

Midrange: I stated at the relatively new Novotel Melbourne South Wharf which is located in the hip riverside area called South Bank. Rooms are spacious, decently-priced and most important – new. To get to the CBD, you’ll just need to cross the bridge to the other side of the city.

Upscale: If you prefer something more plush, the Pan Pacific Melbourne which is just next to the Novotel is also a great choice. All rooms boast of deep-soaking tub and floor-to-ceiling windows.

You can also check for deals on other Melbourne hotels here .

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Hi, my name is Bino and I started I Wander around 15 years ago with the aim of sharing about some of my personal journeys and experiences, hoping that the information may benefit readers like yourselves. Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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MELBOURNE ITINERARY (2024): THE ULTIMATE 5 DAY GUIDE & BEST THINGS TO DO!

LOOKING TO PLAN THE ULTIMATE MELBOURNE ITINERARY?

Check out our blog post below for an epic 5 days in Melbourne itinerary (2024)! It includes the full 5 days in Melbourne itinerary, the best things to do in Melbourne, more of the best tours in Melbourne to chose from, where to stay in Melbourne and much more!

A MELBOURNE ITINERARY: THE ULTIMATE 5 DAY ITINERARY!

For our 5 days in Melbourne itinerary listed below, we initially begin in the the eclectic inner city for the first few days, before heading out on a few epic tours outside of Melbourne, such as Phillip Island, the Great Ocean Road and Wilsons Promontory.

DAY 1: SOUTH BANK, YARRA RIVER, SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE & EUREKA SKYDECK

MORNING: STROLL THE YARRA RIVER ON SOUTH BANK Coupling the natural beauty of the Yarra river, gleaming high-rise buildings and some (surprisingly large) funky art sculptures – a stroll along South Bank is a must to get your first taste of Melbourne’ beauty.

Start by crossing Sandridge Bridge from the South Bank promenade. 

MORNING: MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND Reaching the end of the South Bank, head over and lap the outside of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (commonly known as the “MCG”).

Stroll around the outside of the stadium and spot all the statues of famous rugby and cricket players. Or, there is the option to go inside on a guided tour around the Melbourne Cricket Ground !

Fun Fact : The River Yarra is named after the aboriginal word ‘Yarra’, meaning ‘ever-flowing’.

Top Tip : As you walk beside the Yarra River on the South Bank, you’ll find many free drinking fountains to use. P.s. I don’t know why, but the water tastes incredible!

AFTERNOON: SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE Cross back over the Yarra River to head towards the impressive  Shrine of Remembrance , a national landmark built to honour individuals of war. Approach up a long sandy track lined with heartfelt memorial plaques and poppies.

Inside the Shrine itself, it offers tales of war history, a spot for quiet reflection and provides beautiful cityscape views of Melbourne. Visiting the Shrine of Remembrance is a free thing to do in Melbourne.

When at the Shrine, remember to look back to take in the breathtaking cityscape of Melbourne’s high rise buildings from this vantage point!

Top Tip : The Shrine of Remembrance is located right next to  Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens !

AFTERNOON / EVENING: EUREKA SKYDECK Want to witness Melbourne’s cityscape from above? Book your ticket up to the Eureka SkyDeck – The tallest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere!

Once at the top, circle the 360 views in awe, watch the busy streets below through powerful telescopes or even post a letter in ‘Australia’s highest postbox’!

Ideally arrive 1 hour before sunset to 3 views for the price of 1 – daytime, dusk and night!

Fun Fact : The sky deck can sway 30cm each way, dependant on the direction of the wind!

Fun Fact : They have an annual ‘Eureka Stair Climb’ competition – involving a whopping 1642 stairs!

Click to book your Eureka SkyDeck entry ticket! 🌇🔭

DAY 2: INNER CITY, HOSIER LANE STREET ART, VICTORIA STATE LIBRARY & DOCKLANDS

MORNING: EXPLORE THE INNER CITY Meander the heart of Melbourne in Federation Square, featuring eclectic modern buildings, quirky eateries and bars. Venturing from here you will find the infamous ‘Flinders Street’ train station, plus souvenir shops and vintage clothing shops. 

Just a 5 minute walk from Federation Square is  Degraves Street , a narrow cobbled laneway lined with endless eateries and coffee shops. The dining tables are set up right in the middle of the pedestrian road!

If you wanted expert commentary while you explored Melbourne, you can book onto a guided Melbourne City walking tour !

Click to book a guided city walking tour in Melbourne! 🚶‍♀️🏙️

Did You Know ? The tram lines are free to use in Central Melbourne! Plan the best routes via the Public Transport Victoria’s  Journey Planner .

Did You Know ? In the 1960’s, it only cost £10 to immigrate to Australia, earning the nick-name “Ten Pound Poms”!

Did You Know ? Melbourne is the first place a Cappuccino machine was used, down Bourke Street in 1928!

MORNING: HOSIER LANE STREET ART One of the best things to tick off your Melbourne itinerary bucket list! Lose yourself in the vibrant street art dotted all across the city. The best street art destination spot in Melbourne is definitely  Hosier Lane .

Get positively dizzy looking around at the overload of colour, characters, typography and symbols.

The street artists themselves also run guided Street Art tours providing great insight into all of the street art and graffiti dotted around Melbourne.

Fun Fact : The City of Melbourne commissions local and international artists to create large artistic street art pieces to maintain the vibrant, urban culture of the city.

Top Tip : Though also recommended by others, Union Lane is more ‘tagging’ graffiti, instead of art pieces. Hosier Lane is definitely the better option to visit. 

Click to book a guided Melbourne Street Art tour! 🎨

AFTERNOON: VICTORIA STATE LIBRARY Escape the hustle and bustle of Melbourne’s streets and seek solace in the Victoria State Library. Entrance is free. Head to the ‘La Trobe Reading Room’ on the third floor.

Admire the Dome ceiling, people socialising or even playing chess on the rich timber tables in this traditional, elegantly designed space. 

Fun Fact : Victoria State Library is Australia’s oldest public library, and is actually one of the World’s first free public libraries!

EVENING: THE DOCKLANDS Rested against a yacht lined harbour, The Docklands is an eclectic destination space for many organised pop-up evening events & festivals in Melbourne ( see planned events her e ).

For example, we visited during the ‘firelight festival’, hosting exciting performances including fire eaters,  live music and entrancing light installations.

