Melbourne/Narrm and Victoria Official Guide - Autumn 2024

NARRM AND VICTORIA

WIN WIN

Stay, Wine and Dine, and Experience the Grampians for four people.

Valued at $3,680*

• Two nights’ accommodation and daily breakfast box at Grampians Under The Stars.

• A two-course lunch with beverages at Parker Street Project, Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld.

• A tour of the Drives and a two-course lunch at Seppelt Great Western.

• A two-course dinner with two glasses of wine or soft drinks per person at Halls Gap Hotel.

• A half-day adventure tour with Absolute Outdoors.

Competition closes on Friday 24 May 2024.

*Terms

Message from the Minister

Welcome to Victoria. Autumn has arrived with a packed calendar of events, making it a special time of year in Melbourne and beyond.

The season kicks off with Mad March. Our city is brimming with blockbuster events including the Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Melbourne Fashion Festival, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, and the Melbourne

As always, there’s a slew of new restaurant and bar openings across the state. They offer both locals and visitors the chance to taste the finest seasonal produce prepared by dedicated and accomplished chefs.

There’s the chance to learn more about the living culture of First Nations people at the newly expanded Koorie Heritage Trust. Plus, we’re celebrating 40 years since legendary New York artist Keith Haring painted his beloved mural in Collingwood.

Further afield, go hiking in the Grampians or cycling along one of the rail trails in the High Country. There’s still plenty of sunshine, so enjoy exploring the beaches around Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

This guide will take you through the events, food, attractions and tours on offer across this great state. I hope you find plenty of inspiration in these pages and go on to enjoy every moment you spend in Victoria.

Steve Dimopoulos MP Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events

Hiking in the Grampians Robert Blackburn

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.

Aunty Joy Wandin Murphy Senior Wurundjeri Elder of the Kulin Nation

NARRM AND VICTORIA

Cover image: 'Narrm' by Bayley Mifsud

Read the story on page 50.

Aunty Joy image: Caitlin Mills

Inspiration Autumn

By Brendan McClements, CEO Visit Victoria

Royal Exhibition Building

Autumn has arrived and the city is celebrating. There are events aplenty, as well as an entire city of food, fun and entertainment.

There’s the roar from the track at the Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix, the clinking of glasses at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, audiences erupting in laughter at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and lively discussions at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

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

At this time of year, with the weather slightly cooler and the sun still shining, the city’s calendar is packed with events, all set to a thrilling soundtrack. There’s the roar from the track at the Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix, the clinking of glasses at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, audiences erupting in laughter at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and lively discussions at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

There are so many unmissable events spread throughout the season. For those who love sport, both the AFL Premiership and Super Netball seasons have begun. Over the Easter long weekend, the world’s best surfers are at Bells Beach competing in the Rip Curl Pro.

There’s culture to be explored, with Sarah Brightman making her first stage appearance in three decades for Sunset Boulevard, and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia has undergone an exciting reconfiguration that brings

First Peoples culture to the forefront. All around the city there’s plenty to explore. Take the family on a fun day out, or during a night out, check out some of the CBD’s hidden bars or enjoy the updated restaurant offerings at upmarket hotels. You can also discover the Indigenous culture and history of the region at our world-class museums and galleries.

Outside of Melbourne, regional Victoria offers a host of seasonal delights, as well as autumn festivals and events. View the changing colours across the State, go hiking or cycling to discover the natural beauty, and enjoy the finest seasonal produce. Plan an itinerary to explore regions like the Murray, where you can view the mighty river from a paddle steamer, or admire the begonias in Ballarat.

Wherever you travel in Victoria this autumn, you’re sure to discover the season’s finest.

Brendan McClements, CEO Visit Victoria

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

On Now

BBC Earth Experience

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre + bbcearthexperience.com/ melbourne

Until 3 Mar

Melbourne Fashion Festival

Various locations + melbournefashionfestival.com.au

Until 13 Mar

Summer Night Market

Queen Victoria Market + qvm.com.au

Until 17 Mar

Lisa Gorman Mirka Mora exhibition

Warrnambool Art Gallery + thewag.com.au

Until 7 Apr

NGV Triennial

National Gallery of Victoria + ngv.melbourne/triennial

Until 14 Apr

Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition

Melbourne Museum + museumsvictoria.com.au

Until 20 Apr

Groundhog Day The Musical

Princess Theatre + groundhogday.com.au

March

1–3 Mar

Super Round Melbourne AAMI Park + super.rugby

1–24 Mar

PHOTO Australia

Various locations  + photo.org.au

From 3 Mar

Wicked the Musical Regent Theatre + wickedthemusical.com.au

From 7 Mar

AFL Premiership Season

Various locations + afl.com.au

8–11 Mar

Moomba Festival

Various locations + moomba.melbourne.vic.gov.au

15–24 Mar

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Various locations + melbournefoodandwine.com.au

15–26 Mar

The Australian Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Arts Centre Melbourne + australianballet.com.au

15 Mar

World's Longest Lunch

Kings Domain + melbournefoodandwine.com.au

16 Mar - 14 Jul

Paris: Impressions of Life 1880-1925

Bendigo Art Gallery

+ bendigoregion.com.au/bendigoart-gallery

21–24 Mar

Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Albert Park + grandprix.com.au

20–24 Mar

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens + melbflowershow.com.au

23 Mar - 19 May

Chicago The Musical Her Majesty’s Theatre + chicagomusical.com.au

26 Mar – 5 Apr

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Torquay + worldsurfleague.com/events

27 Mar – 21 Apr

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Various locations + comedyfestival.com.au

April

5 - 20 Apr

Kubik Frankston

Frankston Waterfront + kubik.live

What's On Continued

Grampians

From 13 Apr

Super Netball Season

Various locations + supernetball.com.au

25 Apr

Anzac Day  Shrine of Remembrance + shrine.org.au

May

3–5 May

Grampians Grape Escape Halls Gap + grampiansgrapeescape.com.au

6–12 May

Melbourne Writers

Festival

Various locations + mwf.com.au

17–19 May

GABS Craft Beer and Cider Festival

Royal Exhibition Building + gabsfestival.com

18–19 May

Great Ocean Road

Running Festival Lorne + greatoceanroadrunfest.com.au

21 May – 7 Jul

Sunset Boulevard

Princess Theatre + sunsetmusical.com.au

23 May – 2 Jun

Melbourne Design Week

Various locations + designweek.melbourne

Coming Soon

1 Jun

White Night Ballarat Ballarat + whitenight.com.au

1–16 Jun

RISING

Various locations rising.melbourne

From 14 Jun

Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® 2024: Pharaoh

National Gallery of Victoria + ngv.melbourne

THE JUST THE USUAL BIT

FORMULA 1® ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX

Color Factory 8.0

The fastest event on four wheels returns to Albert Park, offering fans the chance to get close to legends as well as the action on the track.

START YOUR ENGINES

Track Stars

Record-breaking crowds are once again set to descend on the city in anticipation of the FORMULA 1 ® ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024 (21–24 March). The eyes of the motorsports world will be locked on the Albert Park circuit as the best drivers in the world, including Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo, compete in the third race of the F1® season.

Get Closer

As well as watching the cars on the track, fans can get close to their racing idols. Drivers enter the circuit each day on the Melbourne Walk. Line up along it, and you can take photos, collect

signatures, listen to interviews and see roaming entertainment. Like the walk, the Fan Forum draws a huge crowd. On its main stage, drivers, team principals and other personnel give talks and answer fan questions.

For the People

There’s entertainment for everyone beyond the track. The Family Zone is back with fun and games for kids of all ages, including the young at heart. When the cars have returned to the pits for the day, music acts take to the main stage. Grab something to eat then feel the beat as some of Australia’s most popular bands and DJs keep the party jumping.

Everyone’s Welcome

The inclusive racing precinct offers accessible viewing platforms, as well as accessible sections in the grandstands and hospitality venues. There are also changing place facilities and a sensory room. The Inclusive Pit Lane Walk is back in 2024. In partnership with Get Skilled Access, people with disabilities and sensory sensitivities will have the opportunity to see the open team garages while machine use is reduced and car engines are turned off to better suit the needs of participants. + grandprix.com.au

Oscar Piastri Color Factory 8.0

SPOTLIGHT ON SPORTS

If you’re a diehard spectator, Melbourne is the place to be. And autumn sees some of the biggest competitions get underway.

Rapt in Rugby

The Super Rugby Pacific season has just begun and the first big event is the Melbourne Super Round (1–3 March), which sees six games played over one weekend at AAMI Park. If you missed that, you can catch the local team, the Melbourne Rebels, at AAMI Park almost every second weekend over the following 13 rounds. Catch them taking on last year’s competition runners-up, the Chiefs, on Friday 17 May.

+ super.rugby

Big Men Fly

Every Melburnian eagerly awaits the beginning of the AFL Premiership Season, and it all starts in March. The first-round action gets underway at the MCG when Carlton takes on Richmond (14 March). Each weekend until the end of August, you’ll be able to wrap yourself in your scarf and head to either the MCG or Marvel Stadium to see the local game played the way it’s meant to be: fast, hard and spectacular.

+ afl.com.au

Super Netball Grant Treeby

Super Rugby Pacific Asanka Ratnayake

She Shoots

Ever wondered why the Australian Diamonds dominate in competitions everywhere? It’s because our domestic competition, Super Netball, is the best in the world. Melbourne has two teams: the incredibly successful Melbourne Vixens and the Melbourne Mavericks, who are the eighth team in the competition and playing their first season in 2024. The season begins on 13 April, and you can catch both Melbourne teams at Melbourne Park’s John Cain Arena.

+ supernetball.com.au

Surf’s Up

Tell the Easter bunny to meet you at Bells Beach near Torquay, along the Great Ocean Road. Take your spot on the famous sand or on the cliffs high above the beach to watch the Rip Curl Pro (26 March – 5 April), where you can check out the world’s best surfers as they compete on the big Southern Ocean swell. This will be the sixty-first time the competition has taken place, with the winner having the honour of ringing the bell on the coveted trophy.

+ surfingvic.com

Rip Curl Pro Matt Dunbar

AFL Premiership Season

Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

In Australia’s capital of arts and culture lies one of its most adored attractions. Located minutes from the city centre, THE LUME Melbourne showcases art on a colossal scale.

OPENS MARCH 16 2024

NOW SEE THIS

Across the season and the city, it’s time to check out the best exhibitions, shows and festivals.

Funny Fiesta

Get ready to laugh because the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (27 March – 21 April) is taking over the city once again. At venues large and small, you can catch new shows by some of the world’s favourite comedians and a diverse crew of upand-comers. Plan your festival or take a chance and grab whatever tickets are available after dinner one night.

+ comedyfestival.com.au

Global Vision

Check out the best landscaping and floral design talent from Australia and around the world when the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (20–24 March) takes over the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens. Some of the greatest minds from around the world gather to discuss books and ideas for Melbourne Writers Festival (6–12 May).

