Melbourne/Narrm and Victoria Official Guide - Winter 2024

NARRM AND VICTORIA

Shop,

Stay,

Play

and

Eat

at The District Docklands, valued at more than $4,200*

• Two-night stay for four people at Nesuto Docklands Apartment Hotel, valued at $1,500.

• The District gift card to shop at H&M, Uniqlo, Hype DC and more, valued at $500.

• Two family passes to Dreamskape, valued at $400.

• Dining voucher for Storehouse Docklands at The Vibe Hotel, valued at $300.

• Four premium tickets to The Art of Banksy exhibition, valued at $286.

• Urban Alley Brewery gift card, valued at $200.

• Enjoy activities, food and drinks at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq and Zero Latency, valued at $200.

• Krabby’s Crab Boil dining experience, valued at $200.

• BBQ grill and hot pot experience at Seoul Garden Korean BBQ, valued at $150.

• Four tickets to Rainbow Buddies, an interactive space-themed treasure hunt game.

• Four tickets to Saboteurs, a real-life version of an online game.

• Four recliner cinema tickets to Hoyts Cinema, The District.

• O’Brien Icehouse experience gift card, valued at $100.

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

Welcome to Victoria. Winter is here and it's brought a packed calendar of events with it.

Our beloved NGV International has the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition Pharaoh on display, featuring 500 Egyptian antiquities from the British Museum. RISING is back with another thrilling and thought-provoking mix of music, art and performance, and the best

movies from around the globe will be screened as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Sports fans have plenty to look forward to with the AFL season in full swing, the State of Origin coming to town, and all the excitement of the Super Netball.

As always, there’s plenty more to see and do. Whether you’re here on a romantic getaway or a well-deserved family holiday, this guide takes you through the events, food, attractions and tours taking place across the state this winter.

I hope what’s featured here sparks inspiration and helps you enjoy every moment of your time in Victoria.

Steve Dimopoulos MP Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events

RISING Ian Laidlaw

WOMINJEKA

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

We acknowledge the First Peoples throughout Melbourne and Victoria and recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders, past and present. We ask that, during your travels, you respect the cultures, peoples and land.

Senior Wurundjeri Elder of the Kulin Nation

Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy

NARRM AND VICTORIA

Cover image:

Narrm in Yarn by Jess Bonnily, aka Troublemaker Melbourne

Read the story on page 8.

Aunty Joy image: Caitlin Mills

WINTER REIMAGINED

BY BRENDAN MCCLEMENTS, CEO VISIT VICTORIA

Movida Duy Dash

COOLER DAYS AND BRIGHT BLUE SKIES MARK THE ARRIVAL OF WINTER. IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO DISCOVER ALL THE DIFFERENT BITS OF VICTORIA. TREAT YOURSELF, EXPLORE THE HOTSPOTS AND SIZZLING ATTRACTIONS.

The Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition Pharaoh is sure to attract crowds from far and wide to NGV International, and Sarah Brightman makes her long-awaited return to the stage in Sunset Boulevard

Wominjeka! That’s welcome in the local Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language here in Narrm (Melbourne).

The weather might be chilly, but our winter sporting calendar has plenty of hot tickets on offer. This year you can watch the Wallabies play Wales in a rugby test match, or pull on a team beanie and catch an AFL or AFLW game.

There’s also plenty on offer for culture lovers like Victoria's annual winter festival, RISING. The Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition Pharaoh is sure to attract crowds from far and wide to NGV International, and Sarah Brightman making her long-awaited return to the stage in Sunset Boulevard will delight theatre fans.

During the day, there is an untold number of activities to keep everyone entertained. Visit a local landmark, explore a neighbourhood shopping precinct, or enjoy an experience that introduces you to the Indigenous culture and history of the region.

During a night out, find cosy hidden bars and enjoy a glass of locally produced wine, or dress up for an unforgettable night out at one of the city’s impressive eateries.

Outside of Melbourne, the rest of Victoria will shine the light on the best of the season. Winter’s vibrant bright skies make the season perfect for hiking, cycling or heading to the ski fields. Find an open fire in a country pub and relax over a hearty meal and a local craft beer. Immerse yourself in hot springs to warm the soul and relax the body. Plus, it’s whale season, so head to the coast and join a tour to get up close to these amazing creatures.

Wherever you travel in Victoria this winter, you’re sure to discover world class destinations and experiences.

BRENDAN MCCLEMENTS

CEO Visit Victoria

WELCOME

LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE

FOR THIS ISSUE’S COVER, TEXTILE ARTIST JESS BONNILY, AKA TROUBLEMAKER MELBOURNE, CREATED A TUFTED RUG, CALLED NARRM IN YARN, DEPICTING THE CITY AFTER DARK.

Narrm in Yarn detail Mitch Fong

NIGHT-TIME SKYLINE

When it came to creating a scene that showed off Melbourne’s best assets for the cover of our winter edition, Jess Bonnily knew exactly the direction she was headed. “I made a night-time scene featuring the iconic green tram, Arts Centre Melbourne’s spire, and a full moon to represent the RISING festival,” she says.

Jess moved to Melbourne six years ago, and soon started making rugs: “I saw one for sale, which I couldn’t afford, so I started researching and found tufting guns, the tool to make a rug at home.”

YARNING ABOUT ART

Jess, who works under the moniker Troublemaker Melbourne – it comes from one of her favourite movies, Django Unchained – soon found herself in demand. “I outgrew my home studio and needed more space, found a small empty warehouse in Brunswick and built it up into studios with my partner,” says Jess. “Our neighbours are the awesome crew at Honey Bones gallery, so we are surrounded by creative people making awesome stuff. There’s space here for people to be kind, to be creative, to be involved, and to cheer as each person carves out their own path.”

CONTEMPORARY COLLABORATION

Describing her technique as “painting with yarn”, Jess says it’s a bit like sewing, except that you can make any shape or move in any direction. “My art style is definitely maximalist and I love collaboration and collage. I don’t enjoy doing the same thing twice because there are already more good ideas for rugs than hours in the day.”

Jess has worked with several Australian artists, including Ellen Porteus, Brolga, Jeswri and Ginger Taylor, translating their work into rugs. Now, she’s determined to spend more time creating original pieces while working on a new project – cool pet furniture – with a couple of friends. + troublemakermelb.com

Artwork creation Mitch Fong

Jess Bonnily, aka Troublemaker Melbourne

WHAT ’ S ON

Tomb-painting representing Amenhotep I, Tomb of Kynebu, Thebes, Egypt, 20th Dynasty, reign of Ramses VIII, about 1129-1126 BC, Painted plaster, H 43.5, W 21.6 cm © The Trustees of the British Museum

ON NOW

SUNSET BOULEVARD

Princess Theatre

+ sunsetmusical.com.au

LEONARDO DA VINCI –

500 YEARS OF GENIUS THE LUME Melbourne

+ thelumemelbourne.com

Until 2 Jun

MELBOURNE DESIGN WEEK

Various locations

+ designweek.melbourne

Until Jul

SUPER NETBALL

John Cain Arena + supernetball.com.au

Until Jul

HARRY POTTER FORBIDDEN FOREST EXPERIENCE

Mount Martha

+ hpforbiddenforestexperience.com/ melbourne/

Until 14 Jul

PARIS: IMPRESSIONS OF LIFE 1880-1925

Bendigo Art Gallery

+ bendigoregion.com.au/bendigoart-gallery

Until 30 Jul

WICKED THE MUSICAL

Regent Theatre

+ wickedthemusical.com.au

Until Sep

AFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON

Various locations + afl.com.au

JUNE

From 1 Jun

THE ART OF BANKSY: WITHOUT LIMITS

The District Docklands + artofbanksyau.com

1 Jun

WHITE NIGHT BALLARAT

Various locations

+ whitenight.com.au/ballarat

1–16 Jun

RISING

Various locations + rising.melbourne

6 Jun – 28 Aug

WINTER NIGHT MARKET WEDNESDAYS

Queen Victoria Market + thenightmarket.com.au

From 14 Jun

MELBOURNE WINTER

MASTERPIECES® 2024: PHARAOH

National Gallery of Victoria + ngv.melbourne

21 Jun – 21 Jul

EAST GIPPSLAND WINTER FESTIVAL

Various locations + egwinterfest.com.au

22–23 Jun

JERRY SEINFELD LIVE Rod Laver Arena + premier.ticketek.com.au

29–30 Jun

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

John Cain Arena + premier.ticketek.com.au

14 Jun – 4 Aug

LIGHTSCAPE

Royal Botanic Gardens + lightscapemelbourne.com.au

26 Jun

NRL STATE OF ORIGIN –GAME 2

Melbourne Cricket Ground + nrl.com

28–30 Jun

FIRELIGHT FESTIVAL

Docklands Precinct + firelight.melbourne.vic.gov.au

JULY

2–5 Jul

BALLIN’ 24 MELBOURNE

John Cain Arena + australia.basketball/events

7–14 Jul

NAIDOC WEEK

Various locations + naidoc.org.au

12–13 Jul

DAN SULTAN X MSO

Hamer Hall + mso.com.au

13 Jul

WALLABIES V WALES AAMI Park + wallabies.rugby

WHAT’S ON CONTINUED

Lightscape

18–21 Jul

BELLS BEACH LONGBOARD

CLASSIC

Bells Beach

+ worldsurfleague.com

20 Jul

TENACIOUS D

Rod Laver Arena

+ premier.ticketek.com.au

20–29 Jul

SUPER NETBALL FINALS SERIES

John Cain Arena + supernetball.com.au

25 Jul IVE

Rod Laver Arena

+ premier.ticketek.com.au

27–28 Jul

OPEN HOUSE MELBOURNE

Various locations

+ openhousemelbourne.org

AUGUST

2–4 Aug

WINTER SHIRAZ FESTIVAL

Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula + wintershiraz.com.au

8–25 Aug

MELBOURNE

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Various locations + miff.com.au

10–11 Aug

HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS LIVE GLOW PARTY

Rod Laver Arena + premier.ticketek.com.au

15–25 Aug

INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL

Various locations

+ iffm.com.au

22–31 Aug

NOW OR NEVER FESTIVAL

Various locations

+ nowornever.melbourne.vic.gov.au

29 Aug – 7 Sep

BANGARRA DANCE

THEATRE PRESENTS HORIZON

Playhouse at Arts Centre Melbourne + artscentremelbourne.com.au

From 29 Aug

AFLW 2024 SEASON

Various locations + afl.com.au

COMING SOON

28 Sep

AFL GRAND FINAL

Melbourne Cricket Ground + afl.com.au

30 Oct – 3 Nov

COLDPLAY: MUSIC OF THE SPHERES WORLD TOUR

Marvel Stadium + aunz.coldplay.com

SPORTS SEASON

KICKING OFF

We’re in the middle of Melbourne’s favourite season: football season! The AFL competition has had crowds gathering at the MCG, Marvel Stadium and in front of screens across the nation since March, but the finals are drawing ever closer. Never experienced a game? Rug up and join the fans walking from Fed Square to the MCG or Southern Cross Station to Marvel. The King’s Birthday Weekend game between premiers Collingwood and Melbourne (10 June) at the MCG promises to be a blockbuster. Not to be outdone, the 11-round AFLW season begins 30 August. + afl.com.au

AFL AFL Photos

GAME DAYS

Get out and cheer on the home team during Melbourne Storm’s NRL season. They play regularly at home ground AAMI Park, but the round 20 match (20 July) against the Sydney Roosters will be one not to miss. In the Suncorp Super Netball competition, Melbourne has two teams: the Mavericks in their first season and the Vixens. Both play regularly at John Cain Arena during the season, but you can see them face off in a hometown derby on 10 June. Although we can’t predict who’ll be there at the end, the finals season begins on 20 July.

+ melbournestorm.com.au + supernetball.com.au

TACKLE TIME

Rugby fever is heading to Melbourne this season. The second game of the State of Origin (26 June), the traditional rugby league grudge series between Queensland and NSW, is set to take over the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Wallabies take on Wales (13 July) at AAMI Park in the second of two rugby union test internationals between the two sides to decide the James Bevan Trophy. After Wales dished up a 34-point drubbing to the Aussies at last year’s World Cup, the Wallabies will be keen to redeem themselves.

+ nrl.com

+ wallabies.rugby

Suncorp Super Netball Matt King/Getty Images

State of Origin NRL Photos WHAT'S

WINTER'S PREMIERE ARTS FESTIVAL TAKES OVER THE STREETS, SQUARES AND SPACES OF MELBOURNE.

ON THE RISE

MUSICAL FEAST

One of the big attractions of RISING (1–16 June) is its music program. The highlight might be Day Tripper The eight-hour day party of music, art and performance takes place at multiple venues across one city block, under one ticket. Day Tripper features acts like Acid Brass, Bar Italia, MEMORIALS, Pandora’s Jukebox and Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), as well as entrance to 24 Hour Rock Show, a marathon of fearless music documentaries. Dirty Three return for their first hometown shows in 12 years. Moktar: Town Hall Takeover sees the Egyptian-Australian DJ mixing club anthems with Arabic instrumentation and sampling. There’s plenty more including Fever Ray, Yves Tumor, Sky Ferreira and Crip Rave Theory, a disability-led party and political statement.

PERFORMANCE PIECE

There are premiere pieces and First Peoples-led performances right across the program. In Gurr Era Op, mainland-born Torres Strait Islander women dance and weave stories of connection. New York’s master illusionist Geoff Sobelle hosts Food, an intimate dinner party performance serving an absurdist meditation on the ways and whys of eating. Follow the story of the trail-blazing Warumpi Band through the stories of the Butcher brothers in Big Name, No Blankets. 8/8/8: Rest is another premiere, this one an overnight experience exploring care and control, digital detoxing and the commodification of relaxation.

FREE FOR ALL

For anyone on a budget, there’s still tonnes to do right throughout RISING. Head to the mass music-making event, Communitas, led by SHOUSE and suitable for the whole family. The Rivers Sing is a large-scale audio installation. Created by Yorta Yorta/Yuin composer and soprano Deborah Cheetham, Byron J Scullin and Thomas Supple, it rings out over the river at sunset

each day. See free photo exhibition, Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis at State Library Victoria. Then there’s Night Trade, with its micro bars, music, dancing, dumplings and art, which takes place each night in the Capitol Arcade. + rising.melbourne

Waripa Ian Laidlaw

Night Trade Damien Raggatt

Relief of a mother, possibly a queen, and her son, Provenance unknown, Ptolemaic Period, about 305-30 BC, Limestone H 15.5cm W 19.2cm D 4cm

© The Trustees of the British Museum

EGYPT UNCOVERED

THIS YEAR’S MELBOURNE WINTER MASTERPIECES AT NGV INTERNATIONAL UNEARTHS THE ART AND LIVES OF AN ANCIENT CULTURE.

ANCIENT TIMES

Many thousands of years ago, the pharaohs were responsible for protecting Egypt against its enemies and ensuring universal order. They ruled the Two Lands – Upper and Lower Egypt – from the 1st Dynasty (c. 3,000 BCE) until the Roman conquest in 30 BCE. Now a new exhibition from the British Museum is arriving at NGV International. Pharaoh (from 14 June) celebrates 3,000 years of Egyptian art and culture.

FROM THE TOMBS

The exhibition comprises seven sections in themes that explore the pharaoh’s roles and duties, including as the high priest officiating in temples, the head of the country’s administration, the leader of the army and the head of the royal family. They were the most important people in all the land. Perhaps surprisingly, they were not always men nor always Egyptian.

TIMELESS TREASURES

The exhibition features more than 500 pieces, including monumental sculpture, architecture, temple statuary, jewellery, papyri, coffins and a rich array of funerary objects. From including their images on rings, bracelets and personal treasures to monuments of a colossal scale, the pharaohs represent an idealised image of warriors and worshippers of the gods. Unpack the phenomenon of pharaohs, the all-powerful kings of a divine origin this winter. + ngv.melbourne

WINTER MASTERPIECES ®

MELBOURNE

ART TO WARM THE HEART

ACROSS STAGES, SCREENS AND UNIQUE SPACES, ARTS EVENTS HEAT UP MELBOURNE’S COOLER MONTHS.

BRING THE FAMILY

The kids will love Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (from 27 June) at Her Majesty’s Theatre. The enchanting and timeless tale has been brought to life in this new musical production. Come face to face with Victoria the T. rex (from 28 June) at Melbourne Museum. This ferocious creature roamed the earth 66 million years ago and the huge, fossilised skeleton, the centrepiece of this interactive exhibit, is the best real one ever seen in Australia. + beautyandthebeastmusical.com.au + museumsvictoria.com.au

NEW VISION

For more than 70 years, the Melbourne International Film Festival (8–25 August) – called MIFF by the locals –has brought thousands of the finest features, documentaries and shorts from around the world to the city. And it promises to do it all again. Following a sell-out season, SIX the Musical (from 3 August) is returning to the Comedy Theatre. In this high-energy, record-breaking musical, the Tudor queens rewrite 500 years of history.

