12 Melbourne adventures

Your day begins bright and early and breakfast, being the most important meal of the day—especially for intrepid adventurers such as yourself—you head to seven:am. Exposed brick, great coffee and the ‘Emperor’ breakfast is the perfect combination to start the day.

You head five minutes down to the bay to walk off those calories with a stroll along the Princes Pier. Feel the breeze on your face as you take in the magnificent vista. In the distance, you spot a local fisherman making his first catch of the morning before quickly losing it to a wily seabird.

You’ve been told the view of Melbourne from up high is not one to be missed, so you decide to take your adventure to the sky. And what better way to do it than in a hot air balloon? Only a few steps down the road on Wellington Parade, you take to the skies and look down upon the thriving cosmopolis and glittering coast.

Natural scenery isn’t all that Melbourne has to offer. You make your way to Hosier Lane where the streets themselves are a true work of art. You spot many of the city’s renowned street artists works projected onto the surrounding concrete canvas.

You set aside a good couple of hours for the State Library of Victoria. With over two million books lining its shelves and a magnificent Domed Reading Room, the State Library of Victoria provides ample distraction for an avid bookworm amidst beautiful architecture. The State Library of Victoria is an adventure steeped in history and the Domed Reading Room, a landmark, is awe-inspiring. You gasp at the discovery that more than half of the library’s collection (one million books) is held in one octagonal space.

You’re decided. It’s time to add a touch of green to your Melbourne adventure at the Royal Botanic Gardens. At 260 years old, the garden is looking good for her age. With 36 hectares of rollings lawns and serene lakes, the Royal Botanic Gardens are home to more than 8,500 species of plant life and a whole host of fauna.

Nothing upon your Melbourne adventure is as invigorating as a dip in the freshwater swimming hole at in the Yarra River. You wade slowly into the mouth of Pound Bend tunnel. Here, the rockpool is a popular spot for loungers on a hot day. You catch some rays as the Yarra River flows gently past you, taking any stresses or worries with it.

Your escapades aren’t all high-speed. Next on your Melbourne adventure is a jaunt to Saint Paul’s Cathedral where you can light a candle and admire the intricate details of the nave, spires and other feats of Gothic architecture.

While the Shrine of Remembrance assumes the title of one of the biggest war memorials in the world, the Great Ocean Road takes the top spot as the largest war memorial ever built, constructed by soldiers who returned from the Great War and dedicated to those who perished. You rent a convertible and let the wind rush through your hair as you traverse the 150 miles of coastline that border the Great Ocean Road, stopping at the number of important landmarks along the way.