+ melbflowershow.com.au

+ mwf.com.au

Other Worlds

Immerse yourself in the world of David Attenborough at BBC Earth Experience (until 28 April), a majestic 360-degree journey to some of the most incredible landscapes in the world. It’s a completely different world explored during a visit to Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition (until 14 April) at Melbourne Museum. Collect your boarding pass and discover the stories of the people who worked and travelled on this tragic voyage.

+ bbcearthexperience.com

+ museumsvictoria.com.au

BBC Earth Experience

Michelle Grace Hunder

FESTIVAL OF FLAVOUR

Celebrated chefs from around the world, fanfavourite events and citywide restaurant takeovers are all part of Melbourne Food & Wine Festival this autumn.

Festival Central

All day and into the night, Fed Square will be filled with foodies and fun lovers. It’s the hub for this year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (15–24 March) presented by La Trobe Financial. The free program of events will include the return of Baker’s Dozen, celebrating the Melburnians who have us lusting after cakes, pastries and other delights straight from the oven. Look for famous faces during Celebrity Sausage, with Clare Bowditch, Sarah Todd and Daen Lia just a few of the names who’ll be causing a sizzle. There’s also the Pizza Sessions and an all-Dan line-up (Hunter, Puskas and Wilson included) at Dan’s Diner.

World’s Longest Brunch

Global Delights

One-off dinners, collaborations and residencies all feature during the Global Dining Series. Garima Arora, owner and chef of Bangkok hotspot Gaa, and the first female Indian chef to win a Michelin star, will be in residency at Crown Melbourne, while Sarah Cicolini, from renowned Rome trattoria Santo Palato, will transform Seven Seeds into a slice of Piazza Tarquinia, replete with life-changing pasta. You can also catch one of

Dubai’s most influential modern Middle Eastern chefs, Mohamed Orfali, Nobel Rot founders Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew, and many more across the 10 days.

On the Move

Take part in Westside Wanders, moveable feasts of Footscray, Werribee, Ascot Vale and Sunshine, where guests will visit three venues with an MFWF host, stopping for a bite, a drink or a snack at each spot.

The festival’s favourite event is back for its thirty-second year, with famed Melbourne chef and restaurateur Andrew McConnell taking the reins for the World’s Longest Lunch. Plus, three chefs bringing excitement to the Indian food scene in Australia, Harry Mangut, Helly Raichura and Mischa Tropp, will serve their favourite morning fare during the World’s Longest Brunch. Check out the website for the entire program.

+ melbournefoodandwine.com.au

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Autumn in the City

By Sally Capp, Lord Mayor

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Need more tips?

Stop by one of 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

Fitzroy Gardens, Wellington Parade

City Ambassadors

Talk to our red coat volunteers along Swanston Street and 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

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

Discover the unparalleled charm of Melbourne in autumn, with extraordinary events and temperate weather making it perfect for exploring.

Get in the Festival Spirit

Immerse yourself in the vibrant festivities that distinguish Melbourne as Australia’s events capital. From March to May, get your fix of comedy, fashion, flowers, car racing and culinary delights at several internationally acclaimed festivals and locally loved celebrations.

Only in Melbourne

Experience our unique offerings. Savour a cup of Melbourne’s coffee, experience the excitement of a footy match, book a table at one of our world-famous restaurants or bars and indulge in some retail therapy at our department stores, arcades and bespoke laneway boutiques. And make sure you snap a selfie amid our eye-catching street art.

Melbourne State of Mind

Rain disrupting your stay? There’s no better excuse to hibernate in one of our many galleries, theatres, libraries, museums or bookshops.

Did you know Melbourne is the first and only City of Literature in Australia. We consume more books, magazines and newspapers per capita than any other Australian city. Follow our lead and expand your mind this trip. Be sure to check out our new flagship library, narrm ngarrgu at Queen Victoria Market.

Search What’s On Melbourne or visit our flagship Visitor Information Hub at Town Hall to plan your autumn adventure.

EVENT EXCELLENCE

Melbourne and greater Victoria are popular destinations for many major events. RMIT marketing experts delve a bit deeper.

Melbourne hosts more than 20,000 events each year encompassing food, fashion, science, sport and more. There’s always something on and Victorians take pride in sharing these world-class events with visitors from interstate and overseas.

“We love to see the best of international sport, art and entertainment right here in town,” says Kelly Dickson, director of major events at Visit Victoria. “The

best of the world’s events come to Melbourne. I think that’s important for locals, and they’re ready to turn out and support it.”

These three things contribute to making this city a serious contender to host major events: an extensive public transport network, enthusiastic local support and a multitude of connected experiences to enjoy beyond the event.

Easy Does it

When there’s so much to experience it’s critical that locals and visitors alike can get to where they need to go, quickly and comfortably. Thanks to an extensive public transport network (including the world’s largest tram network, trains and buses) and the city’s compact grid design, access to locations all across the city and into the neighbourhoods and regions is easy. Inner-city trams are free, and

Cricket at the MCG Michelle Couling

travelling to events slightly further than the city is made simple with the combination of myki travel cards and a downloadable PTV mobile app.

One of the most beautiful connections to sport and entertainment city events is the legendary walk from Flinders Street Railway Station to the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct along the Yarra River.

“Part of the experience [when heading to or from an event] is walking down from Federation Square, then along the river with thousands of other people,” says Kelly. “The atmosphere on that walk is unforgettable.”

The Spirit of Unity

“One of the things that sets Victoria apart as an events host is this terrific collaborative spirit right across the visitor economy,” explains Kelly. “When

a new event comes to town, everyone gets behind it. Great venues, great crowds; we’re known as a community that turns up and a sector that is really experienced in delivering events.”

The energy generated from a city bubbling over with exciting events runs through the veins of Melbourne. It’s the lifeblood of the city and invigorates both locals and visitors.

White Night Ballarat SDP Media

Melbourne Indepth: An ongoing RMIT series on Melbourne culture. Compiled by Dr Amanda Spry, Dr Daniel Rayne (RMIT Marketing Faculty) and Mitch Ziems.

EVENT EXCELLENCE

Amplified Experience

Whether visitors are in town to experience a blockbuster sporting event at the MCG, take in jaw-dropping designs during Melbourne Fashion Festival or for any other of the many events in the city, there are world-class experiences to enjoy just a short stroll away. Visitors are surrounded by likeminded people looking to get as much out of the experience as possible.

It’s not unusual for people to meet at events in Melbourne as strangers and leave as friends. Fine-dining restaurants, rooftop bars, pubs and street food, as well as arts and culture locations around the city and just beyond are where the fun really ramps up after major events.

As Victoria’s event schedule continues to expand, so do the locations that host them. Alongside Melbourne, regional destinations like Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and many more play host to international artists and sporting events as well as offering the regional experience for out-of-town visitors.

There’s always more to discover in Melbourne and greater Victoria. Get ready for the event experience of a lifetime. ■

NGV International Rebecca Newman

ALWAYS LIVE - Forum Melbourne Simon Fazio

Image Source & Photographer: Roger Knight, Another Dimension

Landmarks and Laneways

Shrine of Remembrance Earl Carter

When in Melbourne, check out some of the culturally (and historically) significant city landmarks.

Civic Culture

Learn about the social, political and architectural significance of Melbourne Town Hall on a free guided tour (weekdays except Tuesday). You’ll get to see the Grand Organ, the Council Chambers and venture out onto the portico balcony, where The Beatles waved to their fans in 1964. Bookings are essential. + whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Lest We Forget

The Shrine of Remembrance hosts one of its most important occasions during autumn, the Anzac Day Dawn Service (25 April). At other times, guests are invited to tour the site and its galleries. ♦ St Patrick’s Cathedral is worth visiting for its splendid Gothic Revival architecture and for its concert series.

+ shrine.org.au

+ melbournecatholic.org

Prisoners Past

Visit the Old Melbourne Gaol and discover the grim tales of the prisoners who lived behind its walls. There are several tours and exhibitions suitable for all ages. On the weekend, you can visit the Old Magistrates’ Court, sit in the judge’s chair and imagine Squizzy Taylor or Chopper Read facing you. + oldmelbournegaol.com.au

Back In Time

Return to the eighteenth century when you visit Cooks’ Cottage, first built in Yorkshire by Captain Cook’s parents then transported, brick by brick, to Melbourne in 1934. Take a self-guided tour and peruse the antiques, English garden and stables while interacting with volunteers dressed in old-timey costumes.

+ whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Melbourne Town Hall

9 COFFEE HOTSPOTS

Within the laneways you will find an array of top-notch choices that will satisfy your coffee cravings. You're sure to find new styles and specialties that will intrigue your senses this autumn.

1. Krimper Café Hidden away in one of Melbourne’s oldest laneways, this muchloved spot has a menu featuring local produce. Oh, there's great coffee, too.

2. Little Rogue Serving more than just specialty coffee, it also offers green tea latte, cookies and a range of cakes.

3. Hikari A Japanese-inspired coffee shop in the heart of Melbourne.

4. Little Gordon A quaint cafe at the top end of Little Bourke Street  in the historic Gordon House Building.

5. Traveller Coffee A pocket-sized cafe run by the Seven Seeds team, serving takeaway coffee and pastries.

6. Maverick A slick weekday brunch spot located at the top end of Little Collins Street, with locally roasted beans by Axil Coffee Roasters.

7. Raya Grab a bench spot and enjoy a cup of coffee roasted by Clockwalker, or take your treats to go.

8. Barbarella There's something to suit everyone, whether it’s an earlymorning coffee and pastry on the run or something from the all-day food menu.

9. Dukes Coffee Choose a specialty coffee and a treat from the selection of cakes and pastries. You can also get beans to go.

Glorious Gardens

It’s the perfect time to get outside. Enjoy the autumn leaves, golden sunshine and cooler air as you stroll through Melbourne’s parks and gardens.

Queen Victoria Gardens

Jim Zapsalis - Walking Perspective

Inner City Oasis

Don’t miss the winding Moreton Bay fig trees along Nicholson Street, a historically important meeting place for Aboriginal communities. At Carlton Gardens, a World Heritage site, you can also find the Royal Exhibition Building and the Melbourne Museum. Just a 10-minute stroll away, find Fitzroy Gardens. Melburnians love the calming avenues of elm trees in these beautiful gardens on the city fringe, and the seasonal blooms inside the conservatory. Not far away, you can also find the Treasury Gardens. At night, these gardens become a playground for native brushtail possums at Melbourne’s government buildings precinct.

Fit for Royalty

The extensive Kings Domain gardens are home to many significant Melbourne landmarks. To the south you’ll find the lawns of Government House, the grotto rockery and fern gully. To the north, there’s the Kings Domain Resting Place. The spectacular Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria features more than 38 hectares of diverse and rare plants from around the world, including rare and threatened species. The Children’s Garden is a popular attraction, with more than 150,000 young visitors each year.  Flagstaff Gardens are a favourite lunch spot for local office workers. Along with the lawns, the gardens feature eucalypts, avenues of elm trees, rose beds and sculptures. You will also find a bowling club, playground and tennis courts.

