Melbourne, the capital of Victoria state in Southeastern Australia and to Melburnians, the capital of food, culture, sport and music.

It was home to indigenous Australians for over 40,000 years before it became a penal settlement in 1803 before being founded and named after the sitting British PM William Lamb, 2nd viscount Melbourne. These days it’s regularly voted as the first or second greatest place to live in the world.

I lived in Melbourne for around 5 months and absolutely loved the culture and vibe of the City, from the amazing and ever changing street art, to the food scene and the nearby beaches and countryside.

Start by arriving in style at Flinders St Station! This iconic architectural delight was opened in 1854 and is super photogenic. Especially after it rains and you can get some great reflection pics of the clock side. You’ll also spot St Paul’s cathedral just opposite, consecrated in 1891 the neo gothic architecture and twin spires contrast beautifully with the skyscrapers.

Cross over the road to Fed Square for some modern architecture and some art and culture. Visit the National Gallery of Victoria for some interesting exhibitions.

Now head North to Flinders Lane, the most famous of Melbourne’s streets art laneways, the art is always changing so you never know what you’re going to see, and it’s all really cool stuff!

Pop into Lune Croissant just up from here for award winning baked breakfast goods! They really are delicious and a great brunch on the go option. There are usually queues but it’s well worth the wait!

Now head East towards Fitzroy Gardens, passing through Treasury Gardens spot the JFK monument and the Victorian emergency services memorial. A stark reminder of the risk the Aussie firefighters face when battling the yearly bush fires.

Now wander around Fitzroy Gardens, where you can pick up a coffee at Kerekere Green, you can’t help but drink coffee in Melbourne, the City is literally crazy for it. Stop by Captain Cooks cottage and find out why it’s there when Cook never lived in Melbourne, and enjoy the beautiful Aussie wildlife, if you’re lucky you’ll spot a possum!

Nearby is the Old Treasury Building, where you can learn about Melbourne’s gold rush and check out one of the biggest golden nuggets in the world!

Next stop is Carlton Gardens, on the way be sure to snap a pic of the lovely old Parliament House, and cool down in the marvellous fountain within the College of Surgeons garden.

Once you reach Carlton Gardens you can check out the World Heritage listed Royal Exchange Building, inside and out! Plus the Melbourne Museum is a stones throw away for some more history.

Our next stop is the Melbourne Gail, built in 1839 it’s reported to be one of the most haunted places in the world and hosts plenty of ghost tours!

A quick visit to the State Library of Victoria is a must, it’s beautiful inside and has recently been renovated. Sit and relax with a game of chess while you take in the stunning interior.

After all this walking you must be getting hungry, so why not head into Chinatown and fill up on bubble tea, ramen, and dumplings! There are some really cool rooftop bars around here too if you fancy an afternoon drink.

Once you’ve recharged it’s time to head out the Queen Victoria market, this place spans two blocks and sells everything you could ever imagine. The indoor deli area is perfect for picking up some snacks and make sure you wander through all the fresh fruit and veg. It’s also a good place to pick up some souvenirs!

Now take one of Melbourne’s famous trams down to the Docklands for a ride on the Melbourne Star observation wheel for views of the beautiful city, it’s a great mix of skyscrapers and old colonial/Victorian buildings. If you like arcades then pop into Archie Brothers for some gaming goodness.

Now wander South past the enormous Marvel stadium, THE sports venue in Melbourne and cross over the Yarra river on the Webb bridge. Now you’re going to head East, stopping at the Boat builders yard for a cold beer and to enjoy the riverside vibes.

Carry on up the river and potentially stop at 400 Gradi, voted the 7th best pizza in the World in 2019! If you’re not too hungry maybe just pick up some gelato from Zero Gradi next door.

When you reach the Evan Walker bridge, cross back over the river, feel free to stop at the ultra hipster Ponyfish Island bar, located underneath the bridge! It’s time to get a bit boozy anyway, so next stop is the Arbory Afloat, this trendy bar sits on a barge on the Yarra and is a great place to enjoy the sunny Melbourne afternoon with a cocktail or two.

For some sobering history you can check out the immigration museum, with information about Australia’s sometimes dark past. There was a really cool tattoo exhibition when I was there.

Now it’s time to enjoy your evening in the laneways around Flinders Lane and Collins St, these little alleyways are full of bars, restaurants and takeouts ready to serve you up some delicious food.

Melbourne is one of those Cities that you can just explore and explore. Always keep your eye out for street art because it is everywhere and mostly to a high quality. There’s also Melbourne town hall, where there was always something interesting going on while I was there.

Another great thing to do is see Melbourne from up high, near the river is the Eureka sky deck, head up here for 360° views of the City! It really makes you realise how big Melbourne is.

So my best advice is to use my blog as a rough plan, but don’t worry about getting lost as you’ll always stumble upon something brilliant. Enjoy.

Published by Tom

Wanderluster, forever day dreaming of my next destination. Nurse by day, gay, geek, love sports and marvel comics. Determined to visit every country in the world! View all posts by Tom