Hello friends, I’m back! Where have I been the past few months you ask? Traveling the world, of course 😉 After spending one month in Asia (blog to come!) and two months in Melbourne, I thought it was about time that I give you all some deets on the place I have been calling home. Melbourne is such a terrific city and I strongly urge anyone thinking of visiting to definitely do so! Keep reading to learn more…

WHEN TO GO

Understanding Melbourne weather can be a little tricky. Firstly, depending on where you live in the world (most of you are from North America), Australia’s weather is the opposite of what you’re used to. For example, I was in Melbourne starting in February and the weather went from Summer to Autumn (not ‘Fall’…  learned the hard way that you will get judged for saying that!). Thus, if you like the heat (and by that I mean 30C plus), come between November to January. I personally loved the weather I had as it never went above 35C and did not go below a daytime high of 15C.

St.Kilda

Most of you may fear temperatures of over 30C, but there is always a strong wind here as well as low humidity such that the heat will not affect you like it would in Toronto, for example. Another point to consider is to always wear layers. Mornings can feel terribly cold, and within an hour, you will be sweating buckets in the sun. Lastly, just when you think the rain has stopped, you are almost always wrong. Days calling for rain usually result in on and off showers (or more like horizontal downpours) throughout the day. While this may all seem quite extreme, majority of the days are terrific, and your travels should not be affected.

WHERE TO STAY

I lived in the CBD (central business district, a.k.a. ‘downtown’), and it was perfect. Unlike Toronto, their CBD area is a sprawling commercial district with something to do on every corner. If you have limited time in the city and enjoy a bustling atmosphere, I would highly recommend a hotel or Airbnb in the area. While any part of the CBD would be great, areas I frequented most were near Southern Cross Station, Flinders Station or Melbourne Central Mall.

Flinders station

Otherwise, there are many suburbs surrounding the city that locals would argue trump the city any day. In particular, I enjoyed St.Kilda (for a more laid-back and chill vibe near the beach), Fitzroy (full of hipster ‘op’ shops – a.k.a. vintage stores – and edgy bars), and Prahan (known for it’s cool and buzzing Chapel Street).

Acland Street in St.Kilda

HOW TO GET AROUND

If you are staying in the CBD, walking is by far the best choice. However, be aware that some streets can be steep, so be prepared to work up a sweat at times. Also, heels are a definite no as the pavement (not ‘sidewalk’!) can be slippery. Otherwise, if you are not a walker, their form of streetcar, known as the tram, is free within the borders of the city! They are super convenient and easy to use, but be aware that there are steps required to get onto the tram and often times the stops are not announced (thank God for GPS), so it may be difficult for disabled or elderly people. No card is required – just hop on and enjoy.

The trams are just part of their great transportation system as they also have busses and trains that extend far beyond the CBD area. If you decide to go beyond the CBD, a ‘Myki’ card is required and can be purchased at train stations or 7-11 (apx. $6) as their transit system is cashless. As mentioned, when traveling within the CBD, you do not need a card. If you are leaving the city however, tap on once you get on the bus/tram (you have to tap on to enter the train stations). Fare prices differ depending on what ‘zone’ you travel to, but most usually the price is $4.40.

If walking and public transport are not your thing, there of course is always Uber (no Lyft as of yet) or renting a car. Be reminded though that they drive on the other side of the road, and their turning procedures in the city are confusing.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I BRING?

Australia, particularly their big cities, are known to be quite pricey in comparison to many other countries. While for citizens of the city I would argue otherwise as their income is quite high (minimum wage is $18!), tourists that do not live in expensive cities may be slightly overwhelmed. See below for approximate costs and plan accordingly:

• Food: meals generally range from AUD $15-40. Note that the great thing about the price you see is that is in all-inclusive – no tip or tax to think of! I of course purchased groceries most of the time, but be aware that produce prices fluctuate daily and can get quite expensive (think $7/pepper or $2/tomato!). Also, Melbourne is known for their food scene, and I often found myself trying new brunch places rather than dinner. Thus, loosely plan your meals in advance to determine how often you will be eating-in versus out.
  

  The amazing prices at Aldi’s!

