Gracie’s Guide: Top 3 Activities in Melbourne, Australia

If you are planning a trip to Australia here are a list of 3 things I think everyone should see during their visit that I absolutely loved!

After a full school year of studying in Rome, I decided that I wanted to spend the first official week of my summer break doing what I have been doing this entire past year; travel. However, now that I had the entire summer in front of me I wanted to start it off with a trip that is entirely different from the shorter weekends trips I took all around Europe throughout the year. After weighing my options I decided upon Australia!

I found Australia to be different than I expected but even more beautiful than I imagined. I flew into the city of Melbourne which had a fantastic nightlife hustle and bustle vibe to its streets. There are plenty of stores, libraries, restaurants, and boba shops that I definitely spent more money on than I should have. My favorite part about Melbourne was all of the Asian influence which I didn’t expect. I remember going to Australia confused as to what kind of culture I would find there, but was pleasantly surprised with all of the boba, ramen, and sushi places that filled the streets of Melbourne. During my time in Melbourne one evening, I stumbled upon a K-Pop tribute dance competition that anyone was welcome to watch that was passing by. It is events and activities such as these that make me truly believe that simply walking in one direction during your travels helps you not only gather your bearings but also find the most unique things to experience that may not be on your radar.

1. Royal Botanical Gardens

My first recommendation of what to do in Melbourne is hands down to plan a visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens. I cannot promote this place more than just saying that it was one of the largest, most colorful, and healing places I have ever been to. There are miles of huge trees to wander about, colorful animals to observe and beautiful scenery to take in at these gardens. If I haven’t sold these gardens yet, then I surely will by mentioning that entry is

completely FREE! It costs nothing to enter these gardens and it makes for an entire day of activity that is perfect for families, friends, couples, and pets.

2. Melbourne Zoo

My second recommendation for Melbourne is a visit to the Melbourne zoo which I think is a given. If there were many surprises about Australia, its intriguing wildlife was not one of them. This zoo had some of the most vast arrays of animals ranging from kangaroos to some kinds of animals that I had never even heard of. My favorite part about the Melbourne zoo is some of its interactive exhibits. There was a lemur and butterfly exhibit that allowed zoo goers to enter a room where these animals roamed freely around you! I could have stayed in both of those rooms all day if there wasn’t so many other things to see, but if I ever go back those would be the first exhibits I search for. Tickets for entry to the Melbourne zoo are about $35 but prices vary depending on children and students that get a better deal!

3. Dandenong Ranges

My third recommendation that acts as a day trip from Melbourne is the Dandenong Ranges that is about 1.5 hours- 2 hours outside of Melbourne by bus. This is a perfec day excursion for those who like hiking or just leisurely strolls. I opted for more of a leisurely stroll rather than a hike because I had plans to walk through the forest to get to a garden hidden within the forest called the Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens. These forests are easy to navigate because although separated from the outside world you often come across quanit areas that provide picnic areas or viewing spots. After checking out the gardens I made my way to Sherbrooke Falls within the forest. The falls itself were a little underwhelming, but the surrounding view while walking to the falls made up for any lack of astonishment. And, of course, this activity is completely free if you disregard your bus ticket to get here.

Hopefully, I have been able to provide ideas for any upcoming travel endeavors you may have planned to Australia! There is so much to see in Australia and Melbourne is just one of the many cities I would encourage travelers to visit. To read more about a weekend trip I would recommend taking from Melbourne you can check out my blog posts about A Weekend in Jan Juc, Australia!