+ miff.com.au

+ sixthemusical.com.au

LIGHT IT UP

Experience Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne in a completely different way. As the sun drops, Lightscape (14 June – 4 August) takes over a reimagined trail with new light installations. Be surrounded by the interactive Submergence and enter Winter Cathedral and Laser Garden at Fern Valley.

+ lightscapemelbourne.com.au

Submergence at Lightscape Richard Haughton

BOULEVARD OF DREAMS

FANS OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER REJOICE, AS ONE OF HIS MASTERPIECES RETURNS TO MELBOURNE.

STAR POWER

Be prepared for musical greatness. Opera Australia’s thrillingly atmospheric reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard sees the return to the stage of musical theatre and international recording superstar Sarah Brightman. It’s been 30 years since her last stage role, and audiences will get to see her perform the musical’s famous songs including the anthemic ‘As If We Never Said Goodbye’.

THE STORY UNFOLDS

Sunset Boulevard is a magnificent tale of faded glory and unfulfilled ambition. Having been discarded by Hollywood with the advent of ‘talkies’, legendary silent movie star Norma Desmond is tortured by her longing for a return to the big screen. When she meets struggling Hollywood screenwriter Joe Gillis in a dramatic chance encounter, their subsequent passionate and volatile relationship leads to an unforeseen and tragic conclusion.

ALL STARS

Joining Sarah Brightman on stage at the Princess Theatre is Tim Draxl as Joe Gillis, Robert Grubb as Max Von Mayerling, and Ashleigh Rubenach as Betty Schaefer. Silvie Paladino will perform the role of Norma Desmond on Tuesday evening and Wednesday matinee performances. This is a strictly limited season, so be sure to secure your tickets while you can. + sunsetmusical.com.au

Sunset Boulevard cast Ben King

WINTER IN THE CITY

BY SALLY CAPP, LORD MAYOR

Queen Victoria Market Josh Robenstone

MELBOURNE'S VISITOR SERVICES

Melbourne Visitor Hub at the Town Hall

Swanston Street (corner of Little Collins Street)

Melbourne Visitor Booth Bourke Street Mall

Fitzroy Gardens Visitor Centre Wellington Parade

City Ambassadors

Talk to our red coat volunteers along Swanston Street and at Federation Square daily. Also find us at Queen Victoria Market on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Melbourne Greeter Service

Guided orientations 10am daily from Melbourne Visitor Hub at Town Hall.

Melbourne Town Hall Tours

11am and 1pm every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Arts & Heritage Collection Tours

11am and 1pm Tuesday, 2.30pm Thursday and Friday

Pop in for some Melbourne-made, sustainably produced products at the Town Hall Visitor Hub and Fitzroy Gardens Visitor Centre.

Operating hours may vary. For more details, visit whatson. melbourne.vic.gov.au/visitors

EMBRACE WINTER IN THE CITY OF MELBOURNE WITH COSY PLACES TO EAT, DRINK, VISIT AND PLAY.

SEEK WARMTH AND EXPAND YOUR MIND

Escape the chill and discover why Melbourne is considered Australia’s home of arts and culture. Whether you’re wandering the vast rooms of NGV International, catching the latest show in our theatre district, or finding your next read in our network of bookshops and libraries, there’s something for everyone in Melbourne.

SPOIL YOURSELF WITH SOME RETAIL THERAPY

Melbourne is Australia’s undisputed fashion capital – there’s no better place to update your winter wardrobe. Take home the ultimate Melbourne souvenir by exploring our local designers, bespoke boutiques and leading retail precincts for those winter boots and coats. Fuel up with a cup of the world’s finest coffee at one of our hundreds of speciality cafes.

BRAVE THE ELEMENTS AND HEAD OUTDOORS

Stroll our famous laneways, pick up some street food and artisanal goods at the Queen Victoria Market, or join the crowd at our mighty MCG for a game of footy.

Melbourne hosts a stellar line-up of events and festivals throughout the year. Find out what’s happening during your stay by searching What’s On Melbourne or visiting our Visitor Information Hubs.

MELBOURNE CITY

SHOPPING CENTRAL

YOU DON’T NEED TO TREK ACROSS THE CITY TO ACCESS THE BEST SHOPPING, ENTERTAINMENT AND DINING. IT’S ALL TOGETHER AT MELBOURNE CENTRAL.

FUN FOR ALL

Melbourne Central is home to many popular free attractions. First is the heritage-listed Coop’s Shot Tower and interactive museum, built in 1890 and is now an iconic part of the shopping centre’s architecture. Beneath it is the Marionette Watch, which plays ‘Waltzing Matilda’ on the hour as cockatoos and galahs dance along.

Head up to level three and you’ll find Hoyts Cinemas, bowling and karaoke venue Strike, and games arcade B. Lucky & Sons. On the lower ground floor, try your hand at the immersive, interactive Monopoly Dreams experience, where you’ll play games, tour Mr Monopoly’s mansion and go beyond the board game.

RETAIL ROUND-UP

There are more than 280 stores in Melbourne Central, with new flagship retailers opening all the time. One of the highlights is the city’s only LEGO® Certified Store. As well as having all the latest sets available to buy, there is a mosaic maker plus incredible display pieces such as a Melbourne tram to inspire your family’s building. A new arrival to level one fashion, Nude Lucy has a range of elevated essentials designed to transcend the seasons. If you’re more into streetwear and Sambas, visit level two to shop at Stylerunner. It’s got all the hottest brands, including PE Nation, adidas, Von Dutch and Merrell. This winter, New Balance is the latest flagship experience to land on level one, featuring hero styles and limited-edition releases.

DASHING DINING

From the ELLA precinct on the ground floor to restaurants like New Shanghai on level three, there’s a world of dining at Melbourne Central. The ground floor has two new arrivals. The first is Homm, a haven for lovers of Thai desserts. Then there’s Niku Shiki. Its signature dish, wagyu nigiri, features seared melt-in-themouth beef served on sushi rice. On level two, seek out Miyama, with its savoury menu of Japanese dishes and extraordinary display of sweet pastries. In the level two dining hall, look for Marrybrown, serving up the best ayam goreng and Malaysian fried chicken in town. + melbournecentral.com.au

Monopoly Dreams

LEGO® Certified Store

LANDMARKS AND LANEWAYS

Meyers Place Ain Raadik

CREATE UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES ON YOUR NEXT TRIP TO MELBOURNE WHEN YOU SEARCH OUT THESE LANEWAY GEMS.

PICTURE THIS

There are murals daubed across the laneways of Melbourne, the next more colourful than the last. If you’re looking for the perfect spot for a selfie, there are lots of places to try. Hosier Lane is a favourite, with the imagery on its high walls changing all the time. Stand in front of the lush jungle mural in Meyers Place or Shawn Lu’s sepiatoned country scene on Langs Lane. More into rock icons? Try your luck on AC/DC Lane

BOUTIQUE BLISS

The laneways hide all sorts of local treasures. If you’re looking for Victorian-made goods, from designer homewares to fine food, head to Clementine’s in pedestrian-only Degraves Street to fill your basket. Head off the laneways and into the stunning Cathedral Arcade for local label Kuwaii, which creates timeless, ethically made womenswear. + clementines.com.au + kuwaii.com.au

FUEL UP

All that shopping and snapping will soon have you searching out coffee, a meal or a day’s end drink. Krimper is a great little cafe inside an atmospheric warehouse. It does an excellent all-day breakfast, as well as burgers and salads. When the day is done, order one of the excellent cocktails whipped up by the barkeep at cosy Beneath Driver Lane.

+ krimper.com.au

+ driverlanebar.com

Krimper Ray Reyes

6 LUSH LOCALES

Melbourne’s laneway locations provide picture-perfect backdrops for Instagrammable holiday snaps. Wander along city lanes to find these snapshot hot spots this winter.

1. Guildford Lane Pose in this laneway with historic red-brick and stone buildings rising up on either side, and lush green hanging plants and window boxes.

2. Caffé E Torta This charming Italian cafe can be found in the heritage-listed Royal Arcade, the oldest surviving arcade in Australia. It’s picture-perfect.

3. Flinders Street Railway Station This station is the oldest in Australia and is known for its green copper dome, arched entrance, tower and clocks. Time your snap to capture the trams whizzing past.

4. Chinatown’s lanterns The red and gold hanging lanterns that adorn Little Bourke Street are a captivating backdrop for a night shot.

5. Pollon Flowers Discover the beautiful window displays in this fragrant flower shop tucked within the picturesque arches of Chapter House.

6. Fable Melbourne The city’s highest rooftop bar is cosy when covered and has unbeatable sweeping city views, plush velvet banquette window-side seating, elegant cocktails and a delicious menu.

TOP GUIDE TO MELBOURNE’S CHINATOWN

VENTURE THROUGH THE GRAND RED ARCHWAY AND FOLLOW THE HANGING LANTERNS ALONG LITTLE BOURKE STREET INTO AUSTRALIA’S OLDEST CHINATOWN.

LIVING HISTORY

Located in the heart of Melbourne’s Chinatown, the five floors of the Museum of Chinese Australian History document the heritage and culture of Australia’s Chinese community. Marvel at the world’s biggest processional Dai Loong Dragon and discover the One Million Stories exhibition, showcasing the contribution Chinese Australians have made to Australian society for more than 200 years.

SENSATIONAL TASTE

The queues snaking out the door of Shanghai Street are a sure sign the tasty food on offer here is the real deal. Try the fried pork mini buns or chicken and prawn dumplings – both are perfect if you’re hungry. There are vegetarian options too. Head to HuTong Dumpling Bar in Market Lane, part of the Chinatown line-up since 2008. Beloved by all serious dumpling devotees, the signature soup-filled xiao long bao or zippy chilli wontons are highly recommended. Finish off your meal with the Taiwanese sweet treat masters at BlackBall Chinatown Pick from a huge menu of sugary delights – try flaming tofu pudding with a crispy crème brûlée topping, or mochi milk tea sprinkled with crunchy Oreo crumbs.

NIGHTCAP TIME

Head down a tiny alleyway and up a flight of stairs to be transported to what looks like an old-world opium den. Manchuria is dimly lit with wafts of sweet-smelling incense filling the room. Slide into a booth or find a secluded nook while the bartender pours your drop of choice. Or finish your Chinatown evening with cocktails at One or Two. You’ll find this tiny gem down the cobblestones of Celestial Avenue. Inspired by the Japanese TV series Midnight Diner, the wabi-sabi bar is chic, minimal and housed in a heritage-listed building.

+ whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au

HuTong Dumpling Bar Dan Castano

Museum of Chinese Australian History

ENTER RISING: THE BLAK INFINITE

A SERIES OF NEWLY COMMISSIONED INSTALLATIONS EXAMINING FIRST PEOPLES’ CONNECTIONS TO THE COSMOS, POLITICAL CONSTELLATIONS AND THE FUTURE WILL TRANSFORM FED SQUARE THIS WINTER.

Fed Square is set to welcome The Blak Infinite, with three neverbefore-seen commissions for RISING (1–16 June). Anchoring the program is Richard Bell’s (Kamilaroi, Kooma, Jiman and Gurang Gurang) [EMBASSY]. Inspired by the original 1972 Aboriginal Tent Embassy at Canberra’s Parliament House, Bell’s piece continues the politically driven work of First Peoples, featuring daily film screenings and a program of talks with activists, writers and artists every Saturday of the festival.

The Blak Infinite shares First Peoples’ connections to the cosmos, political constellations and futures. Its artworks and texts explore the infinite possibility of First Peoples’ futures. The big screen features speculative fiction from writer Ellen van Neerven (Mununjali Yugambeh and Dutch). Artist Kait James (Wadawurrung) uses collage to subvert the loaded visual language of 70s souvenirs, while Michael Cook (Bidjara) creates fantasy worlds where the roles of invader and invaded are reversed.

At night, projections by Tarryn Love (Gunditjmara Keerray Woorroong) will light up the square, sharing stories of Sky Country and the cosmos. Tony Albert’s (Girramay, Yidinyji and Kuku Yalanji) large-scale artwork BEAM ME UP The Art of Abduction immerses us in themes of alienation, belonging and place through colourful installations and a children’s program. + fedsquare.com

Tony Albert, Crop Circles in Yogya #5 2016-17. Unique edition pigment print on paper with hand embellishment, 83 x 113cm. © Tony Albert.

SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE

Discover the Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria's cherished war memorial and a prominent Melbourne icon. Immerse yourself in the vast Galleries of Remembrance, seek solace in the tranquil Sanctuary and enjoy breathtaking views from the Balcony overlooking the Reserve and Melbourne.

Ticketed tours depart hourly from the Visitor Centre (except midday).

This season, in recognition of the Shrine’s 90th year, a new exhibition takes a nostalgic glimpse at alternate designs for Victoria's war memorial. Visit our website to learn about other special events and activities.

Free entry, every day.

Tram: Route 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 or 72 to stop 19

Open: Daily, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)

Birdwood Ave, Melbourne

t: 03 9661 8100

w: shrine.org.au

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ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS MELBOURNE

Entry is free to Australia’s number one tourist attraction and one of the world’s most beautiful gardens. Home to breathtaking landscapes and fascinating tours, it’s the perfect place to reconnect with nature in an inner-city oasis.

Venture through the gates to explore unusual plants from across the globe, as well as rare native species. Wander between succulents erupting from the earth at Guilfoyle’s Volcano, take a moment of peace by the creek in Fern Gully, or simply roll out a picnic rug by Ornamental Lake and spend your day relaxing or taking a peaceful boat ride.

Tram: Route 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67 or 72 to stop 19

Open: Daily, 7.30am until 5.30pm (1 April to 4 October) Daily, 7.30am until 7.30pm (5 October to 31 March)

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne t: 03 9252 2300

w: rbg.vic.gov.au

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STAY IN STYLE

YOU’RE SURE TO A FIND A HOTEL IN THE CITY THAT OFFERS CAPTIVATING VIEWS, CLASSY EATERIES AND DAZZLING ROOMS.

FROM THE TOP

The views stretch for miles over the city and Port Phillip Bay at The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne. Once you’ve checked into your elegant and spacious abode, go for a swim in the enclosed pool-with-a-view or head back up to the lobby on level 80 for a sunset drink at Cameo. At every turn is artwork from local contemporary and Indigenous artists competing with those vistas for your attention. + ritzcarlton.com

SOPHISTICATED STAY

After a two-year redesign and refurbishment, The Lyall raises the bar for premium hotel accommodation.

Located on the fringe of the city in a leafy South Yarra street, this hotel is meticulously designed with sumptuous, generously sized rooms to welcome you in Parisienne style. With its personalised service, it’s the perfect destination for those seeking an upmarket urban retreat. + thelyall.com

The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne

ENTER STAGE RIGHT

In the heart of Melbourne’s theatre district, Le Méridien Melbourne honours the building that originally stood on its footprint. Originally a theatre, then a music venue, it has suites with vinyl turntables complete with records from bands that played here. Stay in rooms overlooking Parliament House and St Patrick’s Cathedral and eat at Dolly restaurant.

+ marriott.com

DRIVING STYLE

Feeling fancy? The Royce Hotel boasts a new level of boutique opulence. The upscale suites are plush and refined, some with balconies or terraces. In the original building, a former Rolls-Royce showroom, are six loft suites with original Art Deco features overlooking the Shrine of Remembrance. The Europeaninspired Showroom Bar is a glitzy allday dining option perfect for liaisons, people watching or being seen.

+ roycehotel.com.au

AND THERE’S MORE

These more modest openings offer chic rooms and fantastic facilities in interesting locations. Comfort meets lifestyle at the Dorsett Melbourne. Located at West Side Place, it has transport, entertainment and Marvel Stadium on the doorstep. Before becoming accommodation, Richmond’s The Motley Hotel was occupied by a theatre costumier. Her artistry has been carried through the 80 rooms and common spaces.

+ dorsetthotels.com

+ themotleyhotel.com.au

The Lyall

Royce Hotel

SKYDECK

VOYAGER THEATRE

EDGE

PLANK

ALTITUDE LUNCH

MELBOURNE ON ANOTHER LEVEL

OLD TREASURY BUILDING

Built at the height of the gold rush, the magnificent Old Treasury Building now hosts a variety of displays centred on the history of Melbourne. Uncover the development of the city from fledgling village to modern metropolis. Explore the basement gold vaults to discover the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s.

In Belongings: Objects and Family Life, discover how objects have shaped the family and add your thoughts to our favourite object wall.

Open: Sun – Fri 10am to 4pm, closed Saturdays Free admission

20 Spring St, Melbourne w: oldtreasurybuilding.org.au

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THE TEA ROOMS 1892

The Tea Rooms are a must-visit for anyone who comes to Melbourne. The first tenant of the Block Arcade when it opened on 14 October 1892, the famous tea rooms have been serving cakes, sandwiches, tea and scones, all made daily on site, for more than 133 years. The oldest tea rooms in Australia, having changed names three times in their 133-year history, have remained in their original home since 1892. A must for any visitor. @thetearooms1892

Open: Mon – Fri 8am to 5pm, Sat – Sun 9am to 5pm

Shops 1 & 2, The Block Arcade, 280 Collins St, Melbourne w: thetearooms1892.com.au

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MELBOURNE ZOO

Bring your curiosity to life at Melbourne Zoo.

