Things to Do in Melbourne

On the southern tip of Victoria’s coast, along the Great Ocean Road, Cape Otway Lighthouse has been steeped in drama since 1843. As Mainland Australia’s oldest remaining lighthouse, the beacon aided thousands of ships in safely navigating the cape—though despite the dedicated work of its light keepers, eight large ships were still lost on the rocks on the windy, turbulent point. In World War II, German submarines sank an American ship while patrolling just off the coast, and radar facilities erected on shore can still be visited today. Now, even though the light has been decommissioned, Cape Otway Lighthouse is still a dramatic destination to visit, as the sweeping view of the southern coast is one of Victoria’s best. From winter through spring, you can stand on the historic lighthouse point and feel the breeze on your face, while watching the spouts of migrating whales as they splash and leap from the sea. Or, during any time of the year, learn the marvels of engineering that went into constructing the lighthouse, or read the stories of the lightkeepers’ families who called Cape Otway home.

The Churchill Island Heritage Farm is one of Melbourne’s most unique attractions. A tiny island off the coast of Phillip Island, Churchill Island is occupied entirely by the Churchill Island Heritage Farm.

Churchill Island was one of the first places in Victoria to be used for agriculture. Farmed since 1798, the island retains its heritage by showcasing pioneer farming techniques to visitors in its current incarnation as an historic working farm.

The Churchill Island Heritage Farm Visitor Centre contains an exhibition on the history of the island, as well as a giftshop and café. The real attraction of the island however is the farm life. Daily farming activities include cow milking, sheep shearing and more. Visitors can also circumnavigate the island on a walking track with fantastic views. The farm hosts a farmers market on the fourth Saturday of each month with lots of local produce.

Kids will love spotting the unusual breed of typical farm animals on the island. Highland cows, Clydesdale horses, peacocks and more can be found on the farm, as well as sightings of the Little Penguins that live on Phillip Island next door.

Tucked into the serene and picturesque Yarra Valley of Victoria, the Dominique Portet Winery is renowned for its deep roots in French soil — Bordeaux to be exact. The art of winemaking has been passed down through the Portet lineage from 18th­ century France; a father and son duo (ninth and 10th generation) run this winery with experience that spans around the world. The modest space boasts an array of wines in a comfortable, Mediterranean-­style setting. Get lost among the sprawling vines, or relax with a glass surrounded by oak barrels at Dominique Portet. Enjoy tastings from the cellar door, learn more about the Portet history and culture with a vintage tour, or stay for a leisurely lunch overlooking the valley.

There was once a time when wool-spinning mills were prevalent throughout Australia, and sheep were clustered in rural paddocks stretching far out into the hills. Today, however, the wool spinning industry is in rapid decline, which is all the more reason that Creswick Woollen Mills is an important Victoria highlight. The mill, in fact, is the lone remaining mill of its kind found anywhere in Australia, and alpacas provide the fiber for scarves, sweaters, socks, and shawls. When visiting the mill, tour the exhibit “A Very Fine Yarn,” which allows you to follow the wool making process from growth through harvest and production, and is one of the only places in Australia to watch manufacturing as it happens.

You can see the alpacas from the viewing deck and feel their luxurious wool, and even have the chance to feed the alpacas as they eat right out of your hand. 

This world-class destination, 100 percent owned and operated by Australia’s Aboriginal people, is nestled into the scenic backdrop of the continent’s own unique indigenous flora and fauna. Visitors agree that the incredible architecture, pristine grounds and knowledgeable staff make Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Center one of Victoria’s top destinations. 

Travelers can tour ancient rock art while they learn about the traditions of one of Australian’s oldest people. Interesting exhibits explore the chronological history of native cultures and the boomerang training ground, where families can test out their newly purchased toys, provides visitors with a truly memorable experience. 

Since opening in 1977, the Arts Centre Melbourne has established itself as the epicenter of the city’s performing arts scene. With the building’s dramatic spire, the complex has become a cultural landmark within the Southbank arts and culture precinct.