Top Tip : Make your way to ‘The Docklands’ and back via the free to use “Melbourne City Circle” tram line . Check the  Journey Planner  for the live timetable. 

Top Tip : There is free WiFi called ‘VicFreeWifi’, which is attainable throughout the majority of central Melbourne.

DAY 3: PHILLIP ISLAND PENGUINS FULL DAY TOUR

FULL DAY: PHILLIP ISLAND PENGUINS & WILDLIFE RESERVE Venture out on this highly recommended full day tour to Moonlit Wildlife Sanctuary Park and Brighton Beach before heading to the Phillip Island for the Penguin Parade, your best chance to see the world’s smallest wild penguin, The Little Blue Penguin, in the wild!

This was one of out favourite tours to do when visiting Melbourne, and was able to book it very last minute too!

Witness firsthand small groups of penguins scurry from the sea back up to their beach burrows as the darkness draws in, a natural ritual done everyday for thousands of years to avoid being spotted by predators.

No personal photography of any kind is permitted during the Penguin Parade to avoid disturbing the penguins. 

Fun Fact : All spending in the visitor centre goes back to the penguins. E.g. 1 general admission buys 1 penguin nesting box and 1 cafe meal buys 2kg of pilchards to feed sick and injured penguins.

Fun Fact : The Summerlands (where the Penguin Parade occurs) used to be a bustling residential area. Over time, the Government brought all of the houses back to demolish and give the land back to wildlife. Look closely to spot old driveways and road signs randomly still in tact!

Click to book this Phillip Island penguin tour from Melbourne! 🐧

SPOTTED WILDLIFE!

Little ‘Blue’ Penguin The world’s only ‘navy and white’ penguin, The Little Penguin has an average lifespan of 7 years – the oldest on Phillip Island being 24! There are around 32,000 living near the Summerlands. Nest building begins late Winter, and usually 2 eggs are laid.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo Spotted at the Koala Centre. A marsupial mammal belonging to the ‘Macropod’ family meaning ‘Big Foot’ – larger hind legs than their arms. Their herbivorous diet ranges from grasses to plants, preferring to eat young green shoots!

DAY 4: GREAT OCEAN ROAD FULL DAY TOUR

FULL DAY: GREAT OCEAN ROAD TOUR For those who only have 1 day to see the Great Ocean Road, this 5* 12 hour full day guided tour is the perfect option for you. Stopping off at all the famous scenic Great Ocean Road hotspots from Melbourne all the way through to Port Campbell.

The unique selling point of this tour is not only is it much more personalised with maximum 12 people, it does the usual Great Ocean Road route in reverse. This means missing the majority of large tourists crowds at the main sites (i.e. 12 Apostles), which makes all the difference to your experience!

From quaint towns, lush National Parks, jaw-dropping coves and the rugged landscapes of the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, we can vouch from personal experience this trip is not one to be missed.

There is plenty of wildlife to spot throughout the day, including wild kangaroos and cockatoos at Anglesea and a resident wild koala at Apollo Bay! One of the best places to visit in Melbourne.

Fun Fact : The Great Ocean Road was originally created to make jobs for returning WW1 serviceman and women.

Fun Fact : There is a face carved into one of the rocks, made by the women workers as a practical joke for ships coming in.

Fun Fact : There was apparently only ever ‘9’ Apostles, however 12 sounded better. It was once also nick-named the ‘Sow and Piglets’.

Click to book this Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne! 🐨🚍🏞

The Koala Spotted at Apollo Bay! Australia’s most famous fluffy icon – The Koala! Koalas have a specific diet of toxic eucalyptus leaves, with a tough digestive system allowing them to eat them safely. This however takes up an awful lot of energy – causing koalas to sleep for 18/20 hours a day!

DAY 5: WILSONS PROMONTORY FULL DAY TOUR

FULL DAY: WILSONS PROMONTORY NATIONAL PARK A visit to Melbourne is not complete without this recommended hiking tour to Wilsons Promontory Peninsula, approximately a 3.5 hour drive from Melbourne city centre.

Embark on a small hiking tour to explore this idyllic National Park, full of jaw-dropping scenery and luscious beaches. It is also very common to see wild Australian Wombats roaming on the open plains of Wilsons Promontory!

Click to book this Wilsons Promontory hiking tour from Melbourne! 🥾🏞🐻

OTHER MELBOURNE TOURS & ACTIVITIES:

• Drive a rental car or catch a tram from Flinders Station (at Federation Square) to St Kilda beach and see the Brighton beach bath boxes! 🏝️

• Skydive at St Kilda beach! 🪂

• Take a day trip to Mornington Peninsula! 🏞️🐬🦭🏖️

• Yarra Valley Food and Wine Tour 🍷🍇🧀

• Melbourne sunrise hot air balloon flight over the city 🌆🎈

• Yarra Valley sunrise hot air balloon flight 🌄🎈

WHERE TO STAY IN MELBOURNE

BUDGET ACCOMMODATION OPTION

💰 Selina Central Melbourne (Light, fresh scandinavian design. Option for shared dorms to private double rooms. Perfect for young backpackers)

💰 Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne (A touch of luxury on a budget!)

MID-RANGE ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

🤝🏻 Rydges Melbourne (Classical, stylish boutique hotel Rated 9/10!)

🤝🏻 Adelphi Hotel Melbourne (Great central location, bold and funky designed rooms)

PREMIUM ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

💎 W Melbourne (Super modern, luxurious hotel in heart of Melbourne CBD)

💎 The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne (Ultra luxurious stay, Docklands location with immediate tram links)

A WILD CARD: QUIRKY ACCOMMODATION OPTION

🔮 Hotel No (Rooftop glamping in converted AIRSTREAM trailers. Fun speak easy style ‘secret’ entrance. Super cool & quirky)

GETTING TO MELBOURNE

GETTING TO MELBOURNE BY AIR: 🛫

If you are looking to get to Melbourne directly from another major Australian city, or from an International country, the most convenient method for you is to fly.

Most major cities in Australia fly directly into Melbourne Tullamarine in just a few hours, including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Cairns.

There is a great choice of operating airlines (Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Alliance for example) to choose from. Check Skyscanner for the best deals on your dates .

GETTING TO MELBOURNE BY TRAIN: 🚉

It is possible to also catch an intercity train service from Sydney to Melbourne, with a duration of approximately 10 hours. They also provide a ‘sleep-friendly’ night service, where you can sleep overnight throughout the majority of the journey. Check out Australia Trains for their prices and timetable here .