Stroll through lush rainforests where tigers and elephants roam and monkeys swing in the trees, all just 10 minutes from the city centre. See koalas, kangaroos and more in the Australian Bush Trail then dive into an underwater world with little penguins, seals and even seahorses. Join a keepers talk and learn about the animals they care for and Zoos Victoria's critical conservation work.

Kids visit free on weekends, Victorian public holidays and school holidays.

Tram: 58 to stop 26 Melbourne Zoo

Train: Upfield Line, Royal Park Station

Open: Daily, 9am to 5pm

Elliott Avenue, Parkville t: 1300 966 784 w: zoo.org.au/melbourne

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MAGNIFICENT MARVEL STADIUM

MARVEL STADIUM, IN THE HEART OF MELBOURNE, HAS UNDERGONE A STUNNING UPGRADE.

THINK INSIDE THE SQUARE

Stadium Square is Marvel Stadium’s reimagined main entry. This renovated state-of-the-art precinct is the gateway to sporting excitement and a vibrant entertainment hub on the doorstep of Southern Cross Station. Visitors to Melbourne’s cosmopolitan stadium will soon be able to eat, drink and play inside Stadium Square all year round. Whether it’s an event day, a special

occasion or simply a casual catch-up, you’ll find an undercover oasis with a Super Screen that features live broadcasts of sport and events.

Two levels of premium food and beverage offerings include the new Johnnie Walker Bar and View Bar, offering unrivalled outlooks into the stadium. Tuck in at new outlets by Melbourne favourites like EARL Canteen and burger pioneers, 8bit.

VIEWS FROM THE ROOF

Breathtaking views of the city can be seen from the stylishly renovated eastern side of the stadium, with its open terrace and rooftop event venue. Be sure to enquire about the Skyline

and Horizon rooms for premium food and beverage experiences to complement your event. These new features will provide exciting destinations all year round.

Tram: Tram 11, 48, 86 & 96 towards Southern Cross Station or tram 30, 35 & 86 for La Trobe Street entrance

Train: Southern Cross Station

740 Bourke Street, Docklands w: marvelstadium.com.au

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EAT AND DRINK

Sulbing Griffin Simm

CASUAL CONNECTIONS

FANCY FARE

SEASONAL PRODUCE? CHECK. AN ARRAY OF CUISINES? YOU’VE GOT IT. LOCALLY PRODUCED BEERS, WINES AND SPIRITS? FOR SURE. MELBOURNE REALLY IS RATHER TASTY.

Jump aboard the Tram Cafe, parked permanently outside William Angliss Institute, for coffee, tea and baked goods, served up by students from the college. ♦ Kick back in one of the booths at Operator Diner, a retro American-style eatery serving up delicious French toast and burgers, as well as bottomless Batch Brew.

+ angliss.edu.au

+ operatordiner.com.au

SWEET SENSATIONS

At The Butter Room, French baking techniques are fused with Korean flavours for the likes of matcha strawberry sponges and black sesame cream croissants. ♦ There’s often a line outside Sulbing, but it’s worth the wait. Its bingsu (shaved desserts) comes in flavours like lotus caramel, strawberry black forest and pine mango.

+ thebutterrooms.com

+ sulbingcafe.com.au

The omakase menu at Akaiito is a little different. A chef comes out to the table at the start of each course to introduce the produce used and to serve the dish. ♦ Be amazed by the heritage surroundings of Reine then awed by the incredible French dishes – scallop gratin, confit rabbit – that come from its kitchen.

+ akaiitorestaurant.com.au

+ reineandlarue.melbourne

THE BAR RAISED

Find a spot on a velvet sofa at Trinket and get cosy while sipping on specialty and classic cocktails. A whisky sour is always good for warming up. ♦ There are many reasons to love Juliet: its hidden basement location, excellent happy hour and fireplace. But we also keep coming back for the female-first drinks list.

+ trinketbar.com.au

+ julietmelbourne.com.au

Trinket

Reine Samantha Schultz

CULTURE ON A PLATE

EMBARK ON A CULINARY JOURNEY IN THE CITY SAVOURING DIVERSE FLAVOURS THAT WEAVE TALES OF CULTURE INTO EVERY BITE.

Onsen Japanese K tran

THAI: Soi 38

Soi 38 serves all kinds of Thai dishes, but the boat noodles are the signature dish. The broth is rich in galangal and lemongrass, with slowly simmered meat and springy noodles. The best bit about Soi 38? You’ll be eating lunch in a corner of a CBD carpark, along with a buzzy huddle of other diners in the know.

JAPANESE: Onsen Japanese

Visit Tokyo in Melbourne at this cosy hidden gem. Pop in for a quick lunch at Onsen Japanese for its signature flavour-packed tonkotsu ramen –choose the spicy version if you like a good kick of heat. Or try soupless mazeman ramen, crispy karaage fried chicken, katsu curry and more authentic bites.

ITALIAN: Donnini’s

The Donnini family has had a culinary presence in Melbourne for 70 years and were one of the first fresh pasta manufacturers and retailers in Australia. This authentic Italian eatery is known for its handmade pasta, traditional cooking and relaxed atmosphere.

CHINESE: Supper Inn

The best Chinatown restaurants are there for you when you need a late-night feed. Supper Inn does not disappoint, welcoming hungry punters until 2.30am. Unassuming and unchanged since the ’70s, this old-school inn is all about classic Cantonese fare. Head upstairs and sate your midnight cravings for roasted suckling pig and warming congee.

INDIAN: Tonka

Located down one of Melbourne’s well-known laneways, Tonka celebrates modern Indian cuisine. Experience punchy flavours in dishes like confit duck with sirkay wali gobi and chestnut puree. Or find comfort in Indian favourites with Tonka’s butter chicken.

FILIPINO: Serai

At Serai, Filipino dishes are reimagined and cooked over a wood-fired grill, recreating the spirit, vitality, passion and sense of fun of the Philippines. Grab a seat at the chef’s table to watch as your meal is cooked over the open fire. Pair colourful cocktails with dishes like kingfish sinuglaw and pork belly with smoked pineapple palapa. + whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Soi 38 Paul Kristoff

IT’S GAME DAY

BRING

TWO OF MELBOURNE’S FAVOURITE PASTIMES TOGETHER, BY PLANNING A GREAT MEAL AROUND A DAY AT THE FOOTBALL.

MARVELLOUS MARVEL

Check out Shannon Martinez’s newest venture, Friends of Fire, on the Marvel Promenade. Anyone who knows Shannon’s style won’t be surprised to hear there’s plenty on the menu for vegans, but she’s teamed up with chef Aaron Rodrigues, who’ll be charring steaks over the grill and cooking up buttermilk fried chicken at this huge American-style eatery. + friendsoffire.com.au

MCG BOUND

There are plenty of options for those walking across to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Or coming back from it. Meet your mates at Riverland Bar for burgers, pizzas and cold beers on the bank of the Yarra River. Close to the ground is The Cliveden Bar & Dining at the Pullman Melbourne on the Park, where both the menu and drinks list feature Victorian produce, wine, beer and spirits. + riverlandbar.com

+ thecliveden.com.au

AFTER THE GAME

No matter how late the game goes, you’ll be able to sit down to a Greek feast at Stalactites. It’s been feeding the hungry Melbourne masses its famous souvlakis and home-style cooking since 1978 and is open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. Another good late-night spot is Butchers Diner, with its toasties, burgers and skewers off the grill. + stalactites.com.au

+ butchersdiner.com

Riverland Bar

Alison Mayfield

ARTISTIC INSPIRATION

OUR COVER ARTIST JESS BONNILY, AKA TROUBLEMAKER MELBOURNE, FILLS US IN ON SOME OF HER FAVOURITE PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK ACROSS INNER-CITY MELBOURNE.

HOMETOWN FAVOURITES

She arrived in Melbourne six years ago, and Jess Bonnily soon fell into the pace of the city. “Melbourne is always open and alive,” she says. It’s a place where anything can happen and there is always something new to experience.”

A resident of the Pentridge Prison redevelopment in the rapidly changing suburb of Coburg in the city’s north, she spends a lot of time in the neighbourhood and recommends Mela Patisserie for its selection of cakes and baked goods in the same development.

When it’s time for a drink, she likes a relaxed venue. “My local is either upstairs at the Cornish Arms or beneath the statue of David at the Moreland Hotel,” she says, listing a couple of well-established Brunswick pubs.

+ melapatisserie.com.au

+ cornisharms.com.au

+ morelandhotel.com.au

Osteria Ilaria Kristoffer Paulsen

Jess Bonnily Mitch Fong

PASTA WAYS

One of Jess’s favourite restaurants was found by accident. “I love La Spaghettata on Lygon Street in Carlton,” she says. “Our first time there, we had booked a table at the restaurant next door, but it’s been the best mistake and a fave ever since.”

Another Italian was the scene for a treat. “Last year we went to Osteria Ilaria in the city for my birthday dinner on a Thursday evening. The food was unbelievable, and we had delicious mocktails. It was also a good thing we didn’t wait for Saturday night because I ended up giving birth three weeks early that very night.”

+ laspaghettata.com.au

+ osteriailaria.com

GUEST GO-TOS

There are a few places Jess always likes to recommend to Melbourne visitors. The first is a Japanese restaurant in Brunswick. “The cat robot waiters at Matsumoto,” she says, are a great talking point. For cheap eats, she makes a beeline for Laksa King in Flemington, a popular spot to slurp down a bowl of noodle soup. Finally, Clement Coffee at South Melbourne Market is her favourite cafe for a delicious caffeine hit.

+ matsumoto.com.au

+ laksaking.com.au

+ clementcoffee.com

Matsumoto

Cornish Arms

OVERNIGHT OASIS

SLEEP TALKING

It truly is your home away from home. Pullman Melbourne on the Park’s contemporary rooms are the perfect haven after a big day out, whether you’ve been to a sporting event or concert, caught up with friends, or enjoyed some shopping in the city. The neutral palette will soothe the soul and the city views will remind you where you are. Upgrade to a higher level and you’ll overlook the bright lights of the sporting precinct, just a few minutes’ walk away.

FUEL UP

The Cliveden Bar & Dining is the hotel’s on-site restaurant. In the morning, however, it’s turned over to an incredible market buffet breakfast. The spread features an assortment of locally sourced produce from

well-known Victorian businesses, including Meredith Dairy, Green Eggs, La Madre Bakery and Andrew’s Choice Smallgoods. Guests can help themselves to breads, baked goods and pastries, condiments, cereals, eggs, hot dishes, dairy and deli products, fruit and vegetables, along with a range of gluten-free options.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

Add some rejuvenation to your weekend away, with the Salt Movement & Recovery package. It includes unlimited entry to neighbouring Salt, where you can access the fully equipped gym, sauna and steam room, magnesium spa, ice bath and shower, and compression recovery.

+ pullmanonthepark.com.au

+ thecliveden.com.au

William Clarke Sky Villa

EAT & DRINK

ICEBAR MELBOURNE

IceBar Melbourne keeps things a fun and frosty -10°C here in Melbourne all year round! WARNING… Ice cold drinks and the coolest vibes inside! We’ll rug you up in gloves, Ugg boots and a snow cape or faux fur coat before sending you inside for your arctic experience. It's the perfect place to cosy up with a date, party with friends or chill with the family!

Use code VISITVIC10 to receive a 10% discount on the deluxe entry package when booking (valid until 31 August 2024).

Online bookings essential.

The Atrium, Federation Square, Melbourne t: 03 9077 9716

w: icebaraustralia.com.au

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BRUNETTI CLASSICO

Indulge in la dolce vita at cafe and pasticerria, Brunetti Classico, known and loved by tourists and locals alike for a truly authentic Italian experience. Mouth-watering biscuits, pastries, cakes and tarts are expertly crafted. Fresh pasta is handmade each morning, and woodfired pizza is lovingly prepared. Check out the all-new gelateria extension! All delicious treats are made with the highest quality fresh ingredients using recipes handed down through the generations in this family-owned business. Visit Brunetti Classico when you’re in Melbourne!

Tram: Tram 1 or Tram 6 towards Stop 112 - Lygon St/Elgin St

Open: Mon–Thurs and Sun: 5am to 10pm, Fri–Sat: 5am to 11�30pm

380 Lygon Street, Carlton t: 03 7034 7066

w: brunetticlassico.com.au

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THAT’S THE SPIRIT

CHECK OUT THESE MELBOURNE BARS WHERE THERE’S A FOCUS ON A SINGLE TYPE OF DRINK. IT’S GOOD REASON TO SAY, “CHEERS!”

CLEAR THINKING

It may be nicknamed mother’s ruin, but gin is enjoying a revival. In Melbourne, you can taste it – either in flights or a cocktail – at the tiny Little Lon Distilling Co, set in one of the city’s oldest remaining singlestorey buildings. For classic cocktails, especially martinis, sink into a velvet sofa at the refreshed Gin Palace

+ littlelondistillingco.com

+ ginpalace.com.au

A WEE DRAM

Whisky drinkers appreciate a bar featuring options from around the globe. Not only is Whisky & Alement one of the finest whisky bars in Melbourne, but it rivals the best in the world. For something different, Boilermaker House is an advocate of the classic pairing of whisky and beer (known as a boilermaker).

+ whiskyandale.com.au

+ boilermakerhouse.com.au

MEXICAN MISSION

It’s made using the heart of the agave plant that’s cooked in the ground then fermented. Most mezcal recipes are closely held by the families who create them, and each one is different to the next. Sample a range of mezcals, either straight or mixed in a cocktail, at Mejico’s neon-lit tequila bar. Another great option is Mesa Verde, located in Curtin House.

+ mejico.com.au

+ mesaverde.net.au

Mejico

ABORIGINAL VICTORIA

Horizon, Bangarra

Daniel Mateo

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FIRST PEOPLES’ ART, MUSIC AND CULTURE IN MELBOURNE AND BEYOND.

MABO DAY MARKET

Join the Mabo Day celebrations at St Kilda Esplanade Market (2 June). As well as stalls, there’ll be performances by Indigenous artists demonstrating the breadth of their culture. Mabo Day, which falls on the following day, honours the legacy of Eddie Mabo, a Torres Strait Islander, whose tireless advocacy for land rights changed Australian history. Get to the market on the SkyBus Peninsula Express, which stops throughout Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs, from St Kilda to Frankston. + stkildaesplanademarket.com.au + skybus.com.au

HOME SPIRITS

Catch Bangarra’s latest dance performance, Horizon, at Arts Centre Melbourne (28 August –7 September). It’s the company’s first main-stage cross-cultural collaboration, with Bangarra alum Deborah Brown working with Māori choreographer Moss Te Ururangi Patterson in a piece about the space between the sea and sky. + bangarra.com.au

WYNDHAM WORKS

Check out the latest work of Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Wemba Wemba artist Tommy Day on Synnot Street in Werribee. His 41-metre-tall mural Mooroop Yarkeen, which translates to Spirit Dreaming, brightens an entire side of the Hunter Building with its depictions of wildlife, habitat and heritage, created after consultation with Bunurong Traditional Owners. + wyndham.vic.gov.au

WALK COUNTRY

Join Uncle Rick Nelson to discover more about the culture of the Djarra People, who live on the land around Castlemaine in west central Victoria. Following a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, Uncle Rick takes guests on his Waaman Tours to see scar trees, grinding grooves, water wells and other significant Indigenous sites.

+ waainc.com.au

Uncle Rick, Waaman Tours Stewart Carter

BLAK, LOUD AND PROUD

GUNDITJMARA AND WIRADJURI WRITER JAMES SAUNDERS REFLECTS ON NATIONAL NAIDOC WEEK AND HOW IT WILL BE OBSERVED IN MELBOURNE.

Koorie Heritage Trust Tourism Australia

Every July in Australia, communities come together to celebrate NAIDOC Week, an annual event that highlights the enduring strength and vitality of First Peoples culture. The theme for this year’s celebration is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.

Fire is a powerful symbol, representing a profound connection to the land, to each other and to the rich variety of traditions that contribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. People from all walks of life, including Australians and visitors, are encouraged to actively engage in the 2024 festivities (7–14 July).

HISTORY

On Australia Day in 1938, a group of protesters walked through the streets of Sydney. This march served as a prelude to a congress attended by around a thousand people. It was a significant civil rights gathering known as the Day of Mourning.

Following this event, various Aboriginal organisations along with federal and state governments and some church groups, showed their support for the establishment of NADOC, the National Aborigines Day Observance Committee.

In 1972 the Department for Aboriginal Affairs was established, resulting from the 1967 referendum and, in 1975, it was decided the festivities should extend from just one day of observance to span a whole week, starting from the first to the second Sunday in July.

As awareness grew regarding the unique cultural histories of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, NADOC became the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, now commonly referred to as NAIDOC. This new name became associated with the entire week of celebrations, not just the day itself.