Hamer Hall is the main concert hall, while the Theatres Building contains several performance spaces underneath the Arts Centre’s iconic spire. Each is linked by a number of landscaped walkways. The complex also comprises dedicated gallery spaces, including Gallery 1 (formally the George Adams Gallery) and the St. Kilda Road Foyer Gallery.

The Arts Centre hosts a diverse mix of local and international performances throughout the year, as well as offering guided tours, exhibitions, and an onsite restaurant and cafe. There’s also a Sunday market held each week from 10am to 4pm, which sees local artists fill the Arts Centre Lawn with unique, handmade crafts and foodstuffs.

In the heritage-listed Fitzroy Gardens sits a historic building that is one of the most significant in Australia. Built in 1755 in England before being shipped to Australia in 1934, that building is Cooks’ Cottage – built by the parents of one Captain James Cook, the man who claimed Australia for the empire.

Today, after having being carefully dismantled, thoroughly labelled and shipped halfway around the world to be reconstructed, Cooks’ Cottage serves as a museum to the exploits of Captain Cook. Modern interpretations of his adventures are displayed alongside antiques in a very English cottage and garden.

As Captain Cook’s Childhood home, Cooks’ Cottage is a step back in time. The building has been carefully restored and great emphasis is put on the experience of visiting the cottage, including the 18th-century costumes worn by the staff. Entry to the cottage includes a self-guided tour and comprehensive fact sheet available in many languages, and school holiday programs run for children four times a year.

The modern cousin of Melbourne's famed MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), the stadium was built to act as the new main venue for Australian Rules Football (AFL). It was once Colonial Stadium and then the Telstra Dome before becoming Etihad Stadium and today most commonly hosts AFL, rugby and soccer games, although a 2006 Robbie Williams tour drew the site's largest-ever number of visitors with 64,619 attendees.

Degraves Street is a short, narrow laneway that runs between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane in the heart of Melbourne.

Though named for two pioneer merchants who moved from Hobart to Melbourne in 1849 – Charles and William Degraves – Degraves Street is more often attributed to William alone, who served as a member of Victoria’s Legislative Council. Degraves Street is one of Melbourne’s more unique arcades.

Bluestone cobbles and an otherworld charm are the characteristics of Degraves Street. Tall, old-style buildings frame the street, with shops, bars, cafes and more lining the ground level, and apartments up above. Dining on Degraves Street tends towards Italian. Degraves Espresso is said to be one of the most quintessentially Melbourne café experiences. The Degraves Street underpass was built in the 1950s, connecting Flinders Street Station with Degraves Street. The underpass, much like the street it connects to, is full of character. The Platform Artists Group calls the underpass home, and have a frequent turnover for their underground exhibitions.

Other big attractions on Degraves Street include the Parisian-style restaurant Majorca House, the stationary and paper shop Il Papiro, bakery Little Cupcakes and children’s bookshop The Little Bookroom.

Covering a significant portion of Melbourne’s Southbank, Crown Casino is an entertainment complex with three hotels, spas, a cinema, a casino, and a number of bars and restaurants that overlook the Yarra River. The fun never ends at the casino, which is open 24 hours and  welcomes guests with a dazzling water jet and fire show.

The Crown Entertainment Complex is the crown jewel of Melbourne’s city center. It features a number of upscale fashion brands such as Prada and Louis Vuitton as well as famous restaurants like Nobu, Rockpool, and Bistro Guillaume. Take an adventurous kayak tour along the Yarra River to get a glimpse of the Crown and the rest of the Melbourne skyline. For a more relaxing journey, hop on a sightseeing cruise to discover the best of Melbourne from Federation Square through the Docklands to the Port of Melbourne.

The Crown Casino is located on the Southbank Promenade, just across the Yarra River from Flinders Street Station. Visitors can take a number of trams and trains to Flinders Street and walk across Queens or Princes Bridge to access the complex. Trams 12, 58, 96, and 109 also leave guests right in front of the casino. There’s also a parking facility available for those who would like to drive.

The casino is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with the exception of Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Anzac Day. For those who love gastronomy, the Crown Casino hosts a number of events during the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival held every March. Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival are also lively times to visit. 