Riverside Retreats

Birrarung Marr is the park by the Yarra River and it is an important meeting place for Melbourne’s Aboriginal community. It has become the home of festivals, carnivals and recreation. It is also home to the Birrarung Wilam art installation, which celebrates Victoria’s Indigenous culture. Find a spot by the river at Alexandra Gardens, where you can picnic, relax and watch the rowers and boats glide by. Within the Domain Parklands, Queen Victoria Gardens occupies a peaceful triangle of land adjacent to the Arts Centre Melbourne. Its most famous feature is the Floral Clock, but there are also ornamental ponds and numerous flower beds and sculptures.  + whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Near and Far

Treasury Gardens Walking Perspective

Melbourne Zoo

Dinosaurs are back at Zoos Victoria, and they're bigger and better than ever before! Visit Melbourne Zoo from 29 March to witness 15 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs amid a jungle of exotic wildlife.

Hurry, the dinosaurs are here for a limited time only.

Kids visit free on weekends 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

Find us on:

Melbourne Theatre Company

Hey, theatre lover!

Melbourne Theatre Company is your first stop for bold, inspiring and worldclass productions. Season 2024 has something for everyone – classics you already know and new works you won’t forget. Located in the heart of the Melbourne Arts Precinct.

Discover what's on during your visit at mtc.com.au.

Tram: Route 1 to stop 17

Train: To Flinders Street Station

Southbank Theatre

140 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank

t: 03 8688 0800

w: mtc.com.au

Find us on:

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 130 years. Although they’ve had three name changes in their long history, these are Australia’s oldest tea rooms, having been in this space since 1892. A must for any visitor.

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

Find us on:

MELBOURNE ON ANOTHER LEVEL

See the city alive with immersive and interactive experiences from ground floor all the way up to level 88.

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, 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

Find us on:

Eat and Drink

Check out Melbourne’s latest bars and restaurants to discover an innovative scene with an offering for every taste.

Market Force

Five years ago, Brick Lane Brewing debuted its first keg of beer at Queen Victoria Market. With great success at the market it has expanded, launching Brick Lane Market. There’s a terrace overlooking the precinct, dining room with an open kitchen, plus a raw bar. And the food philosophy? Market to plate, of course.

+ bricklanebrewing.com.au

Get Hooked

If you think of yourself as a bit of a hunter-gatherer, make a booking at Fishing Season. First, you’ll go downstairs to hook a Murray cod from the pond. Then it’s upstairs to the dining room, where your fresh catch is cooked at your table, Yunnan style, in a steamer as part of a seafood set.

+ instagram.com/fishingseason_mel

Fiesta Fun

At Ghost Donkey, Melbourne’s new bar at Crown Melbourne, Mexican hospitality meets a fine selection of mezcals and tequilas served alongside seasonal fruits and salts. You’ll want to order the El Burro Fantasma signature cocktail; unfortunately, you can’t keep the ceramic donkey cup. There are also classic tacos and snacks.

+ crownmelbourne.com.au

Colour Your World

If you’re looking for a place that levels up when it comes to minimalist cocktails and excellent music, head to Purple Pit. This Collins Street basement bar from hospitality heavy hitters Joe Jones (Romeo Lane) and Maurice Terzini (Icebergs in Sydney) melds two of their great loves, dive clubs and hotel bars.

+ purplepitbar.com

Ghost Donkey

Brick Lane Market

TWO’S COMPANY

We sat AFL players Christian Petracca and Josh Daicos together to discuss their favourite restaurants and food memories. Here’s what they had to say.

It’s lunchtime on Carlton’s Lygon Street and at a table at Tiamo, a favourite local restaurant, footballers Josh Daicos and Christian Petracca are sitting down to bowls of penne ragu. Here’s what happened.

Pizza the Action

CP: What’s your go-to pizza?

JD: Joanne’s Pizzeria in Carlton North.

There’s a Calabrese one called Uh Huh

Honey, with salami, jalapenos and this hot honey sauce from the US on it.

Why’d you choose penne ragu today?

CP: Ragus are awesome. It’s such a hearty meal for autumn or winter. Night before the game, I just load up on as many carbs as I can and pasta is so easy.

JD: Were you much of foodie before you met Bella [Beischer, Petracca’s fiancée]?

Josh Daicos and Christian Petracca at Tiamo

CP: Food’s always been a part of my culture. My nonna is an amazing cook. Mum’s a good cook too. I love going out for dinner. There are so many restaurants and that’s the beauty about living in Melbourne.

Talking Romance

CP: What’s your go-to date night?

JD: Anna [Dalins, Daicos’s partner] and I love Japanese, so we usually hit up the same spots. Oushou in South Yarra and Hawthorn is a favourite. What about you?

CP: Definitely Hawker Hall. I reckon we go once every two weeks. We just love it. We have spring rolls and then a noodle dish called char kway teow. It’s really good.

Where to Next

CP: Is there a place you want to go that you haven’t been yet?

JD: Well, I haven’t been to Hawker Hall, and hearing you talk about it, it sounds awesome. How about yourself?

CP: A place I really want to try is Serai – it’s in the city and there’s a lot of hype around it. It’s a Filipino restaurant and everything’s cooked over an open wood fire. It looks awesome. We really are spoiled for choice in Melbourne. + joannespizzeria.com.au

+ oushou.com.au

+ hawkerhall.com.au

+ seraikitchen.com.au

Joanne’s Pizzeria

Hawker Hall

BEYOND THE SQUARE

One of Melbourne’s newest cafes serves up tasty dishes and helps a good cause.

Just outside of Geelong, the Common Ground Project (CGP) has made a name for itself. This regenerative farm and restaurant supported hospitality workers during the lockdowns and has now shifted focus, assisting asylum seekers and new migrants in developing skills, finding work and becoming part of a community.

Now, Nathan Tolman of the Mulberry Group, which has CGP among its ventures, has opened Square One Rialto in central Melbourne. Each season, he asks 10 renowned chefs to use what’s going to be in season on the CGP farm to create recipes. These then make up the menu for the coming three months.

So far, names like Tom Sarafian (who utilised CPG’s greens in his borek), Ali Currey-Voumard, Gareth Whitton and Kylie Millar from Blue Hills in New York have contributed their ideas. After two years, the recipes will be collected in a

cookbook, with the proceeds going to the Common Ground Project.

“To be able to collaborate with so many talented chefs and bring this vision to life is a dream come true,” says Nathan. “It allows chefs to use their skills and have a direct social and environmental impact by directly supporting the work we do at Common Ground Project.”

+ squareonecoffee.com.au/rialto

Square One Rialto

HAUTE HOSPITALITY

Hotel dining is changing, with in-house restaurants now becoming destinations themselves. Here, we find six of Melbourne’s best serving a full range of cuisines.

Rendezvous Hotel

Titanic’s Timeless Tale

Spanish Kiss

Authentic Iberian cuisine crafted using innovative culinary techniques is on offer at Hotel Indigo’s Beso, which is Spanish for kiss. Chef Ana Cortes Garcia creates classic tapas and raciones, but gives them a twist. The chicharrones, for example, are finished with yuzu togarashi (a Japanese pepper blend).

+ beso.com.au

Tea for Two

Get a taste of New York City in Melbourne’s heart. Essence Restaurant in the Marriott Hotel, on the corner of Exhibition and Lonsdale streets, hosts high tea daily from noon to 3pm. Expect tiers of favourites – mini bagels, lobster rolls, baked cheesecake and more – that pay homage to the hotel’s American roots.

+ melbournemarriott.com

Urban Oasis

On your way to a play or musical?

Stop at Bossley Bar and Restaurant in Rydges Melbourne for its pre-theatre menu. Indulge in dishes like burrata with peaches and fig, rump cap cooked on the grill and tiramisu, and still make it to your seat on time.

+ bossley.com.au

Japanese Gem

At W Melbourne, recently arrived chef Hajime Horiguchi is bringing a touch of Melbourne to Warabi. By focusing on the seasons and local produce, he elevates the contemporary omakase menu, which changes daily to reflect the market’s finest. For something different, match your meal with carefully created non-alcoholic cocktails.

+ warabimelbourne.com

Native Accents

For Euro-inspired dishes with a twist, head to Mr Tompkins, located in the Rendezvous Hotel. The menu is crafted by the classically French-trained chef Eric Kwek, who uses native Australian ingredients to invigorate classic cuisine. The signature dish is Murray cod, cooked in paperbark to give it a smoky flavour.

+ rendezvousmelbourne.com.au/ mr-tompkins

Top-Tier

Ride the elevator to the 80th floor of the Ritz-Carlton to discover Atria

Not even the splendid view can divert attention from the dining experience here. Executive chef Michael Greenlaw has crafted a menu inspired by the six Indigenous seasons and local ingredients with a focus on fish and seafood native to Victoria.

+ atriadining.com.au

Bossley Bar and Restaurant

Pete Dillon

SAIL AWAY

Climb aboard for the relaxing way to reach the stunning coastal region of the Bellarine Peninsula.

Water Ways

The best way to reach the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula is with Port Phillip Ferries. Departing four times a day from Docklands, the ferry sails to the historical township of Portarlington. The journey takes about 70 minutes, and travels along the Yarra River past industrial Coode Island before heading into Port Phillip Bay. Don’t be surprised if you see a pod of dolphins along the way.

When You Arrive

Take a stroll along the main street of Portarlington, hire bikes and go cycling to wineries or head straight to the fully restored Portarlington Grand Hotel. This is the perfect spot for a relaxed lunch – you’ll want to try the local mussels – and there are plush rooms upstairs if you’re looking for a weekend away.

Popular Package

Port Phillip Ferries offers a deal on weekdays that includes return ferry transport, lunch and a drink at the Portarlington Grand Hotel, and exclusive access to the Grand Shuttle Service, which can take you for a quick trip to one of the local wineries. Called a Grand Day Out, the package costs $89 for adults, $75 for concessions, and $43 for children aged four to 16 (children three years and younger travel for free). Bookings are essential.

+ portphillipferries.com.au

+ portarlingtongrandhotel.com.au

Port Phillip Ferries

Portarlington Grand Hotel Cameron Murray

Aboriginal Victoria

Aboriginal

Victoria

Stuck on you, 2020; printed 2021 from the Queer, blak & here series 2020–21

Dylan Mooney

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

Here’s where to discover art and music that reveals the living history of First Peoples right across Melbourne.

Local Beats

Musicians from Songlines Music

Aboriginal Corporation mentor local Indigenous youth in music and dance, with the culmination being performances at the Koorie Pride Youth Festival (April) alongside some exceptional headline acts. Held at Ray Bramham Gardens in Preston, the day also includes workshops, market stalls, street art and children’s games.

