Top Melbourne Culture - page 2

At 38 hectares, it can take a long time to see all of Melbourne’s beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens by foot. This minibus tour offers a perfect solution for visitors wishing to take in the gardens’ natural beauty in just 30 minutes.

Bypass the crowds on land to see Melbourne's headline sights from a comfortable spot on the water. Cruise along the Yarra River on a vintage boat, passing under historic bridges and past the Botanical Gardens and Docklands. Listen to live commentary along the way for an insightful experience.

Visitors often miss some of Melbourne’s best attractions because they don’t know how to reach the city's outer locations. This full-day tour makes visiting easy by handling the transport for you. Travel from the city out to the Dandenong Ranges to ride the famous Puffing Billy steam train, then go see all sorts of native Australian wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary.

Take a walk through Melbourne's seedy side on a true crime tour of Fitzroy, once the city’s most dangerous and notorious district. Feel transported back to the turn of the 20th century while a historian guide shares the dark deeds of thieves, murderers, gang bosses, pimps, and other scoundrels who once stalked the streets. Meet these hardened criminals through a booklet with historic photos that bring the chilling stories to life.

Discover Melbourne's multicultural heritage with your taste buds on a walking food tour. Visit to the city’s most famous market, the Queen Victoria Market to see how residents shop, sampling delectable bites along the way. Learn how Melbourne evolved into a foodie destination as you chat with vendors and cooks at a range of ethnic eateries, and cap it off with a drink at a cozy pub.

Soak up spectacular aerial views of Melbourne with a visit to Melbourne Skydeck—the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere. Look out toward Port Phillip Bay and the rolling Dandenong Ranges in the distance. Thrill-seekers can upgrade to experience "The Edge"—a moving, glass-bottomed cube that hovers over the city streets 88 floors below, or opt for dinner and drinks packages for a special visit.

Solve a murder mystery, hear about Jack the Ripper’s fate, and learn all about Melbourne’s dark history on this guided group tour, where you’ll hear more of the city’s secrets than any guide book could ever tell you. Try to crack some Victorian-era detective cases with your fellow group members, and have fun at the same time.

Experience the Great Ocean Road in a relaxed small group, with an expert local guide bringing the journey to life through stories, local knowledge and insights along the way. Travel from Melbourne in comfort and discover some of Victoria’s most spectacular coastal scenery, from the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge to the rainforest of Great Otway National Park, with opportunities to spot wild koalas along the route.

No trip to Melbourne is complete without a visit to the Shrine of Remembrance, a war memorial that honors Australian service and sacrifice in all wars. Join a guided tour to explore the monument, built after the First World War, and explore its rich history. Your guide will share fascinating stories about the design of the building and the lives of those it commemorates as you discover commemorative spaces and special exhibitions.

Spend an evening on the Yarra River during this Melbourne dinner cruise. As you admire the twinkling city lights reflecting on the water, enjoy a 4-course gourmet meal inclusive of beverages. This fine dining experience includes beer, wine, and spirits, as well as coffee, tea, dessert, port, and a cheese plate. Cruise past attractions like Federation Square and the Royal Botanic Gardens while soaking up the elegant and relaxing atmosphere of the boat.

Let one simple booking sort out a whole day’s worth of Melbourne sightseeing and get a unique first-hand experience with not just Aussie nature, but a piece of its history too on this Puffing Billy, forest, and Yarra Valley combo tour. Start by hopping aboard the over-100-year-old railway, before walking around huge Californian Redwoods, then finish the trip with a glass of wine at a Yarra Valley winery.

Discover Melbourne’s love of sport and conveniently visit several major sporting facilities all at once on this small-group tour. Walk with your guide along the Yarra River to stadiums and facilities such as Rod Laver Arena, Olympic Park, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to learn their histories. Finish the tour at the Australian Sports Museum where you can dive further into the city’s sporting culture.

Get a good look at the sporty side of Melbourne on this half day tour, including a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). You and your small group will meet outside the Transport Bar at Federation Square, and then head to Birrarung Marr and walk along the river to Rod Laver Arena for tennis history, the Melbourne & Olympic Park, AAMI Park for soccer and rugby news, and finally at the MCG for a guided tour.