GETTING TO MELBOURNE BY BUS: 🚌

FROM MELBOURNE TULLAMARINE AIRPORT:

Just before you leave the airport, purchase a ticket for the  SkyBus  ‘Melbourne City Express’ (around £14 each) from the kiosk and catch the SkyBus waiting directly outside.

It took approximately 30 minutes, terminating at Southern Cross train station in Melbourne’s city centre. The SkyBus provides an additional ‘link’ service from here to popular hotels. Use the touch screen to see if yours is included, or make your own way from there.

FROM ANOTHER CITY IN AUSTRALIA:

Getting to Melbourne by the Greyhound Australia bus is the best way to get to Melbourne for anyone travelling or backpacking Australia Greyhound Australia offers a flexible and affordable hop-on, hop off ticket covering from Sydney to Cairns.

GETTING TO MELBOURNE BY CAR: 🚙

For those who want to stop and see the scenery up the East Coast to Cairns in their own time, a popular option is rent a car for multiple days. Check the best rental car deals for your dates!

HOW TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE CITY & VICTORIA

HOW TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE CITY: ON FOOT 🚶🏻‍♀️

Melbourne city in its entirety is a deceivingly large, however the majority of its key attractions (Federation Square, Hosier Lane, Yarra River and South Bank etc) are all located in a similar area. Therefore, as long as you stay in Melbourne near the centre (i.e. near Federation Square), everything you’ll want to see in the immediate centre of Melbourne is accessible on foot.

HOW TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE CITY: THE TRAM 🚃

One of the best ways to get around Melbourne is by their excellent tram service. In fact, the “Melbourne City Circle” tram zone, servicing the immediate inner city, is free to use by everyone! See the free tram zone map here . If you wanted to go further afield on the tram, you’ll need to buy a MYKI card from any available 7/11 shop and top it up with credit. Find out more on the MYKI card here .

HOW TO GET AROUND OUTSIDE OF MELBOURNE CITY IN VICTORIA STATE 🚌🚗

For those who do not want to rely on a tour pick-up to get around outside of Melbourne city, or wants to freedom to explore further afield in Victoria by themselves, there are two main options:

UTILISE PUBLIC TRANSPORT 🚃🚍

The first, and most cost efficient option, is to take advantage of Melbourne’s multiple public transport links (trams and bus services) originating from Federation Square, Melbourne city centre. For example, you can catch a direct 27 minute tram from Federation Square straight to St Kilda beach for $3 , or alternatively a 2-hour split tram / bus journey from Melbourne to Yarra Valley for just $6 ! This is when the previously mentioned MYKI card is required!

RENT A CAR 🚗

Another option is to rent a car for one or multiple days to fully explore the rest of Victoria freely with no restraints on your Melbourne itinerary. This is a great option if you have extended time in the Melbourne region.

IN SUMMARY: IS IT EASY TO GET AROUND MELBOURNE WITHOUT A CAR? 🚙❓

Yes! It is incredibly easy, and probably more convenient, to get around Melbourne city without a car. Melbourne’s public transport system is top notch with an extensive tram system, so there is no need to rent a car if just explore the city centre.

There are also extensive tram, train and bus options to get to one-off destinations just outside of Melbourne city, examples including the Yarra Valley and St Kilda beach.

If you wanted to drive further afield to i.e. Phillip Island, Wilsons Promontory or the Great Ocean Road freely on your own terms (aka not on organised tours), these are great examples where renting a car in Melbourne would be very beneficial.

ABOUT VISITING MELBOURNE: “KNOW BEFORE YOU GO” FAQ’S

Why is melbourne australia so popular why should you visit.

Melbourne (Australia’s second-largest city) is so popular to visit for so many reasons. Not only is it laced in quirky architecture, bold colour and commissioned vibrant street art, it is also a renowned sporting and cultural hub.

You have the option to explore the exciting inner city before venturing out to all the rural gems in Victoria state!

WHAT ARE THE BEST MONTHS TO VISIT MELBOURNE?

To increase your chances of having pleasant weather during your stay, we would suggest the two shoulder seasons of late Spring (September – November) or early Autumn (March-April) are the best months to visit Melbourne. In the Winter months (June – August), Melbourne’s Southern location in Australia means it can get pretty cold here!

HOW MANY DAYS IS ENOUGH FOR MELBOURNE?

If you were simply staying in the inner city, we would suggest 3 days would be enough to visit Melbourne.

However, we believe to get the best out of your Melbourne itinerary, you need at least a few more days to venture out and explore the incredible areas surrounding Melbourne city, including the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island and Wilsons Promontory National Park.

Therefore, for the best Melbourne itinerary plan, we would say 5 days is the perfect amount of time to visit Melbourne!

CONCLUSION: MELBOURNE ITINERARY

To conclude, 5 days is a perfect amount to time to allocate for your Melbourne itinerary.

This eclectic city has something for everyone, from quirky street art, buzzing inner city, infamously delicious coffees and idyllic surrounding National Parks full of wildlife.

We hope you have the best time following our Melbourne travel guide, and make memories that will last a lifetime!

This blog post was written by… Jordie Flain! Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com, Travel Itinerary Creator & Wildlife Enthusiast

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Jordie Flain is the owner and author of The Flains Travel, a travel blog with emphasis on ethical wildlife experiences, "seen to be believed" natural beauty and "real magic" phenomena, such as the northern lights. Jordie crafts every itinerary and post to perfection for travellers to follow and get the very most out of their time in a destination.

Global Gallivanting

A backpacker’s travel guide to melbourne.

Melbourne is Australia’s most European city, a lively, trendy, cultural and cosmopolitan city with something for everyone and within easy reach of some amazing natural beauty. The jury’s out about which city is cooler – Melbourne or Sydney so you will just have to visit both to make your mind up which you prefer…

Daily Backpacker Budget: AUD$60 – 80  or approx US$ 50 – 70

Top 5 things to do in melbourne:.