CELEBRATE

To observe NAIDOC Week across Australia, NAIDOC celebrations are held in schools, workplaces, community organisations and more. Each capital city hosts a NAIDOC community event too.

These community events usually take place in the city centre or close by. In some cities, marches are held to highlight important issues, some set up stalls, stages and marquees, and the whole day is a celebration of culture. Traditionally, community celebrations were attended mainly by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, but over time this has changed. These days many more non-Indigenous people attend community days too.

Narrm has an extensive NAIDOC Week schedule. In 2024 this includes Vic NAIDOC community events, a special performance by Dan Sultan with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Arts Centre Melbourne, special events at the Wheeler Centre and a variety of NAIDOC in the City events presented by the City of Melbourne. + naidoc.org.au

Smoking Ceremony at Royal Botanic Gardens Artra Sartracom

ARTS AND CULTURE

Melbourne Out Loud, State Library Victoria Rennie Ellis. Courtesy of PHOTO 2024

EVERY SEASON IN MELBOURNE IS JAMPACKED WITH EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS NOT TO BE MISSED. HERE ARE THE LATEST…

ON THE STAGE

Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith has created a portrait of this country’s first female prime minister. In this Melbourne Theatre Company production, Justine Clarke takes the lead role in Julia (until 6 July). The company is then staging the Tennessee Williams classic, A Streetcar Named Desire (9 July – 17 August), with Nikki Shiels in the role of Blanche DuBois.

+ mtc.com.au

SURROUNDED BY GENIUS

Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and Virgin of the Rocks… You likely know them, but you’ll never have seen them like this. Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius is the newest exhibition at THE LUME Melbourne, where viewers are completely immersed in the artworks and able to see the Italian master’s incredible artistry in detail.

+ thelumemelbourne.com

MELBOURNE MOMENTS

He captured this city – its nightclubs and sporting grounds, superstars and socialites – from the 1970s through to the 90s. Photographer Rennie Ellis snapped thousands of images in his lifetime, and the State Library Victoria is showing 450 of them during Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the lens of Rennie Ellis, with a retro soundtrack by DJ MzRizk.

+ slv.vic.gov.au

INDIGENOUS EXCELLENCE

See the new original work of eight First Peoples artists and designers, each of whom was paired with an industry mentor, at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia The Country Road NGV First Nations Commissions: My Country will see these creators unveil their most ambitious and accomplished works to date.

+ ngv.melbourne

THE LUME Melbourne

TAKE A LOOK

Top Arts 2024 Phoebe Dunn

A FEAST

OF EXHIBITIONS

IN A RANGE OF

THEMES,

FROM OUR EMOTIONS TO THE DEPTHS OF WAR, CAN BE VIEWED AT MELBOURNE’S

GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS THIS SEASON.

BRIGHT SPARKS

Brighten up winter days with a visit to the Immigration Museum. Its new exhibition, Joy, sees seven acclaimed creatives, including Beci Orpin, Callum Preston and Nixi Killick, take over spaces to create an installation that brings together joyous moments and more reflective ones. It’s humour of another kind that can be found viewing Moombarra (29 June – 3 August) at Craft Victoria. In the Wadawurrung language, moombarra translates to “stick it up your arse”, and curator Kait James has invited six Indigenous artists to delve into the depths of Blak humour to confront issues of cultural appropriation, stereotyping and the pervasive impact of colonialism on their cultures.

+ museumsvictoria.com.au

+ craft.org.au

YOUNG TALENT TIME

The talents of tomorrow are on display now in two special annual exhibitions. Top Design 2024 (until 14 July), at Melbourne Museum, showcases the best projects from Victoria’s high schoolers studying design and technology. From more than a thousand applicants, 87 exhibits, including an affordable, functional prosthetic arm and a sustainably designed cafe, were chosen to be part of the show. Their peers who studied art have their work on display at Top Arts 2024 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

This popular exhibition has now been taking place for three decades.

+ museumsvictoria.com.au

+ ngv.melbourne

WORLD EVENTS

If you’re excited about the start of the Paris Olympics in July, head to the Hellenic Museum, where you can see Flame of Olympia. This exhibition is a rare display of Summer Games Olympic torches from the Berlin Games in 1936 to the 2016 Rio Games. Alternatively, for a world premiere of movement, emotion and colour, visit Beings, on now at ACMI (until 29 September). Kids will love this exhibition that combines dance and play, bringing captivating creatures to life on large-scale screens. Learn about the creative process and innovative technology behind the artworks too.

+ hellenic.org.au

+ acmi.net.au

Joy, Immigration Museum

BEYOND THE BOOKSHELF

TAKE

A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF STATE LIBRARY VICTORIA TO DISCOVER ITS SURPRISING COLLECTIONS.

MORE THAN MANUSCRIPTS

Typically, libraries house collections of books and related items but at State Library Victoria there’s a compilation of mementos and artefacts called realia. Ned Kelly’s armour is the most famous piece in this collection but many more objects have been saved because of their importance to Victorian history.

REALIA’S REALMS

Download the Wander app using the QR code at the Swanston Street entrance and discover more during your next State Library visit. Hear stories from the Library's past and learn about the realia collection which includes a 105-year-old biscuit, a hand grenade, a pair of nineteenthcentury roller skates and an antique dance card. There’s also Object X, a time capsule that can’t be opened until 2041.

WHY NOT WANDER?

The Library's digital tour offers the inside scoop on the fascinating history of State Library Victoria. All you need is your mobile phone and headphones. Also, check the website for upcoming Dome to Catacombs tours which take visitors into spaces that are usually closed to the public, such as the pendulum staircase and the old card catalogue rooms. + slv.vic.gov.au

Tim Draxl and Ashleigh Rubenach Ben King

STAR STRUCK

WONDERING WHAT THE ACTORS OF SUNSET BOULEVARD GET UP TO WHEN THEY’RE NOT ON STAGE? HERE, THEY GIVE US THEIR MELBOURNE GUIDES.

In Sunset Boulevard, emerging actor Ashleigh Rubenach plays Betty Schaefer. Here are her top Melbourne tips.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING TO DO IN MELBOURNE WHEN NOT ON STAGE?

I’ve been loving exploring Victoria’s hikes and beaches on my days off. Highlights thus far have been Wilsons Prom, Lorne and the Yarra Valley.

WHAT MAKES PERFORMING IN MELBOURNE SPECIAL?

Melbourne is a cultural city, and you can feel that everywhere you go. The CBD has a real sense of community when it comes to the arts. It’s lovely to be performing right around the corner from friends in Wicked or Chicago or Rocky Horror. The East End theatre district is thriving.

WHAT

CAN AUDIENCES EXPECT AT SUNSET BOULEVARD?

A lush score, stunning costumes, an enormous and elaborate set, and a classic Hollywood story. It’s my favourite of all Andrew Lloyd Webber’s shows. Drama, mystery, romance – it’s got it all.

Critically acclaimed actor Tim Draxl plays Joe Gillis opposite Sarah Brightman’s Norma Desmond. He’s no stranger to Melbourne stages and has plenty of favourite places in the city.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WINTER HERE?

The perfect opportunity to legitimise all the coats in my wardrobe that I never get to wear in Sydney.

AN UNMISSABLE EXPERIENCE FOR VISITORS?

One thing I always love doing when I’m in Melbourne is a visit to the National Gallery of Victoria followed by lunch in the Garden Restaurant.

COFFEE OR COCKTAIL?

For coffee, I’m at Lune. It would be rude to walk past and not go in. For cocktails, I’ll be at Gimlet. Both are in the city, dangerously close to where I’m staying.

WHERE ARE YOU SHOPPING?

Masons in the city. But don’t tell my partner. It ain’t cheap, so obviously I’m only shopping there when I need something for a special occasion.

Sunset Boulevard is playing at the Princess Theatre. + sunsetmusical.com.au

Santa Maria Novella, Royal Arcade

WINTER BRINGS A NEW WAVE OF STYLE TO MELBOURNE. WHETHER YOU’RE AFTER THE LATEST RUNWAY LOOKS OR HOT GEAR FOR HIKING AND SKIING, HERE’S WHERE TO GET THE LOOKS.

DESIGNER STYLE

Spend some time exploring the luxury designer boutiques on Collins Street. You’ll find Versace, Gucci, Prada and many other covetable labels at what locals call the Paris end of the street. At 80 Collins, you’ll find a clutch of high-end retailers, including Georg Jensen, Golden Goose and Saint Laurent. Australian designer Şener Besim’s eponymous store, displaying his handcrafted, minimalist jewellery and eyewear, is also here. + 80collins.com.au

HISTORY LESSON

Step back in time at Royal Arcade Built in 1870, it was Melbourne’s first arcade and retains many of its heritage features including glass skylights and Gog and Magog guarding Gaunt’s Clock. Stop by for a warming hot chocolate at Koko Black before checking out the retailers, including Santa Maria Novella, Paper Republic and Pieces of Eight, a gallery featuring contemporary Australian jewellers. + royalarcade.com.au

KIT TO COVET

There’s a corner of the city dedicated to kitting out adventure seekers in the best outdoor gear. Before heading off on your trip to regional Victoria, spend the morning browsing multiple quality outdoor apparel options – from snow gear at Auski in Hardware Lane to top Australian hiking brands at One Planet or Backpacking Light on Little Bourke Finish off your outdoor look with the perfect backpack at Crumpler for a bright and trendy touch.

80 Collins Image Play

MADE IN MELBOURNE

Haus of Dizzy

STEP AWAY FROM AVERAGE FASHION, AND INSTEAD KIT YOURSELF OUT IN SOME FINE LOCAL DESIGN. THESE THREE MELBOURNE BRANDS OFFER A FRESH TAKE.

UNDER COVER

If you’re tired of bra straps that cut into your shoulders and undies that give you a wedgie, check out Nala. Co-founder Chloe de Winter started the brand when she couldn’t find bras and knickers that were comfy, affordable and sustainable. Plus, the brand is inclusive, creating underwear in sizes XXS to 5XL, as well as gender-neutral products.

When it comes to sustainability, the undergarments are made from silky, breathable bio-based nylon that’s made from regenerative material like corn or recycled nylon mesh. All that, and they look sexy, too. At the moment, Nala is only available online. + wearnala.com

BLING FLING

Since 2014, Wiradjuri woman Kristy Dickinson has been making some of Melbourne’s coolest accessories. Her label, Haus of Dizzy, is known for its empowering jewellery celebrating Indigenous culture.

The bold acrylic earrings, necklaces and hair clips feature the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags, LGBTQIA pride designs and political messages. Oh, and hearts. Lots of hearts. Whether you choose ‘White Australia Has

a Black History’ drop earrings or a ‘Superstar Guitar’ charm necklace, you’ll be in good company. Celebs including Lauryn Hill, Drew Barrymore and Miranda Tapsell have been spotted wearing Kristy’s designs. Plus, you can now view the collection in a new Fitzroy store.

+ hausofdizzy.com

VINTAGE FITS

There’s a classic style to Nami Nguyen’s designs. His recently launched Namiman label features high-waisted, tailored trousers, baseball-style shirts and plaid jackets that look as though

they were found in a stash of pristine men’s vintage clothing.

His interest in fashion began while he watched his grandfather work as a tailor, but after spending his adult life working in retail, Nami had a clear vision for the brand.

“[It] draws inspiration from many things,” he told Esquire. “Time-worn pieces, movies, landscapes, as well as roads less travelled.” Namiman is available from Masons + namiman.com.au + masonsofficial.com

Namiman

NIGHT MARKET NIRVANA

FRESHEST LOCAL PRODUCE, UNIQUE RETAIL STALLS AND THE LEGENDARY NIGHT MARKET!

WINTER NIGHT DELIGHTS

Layer up in your best winter gear and head to Queen Victoria Market on Wednesday evenings (5 June – 28 August) for the delightful Winter Night Market. This is your chance to sample Melbourne’s best street food, enjoy some great live entertainment and sip drinks made by local brewers and distillers.

TASTY TOUR

Join the Ultimate Foodie Tour, a culinary journey through Queen Vic Market. Sample excellent morsels – the freshest seafood, char-grilled kangaroo, delicious artisan cheese, exquisite chocolate, melt-in-the-

mouth pastries, gelato and more – as your small group explores the stalls, led by an expert guide. Tours are held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10am. Bookings essential.

SHOP ’TIL YOU DROP

Queen Victoria Market is Melbourne’s favourite and most authentic marketplace, with more than 145 years of history. Best known for its huge selection of fresh and specialty produce in the Dairy Produce Hall,

you can also find clothing, homewares, souvenirs and so much more as you wander along String Bean Alley’s stalls of local makers and creators.

+ qvm.com.au

+ thenightmarket.com.au

SMOOTH SHOPPING

NO NEED TO TACKLE THE TRAFFIC – THESE TOP SHOPPING SPOTS ARE ALL ACCESSIBLE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

STYLE CENTRAL

Hop on a Frankston line train at Flinders Street Station and, in just five stops, you’ll be a few minutes’ walk from High Street Armadale, one of Melbourne’s most stylish shopping strips. As well as the sharpest fashion, you’ll find antique stores, homewares and fantastic eateries and wine bars. + highstreetarmadale.com.au

VINTAGE VIBES

More people everywhere are choosing not to buy new clothes, instead hitting op shops, resale outlets and vintage stores. If that sounds like you, jump on the number 19 tram and head to Sydney Road, Brunswick. Here you’ll find Mutual Muse, Goodbuys, Vintage Threads, a massive Savers and heaps more. + sydneyroad.com.au

KEEP IT TOGETHER

Take the train to Melbourne Central and emerge into a world of shopping. Among the cool boutiques, you’ll find Rains, which specialises in stylish

clothing for wet and cold weather. Follow the pedestrian bridge to Emporium Melbourne situated in the heart of Melbourne. Check out Viktoria & Woods for excellent jackets, trenches and blazers.

+ melbournecentral.com.au

+ emporiummelbourne.com.au

ECLECTIC ERA

The number 86 tram runs along several great shopping strips, including Northcote High Street. But get off earlier to explore Fitzroy’s

Gertrude Street with its independent boutiques and chic eateries. If you’ve got your comfortable walking shoes on, go around the corner to Smith Street for vintage stores and more. Public transport makes your day a breeze with all day travel on any train, tram or bus for one low fare. Hop on to the PTV app or website to plan your shopping journey.

+ peopleofgertrudestreet.com.au

+ ptv.vic.gov.au

Gertrude Street Josie Withers

SHOP. DINE. PLAY.

Melbourne’s city within a city, QV boasts a labyrinth of hidden laneways housing iconic international brands and Australian designers. Soak up the bustling local dining culture or get your game on with billiards, karaoke, bowling and more.

QV.COM.AU

CORNER LONSDALE AND SWANSTON STREET, MELBOURNE

Anine Bing

Sura Korean BBQ

FAMILY FUN

T.rex Melbourne Museum Scott Foust

NEED SOME INSIDE FUN TO KEEP THE KIDS OCCUPIED? HERE ARE THE SEASON’S BEST ATTRACTIONS.

BIG WHEELS

Here’s your chance to take them to see their favourite Hot Wheels trucks, including Mega Wrex and Tiger Shark, come to life at the incredible Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party (10–11 August) at Rod Laver Arena. There are special kids’ prices for tickets, too.

+ hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com

ANCIENT BONES

Horridus, the fossilised triceratops skeleton, caused quite a stir when it arrived in Australia, and now it’s being joined by another fearsome creature. Victoria is one of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossils in the world, and she arrives at Melbourne Museum on 28 June.

+ museumsvictoria.com.au

CUTE AS

Made up of uniquely themed rooms and interactive exhibits, the Unko Museum is dedicated to the poop emoji. It is super cute in the way only Japanese kawaii experiences can be. Bring your phone fully charged because this is all about taking selfies in the one-of-a-kind rooms.

+ unkomuseumexperience.com

GAME DAY

Teenagers will appreciate a few hours at Fortress, where there are hundreds of games and interactive devices. They can play PC games, including Fortnite and Valorant, in the Telstra Lounge, or go old-school in the arcade. There’s also a restaurant and bar where you can escape to while they get gaming.

+ fortress.games

Unko Museum

Fortress

WINTER’S TOP 10

Old Melbourne Gaol Simon Fazio

RIGHT ACROSS MELBOURNE, THERE ARE ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES TO KEEP CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ENTERTAINED. THEY MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING, TOO.

1. READING ON COUNTRY

Indigenous artists were asked to contribute to every touchpoint at narrm ngarrgu, the new library at Queen Victoria Market, including the children’s library, with its play area, storytime, craft sessions, book club and more.

+ melbourne.vic.gov.au

2. ANIMAL PLANET

Everyone loves Melbourne Museum, where there are live insects, dinosaurs and an ancient forest. For babies to five-year-olds, there’s also the Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery with lots of fun learning activities.

+ museumsvictoria.com.au

3. SCARE FACTOR

Explore Melbourne’s darker side on a spine-tingling tour of Old Melbourne Gaol. On the after-dark ‘Ghosts? What Ghosts?!’ experience, you’ll hear the chilling stories of prisoners and experience the haunted cells and corridors with expert guides.