• Drink: if you are trying to live the student budget life, wine at grocery stores such as Coles and Aldi can run you as cheap as $3 for an Australian bottle (you need your passport to purchase)! Otherwise, when eating out, a glass of wine is usually $8-14 and beer is about $8-12 (be on the lookout for the amazing happy hour deals restos offer). Cocktails are quite pricey, and will run you $16-24. Many places do offer jugs however, so that is a more affordable option if your friends are as gin obsessed as mine are. As for coffee, even at McDonalds a cup will run you about $3. If you are in desperate need for some caffeine, the cheapest option is 7-11. Anything iced will run you $4-8.
• Accommodation: a hotel or Airbnb will run you between $80-200/night. There are endless options, so you should not have a hard time finding something. If you are looking for cheaper options, there are many hostels in the city. Additionally, many condos and homes are available for short-term stays and can be found via Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace (I’m sure you can negotiate with the owner on the price if they are desperate to make a buck while on vacation). Groupon is also a great option as well for periodic deals.
• Transportation: as mentioned, if you are staying in the CBD, the cheapest and most efficient option is walking. Next up is transit, which will run you $4.40 per trip. Otherwise, Uber pool’s are not always available and thus you will be paying $15-40 for UberX service. The last option is of course a car, which from my research was minimum $60/day with fees included. Be aware however that most car rental shops close at 5pm, and therefore if you are looking to rent a car for a day, most people end up paying a 2-day fee as they require the car past 5pm.
• Entertainment: this category is quite diverse, but I have clumped everything from landmark fees to club cover here as they are comparable to any other large city. Any price I came across was quite reasonable. Expect to pay anywhere from $20-200 for a night out – it really just depends on what you are willing to spend. What I loved about Melbourne is that there are always fun free options available, so keep tabs on Facebook for events and ask locals (think movie nights at Federation Square or a Artisan market every Sunday at St.Kilda).
• Excursions: my favourite places to book day-trips are through Expedia or Airbnb Experiences. Once again, it really depends on what you are doing. A beer tour can be $30, but a trip to the Grampians can run you over $200. Majority of the tour companies are all sister companies, so expect similar service and activities at each tour.

WHAT TO DO

The options of what to do in this city are truly endless. However, I have tried to narrow down my top picks below:

MUST VISITS

1. Graffiti alleys: a large reason Melbourne is known for its hip and ‘cool’ vibe is due to its amazing street art. You can’t walk very far without seeing ceiling to floor masterpieces lining certain streets. Have your camera ready and check off some prominent alleys such as AC/DC Lane and Hosier Ave.
2. Queen Victoria Market: a building full of fresh produce, cheese, wine, and so many other food options… what more could you ask for? Being the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere, you will have no shortage of choices at this affordable landmark. Even better, throughout the year the Market will hold periodic night events such as the Summer Market, Europa Market, and Winter Market. Held on Wednesday nights, try to catch one of the events, filled with dozens of food vendors and hundreds of food fanatics.
3. Botanic Garden: put into as few words as possible, imagine Central Park meets Jurassic Park meets a tropical rainforest. Discover serene landscapes and indigenous plants in this oasis within the city.

Duckboard Place

Queen Vic Summer Market

Botanic Garden

SHOPPING

Fitzroy Op Shop

1. Melbourne Central/ Emporium: the largest shopping mall in the city with a vast range of stores (the very high end shops are found in the attached Emporium). There is also a cinema here.
2. Spencer Outlet Centre: minutes from South Cross Station, this fantastic mall boasts some big name shops despite its smaller size. Find crazy deals from stores like CottonOn, Fila, Converse, and much more.
3. Op Shops, Fitzroy & Collingwood: as mentioned, the suburbs of Fitzroy and well as the adjacent Collingwood are home to many vintage shops filled with super cool finds. From bargain finds to high end discoveries, you will find what you are looking for here.

NIGHTLIFE

I could probably write a whole blog on this topic along with the amount of cool bars, lounges, and clubs Melbourne has. While I barely scratched the surface, see below for areas and places I enjoyed or have heard great things about.

Ponyfish Island in Southbank

1. Southbank area: If you are looking for an area with great restaurants to grab a drink, listen to live music, or bar hop, this area is fantastic for that. Spend the evening jumping to each restaurant along the Yarra River and enjoy their unique atmosphere and diverse menus. Definitely stop by Ponyfish Island, Arbory Afloat, Hopscotch, and Leftbank. Or, for a more laid back party, P.J.’s is a great Irish joint.
2. Curtin House: in the mood to go out, but not sure what kind of vibe you are looking for? Search no further than Curtin House, the six-story building that boasts everything from a bumping club area to a rooftop cinema. Stop by each floor to see what interests you or research in advance the many events that happen there each night.
3. Revolver Upstairs: Set in the heart of Chapel St., this is one of the most talked about places you will hear of in the city. While the reviews I received were 50/50 good and bad, it’s one of those places you simply need to check out for yourself. I unfortunately did not have a chance to make it there, but have been told it is similar to the now closed grungy Guvernment in Toronto.

