One Day in Melbourne

By now we've had quite a few guests in Melbourne. Lisa, Tj's sister was here for a few weeks back in February, and he had some friends from Singapore visit as well. My aunt and cousin had a short 24 hours here, and just last weekend my good friend from London came to visit us. So I'm getting pretty good at showing people around. I love showing people our new city! 

They say that Melbourne can have 4 seasons in one day, and I've found that to be true especially when I have a guest in town. When my aunt was here, we went for breakfast and it was raining and  then we went for a huge walk. It was still spitting a little, and then it was overcast, and then it got so sunny and hot and none of us had sunscreen. 

The same thing happened last weekend. The weather has been gorgeous for weeks, but as soon as my friends arrived it changed (maybe they brought the bad weather with them). It was pouring rain on Saturday, so after we went to  breakfast we hung out for a bit and then went out again. I had on a hoodie and a jacket as it was the coldest day I've experienced in Melbourne so far. But then it stopped raining, and the sun came out a bit and it got hot again. Luckily we were wearing layers. 

Both times I've I had to adapt my tour plan because of rain. A lot of stuff I recommend is outdoors so my top tips are wear layers, bring sunscreen even if it looks cloudy and wear comfy shoes because you will be doing a lot of walking! 

Sometimes Tj and I say that it doesn't even feel like we are in Australia, that we could be in Toronto or the states. My friend Amanda thought Melbourne was a lot like Chicago. But there are some things that make this city truly unique and special. If you only have a short time here, these are the things I recommend so that you can walk away and feel like you really got to experience this city.

Here are the top things I think you need to see if you only have one day in Melbourne: 

Go to breakfast or brunch

The food in Melbourne is so good you're going to want to eat out as much as possible. I've been taking my guests to Journeyman in Windsor. It's my favorite breakfast spot so far. I've been a few times now and it has been good every time! I keep saying I'll try something new but I always order the same thing lol. Everyone else liked their dishes, so I don't think it's just me.

Bathing Boxes at Brighton Beach

These are so colorful and pretty. It's a bit out of the way of the other stuff I recommend, but definitely worth a quick stop.

Shrine of Remembrance

Lisa's friend recommended this to us and it is definitely worth seeing and going inside if you have time. The building itself is gorgeous, and you get a great view of the CBD. Some nice photo ops here.

Coffee

Melbourne is also known for their coffee! I don't drink coffee, but Tj assures me that it is as good as they say. He loves a flat white or a soy latte. I love that there are Chai Lattes wherever we go and they are all delicious! I've converted to soy milk too after a barista suggested it. One of Tj's favourite coffee is from Abacus in Prahran, but there are so many good cafes all over town.

Stroll along the South Bank

 There are always lots of people out and you get really pretty views of the city and the Yarra River. You can stop for a drink at one of the restaurants, or maybe play a hand at the Crown Melbourne casino. 

Melbourne Laneways 

Melbourne is known for it's laneways. My favourites so far are Centre Lane, AC/DC Lane, and Hosier Lane. They are all walking distance from each other and a good way to explore. Don't be shy about posing to get that good shot! 

Rooftop Drinks

I think Naked for Satan is on every Melbourne guide. It's a great bar with the most amazing view of the city skyline. It's in Fitzroy which is a trendy area with lots of shops and restaurants. It's a little hipster like Shoreditch in London. I'd say the best time to go is right before sunset so you can see the view during the day and at night when it's all lit up. I've had the food during happy hour and it was delicious, and the downstairs restaurant serves pintos (small bites) for 50 cents each that are surprisingly tasty and filling! There are lots of other rooftop bars in the cbd too. 

Go for Dinner

There are never-ending restaurants to try in Melbourne. See my post here for some of the best ones we've tried so far. For something quick and cheap, I'd recommend Shandong Mama in Chinatown for dumplings! Melbourne is a town for foodies, so take advantage of the great options and eat out for as many meals as your travel budget allows. 

Markets 

If it's raining, you can wander around one of Melbourne's markets to pass the time. Queen Victoria market comes highly recommended, but I prefer the South Melbourne Market. Prahran market is a good one to check out too, and maybe grab a coffee and a treat and people watch for a bit. 

I haven't done these things yet, but I've heard a lot about them and they look awesome, so hopefully I can add them to my list soon.

• Watch the penguins at St. Kilda pier. The penguins swim to shore around sunset (I can't believe I haven't done this yet!)
• Check out the State Victory Library. This pictures I've seen of the library have been stunning, and this would be a good spot to hide out for a short time if it starts raining. It's also right across from the shopping mall :) 
• Sporting events. Melbourne is a very active city and it seems like there is always some sort of major sporting event going on. The crowds are always good so it's definitely worth looking up if there is anything going on when you will be in town! 

Hopefully I get some more visitors so I can perfect my Melbourne in a Day tour!