+ oldmelbournegaol.com.au

4. TOP OF THE WORLD

Reach lofty heights at Melbourne Skydeck’s The Edge, a glass box suspended 300 metres above the city streets. While you’re at the southern hemisphere’s highest observation deck, don’t miss out on the state-ofthe-art virtual and augmented reality technology on offer.

+ melbourneskydeck.com.au

5. CLASSICAL KIDS

Introduce the kids to classical music with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Classic Kids: Peter and the Wolf (10 August). During this 50-minute experience, puppets are introduced to tell the story of Peter and his animals.

+ mso.com.au

Melbourne Skydeck

Pauline Gandel Children's Gallery Joel Checkley

WINTER’S TOP 10 CONTINUED

6. HISTORY REWRITTEN

Teenage girls will love SIX the Musical (from 3 August) at Comedy Theatre, the rock-and-roll retelling of the lives of the Tudor wives. This sensational show has won 35 major international awards, including two prestigious Tony Awards and a Grammy nomination. + sixthemusical.com.au

7. BY THE BOOK

The Pauline Gandel Children’s Corner at State Library Victoria features a two-storey castle and 4,000 books. Its Storytime sessions showcase classic stories and new works from Victorian and Australian authors, along with your favourite songs and rhymes.

+ slv.vic.gov.au

8. UNDERWATER WONDER

At SEA LIFE Melbourne, check out the new Night on the Reef exhibit, as well as penguins, seahorses and a saltwater crocodile measuring more than five metres long. + visitsealife.com

9. FREE STUFF

If you’re new to Melbourne, jump on the free City Circle Tram. An audio commentary on these heritage W-class trams provides information on city landmarks.

+ ptv.vic.gov.au

10. FILM BUFFS

Another great free activity is ACMI’s Story of the Moving Image exhibition. ACMI is the national museum of screen culture. Spend a few hours navigating the world of film, TV, art and videogames, in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. + acmi.net.au ■

SEA LIFE Melbourne Alex Frank

Beings at ACMI Eugene Hyland

Tram: Route 48 or 75 to stop 12 or 70 to stop 7C

Train: To Richmond or Jolimont Station

MCG Tours: Daily, every 30 minutes between 10am and 3pm

Australian Sports Museum: Daily from 10am to 5pm

Alternative trading hours apply on event days. Please visit our website for information.

Gate 3, MCG, Yarra Park, Jolimont t: 03 9657 8879

w: mcg.org.au

MCG AND AUSTRALIAN SPORTS MUSEUM

STEP ON THE HALLOWED TURF OF THE MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND AND DISCOVER A WORLDCLASS STADIUM WHERE SPORTING HISTORY IS CREATED.

FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GREATNESS ON AN MCG TOUR

Ever wanted to see behind the scenes at the mighty MCG?

Experience an unforgettable MCG Tour to discover some of the most significant pieces of MCG history and go behind the scenes. Led by an MCG Tour guide, you’ll have the opportunity

to soak up the atmosphere of the player change rooms, the Ron Casey Media Centre and members-only areas of the Melbourne Cricket Club, such as the Long Room. You’ll then be guided to the sidelines of the hallowed arena. This is an unrivalled history lesson and an unforgettable experience. Discover what makes the 'G so legendary on an MCG Tour.

DISCOVER MORE AT THE AUSTRALIAN SPORTS MUSEUM

The Australian Sports Museum is no ordinary museum. It's an exciting, interactive experience where the latest technology has been used to create immersive exhibits and galleries. Take in historic and quirky facts and

w: australiansportsmuseum.org.au Find us on:

tales about sports, including cricket, Australian Rules football and the Olympic Games. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in important sporting moments with the largest collection of grassroots to elite sporting memorabilia.

GAME ON!

Test your own skills in the reimagined Game On! interactive space. Collect your sweatband, unleash your competitive side and you're ready to go!

BACK FROM EXTINCTION

YOU WON’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES. NO, THAT’S NOT JURASSIC PARK –YOU’VE ARRIVED AT ONE OF VICTORIA’S ZOOS.

DINOSAURS ALIVE

This season, across all four zoos –Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Kyabram Fauna Park – you won’t believe your eyes. Dinos at the Zoo (until 14 July) has arrived, and there are 62 animatronic reptiles from times long gone to be seen. Is that a Brontosaurus eating leaves from the top of a gum tree? It certainly is.

FROM THE PAST

This unique walk-through experience takes visitors back 65 million years, when ferocious creatures like Tyrannosaurus rex and gentle giants such as Diplodocus roamed the earth. They even lived on what is now Australia, although some of these dinosaurs were quite unusual. For example, Minmi paravertebra walked on all four legs and was covered in protective, bony armour.

Dinos at the Zoo

GET CLOSE

You can get your photo taken with T. rex, excavate fossils or wander through the bushland to see dinosaurs and other megafauna thought to have been lost forever. It’s the perfect reminder that animal species can be living on earth one minute and gone

the next. Zoos Victoria is currently fighting the extinction of 27 species of native wildlife, including the mountain pygmy-possum, swift parrot and giant burrowing frog, and every visit you make helps support the work of its scientists.

+ zoo.org.au

WERRIBEE OPEN RANGE ZOO

Your adventure starts right here at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Experience an African adventure on more than 200 hectares just 30 minutes from Melbourne! Hop on a Safari Tour and see rhinos, giraffes, zebra, ostriches, antelope and bison on the Savannah. You'll find kangaroos, emus, koalas and more along the Australian Trail. Walk along the African River Trail and spot gorillas, cheetahs and hippos.

Kids visit free on weekends, Victorian public holidays and school holidays.

Train & Bus: Werribee Line to Werribee station then Bus 439 to Werribee South Open: Daily, 9am to 5pm K Road, Werribee t: 1300 966 784 w: zoo.org.au/werribee Find us on:

Immerse

FUN UNLIMITED

ENTERTAINMENT AND RETAIL HOT SPOT, THE DISTRICT DOCKLANDS, NOW HAS EVEN MORE ATTRACTIONS FOR EVERYONE.

TOP TALENT

The NBA Exhibition is on now. There are 20 themed sections, tonnes of memorabilia, as well as a VR zone, AR photo booth and basketball arcade games. No one knows who they are, but Banksy is one of the biggest names in the art world. Now, 150 of the graffiti artist’s pieces will be on show at The District Docklands as part of The Art of Banksy: Without Limits. There’ll be murals, installations, sculptures and photos to check out.

CANTONESE CREATIONS

Traditional yum cha meets modern elegance at Bright Palace. This culinary haven invites you to embark on a journey of Chinese flavours and fusion dishes surrounded by a sleek and modern design. From stylish lighting fixtures to chic furnishings, every detail is carefully

curated to create a visually appealing atmosphere that matches the artistry of flavours from the kitchen.

YOUNG FUN

Immerse yourself in multi-sensory entertainment, utilising immersive light, sound and movement inside a naked-eye 3D environment at Dreamskape. Play, watch and interact with these future technologies in a new world of reality. Younger kids who are into online game Rainbow Friends will love Rainbow Buddies, an immersive, interactive space game. The District Docklands is just 20 minutes from Melbourne Airport, has great value all-day parking and is located within the free tram zone.

+ thedistrictdocklands.com.au

The NBA Exhibition

MELBOURNE’S NEIGHBOURHOODS

Hopper Joint Annika Kafcaloudi

TAKE TIME OUT TO EXPLORE SOME OF THE DIVERSE NEIGHBOURHOODS AND DISCOVER ALL OF MELBOURNE’S PERSONALITIES.

HEAD NORTH

Go behind the walls of what was once one of Australia’s harshest prisons. Explore its haunted cells and learn about the notorious inmates of Pentridge Prison on a guided tour. Do a night tour between Thursday and Saturday then have dinner at nearby North & Common. + pentridgeprisontours.com.au + northandcommon.com.au

FARMING THE EAST

Back in the 1950s, this was Australia’s first feedlot dairy farm. Now, historical Chesterfield Farm in Scoresby is run as an educational animal farm. Take the kids for tractor rides, see cows being milked, watch the sheepdogs at work, and meet all the farm animals, including the goats and camels.

+ chesterfieldfarm.com.au

SOUTHERN CHARM

Prahran is a shopper’s paradise, with vintage stores lining its section of Chapel Street and indie boutiques on Greville Street. When you’re done, head to Hopper Joint, a new Sri Lankan diner where the hopper station is the restaurant’s centrepiece and antique bells are rung for service. Just arrived and heading bayside? SkyBus Peninsula Express has convenient stops throughout Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs, from St Kilda to Frankston.

+ hopperjointmelbourne.com.au

+ skybus.com.au

THE WILD WEST

If you thought Preston’s Moon Dog World was massive, check out the brewer’s new opening, Moon Dog Wild West in Footscray. Spread over three levels, it has a honky tonk bar, Blues Brothers-inspired music stage, bucking bull, rooftop bar, great food and more than a hundred taps pouring the good stuff.

+ moondog.com.au/wild-west

Pentridge Prison Brent Lukey

Williamstown

Hurstbridge

NEIGHBOURHOODS

ESSENDON 1

A 17-minute trip on the Craigieburn train line will take you from the city to this suburb in the northwest. From there jump on the number 57 tram (also available from the city) to get to Essendon Fields. Here, there’s plenty of entertainment for the whole family, from a Bounce Inc trampoline gym to iFly indoor skydiving. Grab lunch at the cafe in LaManna Fresh then shop for a bargain in the DFO outlet stores before heading back to the city.

Warrandyte

PRESTON 2

Belgrave and Lilydale Lines Alamein Line Glen Waverley Line

There are a few ways to get to Preston in the city’s north. The most direct is on the Mernda line to Preston Station, where you’ll alight on the doorstep of Preston Market. But your best bet is to catch the number 86 tram from the city and go shopping on High Street or hunting in vintage stores and antique shops along Plenty Road before hunkering down in one of the bars near the corner of Tyler Street. Hardout is a good choice.

All day travel on any train, tram or bus in Victoria for one low fare. Plan your journey on the PTV app or online.

Cranbourne and Pakenham Lines

A DAY FOR EVERYONE

THERE’S NO REASON FOR THE KIDS TO SAY THEY’RE BORED. RIGHT ACROSS MELBOURNE, THERE ARE ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS TO KEEP ALL OF YOU ENTERTAINED.

SINK THAT PUTT

Get into the swing of things at Holey Moley, which has indoor mini-golf ranges right across Melbourne, including Eastland, Frankston and the CBD. During the day, you can bring the kids along to test their skills and play the arcade games. If you’re spending time in Brunswick, head to What the Putt, with its 27-hole course.

+ holeymoley.com.au

+ whattheputt.com.au

CHECK INTO FUN

Part of Chadstone’s Social Quarter, Hijinx Hotel is a series of challenge rooms for groups of all sizes, from two to six players. Work together to complete challenges and score as many points as possible. You’ll encounter ball pits, giant pianos and upside-down corridors along the way.

+ hijinxhotel.com.au

FAST MOVES

It’s like go-karting but so much more. BattleKart combines karting, video games and augmented reality. With each ‘ride’, the track or game changes then you throttle your way through in an attempt to win. It’s almost like being in a video game, as you challenge yourself and other racers.

+ battlekart.com

FULL STEAM AHEAD

From Belgrave Station at the base of the Dandenong Ranges, set out on Puffing Billy, a century-old steam train that travels through the beautiful temperate rainforest. While you’re in the area, Treetops Adventure offers kids the chance the climb high on ropes courses, aerial obstacles and ziplines among the mountain ash trees.

+ puffingbilly.com.au

+ treetopsadventure.com.au

TAKE A SPIN

It’s Melbourne’s original theme park with the big smile entry. Head to St Kilda’s Luna Park for tonnes of fairground fun. Little kids can ride the Carousel and Happy Swing, while teenagers will love scaring themselves on the Super Nova and Ghost Train.

+ lunapark.com.au

GET CREATIVE

At LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre, take on building challenges, make your own minifigure, hit the rides and games, or take a seat in the 4D cinema. At MoPA: Museum of Play and Art, kids aged one to seven will find plenty to keep them amused at this indoor play space dedicated to play-based learning.

+ legolanddiscoverycentre.com

+ museumofplayandart.com.au

Treetops Adventure

Battlekart

NOW, LISTEN UP

Baker Boy at Hotel Esplanade Michael Woods

Eleanor Dixon in the Gershwin Room at the Espy TJ Garvie

LIVE MUSIC FANS HAVE PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR HEARING INTERNATIONAL ACTS AND LOCAL UP-AND-COMERS AT VENUES ACROSS ST KILDA.

LIVE MUSIC PRECINCT

Punk rock arrived in St Kilda in the 1970s and since then the bayside suburb has attracted bands and music fans to its many venues. The scene is such an important part of the history and culture of the area that, last year, it was declared Victoria’s first Live Music Precinct. If you’re checking it out for the first time, head to the atmospheric George Lane. Located under the legendary Crystal Ballroom, where St Kilda’s live music scene began, it hosts local and international bands spanning genres from alt-country to psych-rock.

PUB PROMISE

Two of the most popular venues in St Kilda revolve around the pub. The first is the Hotel Esplanade, which you’ll hear locals refer to as the Espy. Although completely renovated in 2018, it retains its original band venue, the Gershwin Room. It’s a great spot to watch some of Australia’s more established bands or dance to DJs. The Espy Basement is the place to see newcomers and old pros, often for free. The Prince Bandroom, above the pub of the same name, hosts rock, electronica and just about every other type of contemporary music going.

SOUNDS GREAT

Some of the biggest touring bands (and comedians) play the stage at the huge Palais Theatre. It’s been a centre of entertainment in St Kilda for more than a century and its grand features have been carefully preserved. Catch Boney M there on the band’s farewell tour (15–16 June, 27 June, 2 July) and the Wiggles (5–7 July) this winter. Another mainly seated but much smaller spot is Memo Music Hall. It features bands and artists playing blues, acoustic, jazz, rock and tribute shows. Coming up is Yacht Rock Revival (8 June) and the Stranglers’ Hugh Cornwall (4 August).

+ portphillip.vic.gov.au

Palais Theatre MartyTurnbull

George Lane

HUME’S WINTER WARMERS

JUST 25 KILOMETRES FROM MELBOURNE'S CBD AND ON MELBOURNE AIRPORT'S DOORSTEP, HUME CITY IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO SETTLE IN FOR A WINTER WEEKEND ESCAPE.

WINTER FLAVOURS

Hume City is home to the closest wineries to Melbourne's CBD, including the picturesque Marnong Estate, and rustic Arundel Farm Estate.

With rolling views of the Macedon Ranges, Marnong Estate in Mickleham is the perfect destination to raise a glass. Enjoy wine tasting at the cellar door, fine Italian cuisine at La Vètta restaurant, or a more relaxed

ambience at Cucina 3064. Settle in for the night and enjoy a stay in one of the luxury cabins.

Arundel Farm Estate in Keilor is a family-owned, boutique vineyard. Taste shiraz, viognier, marsanne and sauvignon blanc at the cellar door surrounded by century-old trees, beautiful private vineyards and match your favourite drops to pizza from the wood-fired oven.

Three Blue Ducks

ROLLING WAVES

If you’ve ever wanted to try surfing, head to URBNSURF in Tullamarine, Australia’s first surf park. There are surfing experiences to suit all ages and abilities. Afterwards, relax and unwind in one of the hot tubs, then head to Three Blue Ducks and cosy up to a meal by the fireplace. Savour the fresh, locally sourced produce and smoky flavours all while soaking up the views of the lagoon.

LEGENDS LIVE ON

Meet equine royalty at Living Legends, where the retired residents are some of the world’s finest racehorses. Champions have been bred, raised and trained here since the 1840s. They now enjoy a quieter life at the tranquil grounds nestled within Woodlands Historic Park in Greenvale.

Observe wild kangaroos in their natural habitat or take in the breathtaking views of the city from Gellibrand Hill, then head back to the Black Caviar Cafe and get cosy fireside while enjoying a delicious Devonshire tea spread. The cafe is located in the Woodlands Historic Homestead (established in 1843), which showcases an extensive art collection, artifacts and horse racing memorabilia.

If you have little kids, Animal Land Children's Farm in Diggers Rest offers an authentic farming experience for families. Meet and feed the cows, horses, ducks and more, and experience farm life first-hand.

COSY STAYS

Stay a while and see even more of Hume city. For a luxury experience complete with roaming cattle, alpacas and stunning landscapes, unwind in one of the sumptuous cabins at Marnong Estate

If sleek and contemporary is more your style, PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport features spacious rooms, a heated indoor pool and on-site dining.

Alternatively, Quest Melbourne Airport has apartments ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms, each with plenty of space to stay and play.

For more inspiration on things to do, places to see and where to eat in Hume City, follow instagram.com/discoverhume

MARKET DRIVEN

CHECK OUT MELBOURNE’S FINEST PLACES FOR FARM-FRESH PRODUCE AND THE CREATIONS OF THE CITY’S CRAFTSPEOPLE AND MAKERS.