+ songlines.net.au

A Life Remembered

During his short but prolific career, Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Barkindji artist Josh Muir created a huge number of paintings and digital artworks using contemporary iconography and pop art, with themes that traverse cultural identity, the legacy of colonisation, mental health and loss. Josh Muir: Forever I Live (from 9 March) at Koorie Heritage Trust is the artist’s first major retrospective following his death in 2022.

+ koorieheritagetrust.com.au

Gallery Greatness

Wurrdha Marra means ‘many mobs’ in the local Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language and it’s also the new name for the reconfigured First Peoples' gallery at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. Here, you’ll find artefacts, works from senior figures and inaugural hangs from emerging artists displayed together by theme in this dynamic exhibition space.

+ ngv.melbourne

Telling Tales

Unfinished Business has been travelling the globe since 2013 and now finds itself at Melbourne Museum’s Birrarung Gallery. These photographic portraits tell the stories of 30 First Peoples' with lived experience of disability. Each one is intertwined with social and political histories that have resulted in high rates of disability in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities.

+ museumsvictoria.com.au

Josh Muir (Gunditjmara, Yorta Yorta and Barkindji) We Will Survive, 2015 digital print on aluminium, 1025 x 1015mm Collection of Koorie Heritage Trust

IMAGES OF NARRM

Mifsud captures the spirit of the city on the cover of this issue of the Melbourne Official Visitor Guide.

Bayley Mifsud

Peek Whurrong artist Bayley

It wasn’t until the beginning of lockdowns in 2020 that Bayley Mifsud found herself with enough time on her hands to explore the artistic practices she’d begun during her school years. In the four years since, her business called Merindah-Gunya – it means ‘beautiful spirit’ in the Peek Whurrong language and is also the Aboriginal name given to Bayley by her parents and Elders – has grown rapidly.

From Little Things

Bayley was born in Warrnambool but has spent most of her life in Melbourne, with various members of the family contributing to her knowledge about art and storytelling. She drew on that during the pandemic.

“I had a space above my bed, so I painted three pieces that told the story of my family,” she says.

After she posted an image on Facebook, friends and family sent words of encouragement and a couple of people asked if she’d create artwork for their homes. Now, you can see her pieces in schools, sporting clubs and businesses.

Merindah-Gunya’s Melbourne

For the cover, Bayley has created a representation of Melbourne in autumn.

“Painting this piece brought me so much such joy, as the warm autumn colours encourage emotions of love,” says Bayley. “These are colours that I traditionally don't work with, so it

challenged my creative self to tell the story through a new pallette. Autumn is such a beautiful time of the year so to be able to create a piece that encapsulates the feeling that this season provides people, was thoroughly enjoyable. As a Victorian Aboriginal woman, currently residing in Melbourne, I was grateful to have this opportunity to interpret what I call home.

“Over the next 12 months I’ll be collaborating with Cadbury for the Merindah-Gunya x Cadbury collections. My designs will be on the new Cadbury Roses box and other products. A Cadbury collaboration

has been a dream of mine, so to see it come to life and provide education to those purchasing the boxes almost seems surreal.”

Bayley’s Top Tips

“In autumn, my top recommendations are to head to an AFL game following a delicious dinner from some of Melbourne's famous eating spots. My favourite restaurant is on Chapel Street in Windsor: Hawker Hall. I also love a sunset dinner at St Kilda Beach or even heading to the Elwood lookout to see the beautiful colours in the sky.”

+ merindahgunya.com.au

Bayley Mifsud

PATTERNS AND PATHS

Gundijtmara and Wiradjuri writer, James Saunders sits down with Bayley Mifsud to discuss her artwork and what you may find in other Aboriginal art, particularly around Victoria.

Take a Closer Look

Journey lines (that can be seen in the cover artwork) are a recent addition to the Aboriginal arts scene. They show where traditional trade routes might have been, where songlines are, and the paths people

may take in present-day Australia. You may also notice ‘U’ shaped symbols scattered across the painting; these represent people sitting. Bayley has used them in her piece to show the many people now seen in and around the Yarra.

Bayley combines her love for Country with a positive message of reconciliation to create art that evokes joy and aims to emphasise the enduring presence of Aboriginal culture in Victoria. This culture is alive in the form of language,

'Narrm' by Bayley Mifsud

song, art and dance, which are still actively practiced throughout the state. Through her art, she hopes to captivate visitors, inspiring their curiosity to explore and learn more about her rich cultural heritage.

Symbolic Meaning

Bayley has been trained in different art styles from various regions of Australia. This experience has taught her the significance of symbols and their essential role in Aboriginal storytelling. “For this piece, given

it’s Victoria, I have followed protocol and used only Victorian Aboriginal symbols.” she notes. These art symbols go beyond the period of colonisation and were traditionally incorporated to convey messages about the land, spirit and culture.

Bayley uses traditional symbols in her artwork to narrate a modern story that engages and encourages audiences to see the beauty of Aboriginal culture. Symbols convey the artist's perspective. However, in contemporary Aboriginal artworks, the intended story may not be immediately apparent to the viewer. Bayley enjoys educating her audience about the significance of symbols and their meaning. This helps foster a broader understanding of Aboriginal symbols and the accompanying stories.

Connection to Water

During family holidays, Bayley had the privilege of visiting her ancestral land, where she spent quality time with her grandparents by the Hopkins River. This connection to the water, particularly the ocean, left a profound impact on Bayley's spirit and thirst for the arts and storytelling. “In this piece, I have done five journey lines,” she says. “ They represent connection with family and friends, coming together at creative and sporting events, outdoor experiences in water, sun and nature, eating and drinking and exploration. There is also water flowing through the land that represents the Yarra.” + merindahgunya.com.au

Ar ts and Culture

Science Gallery Melbourne Peter Casamento

Discover ambitious ideas and projects, from Melbourne and beyond, at the city’s incredible selection of galleries.

Nature Meets Science

Where does nature end and the artificial begin? It’s a question being asked more often, as humankind becomes able to control nature. The works on show at Not Natural at Science Gallery Melbourne explore the intersection of biology, design and technology where we might find species de-extinction, synthetic biology and artificial intelligence.

Next Generation

The latest works by some of the finest emerging First Peoples' artists and designers will be revealed in March for Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions: My Country at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. This biennial mentorship and exhibition sees eight new talents teamed with industry mentors to create an ambitious project with the theme ‘My Country’.

+ ngv.melbourne

+ melbourne.sciencegallery.com

After Dark

The work of local artist Raphy will be on show at Craft for A Night Out in Naarm (9 April – 11 May). Influenced by his Sicilian-Greek heritage, the ceramic artist has created a series of vessels and finished them with scenes from nights out in the queer community in a playful approach to storytelling.

+ craft.org.au

Country Road + NGV First Nations Commissions: My Country – Vincent Namatjira Rhett Hammerton

TAKING CENTRE STAGE

Melbourne has a variety of world-class theatres, all within walking distance of one another at the city’s eastern end. Here’s what’s on this season.

Women to the Front

It’s all about Oz, but in a time long before Dorothy dropped by. Wicked (from 6 March), at Regent Theatre, is the tale of two witches, the best of friends until people decide to label one good and the other bad. ♦ Get ready to go behind bars with the women of the Cook County Jail, with the return of Chicago (from 23 March) to Her Majesty’s Theatre. This is one of the longest-running musicals on

Broadway and with electric songs like ‘All That Jazz’ and ‘Cell Block Tango’ it’s easy to see its appeal.

+ wickedthemusical.com.au

+ chicagomusical.com.au

Step Back in Time

International superstar Sarah Brightman leads the cast in the Opera Australia production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard (from 21 May) at Princess Theatre. In her first

Wicked

theatre production in three decades, Brightman plays silent screen star Norma Desmond, desperate to make a return to Hollywood. ♦ Geraldine Hakewell and Toby Schmitz star in the remake of a classic. Gaslight (from 6 March), at the Comedy Theatre, is a new psychological thriller adapted by Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson from Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play. It takes the Victorian Gothic themes of the original – a young woman

wondering if she really is hearing things or losing her mind – and updates it for today’s audience.

+ opera.org.au

+ gaslightplay.com.au

Have a Laugh

With the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in town, the Comedy Theatre sees some funny new shows hit the stage. Taskmaster and Hard Quiz host Tom Gleeson presents

his all-new stand-up show Gear (28 March – 21 April). Another regular on our screens, Tommy Little returns to the stage with his latest, Tommy Little Has a Regular Size Deck (28 March – 21 April). Finally, host of Gruen and Question Everything, Wil Anderson, also has a new show, this one called Wilegitimate (9–21 April).

+ comedyfestival.com.au

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Nick Robertson

HIGH NOTES

One of the world’s favourite operas, Tosca, comes to an even bigger stage this season.

Australian First

A century after Giocomo Puccini’s death, Melbourne is welcoming the Australian premiere of his masterpiece, Tosca (24–30 May), to Melbourne Park. This Opera Australia production sees elements of the fivestar Opera North season – the Tom Scutt-designed set, costumes from BAFTA winner Fotini Dimou, Edward Dick’s direction – come to Margaret Court Arena’s stage.

Passion, Power, Politics

For anyone new to the world of opera, Tosca is the perfect place to start. This is a story of passion, power and politics, as the world of two young lovers is torn apart by betrayal. In this production, Dick has combined the

historical and contemporary, opening up the tale of lovers Tosca and Cavaradossi and baddie Scarpia to a whole new audience.

Ups and Downs

The closure of Opera Australia’s normal venue, the State Theatre, for refurbishment has given the company the chance to explore alternative stages, and the epic spaces of Margaret Court Arena are perfect for this production. Puccini was the master of the emotional rollercoaster, with the chorus revelling in ‘Te Deum’ (performed in the opera scene during 007’s Quantum of Solace) and a solo Tosca ripping audience members’ hearts out with the spellbinding ‘Vissi d’arte’.

+ opera.org.au

Tosca

DOWN UNDER

We all know there’s history in the building, but do you know what lurks beneath the library?

Below Your Feet

When people enter State Library Victoria’s Redmond Barry Reading Room they tend to look up at the mezzanine level and spectacular galleried ceiling. One of the room’s most interesting features, however, is hidden. The space was once home to the National Museum and beneath the floor lie the catacombs, a network of Roman-style tunnels that once housed thousands of specimens.

Today’s Tunnels

Today, the museum’s mummies and 12-metre-long squid in formaldehyde are long gone, but the catacombs are still in use. They hold the Library’s old card system, storing more than 100 years of Library history that existed

long before any computer. When the internet goes out, the librarians still go down there to use the old-school referencing system, which includes handwritten cards dating back to the 1880s.

Find Out More

Discover more about the catacombs with Wander, a self-guided digital tour of the library that offers the inside scoop on the fascinating history of a Victorian landmark. All you need is your mobile phone and headphones. Scan the Wander QR code at the Swanston Street entrance and enjoy the tour. You can also check the website for upcoming Dome to Catacombs Tours and go underground yourself.

