Things to do in Melbourne, Australia by yourself?

Question

Hey all. Visiting my girlfriend for a month this upcoming May in melbourne...she's australian born and raised, but i have never been there (she's always come to the US b/c im still in school). long story of how we met, how it works, etc but it does that's all that matters.

anyway, she is going to be working semi full time when i am there..so in the spirit of being productive i was just wondering what things there are to do by yourself during the daytime in that time of year.

if it helps, i'm american but am not entirely clueless to oz culture or melbourne geography. she lives in the monash area so i think most things are pretty accesible. but i am on a budget...esp since I'm spending $$$ just to get down there! my girlfriend would be content to sit on a beach for a week straight haha...but i like to be kind of active. though i do love good nature spots.

also, i'm really into music so any good live night spots would also be greatly appreciated!

thanks a lot!

Thanks for all your answers so far...I'm hoping I can get one of my friends @ Uni Melb to get me a student train pass...on Adelaide, her parents live there, so we're gonna save that trip for Christmas!

and also...well, she studied kinesiology...so no matter what I do she kicks my *** with massages!

Answer 1

When I was there I went for ride on the free tram that does the city circuit - they point out heaps of things to do.

Wandering the shops and malls is good, lots to see. Same with the markets.

Museum is quite cheap & has some really good displays. They feed their live spiders in the mornings! Freaky.

Have a look at the big casino over the river (forget its name. Crown maybe?) They have an amazing lobby with jumping fountains & a crystal light show on the roof. I could have watched it for hours!

Grab a bunch of brochures & city guides from the info centre or airport. They usually have coupons in them, like 2 for 1 deals or 25% off. Then you can check out places that cost like the aquarium, zoos, observation tower etc.

Answer 2

You do need a directory for your way around. Your girlfriend will be able to provide you with one so treasure it and perhaps have copies of pages that are more relevant. Melbourne traffic is atrocious leave for anything in advance as it took me over an hour to get to the airport as there were traffic jams on some of the main highways. We passed over them on smaller roads thank goodness or perhaps I would still be there ! I'm a bicyclist love my bike so see if you can borrow one or hire one you also need a helmet and a water bottle and be aware that we drive on the left of the road. If at any time uncertain get off and walk. Also you need to lock up the bike when you leave it anywhere just to make sure it is still there when you get back. Check out trips to other cities as there are some good deals. Adelaide for instance so my son tells me has very good meal places at very reasonable cost (cheap in other shorter words) As your friend is working try to be not so energetic as she may just be tired after a busy day so I hope you have experience with gentle massage and perhaps some very relaxing poetry reading or something on those lines without being too way out. So have fun and good luck and if you happen to come across Rob tell him his mother is ready for another trip as Melbourne is a big place to someone from Adelaide.

Answer 3

Your going to have a great time! There is so much to see and do in the Melbourne area. Here are a few.

1. Go see the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road. This would be a great thing to do with your girlfriend also. If for some reason she can't go you would be sorry to miss this.

2. Walk and hangout in Downtown Melbourne. There are lots of great coffee shops, window shopping, people watching and cultural places to see. There are always new exhibits to see.


There is a free e-book that would have more help on some things to do and see at www.LetsGotoAustralia.com

See you here!

Answer 4

First up, unless your g/f has a second car or is lending you hers, you'll want a monthly Metlink ticket. For a zone 1+2 ticket (Monash/Clayton is in zone 2, unfortunately for you), it costs AU$152.60. That will get you anywhere, on any public transport (trams, trains and all bus lines), at any time. You might want to consider this even if you have the use of a car; Melbourne's PT system is very good and you won't have to bother with parking.

The obvious place to check out is the CBD (Central Business District), which is the rectangle enclosed by La Trobe St, Spring St, Flinders St and Spencer St. The main shopping areas are Swanston St, Elizabeth St, and the eastern halves of Bourke St and Collins St. Due to its higher-class shops and cafes, the far eastern end of Collins St is sometimes called, "The Paris End of Collins St".

Also in the CBD is the Queen Victoria Market, an open-air market (under cover) with fresh produce and lots of various things on sale. They also have free music from time to time, as well as the occasional Night Market which can be fun.

South of Flinders St, just accross the Yarra River, is Southbank, where there is a broad foot-only promenade and plenty of cafes. At the western end of Southbank is the Crown Entertainment Complex, which holds the casino, as well as a cinema complex, plenty of shops, and a few bars and nightclubs.

If you keep heading south from Crown on Spencer St, you'll come close to the South Melbourne Market, which is an enclosed market which has just been fully renovated. Lots of good food and interesting stuff for sale here, too.

Heading out of the city to the east, there's Bridge Rd, Richmond, which has loads of discount fashion warehouse stores and little independent boutiques.

Still to the east is South Yarra, where the intersection of Toorak and Chapel is another major shopping centre with quite a lot of fashion stores and restaurants.

In the inner-east is Brunswick St, Fitzroy and surrounding area, which is known for its "bohemian" atmosphere. Lots of cheap eateries here, as well as some eclectic fashion, book and music stores. A little south of the CBD is St Kilda, another suburb known for being cheap, cheerful and weird, and it's right on the beach, too.

I could go on and on, but here are a few really good websites that can tell you way more than I can post here!

EDIT: You added a comment about getting a "student train pass", and I thought I should warn you that it won't do you any good. In Melbourne, you need to be under 15 or have a concession card to travel on a concession (student) ticket. Since I doubt that anyone is going to believe that you're under 15, or even in high school, you'd need a tertiary concession card to use that ticket. Since the only way to get one is to have the form stamped by the school you're attending, then take it to a Metlink office and pay over $150, I think you might end up paying quite a bit more than if you just bought the full-price ticket that I suggested. A concession ticket isn't considered valid without a current concession card, so if you get stopped by an inspector you might plead ignorance and get off, or you might be hit with a $150 fine. I don't know how far the reach of the fare evasion laws goes, but I wouldn't want to bet on them not being able to stop you from leaving the country until you pay or do the associated jail time.

Answer 5

Get on a train and just go to different suburbs, Im a SE girl so Im a biased. Brunswick street is awsome you can spend an entire day there and not spend cash and chapel st is worth a look too. DFO's at cheltenham and essendon oh and southern cross station, train it to bendigo (is a bit ex but worth it) if you can get a car definatly head down the great ocean rd with her its magnificant. i normally just wander around, look at all the shops and walk the burbs. great entertainment. Southland is good, St kilda, Melb is full of entertainment that is free youll have no probs finding stuff. there is also the museums and botanical gardens.

Answer 6

the Puffing Billy train at Belgrade

the Science Museum just over the west gate bridge.

Ride the trams>> there are heaps of them.

Visit the zoo.

Go to an Aussie rules game.

Drink some VB

eat a pie and a chicko roll

Shotgun a Tim Tam.

Answer 7

there's an Irish pub, on 106 hardware st'.
every Saturday and Sunday - live music.
look for a singer name Micheal Meeking, or "Meeks". great cover versions for good old song, lots of drinking and dancing. real fun!

on Collins st' (155 if i remember correctly), there's a high building, and a great observation on all of the city. I'll recommend on going 20 minutes before sunset, and this is how you get day light, amazing sunset, and night time.

grab a good book, find a peaceful territory on the botanic gardens, and enjoy the silence.

I'm so jealous... have fun!