Melbourne
Itinerary
Day 1: Queen Victoria Market, Graffiti Lanes, Shrine of Remembrance, Royal Botanic Gardens, Eureka Skydeck, Immigration Museum, Melbourne Star
Day 2: Great Ocean Road, Twelve Apostles, St. Kilda, Little Penguins
Day 3: Mornington Peninsula Hot Springs, Brighton Beach, Chadstone Mall
Day 4: National Gallery of Victoria, Bourke St Mall
ACDC & Hosier Lane- while there is artwork all over Melbourne- these are the two main alleys for graffiti. The streets are covered top to bottom in large and small designs with about any kind of theme you could imagine. While the lanes don't take long to walk down, it's totally worth taking your time to stop and really look at different areas of the walls to see the pieces you might miss at first glance
Queen Victoria Market- indoor/outdoor market with fresh produce, butchers, fishmongers, and bakery stalls. A good spot in the morning to walk around a grab breakfast. The outdoor section of the market has a lot of souvenior and clothing stalls.
Eureka SkyDeck- 88 floors up over the Yarra River- this observation deck gives you breathtaking views across Melbourne. There is a separate ticket for the Edge Experience- a glass cube that suspends visitors out over the Melbourne sky.
Royal Botanic Gardens- a beautiful park to stroll around in the afternoon or to bring a picnic to. There are events on frequently within the park- from yoga to talks on climate change to guided walks about native bush foods.
Shrine of Rememberance- Orginally a monument for veterans of World War 1, the monument is for all those who have served. There is a museum in the shrine- tickets can be purchased for a guided tour.
Immigration Museum- an indepth look into the early days of immigration to Australia, with stories from immigrants and a timeline to immigration today. The museum has great exhibitions as well- from showing how different cultures use fashion and tattoos to the importance of dance in cultures.
Melbourne Star- different views than the Eureka SkyDeck- the Melbourne star is a large-scale, slow moving ferris wheel. Buying your ticket online will save you a few dollars- and gives you plenty of options for package deals.
Twelve Apostles (Great Ocean Road)- a ~3 hour trip down the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne will bring you through beautiul farmlands and of course plenty of little beach towns. Keep your eyes peeled for koalas along the way- we stopped because we saw other cars or tour busses stopped along the road. There are signs everywhere to be on the lookout for kangaroos as well. There is a boardwalk to the viewpoint for the formation. It's really a breathtaking view of the huge rocks jutting out of the sea and the coastline.
Mornington Penninsula Hot Springs- about an hour and a half drive from the city- the hot springs are the perfect place to unwind for the day. While the pools are man-made, the surrounding grounds really make you feel like you're one with nature. The pools are different temperatures- from ice cold to piping hot, along with saunas and ice rooms as well. The facilities are beautiful and there are plenty of places to lounge around outside of the pools. The restaurant is reasonably priced and the food was delicous.
Chadstone- a gigantic shopping mall- the largest in the southern hemisphere. Good for a rainy day, the mall has super luxury high-end stores to highstreet stores.
Brighton Beach- the beach is lined with brightly painted 'bathing boxes' (small, wooden cabanas) giving the shoreline a unique look. Of course- this is an excelent location for instagram photoshoots.
St. Kilda Beach- spend the day at the beach in St. Kilda's, grab dinner from one of the restaurants along the boardwalk and head out on the pier before sunset to get a spot to watch the little penguins come in for the night. There are rocks inbetween the concrete pier and the boardwalk that the penguins live in. Just at sundown you'll start to see their heads pop up in the water as they make their way to their homes in the rocks. Make sure not to use your flash if you take pictures and to give the penguins plenty of room when they come up so they don't get overwhelmed.
National Gallery Victoria- a huge museum with collections from all over the world. The Keith Haring & Jean-Michel Basquiat 'Crossing Lines' exhibit runs through mid-April. With over two hundred pieces in the collection, the exhibit shows both artists' beginnings through their friendship. There is a joint ticket that can be purchased for entry to the Crossing Lines exhibit and to the Kaws exhibit.