• Melbourne’s trams are iconic so hop on the free city circle tram to get your bearings and hop on and off between Melbourne’s most popular downtown areas and attractions, make sure to get off and check out the iconic Flinders Street Station
• Take a free walking tour , meets everyday at 10:30am and 2:30pm in front of the State Library of Victoria, for an insight into Melbourne’s history and to be shown the lane ways, hidden shops, art, cafe culture and hidden bars. Don’t miss exploring these quirky, legendary lane ways, that make Melbourne the cultural capital of Australia.
• Check out Federation Square , sometimes there are events on, if not just chill out, people watch or visit the free National Gallery of Victoria
• Hang out at St Kilda Beach , go on the old fashioned fun fair at Luna Park , walk along the pier and admire the skyline of the CBD. Or venture further along the coast to Brighton to see Melbourne’s famous beach huts.
• Melbourne is an eminently walkable city, stroll through the botanical gardens or along the Southbank of the Yarra River, you can often watch street performers down there too.

Worth Splashing out on?

The Eurkea Skydeck boasts to be the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform and while it gives an incredible view of the city below (especially magical at sunset and with the lights twinkling below at night time). You can also go on a Neighbours Tour.  

The Best Backpacker Hostels in Melbourne:

Home at the Mansion is located within a grand, heritage building in the heart of Melbourne and is a really friendly and popular hostle. that has won many awards.  Urban Central Backpackers on the Southbank has lots of freebies too like free BBQ, breakfast, rice and pasta. Space Hotel is a chic, centrally located hostel that also has a fun rooftop swimming pool. Also try Melbourne Central YHA on Flinders Street, or get closer to the ocean and enjoy the vibe at funky Base St Kilda.  

Read More: My Top 5 Backpacker Hostels in Melbourne

Where to Eat and Drink on a Budget in Melbourne:

As arguably the most cosmopolitan city in Australia, Melbourne has the best Asian food, check out Chinatown and especially try Victoria street in Richmond for amazing Vietnamese pho. There are also plenty of cheap eats if you know where to go.

Melbourne also has great coffee and you can’t visit without checking out the legendary laneway bar scene of Melbourne. If your hostel has a kitchen visit the Queen Victoria Market and save money by cooking your own food.

The Best Backpacker Cheap Eats In Melbourne 

Melbourne is at the forefront of Australia’s culinary scene, and home to Attica , voted the 32 nd best restaurant in the world. While a night out at Attica might break the bank, there are plenty of great places where you can eat on a budget.

St Kilda Branch – Housed in an old bank, The Branch has so many specials that they’re almost impossible to miss. Sitting at the end of Acland Street in St Kilda, The Branch comes alive in Summer when everyone comes to enjoy the nearby beach. Visit on Monday for $10 burgers, Tuesday for 50c wings and Wednesday for $13 steaks.

Bimbo Deluxe –   One of Fitzroy’s most iconic bars, Bimbo Deluxe is best known for its $4 pizzas and awesome rooftop bar. A two storey venue on Brunswick St, Bimbo’s bottom floor is dimly lit and filled with comfy couches. Walk up the stairs and you’ll find an open roof bar that is also the home to weekly DJ sets. Swing by for lunch on a weekday to enjoy a pizza and beer for $10. Happens between 12pm – 4pm.

Mr Scruff’s – Melbourne has a real affinity for dude-food; crazy burgers, fried chicken and loaded fries. Mr Scruff’s offers all of this in a hip multi-level venue on Smith Street. Swing by on Wednesday night when all their main menu is half price. That means burgers – some of the best in Melbourne – go for just $5. It’s always a busy night, so be prepared for a little wait, but it is well worth it.

See more cheap eats in Melbourne here.

The Best Backpacker Bars in Melbourne

As a backpacker, you want to be able to enjoy the best of Melbourne’s nightlife while also sticking to a budget. Thankfully, some of Melbourne’s best bars also offer amazing happy hours.

College Lawn Hotel –  Just down from Chapel St, one of the city’s most prominent shopping strips, The College Lawn Hotel is nestled in the leafy back streets of Prahran and home to one amazing beer garden. Along with a bar, restaurant and accommodation, they also have their own bottle shop if you want to buy something to go. Visit on Friday between 5pm – 7pm for $7 wine, pints & basic spirits.

Lounge Bar –  With a laid back balcony that overlooks Swanston Street, Lounge Bar is home to plenty of specials and regular DJ nights. On the weeknights it’s a casual bar, but come the weekend, the crowd packs in ready to party. When it comes to drinks, Lounge runs a weekday happy hour with $6 beer and wine and also $12 beer jugs. Simply visit anytime between 5pm – 7pm.

Father’s Office –  Sitting opposite the beautiful State Library Of Victoria, Father’s Office is inspired by a 1920’s speakeasy. There’s a giant chandelier that hangs above the entrance and the staff are dressed as flappers. Father’s Office has one of the biggest list of specials in the city, with lots of cheap eats and happy hours. Visit on a Sunday when happy hour runs all day long.

See more cheap places to drink and more happy hours in Melbourne.

How to get to Melbourne:

Melbourne is well served by a large international airport and well connected by bus and train to the rest of Australia. For cheap flights search on  Skyscanner  to find the best deals. (I always search for whole month to find the cheapest day to fly and can save alot of money by being flexible with dates.)

Visas for Australia

Expect for New Zealanders, all visitors to Australia need to obtain a visa before travelling but don’t worry, this is an easy process. Tourist visas for Australia are known as  Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa  cover visits of up to 90 day and are quick to process and are electronically linked to your passport so there’s no need to send your passport away. The visa costs $20, apply online through  the government website   or make the process even quicker and easier by using  iVisa .

If you want to stay longer and work and travel in Australia for a year or more then  download my free backpacker’s guide to see if you are eligible for a working holiday visa 

Where Next:

Just a few hours South of Melbourne starts one of the best drives in the world! Hire or buy a campervan and take your time to savour the epic Great Ocean Road.   The wineries of the Yarra Valley make a nice day trip from Melbourne and you can also see penguins on Phillip Island . Or head inland to discover more about Victoria’s gold rush past at Ballarat or Bendigo .

Also Read: Road Tripping the Great Ocean Road

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A Backpacker’s Travel Guide to Sydney

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I lived in Melbourne for over ten years and it does live up to the most livable city in the world. Not sure if it has won the title for this year though. Great list of things to do. A few other great places that are walking distance are Docklands which is South Melbourne. This is where the Melbourne Wheel was built although not sure if it is up and working yet. The ice skating rink is there during winter. Obviously it is a great spot on the waterfront with lots of restaurants. But the best part is all the discounted shopping!!! This is where Habour Town is and all the factory outlets. Also Lygon Street in Carlton which is North Melbourne. Again all walking distance or just jump on a tram. This is where all the trendy cafes are particularly anything with Greek or Italian heritage.

