Melbourne Australia Vacations

Melbourne has plenty to offer visitors from all over the world. From the rooftop bars and designer boutiques that give the city a cosmopolitan feel, to its plentiful array of historical buildings and landmarks — Melbourne has something new to discover on every corner.  With plenty of culture, activities, art exhibitions, and live music, you could easily spend over a week here and not regret it.  Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city and is considered by many to be the cultural and sporting capital of Australia. For all of its fine restaurants, elegant buildings and historically important landmarks, the city is also extremely welcoming and has a multicultural feel that appeals to most visitors.

The nightlife is epic, with diverse venues ranging from bumping clubs to hole-in-the-wall concert stages. It’s also a powerhouse for sports; one visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground will solidify that in your mind. With Melbourne Australia Vacations, enjoy a stress-free vibe in an exciting metropolis.  For a complete list of Melbourne’s beaches, << Click Here >>.

Melbourne Weather (When to Visit)

The best times to visit Melbourne are between March and May and September and November. March – May sees the city alight with gold-topped trees. And visitors will enjoy comfortable weather while taking in the changing colors: Daytime temperatures range from the mid-70s to the low 60s.  In the summer months (North America’s winter months) of December to February, Melbourne is bustling with visitors, while June through August (Melbourne’s winter season) affords cold weather and fewer travelers.  December – February is Melbourne’s peak travel season, and you’ll also find average high temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s. But temperatures have been known to climb into the 90s, so pack light clothing and a water bottle. Hotels are also packed; you’ll want to book your room well in advance.  June thru August is Melbourne’s winter season, and the city is likewise dreary and cold.

Best Melbourne Area Beaches

Sandringham Beach

A super-popular Melbourne beach, this 2.5km straight shot between Black Rock and Hampton Beach is perfect for a jog, or a more leisurely scenic stroll. Facing southwest, this beach offers easy swimming. There are also great walking and cycling tracks.

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St Kilda Beach

This is Melbourne’s most iconic beach.  Loved by locals and tourists alike, this bustling bay beach is a people-watcher’s paradise, dotted with palm trees and adjacent to a bevy of great cafes, restaurants, and bars for sipping on sunsets. Safe and sandy, the boardwalk jostles with joggers, cyclists, and bladers all year ’round.

Dendy Street Beach

Dendy Street Beach is as famous for its architecture and its tranquil waters, golden sands, and the colorful bathing boxes on the shore. Many were built over 100 years ago, Brighton’s bathing boxes are a photographer’s dream.

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Elwood Beach

A bit less busy than nearby St Kilda Beach, this swimming spot is ideal for sailing, boating, and windsurfing, with a stunning foreshore equipped with paths for walking and cycling, as well as tasty dining options and picnic/BBQ facilities in the reserves.

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Altona Beach

Altona Beach is a 3km stretch of sand and is a dedicated kite-surfing area, making it a great spot for a refreshing swim or your water sport of choice. One of Melbourne’s safest beaches for swimming, family-friendly Altona also features great facilities like BBQ areas, a playground, and a long central pier to jump off.

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Best Melbourne Area Tours & Activities

Great Ocean Road Small-Group Ecotour from Melbourne

Take in breathtaking sights of long sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs on this guided, full-day tour of Australia’s Great Ocean Road. See some of the most spectacular coastal scenery on Earth, including the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks and Gibson’s Steps, site of historic cliff lines. Bushwalk in Great Otway National Park and try out your koala-spotting skills. Travel in a deluxe mini-coach with a small group for a relaxing, personalized experience.  Learn more about the Great Ocean Road Ecotour.

Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Tour

Experience the Great Ocean Road’s top attractions on this guided excursion that follows the iconic road in reverse. Embark on your journey and beat the crowds while learning about the region’s scenic landscapes and pretty coastal towns from an informative guide. Visit sites including the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Port Campbell, London Bridge, and Great Otway National Park Rainforest.  Learn more about the Great Ocean Road Reverse Itinerary Tour.

Phillip Island Tour from Melbourne

Observe some of Australia’s most popular native wildlife on this tour from Melbourne to Phillip Island that includes a stop at Maru Koala and Animal Park. Interact with koalas and kangaroos before arriving at Phillip Island, home to sea birds, fur seals and, most famously, penguins. You’ll see the Nobbies to look for seals on the rocky coastline while you wait for sunset, when the little penguins perform the Penguin Parade, their nightly ritual of waddling out of the water and along the beach to their burrows. Upgrade options are available for better views and an enhanced experience.  Learn more about the Phillip Island Tour.

Phillip Island Penguin, Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary from Melbourne

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. Visit the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park for an up-close encounter with koalas and other 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.  Learn more about the Phillip Island Penguin, Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary Tour.

Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise

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.  Learn more about the Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise.

All Melbourne Tours & Tickets

Best Melbourne Restaurants

Cutler & Co.  $31 – 60

Their ethos – refined, simple, hospitable dining – has not changed in that time but their essence comes from that evolution, from reflecting and embracing neighborhood and city and the changing nature of the way people like to eat.  Telephone:  03 9419 4888  Web:  Cutler & Co.