Rose Street Market

FRESH IS BEST

Ready to pack a picnic basket? South Melbourne Market has a huge selection of excellent produce. Buy a block of artisanal cheese from K-SEIN Fromagerie, olives and serrano ham from Spanish deli La Central, oysters from Gem Pier Seafood and sourdough from Cobb Lane Bakery and you’ve made yourself a feast – no cooking required. Another great spot for exploring is Prahran Market. Sure, you can stock up on tasty deli items and produce, but be sure to stop by Market Lane Coffee and Maker & Monger, for incredible cheese toasties, and fuel up for a shopping blitz on Chapel Street. + southmelbournemarket.com.au + prahranmarket.com.au

NORTHERN GEMS

Each weekend, the Rose Street Market features stalls laden with all the things you’ll want to take home with you. A piece of art, some new earrings and carefully crafted homewares are all on offer, and if you can’t find exactly what you want, speak to a maker and commission something special. There’s a real community spirit on show at Preston Market. Find all sorts of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, cheese, bread and more at the stalls, but there’s also incredible street food from all around the world. Try PAM Lane for local makers, coffee roasters and artists.

+ rosestmarket.com.au + prestonmarket.com.au

FINDERS KEEPERS

Every Sunday, the waterfront is taken over by stalls for the St Kilda Esplanade Market. Since 1970, it has been serving up high-quality creations by some of Melbourne’s best artists and craftspeople. If you’re looking for innovative fashion, a unique gift or handmade candles and soaps, you’ll find it all here. Arrive early at Camberwell Sunday Market to find a treasure among the stalls of old records, vintage fashions and other ephemera, much of it from another era.

+ stkildaesplanademarket.com.au + camberwellsundaymarket.org

St Kilda Esplanade Market Josie Withers

Prahran Market Josie Withers

GO WEST

HEAD TO THE BAYSIDE SUBURB OF WILLIAMSTOWN, JUST A STONE’S THROW FROM MELBOURNE’S CBD, FOR A DAY OF HISTORY, GOOD FOOD AND FUN.

ACROSS THE BAY

It’s easy to get to Williamstown –it was the original capital of Victoria when it was called King William’s Town – on the train from the city, but the far more scenic way to arrive is on the Melbourne River Cruises ferry service from Southbank Promenade. Once you’re there you can visit the

HMAS Castlemaine museum, or go for a walk along the waterfront for amazing views of the city. Another great place for a stroll is Williamstown Botanic Gardens, one of Victoria’s first public gardens. It has a formal palm avenue, an Edwardian ornamental fountain, and a number of rare and significant trees.

Hobsons Bay Elliott Heslop

WATERFRONT WORKS

Head to Seaworks maritime precinct to check out the Maritime Museum. Here, there’s an impressive collection of artefacts, models and bells showcasing the stories of Melbourne’s history on the water. There are often other events on here. For instance, Spoken (14–16 June) celebrates the craft and culture of handmade bicycles. Come along and chat with people who are dedicated to their craft. If you love hitting markets, Williamstown Farmers

Market takes place on the second Sunday of the month and Williamstown Craft Market pops up on the third Sunday of the month. Otherwise, check out the boutiques and stores along Ferguson Street and Douglas Parade.

NIGHT MOVES

As the sun sets, grab a glass and some antipasto at Lower Westside Wine Bar Need to warm up? Get cosy by the fire at Hobsons Bay Hotel. This is a great spot for dinner, with an excellent menu

of pub classics like chicken parma and bangers and mash. Head up to the rooftop bar, protected from the elements at this time of year, to see the city lights. Explore Williamstown by lamplight with Lantern Ghost Tours, where you’ll head down hidden laneways, visit Victoria’s oldest morgue and find a forgotten burial ground. Before the night ends, drop by Peachy Keen, a unique cocktail bar created from a shipping container.

+ experiencehobsonsbay.com.au

Puppet Mayhem at Seaworks

ST KILDA ESPLANADE MARKET

Discover handmade crafts and local food products at Melbourne’s only outdoor market by the bay. Set against the backdrop of St Kilda Beach, this vibrant makers’ market features unique artwork, jewellery, fashion and accessories, beauty products, delicious food and so much more.

The market is a great day out with family, friends and fur babies.

Start right here when you’re exploring St Kilda!

Handmade, unique, local… That’s your Esplanade Market.

Tram: Route 3a, 16 or 96 to stop 138

Open: Every Sunday from 10am to 4pm

Upper Esplanade, St Kilda

t: 03 9209 6777

w: stkildaesplanademarket.com.au

Find us on:

THE ROSE ST. ARTISTS’ MARKET

In the heart of eclectic Fitzroy, the Rose Street Artists’ Market is packed to the rafters with always original art and design.

This season, we’re showcasing more than 200 new and exciting local makers, giving you the opportunity to peruse numerous stall displays, collect, source and commission unique handmade works, and meet, greet and speak with artists and designers in person.

If you’re a lover of all things handmade then look no further. Come along and experience it for yourself.

Tram: Tram 11 to Stop 17 or tram 96 to Stop 14

Open: Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm

60 Rose Street, Fitzroy

t: 0414 803 228

w: rosestmarket.com.au

Find us on:

FAMILY DAY OUT

HEAD TO THE INNER

WEST SUBURB OF SPOTSWOOD FOR FUN AND FOOD TO PLEASE EVERYONE.

LOOK AND LEARN

Woken up to an overcast day? Visit Scienceworks, an easy stroll from Spotswood train station and the perfect place to keep the whole family entertained. The interactive exhibitions, like Air Playground, let kids get hands on and have fun while they’re learning. Let them stretch their mind and their muscles at Sportsworks, where they can show off their excellent sport skills as they face off against some of Australia’s top athletes. Check out the electrifying Glow Show at the Lightning Theatre or discover the beauty of the universe at the Planetarium. There are displays and activities for all ages. + museumsvictoria.com.au

FOODIES’ PLAYGROUND

As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, Melbourne’s largest food precinct transforms into a winter wonderland. At Grazeland, warm up with a mulled wine by the fire and spoil your tastebuds with cuisines from around the world. All tastes are catered for by more than 50 vendors. Hungry for a hotdog? Craving a Sri Lankan curry? Find these and so much more, including family favourites like burgers, crepes and fish and chips. Relax with a drink from one of the bars, listen to live entertainment and enjoy the views of the CBD skyline while the kids have fun in the Jungle Hangout with free facepainting, funky monkey bars and arcade games. + grazeland.melbourne

Scienceworks

Grazeland

VICTORIA’S REGIONS

Mount Buller Tony Harrington

IN EVERY POCKET OF VICTORIA, THERE’S A WINTER FESTIVAL TO WARM THE HEART. THEY LIGHT UP THE NIGHT, BRING THE BEATS AND GET THE WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED.

THRILLS AND CHILLS

Head for the hills and family fun in the snowy town of Mount Buller

The mountain resort community is celebrating 100 years of skiing in 2024 with a long weekend of festivities including fireworks, facepainting and the chance to meet Australia’s Olympic winter athletes (8–10 June). ♦

On the Mornington Peninsula, follow a woodland trail transformed by

colourful lights and discover magical creatures like unicorns and hippogriffs at the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience ♦ Rug up and head to Maydale Reserve for Smoke on the Water Horsham (9 June). There’ll be plenty for everyone to do, from selfguided tours of the historical reserve to kids’ games and activities.

+ mtbuller.com.au

+ hpforbiddenforestexperience.com

+ visitgrampians.com.au

AFTER DARK

Celebrate the winter solstice at Mansfield Lantern Festival (22 June) in Victoria's High Country. The parade of lanterns arrives in the centre of town where there will be performances, music, open fires, market stalls and

food and wine. ♦ An immersive sound and light trail through the bush near Horseshoe Lagoon is the highlight of Moama Lights (5–28 July). There’s also an ice rink and American-style beer garden. ♦ Rosalind Park will be transformed during Electric Wonderland (28 June – 14 July).

A series of colourful installations, including one made of 600 lanterns, will celebrate the city’s many stories.

+ mansfieldlanternfestival.com.au

+ visitthemurray.com.au

+ electricwonderland.com.au

BY THE SEA

They migrate along the Victorian coast from May to November, but the community of Phillip Island celebrates huge marine mammals during Island Whale Festival (5–7 July). There’ll be whale-watching cruises, art installations, kids’ activities and more. ♦ Celebrate 30 years of music by the ocean at Inverloch Jazz Festival (2–4 August). At venues across the town, more than 40 bands and 150 musicians will play all styles of the genre. ♦ Music, feasting and fire are all part of WinterWild (31 August) at Apollo Bay. Dress up and dance into the night or jump into an ice bath with new friends at this festival with a difference.

+ islandwhales.com.au

+ inverlochjazzfestival.com

+ winterwild.com.au

Moama Lights Keith McInnes

VICTORIA

For more information within Victoria, visit the local Visitor Information Centre.

+

GEELONG 1

In just over an hour, a V/Line train will whisk you to Victoria’s second largest city, Geelong. Enjoy walks along the beach, get cosy in wine bars tasting the local pinot noir and treat yourself to an excellent meal at one of the exciting restaurants in town, like French bistro La Cachette.

+ visitgeelongbellarine.com.au

CASTLEMAINE 2

This former gold town with a bustling artistic community still features the heritage buildings from that era. Fossick for vintage finds at The Mill and on a clear day, kids might like to visit the Botanical Gardens awardwinning children's playground.

+ bendigoregion.com.au

BEECHWORTH 3

Book a couple of days in beautiful Beechworth. Its main street has the hallmarks of its gold-mining history. Hire a bike to visit local wineries or pedal along the rail trail towards Yackandandah.

+ explorebeechworth.com.au

All day travel on any train, tram or bus in Victoria for one low fare. Plan your journey on the PTV app or online.

+ ptv.vic.gov.au

REJUVENATION STATION

FOR THOSE SEEKING SOME EXTRA PAMPERING ON COLD DAYS, WE’VE GOT GOOD NEWS. THERE ARE HOT MINERAL BATHS, DAY SPAS AND WELLNESS RETREATS RIGHT ACROSS VICTORIA.

SOAK IN STYLE

People first came here for the healing waters in 1895. Now the Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa combines contemporary style and old-fashioned healing. Bathe in the waters, book a massage or body treatment, or stay for one of the Wellness Weekends. ♦ You can’t avoid the stunning views of the Gippsland Lakes from the thermal pools at Metung Hot Springs, where you can soak away your cares in three

zones. ♦ Arrive early at luxurious Alba to enjoy the 22 bathing pools set in manicured gardens. The spa here is equally beautiful, so book a hammam scrub or a cryo facial to leave feeling like a new person. + hepburnbathhouse.com

+ metunghotsprings.com

+ albathermalsprings.com.au

STAY LONGER

On the edge of Daylesford, Lake House is one of the premier

destination restaurants and retreats in the country. Add an extra element to your stay with a booking in the luxurious treetop spa. ♦ A couple of days at Warrnambool’s Deep Blue Hotel & Hot Springs, where you can spend time bathing, in the infrared sauna, undergoing salt therapy and having spa treatments, will have you in an epic state of relaxation. ♦ There are just seven suites at Lon Retreat on the Bellarine Peninsula. Water here comes from the natural spring

beneath the earth and a bathing routine is an important part of each spa ritual.

+ lakehouse.com.au

+ thedeepblue.com.au

+ lonretreat.com.au

COLLECT YOURSELF

Are you in Japan or the Victorian countryside? At Shizuka Ryokan in Hepburn Springs, you can enjoy traditional Japanese bathing rituals, spa treatments and yoga in the

tranquil surroundings. Visit in the late afternoon and stay for dinner at the omakase restaurant. ♦ No visit to the Mornington Peninsula is complete without a relaxed stop at Peninsula Hot Springs. It’s completely serene in the early morning before most people get going, but you can also book moonlit bathing for a completely different experience.

+ shizuka.com.au

+ peninsulahotsprings.com

Peninsula Hot Springs Ben Savage

Lon Retreat

Shizuka Ryokan

SMALL PACKAGES

THE BEST WAY TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A PLACE AND MEET THE LOCALS? HEAD FOR ONE OF VICTORIA’S UNIQUE AND CHARACTERFUL TINY TOWNS.

ALPINE TREASURES

Victoria’s small alpine towns are perfect for a cosy winter road-trip retreat, even if you’re not into snow sports. In Marysville, follow walking trails through forests to lookouts and waterfalls. Don't miss Steavenson Falls as it plummets 84 metres into the river below. Take the family tobogganing and catch a ride on a tube run down the mountain. ♦ In Mansfield, delight in the food and wine at local provedores, breweries and wineries. For some snow fun, head to Mount Buller and take a scenic chair-lift ride or slip on some ski shoes and slide behind a dog sled. If you prefer to dine instead, there is plenty of scenery to enjoy. + victoriashighcountry.com.au

Mount Buller James Davidson

ESSENCE OF ART

Check out the incredible silo art by Tim Bowtell at Katamatite in the Murray region. Bargain lovers take note: also popular in the township is Katamatite Bazaar, where there is a huge selection of vintage clothes, shoes and bric-a-brac. ♦ Gippsland’s Fish Creek is a haven for artists. This village has galleries, museums and theatres. There’s even a gallery and bookshop owned by children’s author and illustrator Alison Lester. ♦ At the Grampians town of St Arnaud, admire the work of artist Kyle Torney. His large-scale murals on buildings and silos tell stories using people’s faces. + visitthemurray.com.au

+ visitgippsland.com.au + visitgrampians.com.au

HERITAGE VALUES

Famous for its network of caves, Buchan was one of Victoria’s earliest European settlements. Take a tour of the Fairy and Royal Caves, eat at the Buchan Caves Hotel then set up for the night at Stockmans Camp. ♦ Back in the mid-1800s, Kyneton was a supply town for the gold diggings of central Victoria. Its streets are still lined with bluestone buildings, now converted into boutiques, restaurants and cafes. ♦ The streetscapes of Chiltern have been beautifully preserved, so visitors almost feel as though they’re stepping into the 1860s. Stay the night in the Old Chiltern Bank, which has been converted into stylish self-contained accommodation. + visitgippsland.com.au

+ daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au

+ victoriashighcountry.com.au

Alison Lester Gallery, Fish Creek Nicky Cawood

Buchan Caves Parks Victoria Click here

find more tiny towns in regional Victoria.

REGIONAL ART BY RAIL

CHECK OUT THE EXHIBITIONS AT REGIONAL GALLERIES ON A RELAXING JOURNEY WITH V/LINE.

CHANGING TIMES

At Art Gallery of Ballarat, catch Lost in Palm Springs, where 14 creative minds reinterpret the qualities of the city’s landscape and mid-century architecture. ♦ If you’d prefer to learn an artisanal skill yourself, check out the workshops at Ballarat’s Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades ♦ See the progression of art from around the world in Bendigo Art Gallery’s New world order: A century of change

+ artgalleryofballarat.com.au

+ raretradescentre.com.au

+ bendigoregion.com.au

LOCAL FAVOURITES

It’s one of the largest art spaces in eastern Victoria, and Morwell’s Latrobe Regional Gallery always includes work from the region. The Valley (until 23 June) is the result of six months of work by four photographers who were invited to capture images of the Latrobe Valley and its people.

♦ Set on a hill overlooking Daylesford, the Convent Gallery regularly changes its exhibitions, so no two visits are the same.

+ latroberegionalgallery.com

+ conventgallery.com.au

STAY OVERNIGHT

Set in the town’s botanic gardens, Benalla Art Gallery is showcasing the work of two of Australia’s finest watercolourists in Hans Heysen and Matthew James MacNally: Light Shines, Shadow Falls ♦ At Warrnambool Art Gallery, Hannah Brontë: Sunday’s Child (from 25 May) looks at the child’s nursery rhyme through a queer lens.

+ benallaartgallery.com.au

+ thewag.com.au

ACCESSIBLE ART

Did you know you can travel all of Victoria (and stop in at these gorgeous galleries) by public transport for less than $11 a day? Head to the PTV website, or download the app to plan your journey.

+ ptv.vic.gov.au

HEAD TO VICTORIA'S HIGH COUNTRY TO ADVENTURE IN A WINTER WONDERLAND. WHETHER YOU’RE SEEKING DOWNHILL STYLE OR KIDFRIENDLY FUN, IT’S ALL HERE.

LET IT SNOW

Mount Hotham Emble Studio

FAMILY FAVOURITES

Head to Mount Buller this winter to celebrate 100 years of skiing. Just three hours out of Melbourne, this popular destination has the largest lift network in Victoria, with three terrain parks to suit all skill levels. Mount Buller is a great choice for families with a world-class ski and snowboard school, and dog sledding. For those with smaller kids, Dinner Plain is a great option for snow play. There is a beginner-friendly ski slope and ski school and there are plenty of wide, open spaces where they can build snowmen or have snowball fights, as well as an alpine playground, frisbee golf and dog sledding.