Southbank is just along the Yarra River on the outskirts of the CBD where all the restaurants and cafes are situated by the boardwalk. Crown Casino is also there for those who love shopping, clubbing or gambling. It is a nice walk to see the river lit up at night time. Then there is Brunswick and Collingwood neighbouring suburbs in North Melbourne. Again all the hip but affordable cafes are there. Along with great bric a brac stores with vintage finds. And the odd factory outlet.

But the biggest and best reason to visit Melbourne are the iconic Victoria Street Markets. There is always an event on here particularly in the evenings when they hold multicultural fairs with stacks of different cultural cuisines to eat while you browse all the market stalls with traditional entertainment. Plus nothing beats buying the fresh foods from the deli. The markets are always buzzing with crowds of people so it is definitely worth a visit. These are all within a backpackers budget and you can always splurge if you can afford to.

I’ve never had the stomach to visit the Eureka Skydeck as I hate heights. It is an awesome view though as you get to walk out onto a completely transparent glass deck that protrudes from the side of the building so you can see right down to the ground. Really for those who love a thrill. Then you can dine at the restaurant which has great 360 degree views with glass walls. Breath taking if you can stomach the height!

If you couldn’t tell I absolutely love Melbourne and miss it so much. Though India is just as exciting less the hip cafes. Thanks for sharing! I realise it is an older post but still always great to read.

You just got me super excited planning my trip to Melbourne !!

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, great to hear! Hope you have a great trip! 🙂

Thank you for posting this! I’m planning on going to Australia next year and I found this so helpful!

Oh wow, this is a great guide! I hope I can visit Australia someday 🙂 Great photos too!

Nice article, it helped us a lot to explore. I am an entrepreneur by profession and a traveler by heart. Your article made our stay exciting.

[…] hostels, as well as things to do and places to eat in my Backpacker Travel Guides to Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns and […]

[…] to the system and my funds were pretty low, so I started my job hunt almost as soon as I arrived in Melbourne in […]

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Melbourne travel blog — The fullest Melbourne city guide for a budget trip to Melbourne for the first-timers

Melbourne is Australia’s largest cultural center, the second largest city after Sydney, voted as one of the most livable cities in the world. Although the area is quite modest, Melbourne owns so many famous attractions, vibrant life, top music, top museums, unique festivals … So, Melbourne is always attracts a lot of travelers from all over the world to visit. If you are planning to travel to this beautiful city let’s check it out our Melbourne blog (Melbourne travel blog) with the fullest Melbourne city guide and Melbourne travel guide blog for a budget trip to Melbourne, Australia for the first time from how to get to Melbourne to best places to visit and what and top things to do in Melbourne you have to experience with Living Nomad below.

• 1 day in Melbourne — How to spend 24 hours in Melbourne & Explore the best of Melbourne in a day perfectly?
• Melbourne itinerary 7 days — How to spend 7 days in Melbourne for a budget trip?
• Melbourne 3 day itinerary — How to spend 3 days in Melbourne & What to do in Melbourne for 3 days?
• Where should I go in Sydney? — 23 most famous, must go & best places to visit in Sydney
• Sydney must eat — Top 9 must eat food in Sydney you definitely have to try

Melbourne travel blog: When is the best time to visit Melbourne?

In Australia the weather is different in different regions, but this continent is influenced by the mild climate, so you can visit Melbourne in any season of the year, with each different season this beautiful city has different beauty. Especially, this city is called the city of four seasons in a day because you can feel the weather of four spring, summer, autumn and winter on the same day with subtle seasonal changes.

However, according to our Melbourne travel experience the best time to travel to Melbourne is from the beginning of the fall to the end of March to the early of May, the weather is cool, not as hot as summer, nor too cold as in winter. If you come here to travel is in the summer, peaking in January and February, you will experience 4 seasons of weather in the same day, morning and evening of cold weather, until noon, the weather gets warmer and becomes hot and sunny, in the afternoon, the weather becomes cold again, this weather will be difficult for you to choose clothes to go to travel and sightseeing in the day, with the weak health people, will be hard to get used to the weather and easily get sick and obstructing the trip.

In Melbourne, the climate is always changing, however, the hottest time is in summer (from December to February) and cool in the fall (from March to May). Coldest in winter (from June to August) and warm again in spring (from September to November).

Melbourne travel blog: Getting to Melbourne from Vietnam

From Vietnam, you can fly from the two largest airports: Tan Son Nhat Airport (Saigon) and Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) with some major airlines such as: Vietnam Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Emirates, China Southern, Qatar Airways, China Eastern, Japan Airlines, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines…

From Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) to Melbourne: Some airlines operate this route: Vietnam Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Silkair, Cathay Pacific Airways … The airfares for this route ranging from US$359 to US$458.

From Tan Son Nhat Airport (Saigon) to Melbourne: Some airlines operating this route are: Cathay Pacific Airways, Qantas Airways, Vietnam Airlines Airlines, Singapore Airlines … The airfares for this route ranging from US$329 to US$448.

Melbourne travel blog: Getting around Melbourne

To saving costs as well as safety, you should use public transport to travel or getting around in Melbourne. The public transport system in Melbourne has three main types of transport: train, tram and bus. To getting to the central area or near the center, you can use the train. Trams are used to travel between remote areas or to the city center. Buses are not popular and usually only use in certain areas.

In which, train is the most convenient means of transportation because it is capable of transporting a large number of passengers and can move to remote places even hundreds of kilometers from the city.

Besides train, there are trams in Melbourne. These trams can travel around the city for free for visitors. These trams operates from 10am to 6pm daily. Every 10 minutes has each trip and travel around the city for about 40 minutes.

Bus also has many routes offer night services for passengers need to hang out on weekends.

By time, there are the following types of tickets: 2 hours, all day, weekly, monthly, 6-month (half-yearly) or year-round (yearly ).

By travel time, there are tickets for short distances of about 2 stops, regional tickets – in or around the city, regional tickets 2 for suburbs and region 3 tickets are remote areas.

Melbourne travel blog: Where to stay in Melbourne?