+ slv.vic.gov.au

State Library Victoria Dome to Catacombs Tour Eva Gorobets

CULTURAL BLEND

Experience the finest music, theatre and dance on stages across Melbourne.

Classical Moments

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has a large and loyal fan base, thanks in part to its excellent programming. This season, you can see them perform American Stories: Bernstein, Gershwin and more (11 and 13 April), bring a new dimension to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (18–24 April) or invite a guest singer to join the fun for Kate Ceberano: My Life is a Symphony (27 April).

+ mso.com.au

Curiouser and Curiouser

The Australian Ballet is bringing the frivolity of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (15–26 March) to the State Theatre, blending hi-tech wizardry, puppetry and outstanding choreography in a show that will bring joy to all ages. ♦ Bell Shakespeare’s 2024 season opens with the classic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (25 April – 11 May) at Arts Centre Melbourne in a fast, funny pared-back production. + australianballet.com.au

+ bellshakespeare.com.au

Stage Craft

Kendall Feaver’s multi-award-winning play The Almighty Sometimes (15 April – 18 May) is being brought to the stage by Melbourne Theatre Company. Screen and stage legend Nadine Garner stars in this production, examining family life and the tension between a parent’s care and a child’s need for independence. ♦ Catch Heather Mitchell embodying Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Suzie Mitchell’s RGB: Of Many, One (25 April – 12 May) at Arts Centre Melbourne.

+ mtc.com.au

+ artscentremelbourne.com.au

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Simon Eeles

Shop

Block Arcade Jesse Hisco

The retail experience in Melbourne is beyond compare. You may even need an extra suitcase!

Keep it Central

All your fashion needs come together at Emporium Melbourne. Situated in the heart of Melbourne, this mega-mall showcases Australian designers, including Gorman, Dion Lee and Zimmermann, on level two. There’s heaps more, too, including Muji and Uniqlo. ♦ Linked to Emporium by pedestrian bridge is Melbourne Central. Among the cool boutiques, you’ll find a huge LEGO shop and an adidas Originals store.

+ emporiummelbourne.com.au

+ melbournecentral.com.au

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

Lose yourself in the historic Block Arcade. Built in the late 1800s, it features many of the architectural details of the time, including the skylights, magnificent mosaic floor and stained-glass windows. There’s a diverse range of retailers, including Keshett and Haigh’s Chocolates, but most people like to visit the Tea Rooms 1892, even if it’s just to stare at the cakes and pastries in the window. + theblock.com.au

Flight to Fashion

Just arrived in Melbourne and want to make your way to the inner city from the airport? For a fast, convenient and affordable travel option, jump on a SkyBus, departing every 10 minutes and go straight to the city centre.

+ skybus.com.au

Georg Jensen at 80 Collins

Head to Melbourne’s fabulous markets for seasonal, farm-fresh produce and enjoy stalls filled with creations from the city’s finest craftspeople and makers.

City Classic

Not sure what you need? Visit the historical Queen Victoria Market, where you can browse the Dairy Hall, grab souvenirs and gifts at the vast number of stalls, or explore the small stores on String Bean Alley. Plus, there’s the recent Munro Development to explore. As well as a boutique hotel and community library, there are a handful of new restaurants. Sample delicious street food – gözleme, okonomiyaki, Dutch pancakes and so much more – or sit down at Moonfishh or Brick Lane Market.

+ qvm.com.au

Fresh is Best

Whether you’re doing a bit of grocery shopping or looking for a tasty snack, explore Prahran Market. There is plenty of organic produce on offer, as well as great coffee and the finest deli products. Hungry? Maker & Monger is well known for its incredible cheese

toasties, but the recently opened G McBean Family Butcher is cooking up some of its finest meats for rolls and sandwiches. Perfect for fuelling up before a shopping blitz on Chapel Street.

+ prahranmarket.com.au

Southern Exposure

At its heart, South Melbourne Market is the quintessential village market with a huge selection of excellent produce ready to go into your tote. Select 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 for a substantial and delicious picnic – no cooking required. Wander through

the fantastic fashion and accessory stalls and don’t forget to check out the newest opening, Gigi Vintage.

+ southmelbournemarket.com.au

Northern Treasures

There’s a real community spirit on show at Preston Market. There are stalls selling all sorts of fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, cheese, bread and more delicious produce, so it’s a great spot for the weekly shop. Before you weigh yourself down though, check out the incredible street food – burritos, curries, borek, crepes – from all around the world. After you’ve had your fill, check out PAM Lane for local makers, hair care, coffee roasters and artists.

+ prestonmarket.com.au

South Melbourne Market Rebecca Newman

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.

Expect to find everything from the wacky to the wonderful, including quirky homewares, sustainable fashion, one-off jewellery pieces and unique paintings.

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

Celebrating 20 years of handmade.

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:

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 MARKET MOMENTS

Give yourself the royal treatment and make today a Queen Vic Market day.

Fit For a Queen

Feeling peckish? There’s a new place to satisfy your hunger at Queen Vic Market: Queen’s Food Hall. Replacing the old food court, the hall is an inviting place to sit, relax and grab a bite to eat. Pair your coffee with a tasty pastry from Bellboy Cafe or try an authentic Sri Lankan curry from Drums. If fresh oysters or lobster rolls are your thing then Saltwater has you sorted.

Tasty Tour

The Ultimate Foodie Tour is a culinary journey through Queen Vic Market. Indulge in an abundance of local seasonal delights – the freshest seafood, char-grilled kangaroo, artisan cheese and chocolate, melt-in-themouth pastries, gelato and more –as an expert tour guide leads your small group on an exploration of the stalls. Tours are held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10am. Bookings are essential.

Discover It All

Queen Vic Market is Melbourne’s premier shopping, food and event destination. Wander the stalls to immerse yourself in more than 145 years of history and culture. You’ll find just about everything you can imagine out in the sheds, from souvenirs and clothes to fresh fruit and veggies. There are creative businesses on String Bean Alley, and everything you need for a picnic in the Dairy Produce Hall. + qvm.com.au

Queen Victoria Market Simon Shiff

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

SPINNING AROUND

Ready to get your record on? Here are the best vinyl stores to visit in Melbourne.

Dancehall Days

Reggae is the jam at Rocksteady Records, an independent store owned by Pat Monaghan, who’s been selling music for three decades. Located in Mitchell House, it stocks mostly vinyl records, but you’ll also find turntables, CDs and books. Not into reggae? It also stocks funk, soul, rock, jazz, hiphop, indie and new-wave artists. + rocksteadyrecords.com.au

Club Classic

It’s all about the beats at Wax Museum Records. Owned by DJ Tim Bartold and with DJs, musicians and

promoters behind the counter, you’ll find the best and latest hip-hop, beats, club jazz and soul releases, as well as a range of second-hand vinyl. Its inhouse label also offers releases from local musicians.

+ waxmuseumrecords.com

Collectors’ Corner

When you’re checking out the Collingwood Arts Precinct, duck into Licorice Pie. It specialises in second-hand vinyl, and you’ll likely find something to add to your collection regardless of whether you’re into obscure Australian artists or prog rock.

If you need some gear on which to play your records, there’s also vintage hi-fi equipment.

+ licoricepie.com

Reading and Rocking

Remove yourself from the bustle of Smith Street, and flick through the selection at The Searchers. The shelves are filled with thousands of new and second-hand vinyls in almost every genre, alongside a variety of books about art, film and music. It’s the sort of place you could get lost in for hours.

+ thesearchers.com.au

The Searchers

Pullman Melbourne on the Park

It’s game time. Melbourne is the undisputed sporting and entertainment capital of Australia, and Pullman Melbourne on the Park is your home at the epicentre of the action. Next to the MCG and in proximity to Rod Laver Arena, it puts you right in the field of play to explore Melbourne's vibrant scene, including sport events, concerts, dining and more. Relax at the hotel with great food and wine at The Cliveden bar & dining or indulge in a rejuvenating session in SALT Movement & Recovery. Our world is your playground.

Tram: Route 75 & 48 to stop 11

Open: Jolimont Station

192 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne

t: 03 9419 2000

w: pullmanonthepark.com.au

Find us on:

IceBar Melbourne

IceBar Melbourne keeping 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 29 February 2024).

Online bookings essential.

The Atrium, Federation Square, Melbourne

t: 03 9077 9716

w: icebaraustralia.com.au

Find us on:

Family Fun

The whole family will be excited by the fun activities and attractions to be found around Melbourne.

Lume Melbourne, Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius

Entertainment Factor

Check out the Melbourne International Comedy Festival program. There are shows in the line-up suitable for all ages, and plenty recommended for audiences 15 and older, if you’re trying to keep teens happy. ♦ Even toddlers love the scale and colours at immersive art gallery Lume Melbourne, where Leonardo da Vinci –500 Years of Genius is now showing.

+ comedyfestival.com.au

+ thelumemelbourne.com

Play Along

You’ve probably played it in the living room, but now you can go deep into the world of real estate at Monopoly Dreams. This fully immersive and interactive experience features games, challenges and the chance to win Monopoly money. ♦ If they like arcade games or PC gaming, they can get their fill at Fortress Melbourne.

+ monopolydreams.com.au

+ fortress.games

Today’s Treats

Head to Fed Square for the Little Food Festival (10–11 April). Aimed to connect the dots between food, where it comes from and our health, the festival offers workshops, performances and activities. ♦ If you just need to feed them, head to Bluetrain at Southbank, where the diverse menu has something for every appetite.

+ fedsquare.com

+ bluetrain.com.au

Little Treasures

If their holiday money is burning a hole in their pockets, they might like to browse the shelves of All Star Comics, where there are toys and t-shirts as well as comic books. ♦ If they love a puzzle, Mind Games is another great option, especially for strategy card games the whole family can play.

+ allstarcomics.com.au

+ mindgames.com.au

Fortress Melbourne

CITY THRILLS FOR FAMILIES

Fun and Games

Seeking familyfriendly ideas? Look no further than Melbourne’s exciting autumn offerings.

Start your visit at The District, the experiential heart of Docklands. Step into a world of optical illusions and larger-than-life murals at Australia’s first immersive, ‘trick art’ gallery ArtVo, or go for a spin on the ice at O’Brien Icehouse. Catch the latest blockbusters at the ultimate state-ofthe-art Hoyts cinema complex, where every seat is a powered recliner. Go bowling, try the dodgem cars or play arcade games at Archie Brother’s

Cirque Electriq. If you’re feeling hungry, there are more than 30 food and dining options.

Over the Labour Day long weekend in March, join in the fun along the Yarra River for Moomba, Australia’s largest community annual festival for its seventieth year. This milestone event will feature a carnival, fireworks, water sports, live shows and a range of family-friendly events.

