Melbourne, Australia has ranked in the top two most livable cities for the past decade. So if Melbourne has yet to make your bucket list, it’s time to add it. People swarm to Melbourne for its weather, culture, food, diversity, locals, and arts. So, whether you are craving an urban getaway, a beach oasis, cultural excursion, or all of the above, check out the PERFECT day in Melbourne.

Breakfast…

Rise and shine! Start your day early, because we have a lot of ground to cover. A Melbourne breakfast always begins with a coffee. In fact, you can sip on a coffee all day if you really want to fit in with the locals. From a flat white to a long black, carry around a reusable coffee mug and stay caffeinated for a day full of adventure. If you are looking for an aesthetically pleasing cuppa’ that will also rock your taste buds, stop by Industry Beans. And yes, it’s worth waiting in line.

Although coffee is the real star of the show, Melbourne has plenty of Insta-worthy breakfast dishes such as Avocado Toast, Shakshuka, and….drum roll please….a proper French croissant from Lune Croissanterie. Begin your day here with a savory ham & gruyere croissant or a sweet chocolate almond croissant. They usually sell out of by 11 am, so the early bird really does get the worm here- the warm, flakey, buttery worm.

What to Do…

Apart from “brekky”, choose to start your day with some yoga- get a good stretch in before all of this walking. Power Living Melbourne is a Vinyasa (heated or non-heated) yoga studio with a beautiful studio and lovely staff.

While you are in Fitzroy, be sure to check out the great shops while walking south along Brunswick Street towards the CBD (Central Business District). Along Brunswick, you will find vintage clothes, records, (more) coffee, and arts of all mediums. There are also plenty of local markets such as Fitzroy Mills Market and Rose Street Market.

Turn right onto Gertrude Street and head towards Carlton Gardens. Here is Melbourne Museum, iMAX Melbourne Museum, and Royal Exhibition Building.

Continue walking south toward the CBD. Here is where you will find the Immigration Museum, ACMI, Degraves Street Art, Old Treasury Building, and Parliament. The Queen Victoria Market is open every Sunday 9 am – 4 pm, and on Wednesday nights. Other points of interest include Chinatown and Federation Square.

Where to eat in the “arvo”…

Immediately after Federation Square is the Yarra River. Walk along the river to find Arbory Afloat or walk along the dock to the Boatbuilders Yard. Grab a beer and a

More things to do….

Melbourne has a great BikeShare. You simply download the app and can hop on whenever you see one nearby. So, when you have exhausted your legs from walking or want to have a little fun, the change of pace and windblown hair can turn the feelings of tiredness into a fresh start. It is approximately AUS$8 for one week and AUS$10 for one month subscription. Be sure to grab one that has a helmet in the basket, as it is against the law to not wear a helmet. To unlock the bike, you need Wifi or cellular data, which can potentially be problematic if you do not have an international phone plan. Luckily, Melbourne has free Wifi in the CBD.

Another way to avoid fatigue is to use public transportation. Download the PTV app or use Google Maps to figure out which tram to get on and where the nearest stop is. If you are in the CBD, the tram is tree. If you are outside of the CBD, you will have to purchase a Myki at a station, post office, or convenience store.

Whether you are on bike, public transportation, or foot, head to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Here, you will see the Botanical Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance. Adjacent to it is the National Gallery of Victoria and the Melbourne Cricket Ground Stadium.

Continue south until you reach St. Kilda. The St. Kilda Pier is the best place to watch the sunset, because you are joined by the local penguins who hang around the rocks at the end of the pier. Feel free to walk along the boardwalk, hop in the water, or grab a drink from Hotel Esplanade, or the “Espy”.

Where to eat “tea” or dinner…

From St. Kilda, Uber or bike back through the city to Carlton. Grab a pizza from DOC then a gelato from Pidapipo. Get an affogato (shot of espresso) with Hazelnut ice cream. If you don’t like espresso, you can have your scoop dipped underneath the Nutella fountain. Then, hop next door to Readings Bookstore, which is open late. Also, next door is Johnny’s Greenroom which is a rooftop bar overlooking the city.

Nightlife…

For nightlife, head a few streets over back to Fitzroy where it all began. Nightclubs on Brunswick Street such as The Workers Club, Naked for Satan, Black Pearl, or the Provincial Hotel have events on every day of the week. If you are wanting more of a lowkey vibe, check out the Red Triangle Snooker Room just off of Brunswick street for endless pool, and 30+ milkshakes to choose from, and no booze.

Where to stay…

Whether you are on a tight budget or wanting a luxurious vacation, find an AirBnb in or near Fitzroy. It is walking distance to all of the action, and it creates the best “local experience”.

When to visit…

Locals claim the winters to be cold, but it never gets cold enough to snow. Winter is June, July, and August. Pretty much any other month, you can find yourself wearing shorts and a tank top. Melbourne is known to have all four seasons in one day, so pack a rain jacket or umbrella and a light jacket even if it looks hot and sunny out. 

Five fun facts about Melbourne…

1.  Melbourne ALWAYS has something going on, whether it is a music festival or fashion pop-ups or beer yoga. Check out Whats on in Melbourne or Timeout to find a list of events.

2.  You need a Visa to go to Australia even if you are only going to be in Australia for one week. You can simply do it online in under 20 minutes.

3. “Entrée” means appetizer, and “Main” means the main course. This might be confusing at first for Americans like me.

4. “Pie” means meat pie, unless they specify that it is sweet such as “apple pie”.

5.  An “Arcade” is essentially a miniature mall adjacent to the street. There are several all over the city.

By Lane Carrandi

HELLO, I’M LANE. My passions include travel and mindfulness, which I hope to combine to create a meaningful and vibrant life. Originally American, I now live in Melbourne, Australia. I visited Melbs once and fell absolutely in love to the point where I applied for my working-holiday Visa the day after I returned to the States. I am now an Au Pair, volunteer for a non-profit working with female refugees, yoga teacher, and blogger. I hope to share my story to inspire people to feel a sense of belonging and purpose, to expand minds and hearts through travel and mindfulness.

Check out my blog at broekinwonderland.com

Other travel articles such as Vietnam.

Mindfulness articles such as Supporting Someone Through Grief.