Learn about Australia’s diverse wildlife on this full-day tour of Phillip Island from Melbourne, including round-trip transport. See native Aussie animals at the Phillip Island Koala Conservation Reserve. Then, take a tour of Phillip Island, visiting scenic lookouts and beaches. End the day watching the memorable sunset Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach. A must-do tour for animal enthusiasts and families, without the hassle of self-driving.

Join an exclusive 9.15am guided tour and experience the State Library Victoria's grand Dome and hidden spaces before the doors open to the public. Advance bookings essential. Ever heard of the ‘Chief Shusher’? Wonder what’s buried beneath the Library’s floors? Or gazed up at the library Dome before the crowds? On this early access tour, you’ll explore the Library’s magnificent heritage spaces and catacombs hidden beneath the library floors, discover the treasure trove of original card catalogues, and uncover one of Melbourne’s most infamous relationships between Library founder Sir Redmond Barry and the bushranger Ned Kelly. Find a rare moment of quiet in the iconic Dome, soak in the architecture, and even stand where the ‘Shusher’ once reigned.

The site of over 130 executions since it opened in 1841, the Old Melbourne Gaol is one of the city’s most popular museums. Ensure entry even over busy periods, such as weekends, Easter, and the Australian summer vacation, by booking tickets in advance. Once you’re there, follow in the footsteps of notorious outlaw Ned Kelly and discover the tragic stories that brought criminals to their doom.

Discover Melbourne's bar scene, including "hidden" bars you won't find in any guidebooks, on this small-group bar-hopping tour. Visit several venues for cocktails, Australian wine, and beer, stopping into a classic pub, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar tucked into the laneway, a wine bar with options from the nearby Yarra Valley, and another bar selected by your guide depending on your group’s interests. Your first drink is included, plus get tips for additional places to visit on your own.

Make sure you make the most of your shore excursion time with this guided tour around Melbourne and the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park. Get your fill of both city exploring and Aussie nature on a tour that’s been specifically designed to work around your ship’s schedule. Afterwards, get driven straight back to the port for a truly seamless experience.

Uncover Melbourne's spookier side on this ghost tour of the city center. Hear ghostly tales that span the history of the city, passing by Queen Victoria Market, the Old Melbourne Gaol, Chinatown, and more. While walking between locations, pause for a drink (own expense) at three bars—each with their own creepy tale. A must-do for any fan of the macabre when visiting Melbourne.

Whatever sport you follow, you’re sure to enjoy touring Melbourne’s sporting venues. The Australian city is big on sports, as you’ll learn on this walking tour that covers about 5 miles (9 kilometers). From the National Tennis Centre to Olympic Park, Australian footie grounds and the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, you’ll get an insight into all facets of Melbourne’s sporting culture. Take photos at iconic venues and relive sporting history through your guide’s stories. A must for all sports fans.

Discover the natural delights of Phillip Island with an eco-tour from Melbourne. See the iconic Brighton Beach bathing boxes, visit the beach and take some time to admire these historic landmarks. Head to the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park for an up-close encounter with kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, and other native Australian wildlife. Finish the day at a local beach where you can watch hundreds of some of the world's tiniest penguins waddle out of the ocean and across the sand to their burrows.

Make the most of your visit to Melbourne with a laneways walking tour led by an informative guide. Check out the laneways with a local to find tucked-away art galleries, vibrant street art, and interesting shops and cafes. You'll also stop for coffee and learn about Melbourne’s history, architecture, and cultural hotspots. Your small-group tour is limited to 10 people, which ensures a more customized experience.

Immerse yourself in the history of Melbourne while snacking away on donuts on this shared walking tour of the city. Follow your guide through Melbourne’s laneways as they share stories from darker chapters in the city’s past and show you places like the colorful Hosier Lane and bustling Queen Victoria Market. On the way, there’ll be stops to refuel on coffee and donuts to keep you going.

Experience the delights of Victoria’s wine country on this Yarra Valley wine tour from Melbourne. With an informative wine guide, you’ll visit four popular wineries, which may include Balgownie Estate, Soumah Yarra Valley, Greenstone Vineyards, and Yering Farm. Enjoy plenty of tastings as well as a winery lunch while you learn about winemaking in Australia and admire the picturesque landscapes.