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, only after Sydney, so the tourism service here is very developed. For your convenience, please refer to the price, quality of service as well as the actual image of the hotels, especially you will be entitled to 10-30% discount on booking costs at Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Some cheap hotels, basic amenities and convenient transportation in Melbourne

Nate’s Place Backpackers Melbourne (Former The Spencer Backpackers) – Address: 475 Spencer Street, West Melbourne, 3003 Melbourne, Australia / Phone: +61 3 9329 7755 – Room rates from $18. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Oslo Hotel – Address: 38 Grey Street, St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia, 3182 / Phone: +61 407 115 610 – Room rates from $13. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com )

St Kilda East Lodge – Address: 2 Tantram Ave, Melbourne VIC 3183, Australia / Phone: +61 433 526 555 – Room rates from $12. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Some mid-range hotels with full amenities, beautiful rooms and nice views in Melbourne

The Swanston Hotel Grand Mercure : A luxury, high-class hotel in Melbourne is located in the Melbourne’s CBD area, convenient for travel and it is one of the perfect choices for travelers when traveling in Melbourne. With room rate from $122, this hotel bring comfort and relaxed feelings to visitors after hours of explore Melbourne. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Location: 195 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia Phone: +61 3 9663 4711

Treasury on Collins Apartment Hotel: Own the good location, located in central of Melbourne, making it an ideal spot to explore the city in every corner. The hotel is fully equipped, luxurious modern furniture, perfect service, good food and beautiful view, with the room rate from $120. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Location: Ground Floor/394 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia Phone: +61 3 8535 8535

Amora Hotel Riverwalk Melbourne is located in a convenient location, ensuring that guests are satisfied whether they are in Melbourne for business or travel with rates ranging from $ 100 to $ 145 with full facilities, furniture Luxurious, professional service. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Location: 649 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia Phone: +61 3 9246 1200

Jasper Hotel is a mid-range hotel, good room in Melbourne, the hotel has full basic amenities, but the food is not yet varied. Room rates range from $70 – $130 for you to choose from. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Location: 489 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia Phone: +61 3 8327 2777

Great Southern Hotel Melbourne is a beautiful hotel, located about 0.4 km from the city center. This is a cheap hotel in Melbourne that costs only $50 – $75/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Location: 44 Spencer St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia Phone: +61 3 9629 6991

Mercure Welcome Melbourne – Address: 265 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia / Phone: +61 3 9639 0555 – Room rates from $92. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Airport Tourist Village Melbourne – Address: 37 Ardlie St, Attwood VIC 3049, Australia / Phone: +61 3 9333 1619 – Room rates from $90. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

City Tempo Melbourne CBD – Address: 353 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia / Phone: +61 3 8256 7555 – Room rates from $88. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Some high-end and luxury hotels in Melbourne

InterContinental Melbourne – Address: 495 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia / Phone: +61 3 8627 1400 – Room rates from $170. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

The Langham Melbourne Hotel – Address: 1 Southgate Ave, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia / Phone: +61 3 8696 8888 – Room rates from $233. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

Quest Cheltenham – Address: 37-39 Station Rd, Cheltenham VIC 3192, Australia / Phone: +61 3 8523 5800 – Room rates from $202. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

You can find more, check rates, availability & booking for Melbourne hotels on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Melbourne travel blog: Best places to visit and top things to do in Melbourne

The federation square.

First, visiting Melbourne, let’s go to the Federation Square: Here, you will be admired the beauty along with the unique architecture of this city. In particular, when the city lights up, watching the Federation Square, you will see the fanciful sparkle of Melbourne city at night.

The Federation Square has become an indispensable part of Melbourne and an ideal tourist destination for travelers. Visitors come here can visit The Atrium building with fancy architecture, The Edge where you can enjoy the panoramic view of Melbourne and Artplay entertainment area.

Address: Swanston St & Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia.

National Gallery of Victoria

Located at 180 St Kilda Street, the National Gallery of Victoria is Australia’s oldest public art museum, also a fascinating attraction that you can’t miss. It exhibits one of the country’s most important art collections of the land of Kangaroo, with a lot of valuable artifacts.

Do not forget to visit the group of more than 20 galleries of Ian Potter Center, which displays Australian art history with a variety of categories such as photography, painting, printed materials, …

National Gallery of Victoria Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia Phone: +61 (0)3 8620 2222 Hours: 9am–5pm, daily Url: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Royal Botanic Gardens is 35 hectares wide, considered as the most beautiful botanical garden in Australia. Not only that, this place is also in the list of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. Definitely an interesting natural discovery spot for your trip. The garden is open daily from 7:30 am to 6 pm from April to October, open until 7:30 pm from November to March every year.

Located not far from the city center, the Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the top Australian tourist destinations of the “green park area” expanding to the south of the Yarra River. It is considered one of the best botanical gardens in the world, attracting 1.5 million visitors each year. The Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens is no less in the landscape and ecosystem than other botanical gardens.

Royal Botanic Gardens Address: Birdwood Ave, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia Phone: +61 3 9252 2429 Hours: Open 7.30am to sunset every day of the year Url: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/

The Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is also considered one of the famous landmarks with natural beauty where the longest coastline road in the world. Here, you can begin your journey from the city of Geelong, go to Apollo Bay and Port Campbell to see the white sheep grazing on the vast green steppe.

Continued reading …

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Visit Melbourne

Melbourne travel guide video, from historic monuments to ultra-modern malls, ancient art to cutting-edge culture, melbourne effortlessly blends past and present..

