Melbourne for 3 days
Our base city during my Australia 8-day trip was Melbourne... I am happy to have had the opportunity to stay there for 3 full days - and though weather conditions were not the best, nothing could really take away much from its beauty.
Melbourne is known for being the most livable city in the world for 7 consecutive years. The cities are ranked across five categories — infrastructure, stability, education, healthcare and culture and environment. That already says much...:)
Click here to read more about why:
WHY MELBOURNE IS THE BEST CITY TO LIVE IN
Day 1
Our first day in Melbourne was raining quite a lot... it is Fall now there, so that’s pretty normal.
I had already been advised to be ready to face (and dress for) all 4 seasons in one day, and this description proved to be quite precise.
Places we visited
Hosier Lane:
Hosier Lane - one of Melbourne’s most popular alleys - is an open street gallery, known for its colorful graffitis, created by local and international artists. Due to its shady looks, some people even believe it is haunted :)... with its famous bluestone laneway and original drawings, this Melbourne’s alley has made the local art scene quite known worldwide.
Flinders St. Station / Federation Square / St. Paul’s Cathedral:
If you just walk along one of Melbourne’s main street, Flinders, you can have a nice understanding of what this city is about. Take your time to wander around Parks, Squares, Cathedrals etc.
Australia’s busiest railway station is also a cultural symbol of Melbourne. Its building dates from 1910 and is part of the Victorian Register. Federation Square, another famous Melbourne spot right across the street, gives you the perfect panorama of the city skyline and its unique architecture.
Gallerias/alleys:
Melbourne has many of them, with tiny shops and restaurants. Take your time to walk in and out from them without an actual plan.
Don’t miss the Royal Arcade, it is beautiful! The black and white flooring makes it quite unique.
The Block Arcade (opened in 1892) is rich in history and luxury nostalgia and houses some lovely boutiques.
Centre Place and Degraves are also great ones - a bit gothic looking, full of nice boutiques and cafés.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanes_and_arcades_of_Melbourne
Tim Ho Wan:
We had dinner at this delicious low profile Asian restaurant... with its very deserved Michelin Star. Fast food style menu, with original flavors and easy, quick service. We had great dumplings and tried small little portions of everything.
Cumulus for drinks:
Nice atmosphere, the area has good-looking places and people for dinner or a night out.
(Nice option too and quite popular: Chin Chin)
Day 2
...after a weekend Exploring Wineries, we enjoyed some more of Melbourne. Not much sun through the clouds, but at least the rain was under control.
Read about a weekend in the wineries here
Places we visited
State Library of Victoria:
Beautiful construction, very elegant neoclassical architectural details, stone columns and a symmetrical layout - nothing is more peaceful than a library, and here you can enjoy it all for free.
Admire the beautiful high domed ceiling as you sit, read, take a break... or hide from the rain - as we did...! The Library also houses an art gallery and a chess room, a great gift shop and a cafe.
NGV - National Gallery Victoria Museum:
When you think “Australia”, you think outdoors. But Melbourne is the kind of place that offers a lot of indoor activities, and if you are a fan of museums, this one is worth a visit. If you catch some rain, it then becomes a must :).
NGV is Australia's oldest (late 1800s) and most popular art museum, with a constant rotation of special exhibitions and an equally impressive permanent collection. Part gallery and part museum, it has its own garden and houses an eclectic art mix, ranging from ancient Egypt to post-modern impressionism.
Entry is FREE (always a good thing) for the permanent collection, paid for special exhibits.
Yarra River & Bridge
After an afternoon walking around and checking out the Library and the Museum, we strolled through Yarra River looking for some nice pubs for a happy hour. Below some tips of where to go:
- Ponyfish Island bar:
We had some excellent mulled wine here, the crowd is young and relaxed, bartenders are cool, and the bar looks like a little wooden boat floating in the river. Worth a visit.
- Arbory:
A nice river view bar, mixed crowd, a bit older and more refined vs the Ponyfish. Still quite relaxed... as most bars in Melbourne.
- MoVida:
This is a cool spanish restaurant, right in the Housier Lane Alley. Great for tapas to share, to be paired with some red wine or cocktails. The atmosphere is warm, cozy and laid back.
https://www.movida.com.au/about
Day 3
Places we visited
Our last Melbourne day. Such a pity... we felt like we did not have much time, so we took a last walk around the city, visited South Melbourne Market and did some last minute gift shopping.
South Melbourne Market:
Along with other local markets, this one definitely has its charm and is fun to explore. Experience life at The Village Market. Since 1867 it has been a favorite for locals and visitors. It is the quintessential village market, a place where people come not only to purchase fresh food, but to meet, eat, drink, shop, discover, share and connect. It’s a foodie’s dream for freshness!
You can have fish/oysters for lunch, enjoy multiple different cuisines from its small pubs/restaurants, shop adult/kids clothes, buy kitchen stuff, spices, bio fruits/vegetables... wander around delis, pastries, flowers. Think variety :). We had some Turquish lunch and mulled wine from a Mexican stand.
Shopping:
A little pit stop in Uniqlo (Japanese store) for great for all year round bargain basics & gifts is mandatory if you are a fan of it. Other options are Cotton On - an aussie chain I shopped for some gym and winter stuff. And by the way, the H&M in Melbourne’s old General Post Office (now Bourke Street Mall) is pretty chic :).
What we missed:
Brighton Beach (colorful houses)
This is a famous site by the beach, with its iconic colourful bathing boxes. These can actually be bought by around $300,000 - in case you’re interested :). The weather in May did not feel inviting enough for us to pay it a visit... hopefully next time.
Great Ocean Road / 12 Apostles
Same reasoning here - it had been in our list originally, but this road and its Ocean views would be best explored in sunny days. From Melbourne it is a 3-hour ride until the 12 Apostles Rocks... one of Australia's most stunning natural wonders (a rock formation in Port Campbell National Park).
What shoes to pack to Australia?
The right ones for this trip:
Focus on sneakers and comfortable flats!
Shoes I wore while in Melbourne:
Period of the year:
May 10th-18th (Fall/Winter)
Having given you an idea of what you’d see... all you’d need to pack in a trip like this would be the most comfortable shoes: i.e. rubber sole ballerinas (summer), sneakers (urban style or sportier) or casual booties... and 1 heel (1 pump or 1 sandal, depending on the weather) for the evening.
What I regret in my packing:
- Clothing: I tend to pack light, so I ended up feeling a bit cold... and had to shop for some winter stuff there. Make sure to well check the weather for the cities you plan visiting. It is a big country, and even relatively close cities in geography have quite different weathers.
About this post's featured shoes:
Nike Sneakers
These were a gift from my sister. They are actually running sneakers and fit like a sock. Not the most fashionable, yet were very comfortable for day use, sightseeing, and winery hopping.
Full price: 130$
NIKE FLYKNIT RUNNING SNEAKERS
Monse Slingback Pumps
This Monse 6,5cm heel style was launched in the Spring 2018, a collection inspired by references to sports uniforms - footballs jerseys, varsity jackets and track pants. The strap can be played in multiple ways, the plant is actually wider than the usual (loved the fit). Though it covers the arch of the foot quite a bit, I must say it still looks flattering and proportional on.
Full price: 853€
MONSE PUMPS