If you haven’t been to Melbourne for a while, then it’s time to get your skates on. There’s oodles to see, do, and eat! It’s the perfect, no-fuss family getaway, just a hop, skip and a jump across the border.
Review by Carla Caruso
Ah, Melbourne. The home of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Australian Open, AFL grand final, various top-shelf concerts, and beyond.
If you’re looking to do an extended weekend away with the family, the Victorian capital is a fab option – just a 1.5-hour flight away or an eight-hour car ride. (Did we mention it also hosts Melbourne Fashion Week?)
Here are a few things we loved when we headed to Oz’s second most populous state recently…
PLACES TO VISIT
The National Gallery of Victoria
The NGV is a must-visit. The vast, industrial building reminded me of a cross between MONA in Hobart and something you’d see in a James Bond film. Until April 21, it’s staging a (ticketed) world-premiere exhibition of Yayoi Kusama’s works.
Adelaide had a taste of the Japanese artist’s flair back in 2022, with her Spirits of Pumpkins installation.
This is that, on steroids. Comprising close to 200 works, the exhibition is one of the most comprehensive retrospectives of the artist ever presented globally. Kusama moved to New York in the late 1950s, where she became a part of the avant-garde art scene, interacting with prominent figures like Andy Warhol.
She’s most famous for her use of polka dots and mirrored rooms, which create the illusion of infinite space.
As a child, Kusama experienced vivid visions of polka dots and shapes that sometimes became sexualised in nature, including images of phallic symbols. This is all explored here. As one friend said: “Great exhibition but I’ll never see the polka dots in the same way again!”
Despite touching on this theme, the exhibition is playful and kid-friendly. To fully experience the ‘infinity’ rooms, small groups of people are admitted at a time. So, expect some waiting time to enjoy these environments.
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
The gardens might feel familiar to you as you’ve likely seen them before on your TV screen. Aussie shows like Offspring and The Newsreader have regularly filmed scenes among its lush greenery (as have Neighbours and City Homicide, according to ChatGPT).
Along with meandering the diverse ‘living’ collections, we enjoyed lunching at The Terrace kiosk/café on-site, next to the gorgeous Ornamental Lake.
Speaking of the lake, you can enjoy a cruise on an elegant wooden punt there as a guide tells you about the gardens’ history and wildlife.
If you’re feeling more active, The Tan is a popular, iconic running track, located around the Royal Botanic Gardens. The loop’s approximately 3.8km long and passes picturesque spots like Government House.
Shopping precincts, including Chapel Street
I’m a fan of the Henne fashion label, which influencer Nadia Bartel is a co-founder of. So, on my to-do list was checking out its boutique in Prahran’s Greville Street. The store is tiny but oh-so-chic.
And as I discovered, Greville Street itself is also worth a visit. It has an eclectic mix of cafes, clothing stores, and old-school outlets (including a cobbler). When we were there, members from a running club, keen for a caffeine fix, had spilled over onto the footpath, taking over one section of the street.
Greville joins onto the iconic fashion strip, Chapel Street, which is handy. There, we browsed the various vintage stores, lululemon, Pran Central Shopping Centre, and more.
Chapel Street is also a real blend. The late Sunday morning we were there, we spotted model Stella Klim going for a coffee and trendily-attired revellers exiting a day club.
Bourke Street Mall is a hub for Melbourne’s fashion scene too. We stayed at the Meriton Suites Melbourne during our recent visit, and the mall was within easy walking distance.
Beyond the CBD, the suburbs of Saint Kilda and Brunswick are also good for shopping. South Wharf, meanwhile, boasts a DFO outlet shopping mall.
Melbourne’s iconic laneways
Melbourne’s laneways are as essential to the city’s charm and cultural identity as its trams! One of its most famous laneways is Hosier Lane, known for its ever-evolving street art and graffiti. It’s located between Flinders Street and Collins Street, near Federation Square.
Italian-Australian content creator Massimo Corrente was filming a podcast when we meandered through.