The capital of the state of Victoria is one of Australia’s most stylish and sophisticated cities, combining old-world colonial charm with modern-day convenience. Visitors will be quickly seduced by its food and its fashions, its art and its architecture, its culture and its coffee.The city centre is packed with heritage-listed buildings, many of them dating back to Victorian times. The historic churches and sumptuous art deco hotels, the elegant arcades of Bourke Street Mall and Flinders Street Station, the oldest train station in Australia, sit comfortably alongside the futuristic glass-and-steel exhibition spaces around Federation Square and the iconic Eureka Tower, which offers panoramic views across the city from the observation deck on the 88th floor.There’s no shortage of cultural contrasts either, from state-of-the-art digital technology at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and contemporary painting at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, to international and indigenous masterpieces at the National Gallery of Victoria and local treasures at the Melbourne Museum. The latter is even home to one of Australia’s great sporting icons, the legendary racehorse Phar Lap.Take a breather in one of the city parks, wander around the Royal Botanic Gardens, or head off for a dip in the cooling waters of Port Phillip Bay at St. Kilda or Brighton Beach. Jump on and off Melbourne’s famous trams to explore the four corners of the city, maybe alighting at the popular beach-front Luna Park to ride the historic rollercoaster, or visit bustling, atmospheric Queen Victoria Market to pick up some delicious locally sourced produce.Dining out is a breeze in cosmopolitan Melbourne, where you can easily sample a different cuisine every night. Head for Lygon Street, Australia’s “Little Italy”, for the best pasta and pizza outside the old country, enjoy the bohemian atmosphere of Flinders Lane in the heart of the city’s cultural quarter, or go upmarket in stylish Collins Street, home of the famous art deco Hopetoun Tearooms.Melbourne is sometimes called the gateway to Australia and this friendly, sophisticated and culturally diverse city certainly gives visitors a perfect introduction to the country’s rich heritage, stunning natural beauty and infectious zest for life.

Where to stay in Melbourne

Melbourne Central Business District

Known for its fascinating museums and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Melbourne Central Business District. Check out top attractions like Melbourne Central and Collins Street, and jump on the metro at Melbourne Central Station or Flagstaff Station to see more of the city.

Are you interested in stunning river views, first-class casinos and popular shops? A visit to Southbank might be the perfect thing. You can also explore top sights like Crown Casino and Melbourne Skydeck.

Travellers come to Docklands for its waterfront views, and you can see top attractions like Marvel Stadium and Collins Street while you're in town.

Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport is popular for its abundant dining options, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to URBNSURF Sports Park or Woodlands Historic Park.

Sorrento is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Sorrento Front Beach and Searoad Ferry Terminal.

St Kilda is known for its stunning beaches, and with sights like Fitzroy Street and Palais Theatre, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of Melbourne.

• Top hotels in Melbourne
• Vacation Rentals in Melbourne

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Check Melbourne hotel availability

Popular places to visit.

• Crown Casino

Why not roll the dice by visiting Crown Casino where you can enjoy the games and entertainment of this top casino in Melbourne? Experience the acclaimed art galleries and fascinating museums in this vibrant area.

Melbourne Central

You can enjoy some retail therapy with a trip to Melbourne Central, a favourite shopping spot in Melbourne. Discover the top-notch restaurants and acclaimed theatre scene in this vibrant area.

• Queen Victoria Market

Soak up the atmosphere and bag yourself a bargain at this popular Melbourne institution.

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Australia’s premier stadium is a symbol of Melbourne’s sporting heritage, drawing thousands of fans to cricket, football, rugby and soccer matches and events.

Marvel Stadium

Catch an event at Marvel Stadium during your trip to Melbourne. Discover the top-notch restaurants and acclaimed art galleries in this vibrant area.

• Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

During your trip, find out what's happening in Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, a top convention centre in Melbourne. Stroll along the riverfront or visit the shops in this relaxing area.

Things to do

Melbourne: puffing billy & healesville sanctuary scenic tour, melbourne: yarra wine, beer/gin & chocolate tour with lunch, puffing billy and phillip island penguin parade bus tour, peninsula hot springs: fire, ice, and bathe, from melbourne: great ocean road day tour, melbourne laneways tour, reviews of melbourne.

Myki a bit confusing. Pricing not great for this. You pay the same price for one stop or multiple stops! It's free within the cbd itself though. Try Lune croissanterie 161 Collins Street!!

5/5 - Excellent

Melbourne is a beautiful city. There are lots of parks, great boat ride through the city to willimastown and the trams are very convenient. The new skyscrapers surprised me as the colours change as the sun strikes them from different angles.

A lively city dotted with marvelous coffee shops and cafe. A must visit for anyone who is looking for a vibrant city with a cool and laid-back atmosphere.

Cool city lots of options and multicultural.

It's not in the same League as Sydney but well worth a couple of days visit especially to take the ferry down the River Yara to Williamstown.

We are a group of six traveling g from Bangkok and we had an amazing time in Melbourne during Australian Open. Love the people from Melbourne. They are very friendly and lovely people. Hope to come back again next year! Thank you ❤️

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• SEA LIFE Melbourne
• Princess Theatre
• Flemington Racecourse
• St Kilda Beach
• Peninsula Hot Springs
• St Kilda Road
• Brighton Beach
• Chapel Street
• Dandenong Ranges National Park
• DFO South Wharf

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• 5D4N Melbourne Tour Package
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5D4N Melbourne Tour Package  (Tour Code: MEL5D4NP001-MEL-4NEXP)

Tour Highlight

English Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL – MELBOURNE – SIC TRANSFER IN (NO MEAL) Arrival Melbourne International Airport. Transfer to hotel for check in. Stay overnight at Melbourne.

DAY 2: CHOOSE 1 OF THE SIC HALF DAY TOUR (B)

1 - Morning Melbourne City Tour (Departs Daily except MON and WED) – 8:00am to 12:00pm Highlights of this tour: Hotel Windsor - high Victorian architecture, Parliament House, Princess Theatre, Royal Exhibition Building Melbourne Museum, Prestigious Melbourne University, Lygon Street - cafe central and 'Little Italy', Take a guided walk through some of Melbourne's best arcades and laneways - Royal Arcade, Block Place, Block Arcade, Centre Way, Centre Place and Degraves Street. Sit at a cafe and enjoy a coffee (own expense) and experience our unique laneways culture. Collins Street, Old Treasury Buildings and State Offices, St Patrick's Cathedral, Take a wander in Fitzroy Gardens - there is opportunity to visit Captain Cook's Cottage (own expense), Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), East Melbourne - ornate Victorian terraced homes Colourful Chinatown, Queen Victoria Market* - look for a bargain, wander around the fresh produce and take in the vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere, Flagstaff Gardens, Law Courts, and Federation Square.

2 - Afternoon Melbourne City Tour (Departs Daily except WED, FRI) - 1.25pm to 5.30pm Highlights of this tour: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Park - National Tennis Centre, visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kings Domain Gardens, Arts and Cultural Centre, Gracious tree lined St Kilda Road, Docklands - waterfront development Etihad Stadium at Docklands, Bolte Bridge - spectacular city overview, Port Melbourne by the sea, Travel by the beach to trendy St Kilda Explore Acland Street in St Kilda - a vibrant cosmopolitan mix of funky bars, eateries, shops and world famous patisseries, Perhaps enjoy a local favourite - afternoon tea of coffee and continental cake (own expense), Fashionable suburbs of Elwood and Brighton, Brighton bathing boxes - a functional remnant of a bygone era (photo stop), Tour through the main street of Brighton Fitzroy Street in St Kilda - lively with its restaurant and bars, Albert Park Lake - site of the F1 Grand Prix.