CROSS AND BACK

Leave the ski runs behind and head to Lake Mountain with the family. Kids can get their first downhill experience on a toboggan! Enjoy snow play at your own pace and try out all three fun toboggan runs. Another great option is Mount Baw Baw, where you can ski, snowboard, snowshoe and even say hello to the resident dingos. Ready for a backcountry adventure? Head to Mount Stirling to experience untracked turns and explore more than 60 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails winding among the snow gums. There is also snow camping here, so make your snow holiday even more memorable and sleep under the wintery stars.

DOWNHILL DAYS

Mount Hotham is Australia’s highest alpine village, and has the highest proportion of black runs in the country. But there’s skiing for all levels, as well as plenty of other activities from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to backcountry sled tours and the chance to stay in sustainably built domes. For early birds, Hotham’s lifts open at 7.30am from Wednesday to Sunday (available for Epic Australia Pass holders). As Victoria’s largest alpine resort, Falls Creek caters to skiers and snowboarders of all abilities and experience levels, with plenty of drink and dining hot spots where you can swap après ski stories at the end of the day.

+ victoriashighcountry.com.au/snow

Mount Buller Emble Studio

WATER WAYS

GET READY FOR A DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCES WHEN YOU HEAD TO THE STATE’S NORTH AND EXPLORE THE MURRAY REGION. THERE’S MORE TO IT THAN THE FAMOUS RIVER.

LOCAL VISION

Discover a piece of Australian colonial history at Burramine. Byramine Homestead was built in 1842 by famous explorer Hamilton Hume. These days, you can take a self-guided tour of the historic home and its gardens then settle in to taste some of the ciders, beers and wines made on the property and enjoy a country-style lunch.

FLOAT ALONG

Fancy becoming a captain? Discover the unique joy of living on the river, even just for a short while, when you hire a luxury All Seasons Houseboat from Mildura. The warmth of the boat welcomes you in like a cosy, boutique luxury home away from home. Whether it’s just you and your

significant other on this getaway or a bunch of friends and family, you’ll find options for between two and 12 berths. Some vessels even have a spa onboard.

WILD DAYS

Get back to nature at Kyabram Fauna Park, the latest addition to Zoos Victoria’s offerings. Its 55 hectares of bushland, wetlands and lakes are home to a vast collection of Australian native wildlife, from the free-roaming kangaroos, wallabies and emus to venomous snakes in the reptile habitat. Buy a bag of food and let the kangaroos come to you or sign up for an animal encounter and meet the world’s most dangerous bird, the southern cassowary.

GET ARTY

The heart of art and culture in the region is the Murray Art Museum Albury, also known as MAMA. One of the most visited art venues outside of the big cities, the museum has earned a reputation for its innovative, original exhibitions, featuring some of the best contemporary artists in Australia and from around the world. Throughout winter, the gallery will be showcasing the National Photography Prize, which brings together artists from across the country who are challenging photographic language and techniques.

+ visitthemurray.com.au

Byramine Homestead

All Seasons Houseboat

ARTHURS SEAT EAGLE

Get ready to soar. Board a state-of-the-art gondola and fly over the state forest to the highest point of the beautiful Mornington Peninsula. Located just over an hour from Melbourne, the Arthurs Seat Eagle offers breathtaking views across Port Phillip Bay to the Melbourne city skyline from the safety and comfort of a contemporary cabin. At the summit you can enjoy a casual dining experience at the Eagle Café, with its amazing views and expansive outdoor deck. You’ll also find locally inspired gifts and fun souvenirs to remember your visit.

Open: Daily, from 10am 1085 Arthurs Seat Rd, Dromana t: 03 5987 0600

e: info@aseagle.com.au

w: aseagle.com.au

PENINSULA HOT SPRINGS

Peninsula Hot Springs is the first natural hot spring, day spa and wellness destination located on the Mornington Peninsula. Natural geothermal mineral waters flow into the pools and private baths at our coastal oasis, comprising of 70 globally inspired bathing and wellness experiences designed to promote connectivity, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Open: Daily, including public holidays 5am to 11pm 140 Springs Lane, Fingal t: (03) 5950 8777

w: peninsulahotsprings.com

Find us on:

BALLARAT’S COSY GLOW

Winter Wonderlights at Sovereign Hill

THE FORMER GOLDMINING HOT SPOT OF BALLARAT HOLDS PLENTY OF INTEREST FOR VISITORS BEYOND ITS HISTORY. HERE’S WHAT TO CHECK OUT THIS WINTER.

FESTIVAL SEASON

Ready to have some fun? Ballarat Winter Festival (28 June – 21 July) is guaranteed to add a cosy glow to the city this winter. Check out Winter Wonderlights at Sovereign Hill, with ‘snow’ falling in the streets and projections changing the streetscape into a spectacular display of colour and movement after dark. Then there’s Frozen Kingdom at Kryal Castle, which takes guests on a journey back to medieval times with flaming sword fights, jousting, archery, potion making and much more as knights battle to save the castle from an endless winter. Otherwise, tighten your skates and hit the pop-up ice rink near Ballarat Town Hall.

HAIR-RAISING HISTORY

Much of the grand architecture of Ballarat is a legacy of the Victorian gold rush, with the city booming after gold was discovered in the 1850s. But along with the stories of riches, there are also stories of the folks who lost everything. You may not know this, but the city is said to be one of Australia’s most haunted, so head out with Eerie Tours on the Ballarat Ghost Tour to hear spooky tales and perhaps have your own paranormal encounter. The Eerie guides also host after-dark tours of the Old Ballarat Cemetery, the final resting place for gold rush miners from around the world.

TASTE TRAILS

Just outside the city, go hunting for another rare treasure: black truffles. Winter foraging with chef Liam Downes and his dogs at Black Cat Truffles reveals these aromatic fungi that grow among the roots of oak trees. Once you’ve finished hunting, take a seat for a degustation lunch that showcases the delectable flavours of the winter truffle harvest.

Back for its second year is Ballarat’s Best Pie (1–31 August). Follow the sweet and savoury pie trail to discover reimagined classics and unexpected creations – think gin infusions and gourmet fillings – at some of the city’s best-known venues. The best pie will be crowned by month’s end. + visitballarat.com.au

Black Cat Truffles

Smith & Willow

GOULBURN, THE GREAT

THERE’S NO BETTER TIME TO VISIT SHEPPARTON AND GOULBURN VALLEY THAN WINTER. SETTLE INTO RUSTIC LODGINGS THEN EXPLORE ALL THE TASTY LOCAL OFFERINGS.

A FINE DROP

In an unassuming brick building in central Shepparton, you’ll find Phillips Cellars and Regional Wine Centre. Chat with Paul Phillips himself who believes small wineries make some of the most interesting and unique drops. He can guide you through the best examples from the region – from Echuca in the northwest to Seymour in the south – and help you choose the perfect bottle to enjoy. A full-bodied red is perfect for winter, so find a spot in the sunshine, get cosy and enjoy. Can’t decide? Gather a few bottles to sample later as a mouth-watering memory of your visit.

FARMER’S FEAST

Savour warming winter meals featuring succulent local grass-fed beef from Bunbartha Beef & Fine Produce. It’s grown on owner Kelly McPherson’s family farm north of Shepparton, so you can’t get more local than this. Also in store are other products created by Kelly in her commercial kitchen, using produce from her farm or another not too far away – think chutneys, jams, flavoured salts, baked goods and looseleaf teas. Enjoy the process of collecting the ingredients for your special recipe or choose one of the ready-made, heat-and-eat meals as you collect a full basket of local goodies to enjoy during your stay.

COUNTRY CHARM

Base your stay in the Goulburn Valley at the secluded hideaway called Smith & Willow, just outside the small town of Murchison and an easy 30-minute drive to Shepparton. This former shearing shed, surrounded by lush gardens, has been transformed into a rustic beauty retaining many of the original features. There are two bedrooms, provisions for wood fires, both inside and out, and a full kitchen, giving you the option to self-cater. You may never want to leave, so we suggest you plan a trip to town and stock up on local goodies before you fully disconnect.

+ sheppandgv.com.au

Bunbartha Beef One Hour Out

WINTER’S BOUNTY

TRAVEL AROUND THE REGIONS TO DISCOVER THE BEST PRODUCE, WINE AND MENUS OF THE SEASON.

FROM THE BARREL

There’s no better time than winter to pour a good glass. Find a spot on the grass at Squires Winery on the banks of the Ovens River to try its Swan Shiraz with a grazing platter. ♦ Best’s Wines in the Grampians produces classic reds, so book a tasting experience when you’re in the region. ♦ The High Country offers very different wine experiences: the Italian reds grown in the King Valley and the worldclass muscats and other fortified wines of Rutherglen.

+ squireswinery.com.au

+ bestswines.com

BLACK GOLD

Winter brings a fresh crop of black truffles to the oak trees of Victoria. There are numerous truffières around the state – The Truffle House in Gippsland, Truffle Valley in the Yarra Valley, Red Hill Truffles on the Mornington Peninsula and more –that let you hunt for these delicacies then taste them at special lunches and dinners.

+ thetrufflehouse.com.au

+ trufflevalley.com.au

+ redhilltruffles.com

SEASONAL FARE

At Babae in Ballarat, much of the fresh product that appears on your plate during eight dinner courses comes from chef Tim Foster’s farm. ♦ It’s a similar story at Mornington Peninsula’s Pt Leo Estate, where culinary director Josep Espuga champions local farmers, growers and foragers. This is best seen – and tasted – at its finedining restaurant, Laura.

+ hotelballarat.com.au/babae

+ ptleoestate.com.au

Babae Emma Duzhnikov

OTWAY FLY TREETOP ADVENTURES

Otway Fly Treetop Adventures is the ultimate outdoor nature experience, located only 20 minutes off the Great Ocean Road. Experience a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the magnificent Otway Ranges from the 25-metre-high elevated walkway or fly 30 metres above the ground and from tree to tree on the Zipline Tour.

Home to magical enchanted forest featuring fairies and dragons! Discover a whimsical neighbourhood of fairy homes and their magical inhabitants, snuggled within a magical nook in the Otway Fly Treetop Adventures trail.

Open: Daily, 10am-5pm

360 Phillips Track Beech Forest, Weeaproinah w: otwayfly.com.au

Find us on:

HEPBURN BATHHOUSE & SPA

Immerse yourself in the healing waters at Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa. Bathe in naturally sourced, mineral-rich waters renowned for relaxation and rejuvenation. Rich in magnesium, calcium, silica, bicarbonate and sulfate, these mineral waters are known to ease muscle tension, improve circulation, support bone formation and promote a deep sense of calm, leaving you feeling restored and revitalised. Choose from bathhouse or sanctuary bathing, private mineral baths, bespoke spa treatments, or unwind in your private spa bath in one of the luxury villas nestled in the rolling Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve bushlands. Where history whispers and wellness thrives. Escape to Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa for a soul-soothing getaway.

Open: Sun–Thurs 9am to 7pm, Fri–Sat, 9am to 9pm Mineral Springs Reserve Road, Hepburn Springs t: 03 8727 8901 w: hepburnbathhouse.com

Find us on:

GREAT GRAMPIANS

WHETHER YOU PLAN TO PULL ON HIKING BOOTS, TASTE THE REGION’S WINES OR ENTERTAIN THE FAMILY, HEAD TO VICTORIA’S WEST FOR A WILD WINTER BREAK.

WILD ABOUT WILDLIFE

More than 120 different species of animals from all over the world call Halls Gap Zoo their home. Of course, you’ll get to see Aussie favourites like kangaroos and Tasmanian devils, but the 20-hectare bushland environment is also home to exotic creatures great and small.

See those gentle giants, the giraffes, or marvel at the antics of the spider monkeys. The zoo also has a popular animal encounters program. Book to meet and feed the Asian smallclawed otters. These cheeky critters will take the fish right out of your hand and, hopefully, hang around when they’re done.

Halls Gap Zoo

Serenity 4

SUBLIME SERENITY

A popular place to stay in the Grampians is Serenity 4 and 4A in Halls Gap. Sit on the deck and watch the wildlife or take in the treetop view from the second-floor balcony while you sit back and sip a glass of champagne. These brand-new four-bedroom homes are ideal for families and friends looking to unwind and explore some of Australia’s most beautiful bushland. For the ecoconscious EV driver, the property also includes a new Zappi EV charger, free for guests.

STEP OUT

The Grampians Peaks Trail is a 164-kilometre hike through some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. To do the whole lot would take about 13 days, but some companies, including Absolute Outdoors and Grampian Peaks Walking Company, offer guided hikes of varying distances. You can stay in tents, hikers’ huts or private lodges, knowing you’ll always have an expert looking after you. There are plenty of other walks to explore in and around Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, but for the more adventurous, try out some other Absolute Outdoors experiences like rock climbing or abseiling above Halls Gap. Settle in, and spend a few days exploring the region’s highlights. + visitgrampians.com.au

YARRA VALLEY –THE ART OF LIVING

THE YARRA VALLEY IS A UNIQUE AREA WITH AN INCREDIBLE LANDSCAPE AND A BOUNTY OF FOOD. PROFESSOR FRANCIS FARRELLY (RMIT MARKETING) REFLECTS ON THIS REMARKABLE VICTORIAN REGION.

Melbourne Indepth: An ongoing RMIT series on Melbourne culture. Written by Professor Francis Farrelly. Coordinated by Associate Professor Dr Bernardo Figueiredo (RMIT Marketing).

For almost two years I have written about my observations on Melbourne in this publication. I’ve reflected on what makes it a great city, including its music, coffee and street art. All of these make Melbourne a social, welcoming place, to all who visit or live here.

For something completely different, this time I’m looking at the regions –and one, in particular. The Yarra Valley is a unique area with an incredible landscape and bounty of food and wine. It is home to residents who are

deeply attached to the place and know how to enjoy it. Yet there may also be another rarely considered reason why many Melburnians (among others) love this special region. It’s because people get to experience some of the things they love about Melbourne, albeit in a different form.

SERENE INSPIRATION

It might be renowned for its food and wine, but what strikes you first about the Yarra Valley is its landscape. The climate that produces award-winning grapes, cheese, cherries and other

fresh produce also fosters the lush scenery stretching across the region. There are green, rolling pastures, stunning ranges and all manner of marvellous trees, from swamp gums to mountain ash, the tallest flowering plant in the world. What is unique about the place, however, is the fact you have symmetrical vineyards (dotted across the landscape) and manicured wine estates nestled in the Australian bush. It is as if they established the wineries and grape vines while making a solemn promise to leave the bush in its natural state. It

Yering Station Vineyard

makes for an alluring contrast. If you add some mist, the place becomes almost mystical.

The beauty of the landscape also helps to explain why flying over it in hot air balloons is so popular and why it has been painted by some of Australia’s most famous artists, like Arthur Streeton, Hans Heysen and the Boyds. Speaking of art, the Yarra Valley is still home to exceptional artists and craftspeople, from worldclass ceramicists to knife makers. The Valley has a thriving arts and cultural

scene. You can visit art galleries, attend local art events, and explore the region’s heritage in museums and historical sites.

COOL WINE CLIMATE

Then there is, of course, the worldclass cool-climate wine. Pinot noir, chardonnay and shiraz are all grown here, along with Bordeaux blends and – more recently – Italian varietals such as arneis and nebbiolo. The exceptional wine owes a quiet thank you to the likes of Bailey Carrodus and John Middleton. While the wines of the

Yarra Valley were made successful by Swiss settlers in the 1850s, less than 70 years later, the vineyards had all but vanished. In the 1960s a renaissance began. People like Middleton, who loved Bordeaux, planted cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot, and the wineries founded around that time – Yeringberg, Fergusson, Seville Estate, Warramate, St Huberts, Chateau Yarrinya (now De Bortoli) and Yarra Yering – have become some of the storied names of the region. In the past five or so years, Yarra Yering has been one of – if not the – most awarded and acclaimed producers in Australia. In fact, the region, while having 0.6 per cent of national and four per cent of Victorian wine production, had 14 wineries included in the recent Halliday Top 100. That kind of result is not uncommon.

Diversity is key to appreciating the food, wine and nature experience in the Yarra Valley. With six or so different micro-climates, you are exposed to a great variety of exceptional wines within one region. You also have larger, distinguished producers like

Global Ballooning Australia Safari Global

Yarra Valley Dairy

YARRA VALLEY –THE ART OF LIVING CONTINUED

Domaine Chandon, Yering Station and Dominique Portet, as well as many artisanal wineries and smaller producers like Squitchy Lane and Jayden Ong Wines, that make Yarra Valley really unique. Indeed, you can visit stunning places like Chandon and Portet and feel like you are in France, then go to a cellar door in an old shed for an incredible experience of place, social interaction, nature and wine (is there more to life?). The cellar door experience is unique too. It has a democratic quality. While it has a level of sophistication, the golden rule in the Valley is that wine is to be enjoyed by all (of a certain age, of course) and that brings authenticity and friendliness to the experience.