Other famed laneways include AC/DC Lane, which (naturally) features music-themed murals and graffiti, and Degraves Street, known for its vibrant, European-style café culture.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
LEGOLAND is a destination for Lego-themed rides, kids’ play areas, and interactive building zones, plus a cinema. Need we say more? It’s conveniently located at the Chadstone Shopping Centre.
Your kids will never want to leave!
SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium
One thing Adelaide lacks? An aquarium! Get your marine fix at Melbourne’s SEA Life Aquarium, home to thousands of colourful aquatic animals.
Check out pulsating jellyfish, the Penguin Playground (where king penguin chick Pesto became a viral sensation due to his unusually large size), and so much more.
WHERE TO EAT
Johnny, Vince & Sam’s Ristorante
For the uninitiated, Sooshi Mango is a comedy trio, consisting of Italian-Australian brothers Joe and Carlo Salanitri and their best friend, Andrew Manfre.
After gaining popularity through their comedic skits and social media presence, the trio decided to expand their brand by opening a restaurant in the heart of Carlton’s Lygon Street.
Here, they’ve replicated the feeling of eating at your Nonna’s house, complete with décor befitting any traditional Italian home. The food is as delicious as any Nonna’s! No bookings are needed, though you may have to wait in line for a bit. The place is uber-popular.
Chinatown
Take your pick of the myriad of eateries in Melbourne’s Chinatown. The distinctive, well-known area dates back to the gold rush days of the 1850s.
Chinatown predominantly extends along Little Bourke Street, between Swanston and Spring streets. Along with Chinese fare, you’ll find such cuisines as Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Contemporary European, and Australian.
As well as enjoying the fare, one highlight for us was seeing the one-man band, George Kamikawa, busking on a street corner. Known as the ‘Japanese Blues Cowboy’, he encourages passersby to sing and dance along to his high-energy performances; many ending up on his social media pages!
Southbank & Docklands
Both Southgate and the Crown Casino are part of the Southbank entertainment district, offering a mix of activities and experiences along the Yarra River.
For relaxed casual dining, we enjoyed chowing down at Southgate’s licensed riverside food court. Ferry services also run nearby.
The Docklands is another specky waterfront area in the CBD, known for its restaurants and dining.
Grazeland
Grazeland is a vibrant food market and event space in Altona North. It features a variety of food stalls, offering international and local cuisines, along with live music, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. Little wonder Grazeland has been dubbed “a playground for foodies”.
Brunetti Classico
If you’re looking for a taste of authentic Italian café culture in Melbourne, this is it. Brunetti is a beloved Italian-style café and pastry shop, revered for its exceptional coffee, delicious pastries, and decadent cakes.
Think cannoli, eclairs, gelati, and more. The flagship store is located on Carlton’s bustling Lygon Street.
Lune Croissanterie
This place has lengthy queues for a reason! Its buttery, flaky croissants have been described as some of the best in the world.
Kate Reid, a former aeronautical engineer, applies a precise, scientific approach to pastry-making, ensuring every croissant is crafted to perfection. Lune operates a flagship store in Fitzroy.
In addition to its croissants, the bakery serves up other delish pastries and treats, including danishes and kouign-amann.
Mid Air
Okay, so we felt a bit underdressed when we visited this venue, so we didn’t stop to dine (or take a snap). But we did enjoy the vista.
Mid Air is a rooftop restaurant and bar, located on the 12th floor of the Melbourne Place hotel. It boasts panoramic city views, mid-century modern design, and Mediterranean fare. In short, it’s a TikToker’s dream.
Fishbowl
Feel like eating in one night? Fishbowl is a scrummy Uber option, serving up healthy, Japanese-inspired fare. (You can also dine in at one of its venues.) Here’s hoping the brand one day comes to Adelaide…
Melbourne, we couldn’t feel more sated after our recent visit. See you again soon!
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For more information and all enquiries, please head to the Visit Victoria website.
All photos by Carla Caruso, Daniella Caruso, Natalie Petrizza, and James Elsby for Play & Go Adelaide.
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go (unless specified).
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