DAY 3 & 4: CHOOSE 2 OF THE SIC FULL DAY TOURS (B)

1 - The Penguin Parade (Departs Daily) - 1.15pm to 9.00pm Highlights of this tour: Visit Warrook Homestead for afternoon tea (own expense), Get up close to kangaroos with the opportunity to feed (own expense), Admire the resident koalas, Panoramic views of Western Port and French Island, San Remo - maritime fishing village, Look for birdlife at the island wetlands (seasonal), Phillip Island Nature Park - a natural home for koalas, seals, shearwaters and Little Penguins, Koala Conservation Centre - look for koalas in their natural habitat from tree top boardwalks, The Nobbies - a rugged rocky outcrop with an excellent boardwalk where you may spot Little Penguins' homes (shoulder/summer months), Witness the Penguin Parade on floodlit Summerland Beach from the general viewing area, See penguin rookeries from an elevated boardwalk, Inspect the Visitors Centre - an opportunity to learn about the life of the Little Penguin. A dinner stop will be made before or after the Penguin Parade (dependent on season and at own expense)

2 - Great Ocean Road Adventure (Departs Daily) - 8:00am to 7:30pm Highlights of this tour: Views of Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay from West Gate Bridge, Spectacular coastal views along the Great Ocean Road, Surf beach resort of Lorne, Precipitous coastal cliffs, long sandy beaches and rolling surf, River inlets and fern gullies. Stop at picturesque Apollo Bay for lunch (own expense) - perhaps a walk along the beach. Otway National Park - fern gullies and eucalypts make up this beautiful Australian rainforest. Port Campbell National Park's rugged coastline, "The Shipwreck Coast". Huge stone monoliths of the Twelve Apostles from the boardwalk lookout. You may take an optional helicopter flight over the shipwreck coast (own expense). Tom & Eva and Razorback - grand architecture carved by surf Loch Ard Gorge - site of the tragic shipwreck of the "Loch Ard". Port Campbell - holiday resort and fishing village. This powerful coastline provides scope for stunning photography. Return directly to Melbourne enjoying an on-board Australian movie "All The Rivers Run - 1" See the spectacular evening lights of Melbourne from West Gate Bridge."

3 - Sovereign Hill (Departs Mon, Tue, Thu & Sat) – 8:20am to 5:30pm Highlights of this tour: Travel the Western Highway - stagecoach route of the 1850's. Bacchus Marsh - a landscape of orchards - once a resting place for the Cobb & Co stagecoach. Ballarat - enjoy a complete town tour of this gracious city with its exquisite gardens and noble statues. Eureka Stockade - site of the 1854 Miner's Rebellion. Visit Sovereign Hill - an authentic recreation of an 1850's gold mining town. See & experience... Gold panning in Red Gully Creek. Explore the Red Hill mine tour and discover life underground. Witness original working conditions and demonstrations of early mining equipment. Explore the many original shops... Blacksmiths and traditional craftsmen. Perhaps try some homemade boiled lollies! Maybe a Devonshire Tea at the New York Bakery? The Chinese Village - highlighting Chinese involvement in the goldfields. Why not ride a stagecoach! Take in the atmosphere of Main St. Watch the Giant Crushing Battery. Treat yourself to lunch at the United States Hotel (own expense). Visit the Gold Museum - an impressive and valuable collection of gold nuggets, gold coins, alluvial deposits and priceless gold artefacts.

DAY 5: SIC TRANSFER OUT - DEPARTURE (B) Check out from hotel. Free for own leisure until time to transfer out to Melbourne International Airport for next departure.

• Accommodation with daily breakfasts
• Airport return SIC transfers
• SIC Tours by coach
• Meals mentioned in itinerary
• English speaking tour guide & driver
• Admission fees per mentioned
• Air tickets & airport taxes
• Meals not mentioned in itinerary
• Personal consumption: drinks, souvenirs, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
• Travel Insurance
• Other not mentioned in itinerary

Terms & Condition:

• Minimum 2 pax travelling & valid for Malaysian passport holder only
• Travelling Period: Now – 31 Mar 2020
• The definition of Child is aged from 3 to 11 years old for Australia tours.
• Child 2 years old and below is FOC and child 12 years old and above is consider adult price
•  Please note that this is only a quotation and no reservation or arrangement has been made.
• Above rates are valid for FIT booking only. Surcharge on holidays and special occasions.
• We reserved the right to amend, delete or add to the terms & conditions without prior notice if no confirmed booking is made.
•  All rates quoted based on Malaysian Market & subject to change without prior notice.
•  We reserve the right to change the price subject to currency fluctuations or any unforeseen increment of ground arrangement by local government such as the cost of fuel, taxes, and fees before full payment is received.
• Any unused tours & services are not refundable

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Saturday 11 March 2017

Melbourne ii day 1: south yarra & prahran market.

The kids meal on our #emirates flight to #melbourne is sooo cute!! 😍😍 I wish I had the kids meal...... #madpsychmum #madpsychmumtravels #holiday #airplanemeals #travel #overseastrip #australia A post shared by Madeline Heng (@madpsychmum) on Mar 10, 2017 at 3:54pm PST

Looking chill on arrival at Melbourne Airport.. Hardly slept a wink on the plane because the boy insisted that I become his bed 😵😴 #madpsychmum #madpsychmumtravels #travel #melbourne #australia #wanderlastparents A post shared by Madeline Heng (@madpsychmum) on Mar 10, 2017 at 11:56pm PST

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Testing out our awesome purchase from #BigW: portable car DVD player with dual screens and double headphones (no fighting kids!) for AUD159. Not bad right? Hopefully this will mean quieter roadtrips to Malaysia.. 😄 #madpsychmum #madpsychmumtravels #mykidsareextremelyblessed #laser #melbourne #australia #travelshopping #girleejay #girleejaylovesdisneylikemama A post shared by Madeline Heng (@madpsychmum) on Mar 15, 2017 at 3:24am PDT