Unique Things to Do in Melbourne

Melbourne is an art and culture capital of Australia, famous for it’s art centers, museums, skylines, music culture and outdoor features. The area is known for massive walking districts, truly excellent coffee, legendary street art and access to the Great Ocean Road. There re many unique things to do in Melbourne and the surrounding areas.

An overlook of Melbourne's downtown area including the Yarra river, various museums and skyscrapers

Unique Things to Do in Melbourne

Little Italy

This small community area is also known as the “Italian Precinct” or simply “Lygon Street. This narrow district serves as the Italian cultural precinct in Melbourne.

Block Arcade

The Block Arcade is a large, historic shopping arcade located in the business district of Melbourne with distinct Victorian overtones. There are numerous shops, cafés and restaurants interspaced in the walkways. This is considered a beautiful tourist attraction in the city.

The Melbourne skyline at night near the Yarra River

Yarra River Tours and Kayaking

The Yarra River is the scenic river cutting through the center of Melbourne. Visitors are able to book river tours heading up and down the calm currents. Other visitors often take kayaks up and down the river on personal tours. The entire river follows numerous scenic views and park areas

Shrine of Remembrance

A very stately and beautiful memorial dedicated to Australian soldiers. The Shrine of Remembrance was constructed as a site for Australians to mourn and honor soldiers of WWI. The area is beautiful to visit, with colonnaded porticos, exhibitions and gardens

Royal Botanical Gardens

These are large and excellent green spaces with native flora on display. Entry into the garden areas is free. The site is home to large lakes, the Rose Pavilion, a series of walking trails, panoramas of the city small temple recreations and more. The garden also hosts Fern Gully, a vividly green area specifically dedicated to fern flora within the Royal Botanical Gardens

University Avenue

A street adjacent to Melbourne University with access to numerous cafes, restaurants and shops. The area is known for local hangouts, university-popular sites, great walking spaces and access to the beautiful campus of Melbourne University.

Jail Tour (Old Melbourne Gaol)

An extensive tour discussing Australia’s origins as a penal colony and the wild-west narratives which dominated much of Australia’s history and popular culture as the continent became settled. The jail tour allows visitors to visit cells, climb the narrow metal stairwells and learn about infamous outlaws, including Ned Kelly.

The rocky bay area of St. Kilda Pier at sunset

St. Kilda Pier Penguin Colony

This is an active penguin colony known to host “fairy” penguins. The colony is located at the end of the pier in St. Kilda, a suburb on the outskirts of Melbourne. The penguins can be seen nestled amongst the rocks, especially during the early morning and late evening. The creatures are most active after dark.

Note that the penguins are most active after nightfall and there are no public restrooms available around the pier. The penguins must not be touched or handled, as this can lead to injury or disease. Additionally, flash photography is forbidden, since this can sicken and injure the penguins.

The Lyon Housemuseum

This is a private home converted into an active contemporary art and architecture museum. The venue is only open on specific days per year and pre-bookings are required. It is one of the odder and more unique things to do in Melbourne.

The Heide Museum of Modern Art

While the National Gallery of Victoria is the most popular art site in Melbourne, the Heide Museum is a wonderful alternative. The museum is home to vast displays of modern and contemporary art, acres of gardens and a large sculpture park.

Hanging Rock Llama Walk

Hanging Rock is a beautiful overlook area with dramatic rock features in the background. This 5 kilometer hike can be done with llamas accompanying hikers in the landscape just outside of Melbourne.

Pink Lake at Westgate Park

There is a salt lake in Westgate Park, which under the right circumstances, will turn a strong, surprising shade of bright pink. The coloration occurs after a hot summer with little rain. Westgate Park tends to have large crowds, especially during the weekend.

Rooftop Honey

This is a famous local site founded by a coalition of beekeepers working to bring bees back to urban Australia. The program encourages cafés, restaurants, hotels and individuals to keep hives in available spaces. Rooftop Honey is the specific site for taste testing, ordering honey and off-site hives.

A series of blooming pink flowers native to Australia

Aboriginal Heritage Walk in the Royal Botanical Gardens

Run by a series of Indigenous guides, this walking tour treks through various portions of Melbourne with information on native plants, lifestyles of Australian aboriginals, smoking ceremonies and traditional food oppertunities.

Bunjilaka Aboriginal Culture Center

Located at the Melbourne Museum in Carlton, this museum has various displays and exhibits on Indigenous culture with a special focus on the tribes and societies of southern Australia.

Victoria State Rose Garden

A vast series of tranquil gardens with over 5,000 different types of roses around walking paths, picnic areas, water features and scenic spaces. The gardens are open daily and free to enter.

Werribee Gorge State Park

While Melbourne is famous for it’s numerous walks and hikes, Werribee Gorge State Park is in a league of it’s own. The area has oppertunities for bushwalking, hiking, rock climbing and stunning overlook views.

One of the black-eyed, red-furred flying foxes native to Australia hanging upside down.

Fruit Bats at Yarra Bend Park

The Grey-Headed Flying fox, commonly known as a fruit bat, is a major feature of Melbourne. These Australian natives are large, adorable sky mammals seen in the early evenings. There is a roosting colony of over 30,000 at Yarra Bend State Park which leaves in a massive “megabat” exodus during dusk only to return for daytime naps. The Fruit Bats feast on Eucalyptus pollen, assorted fruit and various nectars.

The bats can easily be found at Bell Bird Park along Yarra Boulevard. The bat colony is on the riverbank. The best time to spot them is during dusk, when they take flight to seek out food.

GlowGolf at Docklands

This miniture golf course is an indoor location accented by giant murals, large props, neon colors and strange rules. The entire golf course glows odd colors with the entire setting alit under black-lights.

Coop’s Shot Tower

This is a historic bullet-industrial factory from 1888. The large building was used to produce little lead balls through a unique industrial process. Molten metal would tumble down the length of the tower into pools of water that would flash-form them into a spherical state. The modern tower was protected as a historical site and encased in a giant, metal cone of black steel and glass. The tower is now a museum site.

Gaunt’s Clock and the Gog and Magog Giants

Located in the Royal Arcade in Melbourne’s Central Business District, this large clock is a masterwork flanked by two mythical giants named Gog and Magog. The two giants are found in a jumble of religious and pagan texts, often thought to by symbolic figures of conflict between the Britons and Trojan invaders.

Fitzroy Gardens The Fairies Tree

This 300 year old tree trunk is the work of Ola Cohn, a sculptor and children’s book author. The stump is now covered in images of Fairies, gnomes, dwarves and Australian wildlife. The tree trunk was dead when Cohn began her carvings, but eventually became encased in chemical resin to protect her work for future generations.

Puffing Billy Steam Train

This steam-powered engine was originally designed as a low-cost method for visiting Australia’s remote areas. The train now offers tours through Sherbrooke Forest, the Dandenongs and the Australian countryside. The engine passes some truly beautiful sections of Australia. Tours can also visit the Healesville Kangaroo Sanctuary and the famed Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. This is one of the most unique things to do in Melbourne and the surrounding countryside.

Great Ocean Road

This is one of the most stunning drives in Australia. This long route follows the Australian coast, passing by famed tea nooks, koala hangouts, Loch Ard Gorge and the Twelve Apostels.

Healesville Sanctuary

This rescue and preservation site is home to numerous creatures, including dingoes, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and elusive platypuses.

Unique Things to Do in Melbourne