Melbourne is a city with many activities for visitors. The most important question is how much free hours or days you have to spare. Always do some research like browsing the " Visit Melbourne & Victoria " website. Make a list of your top 5 or 10 'must do' activities.
- Purchase a Zone 1 daily Metcard (for an adult, $A6.80 or on Sundays use $A3.10 Sunday Saver) for unlimited trips on trains, trams and buses Note that Sunday Savers can only be bought from staffed railway stations or at a Metcard ticket agent (7-11 and so on) (refer to www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au for fares, timetables and a journey planner).
- City Circle Tram ride (free) in either direction around Melbourne's CBD and Docklands
- Visit Federation Square Tourist Office, which is opposite Flinders Street Railway Station
1 and 2. Make use of the free tourist bus shuttle, a narrated trip with the hop-on hop-off opportunity through the city. A great way to get your bearings with all the stops being near city attractions. The City Circle tram ride is also free and takes you to some locations that are not covered by the tourist shuttle, including the developing Docklands area. Both routes are available for view on www.thatsmelbourne.com.au Both are free and take about an hour if you were to stay on for the full tour. Of the two, the City Circle tram is far more iconic as most cities have buses: in the Southern Hemisphere, few cities now have trams.
3. See the best views of the city from the Melbourne Observation Deck, on Level 55 of the Rialto Towers. It offers 360 degree views from the top of the renowned Rialto building, right in the very heart of the city. Another option is the recently opened Eureka Skydeck 88 at Southbank. It is the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere and has a great view of the city and beyond. Visit its website at www.eurekaskydeck.com.au
4. The Queen Victoria Market offers a lot of browsing for shoppers in your family. Sunday is a great day for extra entertainment, such as bands, camel rides and more. It is more a family day than the weekday hustle. Try the hot and messy mini doughnuts. Yum. This stop is part of the free bus shuttle route and close to the City Circle tram. The market has a cooking school as well. The market normally opens daily except Mondays and Wednesdays, but during the summer months the market is also open Wednesday evenings with music, outdoor bars, some craft stalls and as food stalls with as many different cuisines as you can think of.
5. The Chocoholics tour is a way of seeing the older part of Melbourne with its arcades and a tasting of some of the best chocolate that Melbourne has on offer www.chocoholictours.com.au. Sue is an interesting character and it is $35 well spent.
6. Use your Metcard to travel to and from St Kilda (out on Swanston Street and St Kilda Road's tram Route number 16 which on weekends is now augmented by Route 3A), back on the faster Route 96 light rail route into Bourke Street) and enjoy European cakes in Acland St, Luna Park and the St Kilda beach and cafe scene
7. The Royal Botanic Gardens by the side of the Yarra River in South Yarra makes an ideal picnic spot and has two indoor cafes for inclement days. It is easy to reach on tram Route 8 Toorak from Swanston Street. Alight at the corner of Domain Road and Park Street, South Yarra to a welcoming chorus from bellbirds high in the nearby eucalypt ('gum') trees.