Melbourne is a lovely, laid back city with something for everyone. It is the coastal capital of the southeastern Australian state of Victoria. The city is packed with wonderful plazas, bars, and restaurants. In the Southbank area, the Melbourne Arts Precinct is the site of Arts Centre Melbourne – a performing arts complex – and the National Gallery of Victoria, with Australian and indigenous art. There are tons of cheap hotels in Melbourne. Melbourne has great public transportation, the Circle City Tram is a good option to hit a lot of the city highlights.
1.Have a picnic at the Royal Botanic Gardens
Founded in the mid-1800s, the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne encompass 94 acres of greenery. They are internationally renowned and the perfect spot in Melbourne to have a scenic picnic. The Royal Botanic Gardens are a picturesque haven for recreation and an important resource for education, conservation, science and horticulture.
2. Take a day trip to Yarra Valley
Perfect for families, couples or friends The Yarra Valley is the name given to the region surrounding the Yarra River in Victoria, Australia. The river originates approximately 90 kilometres east of the Melbourne central business district and flows towards it and out into Port Phillip Bay. You can visit and variety of vineyards and Healesville Sanctuary to get up close to Australian native wildlife, including Tasmanian devils, dingoes, koalas and kangaroos.
3. National Gallery of Victoria
Opened in 1861, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the oldest and most visited art gallery in Australia. Local artists are mostly featured, although there are works from international masters like Anthony van Dyck, Claude Monet and René Magritte. They also have great special exhibits if you pay a little extra.
4. State Library Victoria
The State Library Victoria is a must-see attraction for book worms, architecture lovers and history buffs. Built in 1856 on 2 acres of land in Melbourne’s central business district, the library houses a variety of books and historic artifacts. The library even offers free tours!
5. Melbourne Museum
This is Melbourne’s natural and cultural history museum, and there are all sorts of wonders to peer at, including several dinosaur skeletons. To get to the Melbourne Museum without a car, travelers can take the City Circle Tram from downtown. Melbourne Museum is a contemporary architectural icon, sitting opposite the stately Royal Exhibition Building at the centre of the beautiful historic Carlton Gardens.
6. The Block Arcade
They have really great chocolate stores and even a Dr. Seuss themed art gallery! More than 25 boutiques, galleries and specialty food stores are housed within this stunning structure, which features skylights, cast-iron details, mosaic floors and stained glass windows. Melbourne’s Golden Mile heritage walk runs through the arcade.