Melbourne Activities

Worth getting out of bed for

Viewpoint

The Eureka Tower (+ 61 (0)3 9693 8888) at Southbank, Melbourne’s tallest building, offers 360-degree views of the city from Eureka Skydeck 88.

Arts and culture

The Arts Centre (www.theartscentre.com.au) in the Southbank Precinct on St Kilda Road is the focal point of Melbourne’s art scene. The venue, dominated by an enormous spire, is where to catch live music and performances by the Melbourne Theatre Company. The Ian Potter Centre (www.ngv.vic.gov.au) on Federation Square is the National Gallery of Victoria’s exhibition space. For more idiosyncratic art – much of it influenced by Australia’s indigenous culture – head to Flinders Lane, where you’ll find galleries aplenty in the section between Spring and Swanston Streets.

Something for nothing

Melbourne is renowned for its live music scene, and most nights you can see a band for free at any one of the city’s pubs. Head down to Brunswick Street in the boho enclave of Fitzroy and see what catches your eye.

Shopping

You can lose hours browsing the many lovely designer boutiques on the laneways that criss-cross the CBD. And you’ll find fashion as yet undiscovered by the major department stores. Flinders Lane is another mine of couture excellence – head to Christine (number 181) for gorgeous accessories or Leghorn Rouge (number 242), which offers a hand-picked collection of shoes and other covetable items. Also try Little Collins Street – home to Assin and Marais (edgy but exquisite men and womenswear), and Shag (great vintage pieces). GPO Melbourne, part of the A$95 million renovation of the former post office on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth Streets has an impressive collection of local and international labels.

Daytripper

Head out for a day of wine tasting in the picturesque Yarra Valley – just an hour’s drive from the city – which is home to some of Australia’s best wineries. There are lots of places to stock up on wine, but you should keep a particular eye out for the Giant Steps/Innocent Bystander Winery (+61 (0)3 5962 6111) in Healesville, which has an artisan bakery, a cheese room and a fabulous restaurant as well as a great cellar.

Perfect picnic

Dubbed ‘the garden city’, Melbourne is flanked on all sides by lovely gardens and parklands. Pick up supplies from the Queen Victoria Market – home to more than 800 traders selling fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood and deli items from all corners of the globe – then take a tram out to either the Royal Botanical Gardens or Fitzroy Gardens.

Walks

The Golden Mile Heritage Trail is a guided or self-guided walk through ‘marvellous Melbourne’, on which you’ll learn how the discovery of gold shaped the city. Tours depart from Federation Square – or you can purchase a self-guided tour booklet.

Children

The iconic Luna Park fun fair opened in 1912, and its enormous laughing-face façade has become one of St Kilda’s most recognisable symbols. Entry is free, but the rides are not. Children will also love the Melbourne Aquarium (www.melbourneaquarium.com.au), where there are daily shark feeds, and plenty of touch-and-feel pools.

Activities

Treat yourself to a quintessentially Australian activity, and enjoy a sunset barbecue on the banks of the Yarra River. Take your prawns and sausages along to Birrarung Marr park, adjacent to Federation Square, where you’ll find gas barbecues, a children’s play area and fabulous views over the city.