IT’S THE LIFE

It is also important to point out the Yarra Valley encompasses delightful historic towns, charming dairies (try the Gentle Goat cheese at Yarra Valley Dairy), and rustic bed and breakfast accommodations. Townships such as Healesville, Sassafras, Yarra Glen and Warburton have their own charm, with quaint village cafes and eateries, restaurants with farm-to-table food experiences, exceptional providores, Melbourne-quality coffee, antique shops, art and speciality shops selling hand-picked and handcrafted quality items. All are designed for strolling.

What also makes the Valley different can be described as the art of living It’s what the locals have and city-siders want, even if only to dip into it for a few days. This includes appreciating the landscape, fine food and wine, and good company, all to be enjoyed slowly. Locals are happy to tell you of their love of the landscape, and you can see why. In addition to being picturesque, it brings a calmness that permeates the area and the people. It says, “Slow down and take it in.”

Getting back to the idea that there is a connection between Melbourne and the Yarra Valley, it is because, in the Valley, Melburnians get to indulge in what they hold close, like being social and enjoying great food and wine in an equally great environment. While the landscape is, of course, very different, once you replace the laneway cafe with a communal table alongside a glorious vineyard, the love of being outside and engaging with friends and other social souls in our typically open way is much the same. Like Melbourne’s laneways, the Valley is also a place of discovery. It is one of the world’s premier wine-growing regions because it has many smaller-scale wineries just waiting to be discovered. Zigzag through the bush, and you come across the exceptional smaller wineries, many with cellar doors (precheck when they are open) as well as local food places offering excellent fresh regional produce. Take some time out and go to the Yarra Valley. You will be thankful you did. ■

Domaine Chandon Rob Blackburn

HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY

Bring your curiosity to life at Healesville Sanctuary.

Explore a bushland haven for Australian wildlife just one hour from Melbourne. See the iconic koalas, kangaroos, platypus, dingoes, wombats, emus and Critically Endangered species in their natural surrounds.

Discover Australia's majestic birds in the daily Spirits of the Sky presentation. Visit Wurundjeri Walk to learn about local Aboriginal history and culture.

Kids visit free on weekends, Victorian public holidays and school holidays.

Open: Daily, 9am to 5pm

Glen Eadie Avenue, Healesville

t: 1300 966 784

w: zoo.org.au/healesville

Find us on:

GLOBAL BALLOONING AUSTRALIA

Global Ballooning offers flights seven days a week, with a world-renowned team ensuring the highest standards of safety. Melbourne is the only major city where you can fly commercially by hot air balloon! Experience the city skyline and surrounds with a bird’s-eye view. Or imagine yourself drifting over the picturesque Yarra Valley, Victoria’s oldest wine region, just a short 50-minute drive away.

In-flight photos are included, and there's an option to add return CBD transfers for Yarra Valley flights.

Save up to $57 per person using code OVG10 for 10% off any Yarra Valley adult flight. T&Cs apply.

t: 03 9428 5703

w: globalballooning.com.au

Find us on:

PHILLIP ISLAND NATURE PARKS

Witness one of nature’s true spectacles as you watch little penguins waddle home every night at Phillip Island’s Penguin Parade. Spot koalas, wallabies and birdlife in their bushland habitat at the Koala Conservation Reserve, and experience the heritage working farm, historical grounds and gardens at Churchill Island.

Make the most of your day out on Phillip Island and help us protect nature for wildlife by purchasing our best value ticket, the 3 Parks Pass.

Just 90 minutes from Melbourne, Phillip Island Nature Parks is a self-funded organisation. Revenue raised through our attractions is invested in vital research, environment and education programs.

Open: Daily from 10am. Penguins arrive at sunset. 1019 Ventnor Road, Summerlands, Phillip Island t: 03 5951 2830

w: penguins.org.au

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BALLARAT WILDLIFE PARK

Winner of Victoria's Best Attraction, Victorian Tourism Awards 2023. With more than a hundred free-roaming kangaroos to hand-feed, the largest colony of koalas in Victoria, wombats, emus and Crunch, the super-croc, the family-owned Ballarat Wildlife Park is a must-visit destination for animal lovers young and old.

Attend daily presentations where you’ll learn more about meerkats, little penguins, Tasmanian devils, dingoes and reptiles. You can even see the Sumatran-Siberian tigers in their state-of-the-art sanctuary.

Be sure to book your up close and personal animal encounters upon arrival!

A park for conservation and recreation.

Open: Daily, 9am to 5pm 250 Fussell Street, Ballarat East t: 03 5333 5933

w: wildlifepark.com.au

Find us on:

TIME TO DISCONNECT

AFTER A FULLY BOOKED INAUGURAL WINTER SEASON, STELLA THE STARGAZER IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER.

TINY DREAMS

Imagine lying back on a roll-out sleeping platform and staring up into the night sky, surrounded by the sounds of the bush with stars twinkling above you. That’s the experience of Stella the Stargazer. This luxury, offgrid tiny house is the stay of dreams. Turn off your devices and enjoy the natural surroundings in its new location: Mansfield in Victoria's High Country (with a second top-secret location to be revealed later in the season). These beautiful locations are perfect for hiking, visiting wineries and escaping from everyday life.

BATHHOUSE BRILLIANCE

A new addition to the 2024 Stella the Stargazer is the Stella Bathhouse. If you need more help to relax, this is it. Enter the sauna to warm your body through then spend some time soaking in the two outdoor tubs. There’s also an outdoor shower to complete the picture. There’s no better way to get back to nature and reconnect with yourself and your significant other.

EVERY LUXURY

Created by Port Fairy-based design business Ample, the house is constructed from repurposed materials in homage to the Aussie shed. It includes everything you need for a relaxing break, including a queen-size bed with fine linen, central woodfire, private luxury bathroom, sliding glass doors opening to a deck and firepit, and a hamper filled with provisions and a bottle of wine. + stellastargazer.com.au

Stella the Stargazer

NATURAL SELECTION

THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF SUNSHINE TO ENJOY DURING A VICTORIAN WINTER, AND THE COOLER DAYS INVITE ADVENTURE, FROM HIKING TO WILDLIFE WATCHING.

PARK LIFE

Set on the Murray River between Echuca and Barham, Gunbower National Park is made up of forest, floodplains and Ramsar-listed wetlands. There are a couple of excellent and easy walks starting near Koondrook, so bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the tranquillity. ♦ It’s beautiful at any time of year, but during winter

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is even more stunning. The cool, sunny days are perfect for hiking, and higher rainfall around this time of year means the park’s many waterfalls are in full flow. Plus, after a long day spent outdoors, a glass of the local shiraz will taste even better.

+ parks.vic.gov.au

Grampians Peaks Trail Parks Victoria

STEPPING OUT

Get some fresh sea air on a Phillip Island coastal walk. See some of the island’s best vistas, including Nobbies, and keep an eye peeled for migrating whales on the trail from Pyramid Rock to Berrys Beach ♦ If you’re heading to the ski fields, stop at one of Victoria's High Country towns – Beechworth, Bright, Mansfield or Marysville – for

a stroll. From Marysville, you might even like to walk the 3.5 kilometres to Steavenson Falls. ♦ Trail enthusiasts should sign up for the Peaks and Trail Run (10–11 August). All race distances, from 6.4 to 50 kilometres, include parts of the Grampians Peaks Trail.

+ visitphillipisland.com.au

+ victoriashighcountry.com.au

+ peaksandtrails.com.au

ANIMAL PLANET

Dunkeld’s Royal Mail Hotel is best known for its destination restaurant, but it has developed the Mount Sturgeon Biodiversity Reserve by putting a predator-proof fence around 95 hectares of bushland. Guests staying at the hotel can join a wildlife feeding experience on certain days. ♦ Head to Phillip Island for a day and spend part of it with Wildlife Coast Cruises on a whale-watching adventure then head to the viewing point at sunset for the Penguin Parade. The colony of little penguins come ashore a little earlier during winter, making it a great time of year for families with younger members to visit.

+ royalmail.com.au

+ wildlifecoastcruises.com.au

+ penguins.org.au

Steavenson Falls Mark Chew

Penguin Parade Ben Savage

myki is your ticket to travel on trains, trams and buses around Melbourne and some parts of regional Victoria.

It’s easy to buy and instantly top up your myki with these simple steps:

1. Buy a myki card at a range of shops

3. Open the PTV app and select the myki icon

Find out more at ptv.vic.gov.au/myki

2. Download the PTV app and register your myki

4. Scan your myki and add funds straight to your phone

NEW SPOTS TO Shop

Shopping at Melbourne Airport is a breeze, thanks to the wide range of high-end stores, gift shops and more. Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for a loved one or simply passing time before your flight, we have you covered. Check out the latest retailers that have joined our terminals.

FERRAGAMO

RIP CURL

Born in Torquay in 1969, Rip Curl is widely regarded as the most iconic surfing brand of our time. Its newly renovated store in Terminal 4 joins its Terminal 2 counterpart, offering the best of Australian surfing culture, including tees, bikinis, travel essentials and beach accessories perfectly suited to those venturing on a coastal getaway.

UGG

If you fancy a spot of shopping –European style – look no further than Furla in Terminal 2. Here, you’ll find classic Italian accessories reimagined to suit contemporary trends, with the highest standard of quality and workmanship.

T2

Shoes, boots, handbags, belts, fragrances and more – there’s almost no end to the spoils you’ll find at Ferragamo. Expect the epitome of Italian luxury and accessories suited to all trips and gifts.

You can now shop for your favourite cosy and stylish UGGs before you take off on your next adventure, or buy a gift for someone special. From shoes to scarves, purses, gloves and even plush toys, there’s something for everyone.

FURLA

LITTLE POPE

Pope Joan has opened its second venue at Melbourne Airport, with Little Pope joining the already open Pope Joan at Terminal 1. Come for a smooth cup of coffee and stay for a fresh sandwich and glass of wine (or something stronger) before you jet off.

BUBBLZ

Located opposite Two Johns Taphouse, Bubblz offers freshly brewed creamy bubble tea alongside a selection of tasty Asian-inspired hot and cold dishes, like rice bowls, bento boxes and sushi. It’s the perfect place to stop over for a taste of Asia before you fly.

THE GRACE

With ties to the GRACE. bar + eatery found in regional Victorian town Rutherglen, The Grace represents the best of Melbourne’s culinary scene. Helmed by well-known Melbourne chef Ray Capaldi, this is a venue that prides itself on seasonal small dishes and snacks paired with an everchanging wine list that showcases the finest local and global drops.

APEROL BAR

In collaboration with Campari Group GTR, Lotte Duty Free has unveiled the first ever Aperol experiential pop-up in the world, right here at Terminal 2. The pop-up offers the best of Italian aperitivo culture against the backdrop of Aperol’s iconic orange hue.

SEASONAL OFFERS

WINTER 2024

5% OFF GIFT SHOP SOUVENIRS

Ballarat Wildlife Park

Enjoy 5% off items in the gift shop. 250 Fussell Street, Ballarat. (03) 5333 5933 wildlifepark.com.au info@wildlifepark.com.au

Use promo code: WINTER5

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

FREE LUXURY COACH TRANSFERS

Chadstone

– The Fashion Capital

Enjoy free luxury coach transfers to and from the CBD (Fed Square) and Chadstone – The Fashion Capital, Australia’s premier retail, fashion, dining and entertainment destination 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone. (03) 9567 1062 chadstone.com.au chadstone.tourism@vicinity.com.au

T&Cs apply: Scan QR code for details.

10% OFF YARRA VALLEY HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

Global Ballooning

Melbourne’s number-one balloon company with more than 30 years’ experience. In-flight photos included. Optional CBD return transfers. Use the code to save up to $57 per adult.

Use promo code: OVG10 globalballooning.com.au

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

10% OFF DELUXE ENTRY PACKAGE

IceBar Melbourne

Enjoy 10% off Deluxe Entry, including snow gear, cocktail and a shot. Online bookings essential.

The Atrium, Federation Square, Melbourne 03 9077 9716 icebaraustralia.com.au

Use promo code: VISITVIC10

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

$20 OFF WHEN YOU SPEND $30

Brunetti Classico

Unlock deliciousness: $20 off when you spend $30 in store at Brunetti Classico! Savour exquisite pastries, coffees and more. Treat yourself today!

380 Lygon Street, Carlton & Penny Lane, Moonee Ponds brunetticlassico.com.au ciao@brunetticlassico.com

Use promo code: 2005552705

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details – redemption restrictions apply.

20% OFF RETURN FLIGHTS

Arthurs Seat Eagle

Enjoy 20% off return tickets on the Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola ride on the Mornington Peninsula.

795 Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat (03) 5987 0600 aseagle.com.au info@aseagle.com.au

Use promo code: OVG20

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

20% OFF HOP ON HOP OFF TICKET

Hop It – Hop On Hop Off Bus

Explore the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Bellarine Peninsula your way! Catch the bus from the city and get ready to explore Victoria’s wine regions.

Pick up from Melbourne CBD and in region. 03 8596 2659 hopit.com.au contact@hopit.com.au

Use promo code: OVG20

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

15% DISCOUNT

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne

Enjoy a 15% discount on adult and child tickets purchased onsite or online at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne.

Level 2/1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone legolanddiscoverycentre.com/melbourne

Use promo code: OVG15

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

10% OFF DINING AND RETAIL

Big Esso by Mabu Mabu

Mabu Mabu is a Torres Strait restaurant putting native ingredients on the map. Dine with us or purchase our retail products in store with an exclusive 10% discount.

Unit 25/2 Swanston St, Melbourne. (03) 9121 0510 mabumabu.com.au

Use promo code: PEPPERBERRY

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

15% OFF ADMISSION TICKETS

Melbourne Skydeck

20% OFF RIVER TOURS

Melbourne River Cruises

Save 20% on Sightseeing and Williamstown cruises. Tea, coffee and commentary included. Departing from Southgate Berth 2.

Southgate Berth 2, Lower Promenade, Southbank. (03) 8610 2600 melbcruises.com.au

Use promo code: MRC20

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

5% OFF ICE SKATING

O’Brien Icehouse

The southern hemisphere’s highest observation deck. The city comes to you as you take it all in from nearly 300 metres high. It’s Melbourne on another level!

7 Riverside Quay, Southbank. (03) 9693 8888 melbourneskydeck.com.au admin@melbourneskydeck.com.au

Use promo code: OVGWINTER24

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

Otway Fly Treetop Adventures

Buy One Get One Free Treetop Walk special offer. Experience the thrill of theTreetop Walk with an exclusive offer: Buy one, get one free* for a limited time.

360 Phillips Track Beech Forest, Weeaproinah (03) 5235 9200 otwayfly.com.au

Present this coupon or use promo code: BOGOF24.

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

15% OFF ADULT FERRY TICKETS

Port Phillip Ferries

Operating daily services to Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula. From winery packages and mussel tours to cycling trails and coastal hikes, make getting there part of the adventure. 131 Harbour Esplanade, Docklands. (03) 9514 8959 portphillipferries.com.au

Use promo code: OVGSpecial15

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

$45 FEED ME LUNCH

Taxi Kitchen

The perfect lunch option - a delicious selection of modern Australian dishes with a distinct Asian flair. Enjoy three small plates and one large plate to share, all for just $45 per person.

Level 1, Transport Hotel, Fed Square, Melbourne 03 9654 8808 taxikitchen.com.au

Present the coupon to redeem offer T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

Save an additional 5% off Public Skating when you purchase your ticket online.

105 Pearl River Road, Docklands 1300 75 66 99 obrienicehouse.com.au info@obrienicehouse.com.au

Use promo code: WINTER5

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

10% OFF 3 PARKS PASS

Phillip Island Nature Parks

Includes entry to Penguin Parade (General Viewing), Churchill Island and Koala Conservation Reserve.

1019 Ventnor Road, Summerlands. (03) 5951 2800 penguins.org.au

Use promo code: OVG24B

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

20% OFF ULTIMATE FOODIE TOUR

Queen Victoria Market

A delicious and fascinating guided walking tour of the Queen Victoria Market. The tour includes generous tastings and a Queen Vic Market shopping bag. Bookings essential. 0437 190 249 qvm.com.au/tours tours@qvm.com.au

Use promo code: WINTER24

T&Cs apply: Scan the QR code for details.

SEASONAL OFFERS

This guide uses paper from internationally certified sustainably managed forests and is printed at a plant that holds the ISO14001 Environmental Management System certification. Keep up to date with the latest events, attractions, activities, food and drink with the Melbourne and Victoria Official Guide online. visitvictoria.com/officialguide

by Visit Victoria

& Events Company

Get in touch with the team today: ovg@visitvictoria.com.au or find out more at corporate.visitvictoria.com/resources To order guides contact ovgorders@visitvictoria.com.au

Experience History

Located minutes from the city centre, THE LUME Melbourne showcases art and culture on a colossal scale. Experience Leonardo da Vinci’s story like never before, and witness original pages from his priceless Codex Atlanticus - in Australia for the first time.

THE NIGHT COULD GO ANYWHERE BIT

RISING

A winter festival of new art, music & performance