A weekend in Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia. Is it worth visiting? Absolutely. It doesn’t have the natural beauty or wow-factor of Sydney, it doesn’t have the long unbroken spells of amazing weather that Perth has, and it doesn’t have the untamed wilderness that Hobart has on its doorstep, but if you are patient and persistent then Melbourne is a city that will slowly reveal its charms to you.
In this article we share with you a few of our favourite things to do in Melbourne on the weekend.
Hit the beach in St Kilda
Melbourne is situated on a large bay and there are a lot of really good beaches along some of the inner city suburbs and stretching down the length of the Mornington Peninsula.
Our favourite is the suburb of St Kilda — there is a slightly alternative, be achy vibe about this neighbourhood, great cafes, great restaurants, and some really good takeaway options where in the evening you can grab some food and then eat while sitting on the beach with the sand between your toes. Take a walk along the pier for an ice-cream or some fish and chips.
A casino that is not just for gambling
The people of Melbourne were a bit skeptical when the enormous Crown Casino was built a few years ago on the south bank of the Yarra River that cuts through the heart of the city. But it has undoubtedly been a bit of a success — while this is definitely somewhere that enables you to play your favourite casino gambling games, there is also some really shopping to be had and this complex is also the home of some of the city’s best restaurants — all opening out on to the river so you can enjoy Melbourne at its best.
Spot some Penguins
Going on a penguin spotting expedition may sound a bit cheesy, but this is totally worth doing. A short drive from the city is Phillip Island. Each evening a colony of Little Penguins (they are quite small but that is also their official name) scrambles up the beach to find their nests for the night. That may not sound very exciting but is actually a joy to witness. The viewing areas are sensitively done and you are seated with a good vantage point of the beach. After a little wait you start to see the first penguins making their appearance — surfing in to the beach on the waves, landing a little ungracefully on the sand but soon finding their feet and waddling up towards their nests. To get to their nests they pass right by all of the onlookers but don’t give them a second look, like they’re not even there — they’re simply focused on getting to their nests and getting to sleep. The whole thing gives you a new found respect for penguins.
Melbourne is a city that has a lot to offer visitors whatever you are interested in. Grab a coffee, hang out in a cafe, and discover what it has in store for you.