Rockpool Bar & Grill  $31 – 60

Sleek, sophisticated, and sexy: This Melbourne outpost of chef Neil Perry is undeniably good, with big tables, oodles of space, great cooking, and at brilliant Australian produce including Blackmore Wagyu . Bonus: Rockpool offers one of the best wine lists in Australia, with a world-renowned cellar hiding bottles from the best vintages ever.  Telephone:  03 8648 1900 Web:  Rockpool Bar & Grill.

Tipo 00  $11 – 30

Named — with good reason — for the super-fine flour used in noodles, the pasta dishes here are legendary. Tipo 00 has a light and bright room that fills up quickly with the nearby business crowd day and night, so book early or arrive outside peak times.   Telephone:  03 9942 3946  Web:  Tipo 00.

Maha Restaurant  $31 – 60

Amidst the office buildings in the CBD, walk downstairs to this basement gem and prepare to be dazzled by the luxurious furnishings that make this an Aladdin’s lair. Chef/owner and TV presenter Shane Delia travels frequently, discovering new flavors and recipes for his modern Middle Eastern menu that takes hints from Malta, North Africa, Iran, and Turkey. Telephone:  03 9629 5900  Web:  Maha Restaurant.

Supernormal  $11 – 30

From serial restaurateur and chef Andrew McConnell (of Cutler & Co., Cumulus, Marion) this is your go-to place for a fun night out. There’s a jaw-dropping list of dishes like sea bream with white soy and ginger, white cut chicken, tofu dressing with a delicate Japanese and Korean sensibility, and McConnell’s signature lobster roll. Bonus points for the karaoke bar downstairs.  Telephone:  03 9650 8688  Web:  Supernormal.

Best Melbourne Bars

Heartbreaker

Melbourne bar whiz Michael Madrusan added another notch to his belt when he opened Heartbreaker late last year. It’s the cliched dive bar — a favorite among the late night hospo crowd — complete with fuschia neon signage and a padded bar front for long night leaning. The house bottled negronis are stand out.  Telephone:   03 9041 0856  Web:  Heartbreaker.

Movida

Find the doorway on this graffiti-covered lane way and on any given day you’ll meet a friendly bunch of strangers perched on stools at the bar — probably sipping on a glass of sherry and tucking into a delicate plate of Ortiz anchovy and smoked tomato sorbet toasts.   Telephone:  03 9663 3038 Web:  Movida.

Gerald’s Bar

You’ll find plenty of industry types hanging out here — even Heston Blumenthal has been known to spin records behind the bar. For nearly 10 years, owners Gerald Diffey and Mario Di Ienno have been the jovial characters that this bar embodies, full of laughter, good cheer, and happy times. The drink list is interesting and far-reaching and there’s a simple bistro menu to keep you well-fed.  Telephone:  03 9349 4748  Web:  Gerald’s Bar.

Best Melbourne Hotels

QT Melbourne

Explore the edgy and innovative creativity of our 188 Melbourne Guest Suites where bespoke designer furnishings, free WIFI, a fully stocked minibar and free new release movies complete the pleasure package.  Indulge in high-end sophistication through carefully curated modern art, high spec designer tech, and all of the quirk and tongue-in-cheek pleasure you have come to expect when immersing yourself in QT life.

The Langham Melbourne

Sweeping vistas of the Yarra River and Melbourne skyline. Outstanding location amidst the city’s captivating Arts and Leisure district. A sanctuary nestled on the famous Southbank Promenade.  388 immaculately furnished rooms and suites designed for the discerning. Each window is framed by a magnificent view of the Yarra River or the city skyline.  Unforgettable dining experiences with an element of theater at Melba. Stylish afternoon tea by day, exhilarating cocktails at night at Aria Bar and Lounge.

Park Hyatt Melbourne

Overlooking St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fitzroy Gardens, and the cosmopolitan mix of Victorian and modern architecture, Park Hyatt Melbourne offers exclusive, luxury accommodation in the heart of the city. Our beautifully appointed 5 star hotel is centrally located in Melbourne’s CBD, offering the city’s largest 240 guestrooms and suites. A warm ambiance, exceptional levels of personalized service and luxurious amenities with exquisite.

Flinders Luxury Penthouse

Located in Melbourne, 1,950 feet from Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center and 2,300 feet from Eureka Tower, Flinders Luxury Penthouse provides accommodations with amenities such as free WiFi and a flat-screen TV. Guests have a private terrace.  Offering direct access to a balcony, the air-conditioned apartment consists of 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The accommodations is fitted with a kitchen.  At the apartment guests are welcome to take advantage of a fitness room.

Grand Hyatt Melbourne

At Grand Hyatt Melbourne a luxurious stay awaits you, in the heart of our dynamic city. Located on prestigious Collins Street, surrounded by the city’s high fashion and fine dining. Many of Melbourne’s top tourist attractions are all within walking distance, including business, retail, sporting and theater districts. Featuring 550 spacious guest rooms and suites, delectable dining and an events floor with 15 innovative spaces.