{"id":4949,"date":"2019-04-06T10:50:21","date_gmt":"2019-04-06T14:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/?p=4949"},"modified":"2021-12-31T14:26:15","modified_gmt":"2021-12-31T19:26:15","slug":"seven-rad-things-to-do-around-melbourne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shaleewanders.com\/seven-rad-things-to-do-around-melbourne\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Rad Things to Do Around Melbourne, Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t\"Shalee\n

\n\t\tSeven Rad Things to Do Around Melbourne, Australia \n\t<\/h1>\n\t

\"things<\/p>\n

Melbourne is one of the few places I\u2019ve visited twice. In a world of new adventures, I often opt to visit new places instead of returning to old destinations. However, thanks to an Aussie best friend who quickly showed me local routes and Australian culture, I fell in love with Australia\u2019s most artistic city. <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Get a Drink at a Mental Asylum <\/b><\/h2>\n

Melbourne\u2019s drinking scene dwarfs almost every major U.S. hub. Their culture has created some of the coolest bars and after-work hangouts in Australia. There is a rooftop lawn in the middle of the city that hosts weekly movie nights, an open-air bar made entirely of wooden pallets and barrels, and even a mental-asylum lounge hidden in the depths of the city. <\/p>\n

To find The Croft Institute<\/a>, you\u2019ll have to follow an eerie alleyway a few hundred feet until it dead ends. On the right will be a small door and a bar that serves shots in syringes and has gurney\u2019s in every bathroom. Toward the end of the night, you might just believe you\u2019re going crazy.<\/p>\n

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\"things<\/p>\n

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2. Take a Trip to Bell\u2019s Beach & Torquay<\/b><\/h2>\n

An easy day trip from Melbourne takes you to one of the world\u2019s best surfing beaches. Torquay is a small surfing town along the Southern Ocean which reminds me of Hawaii\u2019s North Shore. Stay in Bell\u2019s Beach Backpackers<\/a> hostel and spend the day beach hopping and hiking along the Lorne-Queenscliff Coastal Reserve. Just over four miles up the trail is Bell\u2019s Beach, the home to the world\u2019s longest running surf competition. <\/p>\n

Want to learn to surf? A handful of tour companies offer lessons and day trips from Melbourne for those seeking to learn on some of the best beginner beaches in the world. In fact, it\u2019s where I first took to the waves on my visit in 2012.<\/p>\n

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\"things<\/p>\n

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3. See Penguins at St. Kilda <\/b><\/h2>\n

Every evening right around sunset, St. Kilda\u2019s population of fairy penguins starts appearing from the ocean to head to bed among the rocks on the pier. That\u2019s right! You don\u2019t have to travel to Antarctica to get a glimpse of these adorable balls of joy. Arrive early to get the best spot for viewing. <\/p>\n

There is a strict no flash photography rule as it damages the eyesight of the penguins, so plan accordingly and respect the rules. Yes, there are workers who monitor and yes you will get called out. Don\u2019t be that<\/i> person.<\/p>\n

These workers will also help spot penguins in the dark with special red-light flashlights.<\/p>\n

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4. Get Your Climb On at Northside Boulders <\/a><\/b><\/h2>\n

Melbourne may not have big rock walls or natural bouldering, but the city is spotted with a handful of gyms (and even a free outdoor bouldering wall). Northside Boulders<\/a> is about a fifteen-minute train ride north of the city and features a decent-sized wall with fun routes that focus both on technical and endurance bouldering. <\/p>\n

Make sure to show up early. In the afternoon the gym rapidly becomes one of Brunswick’s hottest hangout locations.<\/p>\n

\"things<\/p>\n

Photo courtesy of Northside Boulders<\/em><\/p>\n

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5. Road Trip the Great Ocean Road<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although a popular tourist attraction, the Twelve Apostles along Australia’s southern coast are a vastly changing and unique landscape any traveler will love. Just a few hours drive from Melbourne, you can spend the day winding down the Great Ocean Road arriving at the Twelve Apostles shortly before sunset. While most of the crowd will fight for a picture atop the rocky cliffs, sneak away to a back beach to find where all the magic happens.<\/p>\n

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\"things<\/p>\n

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6. Eat Your Body Weight in Food <\/b><\/h2>\n

What Melbourne lacks in Mexican food they make up for in nearly<\/em> everything else. Melbourne\u2019s food scene can get pricey, but the authentic cuisine makes it worth every penny. On my second visit, I think I spent most of my budget eating Thai food at every possible moment and since being home,\u00a0I\u2019ve silently wept into more than one Thai dish while quietly whispering \u201cit\u2019s just not the same.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Things<\/p>\n

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7. Spend the Day Like a Local<\/b><\/h2>\n

When rounding out my list of things to do in Melbourne, I turned to a local expert (and saint who puts up with me every time I show up at her doorstep eager to chase kangaroos<\/i>) Courtney Clark to give an insider scoop on Australia\u2019s southernmost major city.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpend the day relaxing on the beach, followed by a short drive or metro ride into the city for afternoon drinks. In the evening, relax at a local Airbnb or take a walk through one of the city\u2019s many parks or natural wetland areas. Melbourne is incredibly diverse. You can go from the beach to the metropolitan center to the bush (country) all within an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"things<\/p>\n

The city\u2019s culture continues to boom and the list of things to do around Melbourne is growing constantly. Whether looking for a relaxing beach vacay or a grungy artists retreat, Melbourne ticks all the boxes. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\"Outdoor\n\t

At any given moment, Shalee is either lost, hunting for ice cream, or obsessively planning her next adventure.<\/p>\n

Born and raised in rural Michigan, she began exploring the shores of Great Lakes as a teen, often sleeping in her car to save money. Eventually, her urge to explore pushed beyond her Midwest borders. Today, Shalee shares her tips and stories to thousands of readers interested in adventure, outdoor, and sustainable tourism. Her pack now includes two spunky hiking cats<\/a> and her partner, Josh. Learn more about her here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\"Join\n\t\t\t\t\"Blank\n\t

The Epic Five: Utah’s Insane National Parks\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Lost in Translation: Why We Thought We Were Being Robbed in Colombia<\/a><\/p>\n

The Michigan Bucket List<\/a><\/p>\n

How to Visit 25 Countries for Under $3,500<\/a><\/p>\n

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shaleewanders<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tLoad More...<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n \n \n\t <\/path>\n\t <\/svg> Follow on Instagram<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/span>\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n\t \n\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\"\"<\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Seven Rad Things to Do Around Melbourne, Australia Melbourne is one of the few places I\u2019ve visited twice. In a world of new adventures, I often opt to visit new places instead of returning to old destinations. However, thanks to an Aussie best friend who quickly showed me local routes and Australian culture, I fell…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"tpl-no-header-footer.php","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,691,7],"tags":[27,400,402,399,398,401,397,404,403],"class_list":["post-4949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","category-destination-guides","category-international","tag-australia","tag-australia-travel-guide","tag-bells-beach-backpackers","tag-melbourne","tag-melbourne-australia","tag-melbourne-travel-guide","tag-things-to-do-around-melbourne","tag-things-to-do-in-torquay","tag-torquay"],"yoast_head":"\nSeven Rad Things to Do Around Melbourne, Australia - Shalee Wanders<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dive into Australia's trendiest hub with a list of endless adventures. 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