I’m so excited to be bringing you my first travel guide! I thought I’d start off with my most recent trip which was eight weeks backpacking the East Coast of Australia. Now, I know that quite a lot of people begin or end their East Coast trip at Sydney and skip this city but, I highly highly recommend you add Melbourne to your itinerary whether it is at the beginning or the end. We actually found that the flights were cheaper into Melbourne than Sydney or anywhere else to start the trip so, that is also worth considering.
First up, before we get into my recommendations of things to do within the city centre, I’m going to give you the run down on some important details about transport in and around the city that will really help you out during your time here.
How do you get from the airport to the city centre?
It is super easy to get from the airport to the city centre without forking out for a taxi or any other more expensive forms of transportation. When you leave the airport, right outside (I believe it was to the right hand side but, don’t quote me one it) there is a SkyBus bus stop. These buses pick you up from terminals 1, 3 and 4 every ten minutes so, don’t worry about missing one. They’ll be another right along soon! This costs approximately $19.95 for a single journey into the city1. Although, if you are returning via. Melbourne Airport you should consider a return trip which is valid within a certain number of days and could save you money. Check out the Skybus website for more details!
How do you get around the city?
I always stand by that the best way to really explore a city is to walk around on foot. However, Melbourne have a GREAT and FREE mode of transport that you should utilise whilst you’re in the city. In the centre, around the CBD, there is a free tram network that you can hop on and hop off whenever. Just remember, you must tap on with your myki card (more on that later) when you’re leaving the free area. According to the receptionist at our hostel, some people do risk not paying outside the area but, a fine will be an unnecessary addition to your budget. A top tip for Melbourne: book your accommodation within the free tram network so that you can utilise this when carrying your luggage! Coincidentally, our hostel was the last stop in the free tram network which was a great bonus when we landed in 30 degree heat….
When you leave the CBD, you should tap on to the tram by using a myki card. This works in a similar vain to the London Underground, expect you’re tapping on the tram itself rather than beforehand. A myki card is available to buy from any 7-Eleven within the city and can be topped up daily. The card itself costs $6 and then, there is a cap so you can’t spend over a certain amount if you’re doing lots of travel that day. For example, on a weekday, travel is capped at $8.80 within Zones 1 and 22. I wouldn’t worry about this too much. All you need to know is that a you need a myki card with money loaded onto it to travel outside Melbourne’s CBD.
Places/Sights within Melbourne City:
Now, with all the logistics out of the way, I’m going to tell you some top (mostly free) things to do and see whilst in the city centre. If you’re looking for day trips or more information about Melbourne’s surrounding area, that will be coming in another post soon! For now, we’re focussing on things that are within walking distance of the city centre…
- Yarra River and Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens
One of the best views you can get of Melbourne is from the banks of the Yarra River. If you cross the bridge near Flinder’s Street Station, the Botanical Gardens are on your left and if you turn around you have a great view of the city skyline. I would never have said I had any strong feelings towards a cityscape but, that changed during this trip. In the Botanical Gardens, there is also the Shrine of Remembrance which is to commemorate all of the Australian lives that were lost throughout the wars across history. At the top of the Shrine’s steps, you also have a great view of the city. The Botanic Gardens are actually quite big so I feel like you could spend a full afternoon here if you want to. However, you can also go for a stroll along the river and across a bridge further down for a look at Melbourne’s sports arenas.
- Hozier Lane Street Art
Before travelling to Melbourne, this was one of the iconic locations that seemed to come up all the time during my research and you can see why. There are a couple of streets, all concentrated in one area, that are covered in street art. It’s so nice to see graffiti being used as a creative outlet and it makes for some great photo opportunities. It is such a unique sight to Melbourne and one you won’t see anywhere else. It is definitely worth a look in this area.
- Flinder’s Street Station
If you are interested in architecture or exploring the history of a city, Flinder’s Street Station is a really beautiful building. This station was home to the first stream railway in Australia. The main portion of the building was completed in 1909 and is home to a series of clocks that have become a Melbourne cultural icon3. Whether you want to take a tour of this historic building or not, it’s a interesting sight to go and look at.
- Carlton Gardens and Melbourne Museum
Another green space within the city which is worth a look around is Carlton Gardens which is also home to Melbourne Museum as well as the Royal Exhibition Building. These are again beautiful buildings to behold. Although there isn’t a lot to do here if you don’t want to pay for entry to the museum, it’s still nice to have a potter around and isn’t too far out of the centre if you want a moment of peace. It is worth mentioning that the Melbourne Museum also contains the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre. Although I didn’t visit this myself, it’s worth knowing the opportunities to look more into Australia’s aboriginal history.
- Queen Victoria Markets
Probably the site I would recommend visiting the most is the Queen Victoria Markets. The friend that I was travelling with wasn’t a big fan of this but I think it’s well worth a visit. It is worth checking the opening times and days before you visit as these do change depending on the season. This is essentially a huge market selling all sorts of things from clothes to knickknacks to fresh food. I actually bought a souvenir t-shirt from one of the stalls and it only cost me £5. It will be the cheapest souvenir top you see during your travels in Australia.
- State Victoria Library
Again, this one is for those that enjoy architecture, books or are on the lookout for super fast wifi. If you’re travelling and working remotely or creating travel content, then you might want to take advantage of that wifi. This building is home to an iconic dome library that just is very cool to see. You don’t need to stay here long. We went inside for five minutes and then sat on the grass outside, reading and writing postcards home. It was a lovely stop on our city tour.
- Federation Square
Federation Square is a bit of a hub for events going on in Melbourne. Although, again, I didn’t attend any during my visit, they sometimes have events held outside such as workout classes. Basically, it’s the arts and culture hub of the city. Federation Square is also home to the ACMI museum (free to enter) as well as a series of places to eat and drink. It’s not far from Hozier Lane or Flinder’s Street Station so an easy spot to see, even if you don’t attend any events.
- Cafe Culture
Okay, I know this is a vague and broad point to end on. But, Melbourne (and the rest of Australia for that matter) is home to so many independent cafes! Now, I’m not one to drink coffee but my travel companion was and she loved exploring all the different cafes down some beautiful side streets. I had quite a few glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice from the cafes here. Orange juice has never quite been the same since.
We’ve reached the end of my first ever travel guide! This was focusing primarily on Melbourne’s CBD but, I will publish another post soon enough with day trip outside of the city centre if that is something you would be interested in. Let me know if you found this helpful or any places you think I’ve missed!
Amie x
1https://www.skybus.com.au/melbourne-city-express/
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