MELBOURNE WEEKEND ITINERARY

Recently we have had a ton of American friends come to Australia to visit us, and they want to spend a day getting a feel for the Melbourne Central Business District (CBD). Obviously there is enough to see and do for many days here, however if you want one day to kick off your trip where you get a little feel for the city, this is your go-to itinerary.

I would recommend starting your first day by exploring the Central Business District of Melbourne (CBD) and really getting a feel for the city. 

- Lindsey Farrah

From here, you walk a short walk to Hosier Lane. This street is famous for its ever changing graffitti and it’s great to wander around and check out all the unique art. If you are lucky, watch some artists at work in the lively laneway.

Next on the agenda; explore some of Melbourne’s famous laneways. Wandering around you will stumble upon many lovely shops, cafes and random street art. Head to Duke’s Coffee Roasters for a proper Ozzie flat white and use this as a starting point to wander around. You never know what hidden gems you will might find, so don’t be afraid to wander down as many random lanes as possible to see what you can discover.

Chuckle Park is by far my favourite place to eat in the CBD for lunch. This little gem is hidden down a laneway and featured whimsical decor including tons of hanging lights and gorgeous flowers. My favourite item on the menu is the pulled pork roll and and highly recommend it! 

Now it’s time to check out the Melbourne waterfront. Head to the Docklands to check out the beautiful views, and be sure to cross over the Seafarers Bridge for a gorgeous view if the CBD. This is a great place to take some photos of the city skyline and grab a cocktail on the water if you are in the mood for a drink.

When you are ready for your next adventure, head to the Shrine of Remembrance. It is about a fifteen minute walk from the NGV. This gorgeous shrine offers one of the best views of the city, so definitely climb to the top to get some Insta-worthy photos.

When you are ready to wind down for the day, head to Eureka Tower for an unforgettable view of the city. I highly recommend coming here for the sunset and watching the city change from day to night from a bird’s eye view. Take in the full view of the city at 297 metres above the streets. It’s fun to look down at this large city and try to spot some of the places you visited during the day. 

There are so many places to eat in Melbourne, and I recommend walking around and checking out some menus to find somewhere you fancy. After dinner, you can finish the day by grabbing a drink at my absolute favourite bar ever, Holey Moley. Here you can play a round of putt-putt while enjoying your adult beverage of choice. 

I love Sundays in Melbourne because you can go to the amazing Queen Victoria Market in the CBD. This is one of my favorite markets i’ve ever been to and features local produce, meats, seafood, and homemade breads as well as food trucks, and tons of shops filled with anything you can think of. Sunday is the best day to go to the market as there are the most amount of vendors this day. I would recommend going Sunday around 10 AM and spending 2-3 hours wandering around to take in the sights, smells and sounds of the market. This is also a great place to purchase souvenirs if you want to take some kitsch Australia stuff home as you can get the best deals on these items here at the market.

After the market head to St. Kilda to enjoy lunch and take in the gorgeous beach. There are tons of places to grab a bite but my favourite in this area is Fitzrovia. After grabbing a bite I recommend walking to the St. Kilda pier to check out the views. Nearby there is a Melbourne bike stand (located at 19 Fitzroy St, St Kilda VIC 3182). One of my favorite things to do is ride my bike from St. Kilda beach all the way to the famous Brighton Beach. It’s a lovely ride and you pass tons of gorgeous beaches on this trail. I would plan for 3-4 hours round trip if you really plan on taking your time. 

Once you get back to St. Kilda, head to Luna Park to check out the world’s oldest continually running rollercoaster. It’s such a nostalgic park and I highly recommend buying some tickets to ride some of these old rides and stick around until sunset to see this park lit up at night.

For dinner I recommend heading to Barkly street and choosing one of the many restaurants on this strip. One of my favorite places to grab a bite in this area is Fat Yak; they do awesome burgers.