Melbourne Things to Do Tips by cutestmidget

Seeing Aboriginal Art
Aboriginal culture is an important part of our heritage. My parents, and my grandparents, learned very little Aboriginal history in school, and that history they were given was usually very doctored. It is only now that our country is understanding what happened truly when whites settled Australia, and developing knowledge of the anthropology of the Aboriginals before white settlement. There are many centres throughout Australia that teach tourists about Aboriginal history. I would recommend any place where you can learn a bit more of Australia before white settlement.

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Directions: The best place I have been to is the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Halls Gap, Grampians National Park
Other Contact: To find more

Queen Victoria Market
This is Melbourne's biggest market, and it is just wonderful! You can find everything from Australiana merchandise, clothes, pets, fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meat and seafood, fresh deli ingredients, all sorts of odds and ends. Put aside about 3-4 hours in order to wander through. Some people in the City do most of their fresh grocery shopping here, it is certainly a lot cheaper and fresher than the supermarkets. A lot of the stuff in the general market is junk, but it's up to you to wade through it and find those great bargains. The vendors also love to bargain - I've never bought anything from there for the price they first ask for. :)
If you're looking for souveneirs, this is the place to go.
There are also some great cafes, and there is even an office (on Victoria St., near the official entrance to the market), that has guided tours and cooking tours of the market.

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Address: Victoria St, City.
Other Contact: TRADING HOURS

Melbourne Zoo
The zoo is great for families, couples, singles of all ages. It's got the same sorts of showcases that zoos all over the world boast, but with that little touch of Australiana. To really enjoy it, put aside 4-5 hours. During the summer months of January and February, the zoo keeps it's gates open into the Daylight Savings hours, and on the weekends, has Jazz Concerts in the Gardens. It's worthwhile to take along a picnic basket (and a couple of bottles of Champagne if you so wish) to enjoy the evening. There are hampers for sale at the restaurants inside, but are far more expensive than one you could make up yourself.

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Address: City
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Victorian Museum
Melbourne's new museum opened in early 2001, and boasts many wonderful and unique artifacts - from PharLap memorabilia (even his stuffed and mounted body) to Ned Kelly's armour (one of Victoria's most notorious 19th Century criminals). Put aside at least 4-5 hours to really enjoy the exhibits.

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Address: City
Other Contact: For more info

Australian Rules Football
Australian Football League (AFL) is a 'way of life' in Australia, just as soccer (ok ok football to you fussy ones) is in many other countries. Even if you don't understand the rules, it's worth going along to watch a game, just for the experience and atmosphere. This is Melbourne's dynamic personality at its best (and sometimes its worst, depending on who won!). It's certainly best to go with a local, who can explain things, and who you can laugh at when they start jumping up and down and yelling. :)

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Directions: You can attend games in Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (otherwise known as the MCG - take a train out to Richmond station), Optus Oval (in Carlton), or Colonial Stadium (
Other Contact: The AFL pre-s

Melbourne hugs the enormous Port Philip Bay, as you'll see on any map. As a result, it's a fairly protected area (only a few dangerous shark sightings every year), and the fishing is fantastic. I'm well acquainted with the fishing on the Mornington Pier (shown in the photo - 1 hour drive from Melbourne CBD), where at various times of the year you can catch Flathead, King George Whiting, Snapper, Garfish, Squid and Salmon. Your best bet is to head down to the local fishing/tackle store for advice, or do what I did when I first started - ask the locals who have the most fish in their buckets! Westernport Bay is a great offshore fishing area, and you'll also find Charter Boats all around the Bay, where you'll get hands-on advice, tips and equipment. For a day on the Bay, it's definitely worth it.

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Other Contact: For more advi

Melbourne Botanical Gardens
Here you'll find a variety of gardens within the Garden. It's a beautiful area of Melbourne, 10 minutes walk from the main station in the City, Flinders Street Station. You can spend hours wandering around looking at different flora. It's a relatively safe area also, even in the evenings.

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Address: City
Other Contact: For more info

Philip Island
The main attraction here is the nightly Fairy Penguin parade. The beaches of this Island (2 hours drive from Melbourne) are the home of hundreds of fairy penguins, who emerge from the water at the same time every night, and waddle to their burrows. It's a magical sight to see, but get there very early, as every night there can be hundreds of people watching. There are a lot of tour buses that arrive 15 minutes before, and leave straight afterwards, but I think it's a lot nicer to spend some time on the isalnd. There are some great surf beaches, and a lot of holiday places to rent. The 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix is also held here, making it a chaotically busy weekend down there.

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Other Contact: For more info

Crown Casino
I was a food and beverage attendant in this Complex for about a year, so i believe that entitles me to say anything I like about this place. I hesitated to put it in as a recommendation, but it IS a tourist attraction, and there are brilliant restaurants there (try Breezes, Automatic Cafe, Cafe Greco, Margos, or the Conservatorium). I hate the principles (or lack thereof) behind Casinos, and I have seen so many people lose money here. I don't like the Casino itself, but the complex is great - with wonderful restaurants, clubs and shops. it's the best and biggest and most spectacular place to gamble in Melbourne, if that's what tickles your fancy. It is the fifth biggest Casino in the world. The laser and light show at the main entrance is certainly worth a look. The only place Under 18s cannot go is on the actual gaming floor.

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Address: City
Other Contact: For more info

Sovereign Hill
This is a wonderful place to go, located in Ballarat, 2 hours drive from Melbourne. It's a periodic simulated goldfield town, with accomodation, restaurants and period shops. Heaps of fun for the kids, and the adults will always learn something new. Spend a whole day there, to make it worth your while.

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Address: Ballarat