In one of Melbourne’s coolest shows, eight towers along Southbank shoot large fireballs into the sky along the Yarra River’s bustling promenade. Once the sun sets, the fireball show begins, every hour on the hour. It’s free to watch, and not to be missed. 

Melbourne’s grandest avenue, Collins Street is known for being a hub for prestigious boutiques and designer stores, theaters, global bank headquarters, high-end hotels and restaurants.

Running for a mile between Elizabeth and King Street, Collins Street is the traditional main street of the city. On a visit, start at the east end, or “Paris end,” so named for its lavish Victorian-era buildings, erected in the 1880s when Melbourne grew recklessly during the Victorian gold rush. 

Collins Street has long been Melbourne’s center of financial activities. Some of the banks are housed in Victorian gothic builds nicknamed “Cathedrals of Commerce,” while others are in shining glass skyscrapers, some of which are Australia’s tallest, like 101 Collins Street. It’s worth seeing the late 19th century Old Stock Exchange, which looks straight out of Venice, and the ANZ Gothic Bank — all gold leaf ceilings and grand ceilings on the inside. 

On Collins Street you’ll also find flagship branches for the likes of Prada, Armani, Tiffany & Co, and Longchamp. There are also a number of shopping malls along the street, including Collins Place, the Block Arcade, and Georges on Collins. 

Collins Street is also home to the Athenaeum and Regent theatres, which put on international productions throughout the year, and it’s also known for its impressive 19th century churches: Collins Street Baptist Church, St Michael's Uniting Church, and Scot's Presbyterian Church.

Clinging to Phillip Island by a single bridge, the tiny Churchill Island is one of Melbourne’s most unique attractions - a scenic patchwork of farmlands, heritage gardens and wetlands, where time appears to have stood still. Despite encompassing a mere 57 hectares, the small island boasts a significant history, as one of the first agricultural developments of European settlers back in the 18th century.

Today, the historic farmhouses and lands have been preserved as the Churchill Island Heritage Farm, a working farm where visitors can discover pioneer farming techniques and learn about the island’s long history. Visitors can follow the walking trails around the island, watch traditional activities like cow milking, blacksmithing, sheep shearing and working dog demonstrations, peek into the cottages and outhouses to gain an understanding of the lives of the early settlers, and even purchase local produce at the monthly farmers market or gift shop.

Victoria's Dandenong Ranges lie just east of Melbourne and overlook the Yarra Valley wine region, offering a mountain retreat on the city's doorstep. What the peaks lack in size—the highest are under 2,620 feet (800 meters) above sea level—they make up for in scenery, such as ash forests, valleys of tree ferns, and wild bushlands. 

The Dandenongs' lush landscapes are ideal for hiking, cycling, and bushwalking, but one of the most popular ways to get around is the historic Puffing Billy Steam Train. Tours from Melbourne often include highlights such as the Mount Dandenong Lookout, with its panoramic views over Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay; wildlife spotting at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary or William Ricketts Sanctuary; and wine tasting in the Yarra Valley. 

The Dandenong Ranges are located roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Melbourne. Trains run from central Melbourne to Belgrave, a major town at the foot of the mountains. From there, buses connect to the mountain villages of Sassafrass, Olinda, and Kallista. By road from Melbourne, it's a 1-hour drive along Burwood Highway to the Dandenong Tourist Road, which winds its way up into the mountains and through the villages.

Summer (December through February) is the most popular time to visit, although temperatures can reach upwards of 86˚F (30˚C) and the area can get busy, so it's recommended to book accommodations and activities in advance. Autumn (March through May) and late spring (November) bring the best weather for outdoor activities, while the winter months (June through August) offer cheaper prices on accommodations and activities, plus fewer crowds. 

The trails around Mount Dandenong offer a variety of terrains for hiking, running, and bushwalking, as well as horseback riding and cycling. Head to Dandenong Ranges National Park to walk the Dandenong Ranges Tourist Track, the Olinda Creek Walking Track, and the Living Bush Nature Walk; explore the popular Sherbrooke Forest area; or visit highlights such as One Tree Hill, the Thousand Steps, or the Kokoda Walk.