Moomba Patrick Stevenson

Museums and Aquariums

Discover thousands of aquatic animals at the award-winning SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, and explore the four enchanting worlds. New to the attraction is Night on the Reef. As you journey through the aquarium, you’ll get close to playful penguins, huge sharks, massive sawfish, majestic stingrays, beautiful seahorses, thousands of tropical fish and much more.

Bring your curious and artistic mind to the Science Gallery Melbourne, one of only eight galleries in the worldwide Global Science Gallery Network.

The exhibitions at Melbourne Museum’s Children’s Gallery combine hands-on exploration and discovery, open-ended play-based learning, extraordinary immersive environments and unique objects from the collection.

Art and Nature

Visit one of the best places to see autumn leaves in Melbourne and enjoy a scavenger hunt with family by participating in the Fitzroy Gardens Autumn Adventure during school holidays. Also explore the State Library Victoria, which offers a yearly calendar of programs and events for children and families.

ArtPlay brings together children (from babies to 13 years of age) and artists to explore and create innovative experiences that encourage selfexpression and playful exchange. + whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Pauline Gandel Children's Quarter at the State Library

Archie Brother’s Cirque Electriq

OCEAN LIFE AFTER DARK

A new exhibit at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium invites guests to discover a Night on the Reef.

Total Transformation

It was 11 months in the making, but the transformation of SEA LIFE Melbourne’s 20-year-old, 2.2 millionlitre oceanarium is complete. Now, a brand-new exhibit, Night on the Reef, takes guests on a journey into a spectacular underwater world that comes to life when the sun sets.

Tropic Tales

Walk the bioluminescent beach and find yourself immersed beneath the waves, as a stunning array of coral, tropical fish and other marine creatures – sharks, rays, giant guitarfish and largetooth sawfish – showcase a vibrant and bustling ecosystem. New interactive displays and informative presentations are set to enhance guests’ appreciation for the ocean and the creatures that call the reef home.

So Much More

Come back to the surface to explore all the other wonderful creatures at the aquarium. Observe gentoo and king penguins in Penguin Playground, see what exists at the ocean’s greatest depths and discover more about the secret lives of jellyfish. Don’t forget to visit Pinjarra, the 65-year-old male saltwater crocodile, who’s fed at 11am every Thursday, and check out the daily feeding frenzy at 1.30pm at Coral Atoll. + visitsealife.com

SEA LIFE Melbourne

ONE FOR ALL

Enjoy Melbourne’s best day out when you take in all The District Docklands has to offer.

Play

With so many fun choices, the kids just won’t know what to do next. Start by burning off some energy at O’Brien Icehouse. Or find the inverted house experience House Down Under where you can capture fun photos. Check out the latest blockbuster movie at HOYTS, where every cinema has recliners, or play arcade games, dodgems and ten-pin bowling at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq.

Eat

There are more than 30 dining options under one roof. Cook wagyu or seafood at the table at Seoul Garden Korean BBQ Buffet, or get messy at

Krabby’s Crab Boil. For dessert tuck into a stack of hotcakes or crepes at The Pancake Parlour. Wash it all down with a beer brewed on-site at Urban Alley Brewpub.

Shop

There’s no need to go home emptyhanded, with fashion stores like H&M and Uniqlo offering designer collaborations and wardrobe essentials. If you need a present for someone back home, Souvenirs Direct focuses on Australian-made gifts and homewares.

Stay

You can slumber close by, with Nesuto Docklands, the Sebel Melbourne Docklands, Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands and Four Points by Sheraton Melbourne Docklands all a short walk away.

Visit

The District Docklands is just 20 minutes from Melbourne Airport. It has great value all-day parking and is located within the Free Tram Zone. + thedistrictdocklands.com.au

House Down Under at The District Docklands

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

MCG AND AUSTRALIAN SPORTS MUSEUM

Step on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground and discover a world-class 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 that will allow you 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 tales about sports, including cricket,

w: mcg.org.au

w: australiansportsmuseum.org.au Find us on:

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!

Shrine of Remembrance

Built in 1934, the Shrine of Remembrance is the war memorial of Victoria and one of Melbourne’s most recognisable landmarks. We share the stories of ordinary people in extraordinary times whose efforts and experiences helped shape our nation.

Explore the expansive Galleries of Remembrance, find peaceful reflection in the Sanctuary and ascend to the Balcony for spectacular views of the Reserve and Melbourne.

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

Current exhibitions include Trenches to Runway: Military Influences on Popular Fashion and Toys, Tales & Tenacity: Childhood Experiences of War Free entry (donations welcome).

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

Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday

Birdwood Ave, Melbourne

t: 03 9661 8100

w: shrine.org.au

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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Melbourne Neighbourhoods

Explore in any direction outside the city centre and discover a different side of Melbourne.

Luna Park Craig Sillitoe

North

Go shopping at Fitzroy’s Rose St Artists’ Market, where some of the best local makers sell their wares. Next door is The StandardX, a new hotel concept from Standard International. With minimalist rooms, the focus here is on the common areas. Try Bang, an all-day Thai restaurant where bold street flavours and techniques are on display.

+ rosestmarket.com.au

+ standardx.com

East

Spend the evening in Hawthorn, starting at Tinto. Indulge in tapas, raciones and paella paired to the finest Spanish wines. Melbourne’s live music scene is guaranteed fun. Head to The Corner Hotel in Richmond to see international buzz bands, local stalwarts or heavyweights. With live music on most nights of the year and a perfect rooftop beer garden, it's no wonder punters queue around the corner to get in.

+ tinto.net.au

+ cornerhotel.com

South

With the autumn sun still shining, head to St Kilda Beach and have breakfast overlooking Port Phillip Bay at Beachcomber. You can go for a long walk along the sand afterwards or head towards Melbourne’s most famous face. At Luna Park, you can spend hours getting your thrills on the rides. Just arrived and heading bayside? SkyBus Peninsula Express has convenient stops throughout Melbourne's southeastern suburbs, from St Kilda to Frankston.

+ beachcombercafe.com.au

+ lunapark.com.au

+ skybus.com.au

West

Take a stroll along Moonee Ponds’ Puckle Street and check out its thriving shops, cafes and bars. As the day ends, head to the new 11-screen Palace Cinemas Penny Lane, which blends modern comfort with retro glamour. Afterwards, grab a drink at The Suburban Cellar Door, specialising in local small-batch wine.

+ palacecinemas.com.au

+ thesuburbancellardoor.com

The Corner Hotel Zo Damage

Sunbury Line

Sunbury Line

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

+ visitvictoria.com/vic

WESTERN FWY

WESTERN FWY

Calder Park

Calder Park

Werribee Hume

Sydenham

Taylors Hill

Tullamarine Airport

Tullamarine Airport

TULLAMARINE FWY CALDER FWY

Sydenham

Taylors Hill

Caroline Springs

Skybus route Werribee Line

Werribee Line

PRINCES FWY

Deer Park

Craigieburn Line Upfield Line

Craigieburn Line

TULLAMARINE FWY CALDER FWY

Skybus route

Derrimut Keilor Park St Albans

Derrimut Keilor Park St Albans

Maribyrnong River

Maribyrnong River

Sunshine

Yarraville Sunshine

Maribyrnong Keilor Altona North

Maribyrnong Keilor Altona North

Oak Park

Tullamarine Seddon Footscray Ascot Vale Spotswood

Oak Park

Tullamarine Seddon Footscray Ascot Vale Spotswood

Laverton

PRINCES FWY

Yarraville

Pascoe Essendon Fields

Pascoe Vale Essendon Fields

Laverton Werribee Moonee Ponds

WEST GATE FWY

Altona Meadows Essendon Keilor Downs

Port Melbourne Flemington

Hobsons Bay

Williamstown

Altona Meadows Essendon Keilor Downs

Deer Park Parkville

WEST GATE FWY

Williamstown

Port Melbourne Flemington

Williamstown Line

Caroline Springs West Melbourne South Altona

Port Phillip Bay

Albert

West Melbourne Altona

Williamstown Line

Werribee Moonee Ponds

Port Phillip Bay

Upfield Line

Pascoe Vale

Fawkner

Mernda Line

Reservoir Bundoora

Greensborough

Yallambie

Preston

Coburg

Thornbury

Ponds

Parkville

Brunswick

Northcote

Clifton Hill Ivanhoe

Yarra River

Heidelberg

Bulleen

Hurstbridge Line

Armadale 1

Melbourne

Carlton

Fitzroy

Melbourne 5 km

Viewbank Richmond

Kew

Melbourne

South Melbourne

Albert Park

South Yarra

Prahran

Toorak

Williamstown

St Kilda

Eltham

Templestowe

Warrandyte

Catch the Frankston line train to Armadale and you’ll be moments from one of the finest streets in Melbourne. Over the past five years, High Street Armadale has morphed into a fashion hot spot. But along with designer boutiques, you’ll find shops selling covetable homewares, as well as salons, cafes, restaurants and galleries. If you find yourself still enjoying yourself at day’s end, find a table at Auterra Wine Bar for tasty small plates and a glass of something well deserved.

20 km

Doncaster

10 km

Canterbury

Balwyn

Box Hill

Elsternwick 2

EASTERN FWY

Belgrave and Lilydale Lines

Malvern

Caulfield

Elwood Hawthorn

Elsternwick

Carnegie Fairfield

Camberwell

Burwood

Alamein Line

Chadstone

Oakleigh

Brighton

Hampton

Sandringham Line

Sandringham

Black Rock

Beaumaris

Moorabbin

Heatherton

Cheltenham

Frankston Line

Vermont

Glen Waverley Line

Glen Waverley

Notting Hill

Clayton

Take the Sandringham line to Elsternwick Station to explore the neighbourhood. This suburb is home to the impressive Melbourne Holocaust Museum, which amplifies the voices of Holocaust survivors through permanent and temporary exhibitions. Another option is to walk to Rippon Lea Estate to enjoy this nineteenth-century mansion and its surrounding gardens. As the day ends, head to Antiques Bar for a cocktail before getting a ticket for the next movie at Classic Cinemas, where cult classics show alongside the latest releases.

Scoresby

Springvale

Noble Park

Cranbourne and Pakenham Lines

Dandenong

MONASH FWY

Melburnians are in the grip of a sandwich obsession, and there are some great ones around. Here’s where to find a meal you can eat with your hands.

BETWEEN

Fitzroy’s Finest

The menu is short, but the line is often long at Nico’s Sandwich Deli in Fitzroy. Just four melts, including a Cubano, and five fresh sandwiches are on offer. It’s hard to ignore the chicken schnitzel, freshly cooked and wedged between slices of country loaf with swiss cheese, cos lettuce, pickles and special salad cream.

+ nicos.melbourne

Top Toasties

Set in an old corner milk bar is Richmond’s Hector’s Deli. You’re wrong if you think it’s too boring to order a ham, cheese and tomato toastie. Here, the HCT layers mortadella, provolone and mozzarella on white sourdough. It’s finished with tomato chutney, then popped in the press. Perfection!