BEACHES

While the beaches in Melbourne are not the mesmerizing surfer beaches one usually thinks of in Australia, they still come with their own charm and beauty. See my favourites below:

1. Brighton Beach: Only about 45 minutes from the city by train, this beautiful beach is home to the IG-worthy Bathing Boxes Melbourne is known for.
2. St. Kilda: Although the beach here is slightly more narrow than Brighton, this beach is only 30 minutes from the city and is minutes away from the also famous Luna Park and Acland Street.
3. Port Melbourne: Simply need a beach, stat? Hop on a tram and arrive at this quiet, locals beach just 20 minutes from Flinders station. While they were most likely prevalent at the other beaches and I simply did not notice them, watch for the jellyfish as there were many washed up along this beach.

Brighton Beach

St.Kilda

Port Melbourne

FOOD

If you do not like food, you have come to the wrong city. With every spot having a 4 to 5 star rating, it was hard choosing where to go, but we knocked down quite a few places. I highly recommend the app EatClub for fantastic deals (15-40% your entire check including drinks!) as well as Groupon. Check out my favourites below.

• Coffee (Melbourne is the coffee capital of the world – fun fact!): Brother Baba Budan, Patricia, and Proud Mary
• Brunch: Fourth Chapter, Higher Ground, and Brick Lane
• Dinner: Metro Burger (unique meats like Kangaroo and Crocodile!), Miznon (they offer an unlimited pita and dip bar), Vamos, and Melina’s on the Rooftop
• Dessert: Lune, Messina, Pidapipo, Dex2rose, and Mimmo’s (at the Queen Vic Night Markets)

Cappuccino and Almond Latte at Patricia’s

Cappuccino, Almond Latte and a Carrot Cake Slice at Brother Baba Badan

Ricotta Hotcake and Latte at Higher Ground

Nourish Bowl and Acai Bowl at Fourth Chapter

Kangaroo Burger at Metro

Bag of Golden Meat and Baby Cauliflower at Miznon

Kouign Amann and Almond Croissant at Lune

Not Your Granny’s Apple Pie at Dex2rose

EXCURSIONS

1. Yarra Valley: I have been to many wine regions, but none have offered the diversity I witnessed in Yarra. The amazing tour we went on showed us the many byproducts of the region, such as locally grown peppers and strawberries, apple and pear ciders, and of course delicious wine. Some highlights of the day included trying the dark hot chocolate at the Chocolaterie as well an enjoying a glass of wine and a lovely Italian lunch overlooking the Killara Estate.
2. Philip Island: get up close and personal with some of Australia’s well-known wildlife on this fun day tour. See koala’s up close and hand-feed kangaroos at the Maru Koala and Animal Park, your first major stop. Then, marvel in the beauty of the well-known Woolomai Surf Beach (I cried here, it’s that beautiful). Lastly, wait until sunset for the iconic penguin march from the ocean back to their homes on the beach.
3. Great Ocean Road: While this tour is not recommended as a day tour as there is so much to see, we decided to chance it so as to avoid driving, and this tour did not disappoint. Our wonderful tour guide Craig took us on a fun-filled day that included Apollo Bay, a walk in Maits Rest Rainforest, the 12 Apostles, and Loch Ard Gorge. If you get car sick, you will absolutely need motion sickness medication as the ride there is hours of winding roads. Also, bring proper shoes as the rainforest is slippery and you will also have time to walk on the beach. While Great Ocean Road could have easily been a 2-3 day trip, don’t count this out if you only have one day to explore it.

Yarra Valley Tour – Killara Estate

Phili Island Tour – Maru Koala and Animal Park

Great Ocean Road Tour – Loch Ard Gorge

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

• the people of Melbourne take their coffee VERY seriously. As noted, they are the coffee capital of the world and gaining barista experience there is highly valued. If you are from America and are used to drip coffee, don’t try to ask for it here as they have no clue what it is. Every drink is espresso based. Therefore, the most similar thing to a coffee would be a short or long black (single or double shot). Additionally, note that iced coffee includes ice cream, so ask for an iced long black (double shot iced Americano) or an iced latte instead. Also, if you are caught in a Starbucks, be prepared for shaming by the locals (crazy, I know).
• Australians drive on the left side, but also remember that they walk on the left and keep to the left on escalators as well. Be prepared for a little frustration in Melbourne however as there are so many tourists that people walk in whatever direction they want.
• While in my experience Australian’s are extremely friendly, do not expect stellar customer service in food shops. Because there is no tipping and high wages, staff are not required to do as much as they would in America and are usually working with fewer employees, making them more busy and thus even less hospitable (by this I don’t mean rude, just less capable of taking quality care of each customer). Most restos run partial-service operations, where the customer usually purchases their food at a counter prior to eating and is served their food using a number at the table.

Have I sold you on this magnificent city yet? If not, read this all over again as you definitely missed something. There are not many cities that can combine all of the features Melbourne offers into such a compact space as well as it does. I am so glad to have had the privilege to live here ❤

Looking for more personal travel advice? Need a personal itinerary planner? Let’s chat!

xo,

Natasha