1. The Yarra River:
There is so much to say I will use sub-headings.
Orientation: the paths that border the Yarra on both sides take you down to the Botanical Gardens on the south side, or to Melbourne Olympic Park (site of the Australian Open in January) and on the northern side, the MCG (cricket and footy ground).
What’s There: Southgate’s restaurants, stores and art centres (National Gallery of Victoria and Hamer Hall—there is even an art market on Sundays) and Federation Square edge the city’s main water feature.
When to check it out: Interesting at all times of the day, early in the morning air balloons pass over the heads of daily train commuters walking over the bridge to and from Flinders Train Station. Underneath rowers complete their morning routine. Many use the paths for exercise and after running the river head over to ‘run the tan’ (the un-paved walking track) which outlines the Botanical Gardens.
The afternoon is a good time to rent a boat, or a bike and you can explore one of the many main paths that thousands of city workers ride to work each day. There is even a suspended bicycle highway and a specially made bike boardwalk that allows you to feel like you are pedalling on top of the water.
Within the Botanical Gardens you can book an Aboriginal History tour. Another teacher did this and it sounds really interesting.
In the evening and weekends there will be heaps of people sitting outside and various entertainers singing and/or doing magic shows and illusions outside of the Crown Casino (hope you get to see the massive nightly fire display as featured when Vicky is talking in this video .
2. The CBD.
After drinking beer along the Yarra with the popular people at Riverland Yarra-side, head more north to see Melbourne’s Central Business District.
I have previously written about both the food and the laneways in Melbourne but they are definitely one of the quaintest features of Melbourne’s CBD.
I know art teachers who do an alley way and graffiti tour throughout the CBD that sounds pretty cool and www.tightarsetours.com.au has some other interesting and free tours to check out.
Of course you will be able to taste various International Cuisines throughout the CBD, as well as drinking Italian Coffee after purchasing authentically French baguette on Degraves St.
I must also recommend the historic block arcade Chokolait’s Belgian Hot chocolate as well as the Charles Dickens tavern which besides being underground and giddily decorated, is fun to stop for a ‘pot’, ‘hot chips’ and the latest ‘football’ game (see Aussie slang post!) LINK.
I might as well put Museums and Art Galleries in list-form there are so many: the National Gallery of Victoria and National Gallery of Melbourne, Immigration Museum, Melbourne Museum—all very cool (and FREE with your VIT card!)
I really dig the Aquarium too, the hightlight being the shark tank you can walk under, beside and within! The feeding shows are marvellous as well with sea turtles and sting rays stealing all the action.
Heading eastwards, I would drink Gin and Tonics in Madame Brussels’ faux garden party; watch the city people traffic at Hummingbird café rooftop bar; and later had to Bennets Lane for live jazz music and scotch tasting.
And leaving the city’s square, on the eastern edge of the city, past the historic Paris end off Collins St, are the Fitzroy Gardens housing the surprisingly odd yet cool Tudor Model Village and Fairy Tree.
There is also great music in Richmond (the next suburb over) at The Corner Hotel. On Fridays, The Age prints the “EG” (Entertainment Guide) which lists all of the live music in the city that weekend. A most helpful little resource.
3. The Beach.
Biking or rollerblading along the beach is so popular there are even bike traffic lights and separate to the pedestrian’s sidewalk. (Kite-surfing lessons also run daily). Surrounded by ocean and palm trees the paths by the beach go from Port Melbourne to Middle Park, and Elwood (Famous for Luna Park, but I seriously recommend that you do not go to this kitschy version of the worst-ever small town carnival you can imagine—and the food is even worse than that) and all the way down the Bay over 100 Km. There is a bike-to-the-bay ride every year that takes all day and covers serious Km. St. Kilda pier is sandwiched in there and has just been revamped for a long outward walk. Apparently you can see penguins from here but I haven’t done it yet.
Another place and thing I haven’t done is vodka taste-test at Borsch in Prahran but it is somewhere I’ve wanted to try. The Belgian Beer Café and College Lawn Club I can attest have great outdoor venues for summer. In South Yarra nearby, there is Chapel Street (yawn.) shopping and restaurants which cater to a 40-plus and under-18 crowd simultaneously, with most people in-between choosing other suburbs.
4. Fitzroy.
Eat at lots of Veggie restaurants in hip Fitzroy, visit Hares and Hyenas (the only GBLTIQ bookstore). Listen to live music on Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. Eat at Dante’s restaurant (gnocchi or pizzas are awesome) and see the Monday night magicians (I think they are once/month).
Also, on Brunswick Street is the Little Creatures brewery which has great beers on tap, a very knowledgeable bar staff to lead tastings and they have yummy food besides. This warehouse is packed on weekends and someplace I’ll definitely go back after having an awesome experience previously. There are lots of tother cocktail bars around here which are very quaint and beg your tasting.
What have I missed?
Read about Laneways in Melbourne