+ hectorsdeli.com.au

Northern Italian

The owners of Carlton North’s Spazio Paradiso took their love for making Italian-style sandwiches at home and opened a shop. All the ingredients, including the Natural Tucker rolls, come from the local area. Give us the prosciutto, fior di latte and basil pesto ciabatta any day and we’d be more than happy.

+ instagram.com/spazio_paradiso

TWO SLICES

Take It Away

Over in Yarraville, Rocco’s Delicatessen really is a proper old-school deli. Over lunch, however, you can choose either a ciabatta or Vietnamese baguette then get it stuffed with antipasti, cheese and cold cuts. Choose the likes of pickled zucchini or grilled capsicum and you can even have a vegetarian option.

+ instagram.com/roccos_delicatessen

Pulled Pork Power

Balaclava stalwart Wall Two 80 has been serving sangas since 1998 and is a local favourite. The hot option that garners lots of attention is the Bo Ssam-style pulled pork sandwich. With kimchi slaw, cos lettuce, jalapeños and gochujang mayo, it packs a delicious punch.

+ wallcoffee.com.au

Japanese Dream

If you’ve been to Japan and miss soft shokupan sandwiches, head to North Melbourne’s Le Bajo Milkbar. Order either a chicken or kinoko (portobello mushroom) katsu sando or one stuffed with fried octopus, fresh veg and spicy mayo. There’s also classic egg, one with tuna, and a dessert sando filled with seasonal fruit and cream.

+ lebajo.com.au

Hector’s Deli

SHORT AND SWEET

Palais Theatre opening night J Forsyth

Talent Showcase

Are you ready to sit with the lights out and take in the best of Australian short film? For 40 years, the St Kilda Film Festival (6–16 June), presented and produced by the City of Port Phillip, has delivered some of the country’s best storytelling, from both emerging filmmakers and some wellknown talents and accomplished professionals.

This year’s Opening Night Gala will take place at the beautiful Palais Theatre, with Fitzroy Street's Alex Theatre taking centrestage as the festival’s primary venue this year. Festival favourites are returning

including the First Nations session at the Esplanade Hotel and Pride Without Prejudice, a celebration of LGBTIQA+ cinema at the Victorian Pride Centre, plus an expanded program that will take in bars and found spaces in South Melbourne.

Watch and Learn

You can expect to see at least 130 short films during the festival, which showcases Australian films and filmmakers. Some international films will also be shown in a few sessions. About 60 filmmakers will also make it to St Kilda to participate in talks and panels throughout the festival.

For 40 years, the St Kilda Film Festival has been bringing the work of the best short filmmakers to screens across the neighbourhood.

For anyone currently or aspiring to work in the industry, there’s the popular free Big Picture filmmaker development day. This includes hands-on workshops, panels, forums, exhibitions, screenings and Q&As with local and international filmmakers for anyone who wants to improve their skills and knowledge.

Stars on the Rise

The St Kilda Film Festival invites submissions to Australia’s Top Short Film Competition every year. The winners are showcased across the 10 days, but they are also eligible for consideration in the Short Film and Documentary Short sections of the Academy Awards. And plenty of filmmakers have gone on to great things from the St Kilda Film Festival. Such notables as Adam Elliot, Cate Shortland, Jane Campion, Kriv Stenders and Rachel Ward have all shown work and won awards here in the past. + stkildafilmfestival.com.au

The Big Picture Filmmaker Development Day J Forsyth

FAMILY DAYS OUT

Funtopia Maribyrnong

Float on By

Load the kids in the car and head out for the day, exploring some of the fun activities beyond the city limits.

If the day is sunny, head to Studley Park Boathouse. Hire row boats or kayaks and go for a paddle along this stretch of the Yarra River. You’re surrounded by bush here, even though it’s only a few kilometres from the city. Afterwards, find a shaded spot outside and order wood-fired pizzas.

+ studleyparkboathousekew.com.au

Great Heights

If the weather turns or you want to introduce the kids to rock climbing, head to Funtopia Maribyrnong. There are 40 climbing walls for all different ages and abilities. Climb a beanstalk like Jack or race to the top of a burning building. There’s also a huge indoor playground and toddler arena.

+ funtopiaworld.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

Feed the Family

It can be hard to find a spot to eat that impresses everyone. If someone wants burgers and another wants sushi, take them to Grazeland. Open Friday night and on the weekend, this outdoor food and entertainment venue has a whole range of stalls selling food from around the world.

+ grazeland.melbourne

BattleKart

Grazeland

FAMILY DAYS OUT

Full Steam Ahead

It’s a full day trip to ride Puffing Billy Setting out from Belgrave Station at the base of the Dandenong Ranges, you’ll set out on this century-old steam train and travel through the beautiful temperate rainforest. You’ll pass Sherbrooke Forest and go over the trestle bridge before arriving at Emerald Lake Park.

+ puffingbilly.com.au

Seriously Stoked

Want to learn to ride a wave? Head to URBNSURF. At this huge wave pool, you can get a surf lesson or simply hire a board. One thing’s for sure; you won’t have to wait long for the perfect wave. Plus, you can hire everything you need there.

+ urbnsurf.com

Bright Sparks

Take the kids to one of the largest children’s museums in the southern hemisphere for hands-on fun and learning! The Museum of Play and Art (MoPA) in Sandringham is best for kids aged one to 10. They’ll love the sensory and immersive experiences in dance, craft, music, painting, storytelling and more.

+ museumofplayandart.com.au

Museum of Play and Art (MoPA)

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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Werribee Open Range Zoo

Dinosaurs are back at Zoos Victoria, and they're bigger and better than ever before! Visit Werribee Open Range Zoo from 29 March to witness 15 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, before taking the safari bus out on savannah to see rhinos, giraffe and more.

Hurry, the dinosaurs are here for a limited time only. Kids visit free on weekends 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

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40 YEARS OF KEITH

In 1984, one of the leading lights of the pop art movement visited Melbourne and left behind a mural that’s now part of a vibrant new precinct.

It’s been four decades since a then 26-year-old Keith Haring arrived in Australia at the invitation of John Buckley, the inaugural director of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. He participated in various events, painted temporary murals in Melbourne and Sydney, then created a permanent mural at the Collingwood Technical College.

Magical Mural

The day before he arrived, students at the college painted the wall yellow then Haring added the red and green figures. Although he produced more than 50 public artworks during the 1980s, the Collingwood work is one of only 31 surviving Haring murals around the world.

“I think people enjoy graffiti because it’s symbolic,” Haring told The Melbourne Times during his visit. “The fact that it doesn’t have direct meaning gives it a poetic quality.”

Haring’s Legacy

Keith Haring began drawing in the New York City subways. His figure

outlines were usually rendered in chalk on blank advertising spaces. As his fame grew, he was commissioned to produce artworks across the world, although the Australian ones were his first outside of the USA. Haring’s later work often depicted political themes: anti-drugs, safe sex, homosexuality, anti-apartheid, AIDS. He died far too young, at the age of 31, in 1990 of AIDS-related complications.

Collingwood Classic

Thankfully for Melburnians and visitors to the city, the Keith Haring Mural has been well cared for, with a major restoration having taken place in 2013. Now, it’s the centrepiece of Collingwood Yards, a new arts and entertainment precinct. Find it on an exterior wall on Johnston Street, with an interpretive panel opposite the mural revealing more about Haring’s Melbourne visit. Check it out on your way for a drink at Runner Up or to shop at Licorice Pie and Social Studio.

+ melbourneharingmural.com.au + collingwoodyards.org

Keith Haring mural, Collingwood Arts Vic

Runner Up

LUSH LIFE

Head to the edge of the bay to enjoy and explore gardens, parklands and beaches.

Green Days

Melbourne has huge appeal for nature and garden lovers. Once you’ve discovered the parks of the inner city, head to Hobsons Bay, just seven kilometres from the CBD, to find an oasis of manicured gardens, wild wetlands and tranquil bush. With more than 20 kilometres of beaches and foreshore areas, this is also the perfect spot for birdwatching. Go to the website listed to download a field guide to the birds of the area.

Welcome to Williamstown

One of Victoria’s earliest public gardens was established here, and now the Williamstown Botanic Gardens provides a peaceful setting for strolling along the palm avenue or enjoying a picnic by the Edwardian pond. On the foreshore at Williamstown, go for a walk around Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve. This conservation area has wetlands, a salt marsh and mangroves.

Lakeside Alive

Just north of Williamstown is Newport Lakes, a 33-hectare park built on top of an old bluestone quarry. It has been completely revegetated using native plants, and now about 200 species attract approximately 85 different kinds of birds. There’s a lovely nature walk that takes about 40 minutes to complete and lots of places to sit by the lake and soak up the sunshine or have a picnic.

+ experiencehobsonsbay.com

Williamstown Botanic Gardens

Experience Hobsons Bay BUS TOUR

HALF DAY SIGHTSEEING TOURS FOR JUST $I0

Gem Pier, Williamstown

Williamstown Botanic Gardens and beach

Altona Beach Market or Grazeland

100 Steps of Federation

Newport Lakes

A Delightful LIL’ DETOUR

Turn off the highway and discover a place where big animals roam, outdoor adventures abound and food and wine lovers unite.

All just 30 minutes from Melbourne. Get started at visitwerribee.com

FACTS AND FLAVOUR

Spend the day in

Spotswood, enjoying the offerings of two familyfavourite attractions.

Love Learning

There’s much fun to be had among the educational exhibitions at Scienceworks, where kids of all ages will find something to enjoy. Ground Up: Building Big Ideas, Together is aimed at babies to five-yearolds, while the older kids in the family will marvel at Beyond Perception: Seeing the Unseen, which immerses guests in large-scale experiences that reveal the invisible fields and forces around us. On Friday nights, find a babysitter because Planetarium Nights is an adults-only evening of fulldome film screenings. Don’t forget to check out Air Playground, an interactive exhibition that explores the physics of air and let science blow you away before October 2024.

+ museumsvictoria.com.au

Foodies’ Playground

Once you’ve finished up at Scienceworks (or before you head there for Planetarium Nights), visit neighbouring Grazeland. This unique outdoor dining experience serves up the best of Melbourne’s food scene. On Friday evenings and the weekends, you can find flavours from across the globe. Craving 48-hour smoked beef ribs? Deadset on demolishing some dumplings? You can find both of those and so much more, including plenty of vendors dishing up family favourites like burgers, fancy hot dogs, tacos and fish and chips. There’s live entertainment from local bands and DJs and free face painting all weekend, too.

+ grazeland.melbourne

Scienceworks

Grazeland

SUBURBAN STAGES

Community and independent theatre plays a part in the rich, vibrant artistic tapestry of Melbourne. Here’s where to find it.

