What to Do and See When You Visit Melbourne

more than a year ago

Whether you are a first-time visitor to Melbourne or you have lived there your whole life, there are a few absolute must-do Melbourne bucket list items. While Sydney usually garners the most attention for holidaymakers visiting Australia, Melbourne has a lot going for it both as a financial institution, as well as being a cultural hub.

In many respects, Melbourne is quite an artisan city and that applies to the numerous coffee shops, restaurants, and watering holes, through to the arts and type of events it puts on.

What to do and see when you visit Melbourne © reki-woo-unsplash — What to do and see when you visit Melbourne © Reki Woo / Unsplash

You will also be left spellbound by the array of stars that will be heading to Melbourne over the next few months. There is always a brilliant live production at the theatre, and the famous crooner Elton John will even be heading Down Under to perform for two nights at Aami Park Stadium.

If you want to get in touch with nature, a trip to the Royal Botanic is essential. This expansive garden is home to at least 8,500 plant species, zen lakes, and lush lawns. Smack bang in the middle of the city, it is an idyllic spot if you wish to have a picnic for lunch.

Or you may wish to stop off at the National Gallery of Victoria, which is Australia’s oldest and most popular art museum. The NGV showcases classic works of art where you can take in Vincent Van Gogh’s masterpieces among other things.

What to do and see when you visit Melbourne - Cricket Grounds © rodger-wang-unsplash — Melbourne Cricket Ground © Rodger Wang / Unsplash

Those who have a head for heights may well prefer to spring out of their beds early for a sunrise hot air balloon trip, and drifting over the city in the dawn light may feel slightly surreal to some. Nevertheless, you will be able to spot some of your favourite Melbourne gems in the sky or it may give you the inspiration to discover new ones.

However, Melbourne also has a rich sporting heritage. Cricket enthusiasts may like to go to the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) to take in a Test match, and tickets for the Ashes are like stardust. But it is not just cricket that you can watch at the MCG, no you can also go to an Aussies Rules game. If you are unfamiliar with this sport, it is an amalgamation of football and rugby.

Petrol heads, meanwhile, will be able to absorb themselves in the F1 as Melbourne is the home of the Australian Grand Prix, and it is currently under contract until 2035. However, tennis is arguably the main sporting attraction of Melbourne, with thousands of fans descending upon the city annually to watch the first Grand Slam of the year.

What to do and see when you visit Melbourne - Australian Open © mitchell-luo-unsplash — Fans watching the Australian Open Men's Final at Federation Square © Mitchell Luo / Unsplas

Known as the ‘Happy Slam’, the Australian Open is a fabulous way to kick off the roster of tennis majors, and it always makes for compelling viewing. Novak Djokovic, who is aiming to lift a record-extending 10th title Down Under, missed last year’s tournament, and he will be hoping to make up for lost time. Indeed, the Serbian is attracting a lot of interest from many of the biggest betting sites in Australia, including bet365, where he is trading shorter than evens to triumph once again.

And if you want to cool down at the beach, Melbourne has a few that will leave you breathless. While many associate St Kilda with Melbourne and long summer days on the ocean, there are several stunning ones all easily accessible via public transport.

Wherever your interests lie, there is something for everyone in Melbourne, and it is a truly charming city.

Melbourne

What to Do and See When You Visit Melbourne

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