Mother Theatre

Probably the most famous community theatre in Melbourne is Carlton’s La Mama. Founded in 1967, it has seen huge names, including Cate Blanchett and Uncle Jack Charles, grace the stage. Check out Musica (1 April), a collaboration between First Nations musician Amos Roach and friends, or Cabaretica (5 April), showcasing some of Melbourne’s best cabaret acts.

+ lamama.com.au

Small Packages

Formed in 1946, Williamstown Little Theatre now has a permanent home in an old bakery and presents five productions every year. In autumn, the players will be performing Shelagh Stephenson’s The Memory of Water (17 April – 4 May), a drama-comedy about three newly bereaved sisters who come together to make funeral arrangements.

+ wlt.org.au

Enjoy the Classics

Like most local theatre companies, Malvern Theatre is run by volunteers who have been creating stage magic for more than six decades. This season, it’s presenting a classic, Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. Set in St Louis during the Great Depression, it follows the hopes and pains of the Wingfield family.

+ malverntheatre.com.au

Broadway Bound

Beaumaris Theatre is heading to Broadway for its next production. A Year with Frog and Toad follows two friends, cheerful, popular Frog and uptight Toad, as they make their way through the four seasons discovering their similarities and differences, as well as a few life lessons. It’s a fun show for all ages.

+ beaumaristheatre.com.au

Local Voices

An important piece in Melbourne’s independent theatre jigsaw is Theatre Works in St Kilda, which supports and develops contemporary work by Australian voices. Book your seats for this 2024 season. Another St Kilda favourite – the Alex Theatre presents the high-energy Ruthless the Musical (1–21 March) and The Grinning Man (25 April – 19 May), a magical and macabre musical based on The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo.

+ theatreworks.org.au

+ alextheatre.au

Head to the PTV website or download the app to plan your journey to these suburban theatres. +

Beaumaris Theatre

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

Sense of Self

In need of time off to relax and rebalance? Massage, yoga, bathing? You can do it all.

Soak It Up

If your idea of relaxation is taking a long, hot bath head to Collingwood’s Sense of Self. Sink into the communal mineral bath, heat up in the Finnish sauna or hammam then plunge into the cold pool, all in beautiful, architecturally designed surroundings. To make the most of heating all your muscles, book a massage in the day spa at the same time or buy a Sud and Mud Kit, a self-led ritual for use in the hammam.

+ sos-senseofself.com

The Good Rub

Stuck on what treatment to choose at luxury day spa Relinque in Ivanhoe? Designed to offer a holistic experience where guests can refocus and restore, you can choose a ‘journey’ combining massage, facial and body therapy, or an individual treatment. ♦ If you need a good stress release, head to Ma Saj in Carlton North. There are just three choices – euphoria, deep remedy and pregnancy – but the therapists here are bodywork magicians.

+ relinqueurbanretreat.com.au

+ masaj.com.au

Just Move It

Keep up your yoga practice at Humming Puppy in Prahran. This beautiful studio features ‘the hum’, a soundscape that mimics the vibrations of the earth and encourages peak performance and concentration. ♦ Take a class at body temperature at One Hot Yoga in South Yarra. It also offers mat, reformer and studio pilates classes. In fact, there are 150 classes each week.

+ hummingpuppy.com

+ onehotyoga.com.au

SENSATIONS HUME’S AUTUMN

Autumn Drop

Hume City is home to the closest wineries to Melbourne's CBD, so why not add a vineyard visit to your next getaway?

With rolling views of the Macedon Ranges, Marnong Estate in Mickleham is the perfect place to raise a glass. Enjoy wine tasting at the cellar door and a range of Italian cuisine. Located in Keilor is family-owned boutique vineyard and restaurant, Arundel Farm Estate. Enjoy wine tasting, followed by Italian-inspired fare matched to your favourite drops.

Stay the Night

Stay a while at one of the many accommodation options in the area. On its 16-hectare winery and working farm, Marnong Estate has luxurious cabins. Sleek, contemporary interiors are a feature of the spacious rooms at ParkRoyal Melbourne Airport, where you can plan spot from your window. Quest Melbourne Airport has apartments ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms, each with plenty of space to stay and play.

Marnong Estate

Just 25 kilometres from Melbourne's CBD and on Melbourne Airport's doorstep, Hume City is the perfect place to plan a weekend escape.

Animal Royalty

Meet equine royalty at Living Legends, where the residents are some of the world’s finest retired racehorses. Take a tour, meet Melbourne Cup winners and enjoy Devonshire tea in the historical homestead. Living Legends is located at Woodlands Historic Park, where you can also spot kangaroos and other wildlife and enjoy great views of the city from Gellibrand Hill. 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.

Surf's Up

If you’ve ever wanted to try surfing, head to URBNSURF in Tullamarine, Australia’s first surf park. There are different experiences to suit all ages and abilities. Have a soak in the hot tub after your surf then enjoy an alfresco dining experience at Three Blue Ducks, with views of the URBNSURF lagoon.

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

Three Blue Ducks at URBNSURF

Victoria's Regions

Colbinabbin Silo Art by Tim Bowtell

Time your visit to the regions to coincide with one of the exciting events taking place across Victoria this autumn.

Flavour Filled

Brace yourself for fun and flavour at Grampians Grape Escape (3–5 May). Head to Halls Gap Recreation Reserve to sample food, wine and whisky, buy arts, crafts and produce, enjoy live entertainment or check out demos by guest chefs. ♦ Join an afternoon of fun, activities, wine and music at Colbinabbin Silo Art Picnic and Wine Festival (5 May), held beneath the beautiful artworks by Tim Bowtell. ♦ White Night (1 June) returns to Ballarat at the end of autumn to transform the city through illuminations, projections and music.

+ grampiansgrapeescape.com.au

+ visitthemurray.com.au

+ visitballarat.com.au

Celebrate Sounds

Artists from around the world bring their talents to Cresfest Folk and Roots Festival (5–7 April), held at venues throughout Creswick. ♦ It’s been voted the best regional festival in Australia, and the line-up at this year’s Port Fairy Folk Festival (8–11 March) includes Graham Nash and Luka Bloom. ♦ Surround Sounds Festival (26 April – 5 May) will see more than 90 events celebrating music of all genres take place across Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.

+ cresfest.com.au

+ portfairyfolkfestival.com

+ geelongaustralia.com.au

Seasonal Treats

It’s your last chance to catch Djaara Lights (until 19 March), a combination of First Peoples art and augmented reality, in Bendigo. ♦ Enjoy incredible entertainment and fields of colourful flowers at Tesselaar KaBloom (23 March – 21 April) in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. ♦ Spread across nine villages, the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival (1–30 April) hosts live music in village halls, pie and tart trails and more.

+ bendigoregion.com.au

+ kabloom.com.au

+ visitmacedonranges.com

Tesselaar KaBloom

Murray

Mildura

Horsham

Maryborough Ouyen

Swan Hill

Kerang

Hamilton

wer

Ararat

Warracknabeal Camperdown

The Goldfields

Bendigo

Yarrawonga

Alexandra Mansfield Echuca

Seymour

Shepparton

St Arnaud MELBOURNE

Ballarat

Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges

Wangaratta

Benalla

King Valley Rutherglen

Geelong

Colac

Portland

Warrnambool

Leongatha Stawell Castlemaine

Great

Port Campbell

Lorne

Apollo Bay

Geelong and The Bellarine

Mornington Peninsula

Phillip Island

Warragul

Alpine National Park

Traralgon

Wilsons

Promontory National Park

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

+ visitvictoria.com/vic

VICTORIA

5 Top Bike Rides

1 Follow the 49-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail from Bendigo to Heathcote. It’s a flat, easy ride through bushland, with the chance to stop at the Axedale Tavern for some well-earned lunch.

2 From Bairnsdale, it’s a 55-kilometre pedal along the East Gippsland Rail Trail and over the trestle bridge to Nowa Nowa, but there are plenty of places to turn around before then.

3 Head through Geelong from South Geelong Station and onto the 35-kilometre Bellarine Rail Trail, finishing in seaside Queenscliff.

4 Start in Beechworth and follow the spectacular Murray to Mountains Rail Trail to the town of Bright, with an overnight stop in Myrtleford. Don't miss the wineries and berry farms.

5 At 115 kilometres, it’s a long ride, but it is relatively flat. Set off from Maryborough bright and early to cycle through Talbot, Clunes and Creswick before arriving in Ballarat.

AUTUMN’S VIBRANT PALETTE

Change is in the air. Here’s where to see Victoria’s deciduous trees turning autumnal shades of red, orange and gold.

Golden Years

Historic Walhalla, which has barely changed in more than a century, is one of the prettiest towns in the Gippsland region. It’s set in a deep valley, surrounded by rugged hills, and it only gets better with this change of season. While the days are still warm and bright, the trees that hang over the bandstand and line the main street turn burgundy and gold. While you’re there, ride the historical Walhalla Goldfields Railway or tour the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine, which helped prospectors pull 50 tonnes of the precious metal from Cohen’s Reef in the 1860s.

+ visitwalhalla.com

Mountain High

In the Dandenong Ranges, Sherbrooke’s historical Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens has an incredible display of turning leaves. The gingko trees around the ornamental lake are especially pretty. If you’ve got time, continue onto the Yarra Valley, where towns like Healesville and Warburton will be showing their seasonal

colours. Further afield, the High Country celebrates the season at the Bright Autumn Festival (26 April – 5 May). Take part in 10 days of open gardens, historical tours, an art exhibition, markets, the Wandi Nut Festival and a grand parade.

+ visityarravalley.com.au

+ victoriashighcountry.com.au

Autumn Oaks

The gates to Castlemaine Botanical Gardens opened in 1860, making this one of the oldest regional botanical gardens in Victoria. While there are many indigenous flora species throughout the garden, you’ll also find elms and oaks, including an English oak planted in 1863, which have leaves that change colour as the weather cools. Near Macedon, take a picnic to Heathcote’s Valley of Liquidambers, which is awash in orange foliage in May, or stroll around Lake Daylesford, where the maples and weeping willows turn yellow and gold as the weather begins getting cooler.

+ bendigoregion.com.au

+ daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au

Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden, Dandenong Ranges Safari Global Autumn’s

Napoleone Cider, Yarra Valley Rob Blackburn

PAINTING THE TOWN

One of Australia’s most impressive outdoor galleries will get even bigger during a weeklong street art festival.

Located in Victoria’s northeast, the town of Benalla is recognised as Australia’s leading regional street art destination. On its buildings, visitors can see murals by renowned artists such as Adnate, Claire Foxton and Rone. International talents like Choq

Sofles (pictured) features at the Benalla Street Art Festival and installation at the Benalla Art Gallery Nicole Reed

and INSANE51 from Europe, as well as Elle and Lauren YS from the United States, have also left their mark here.

After a break of five years, the Benalla Street Art Festival is making a return (21–28 March). The guidance of experienced curator Eddie Zammit will bring a fresh vision to the project, with programming expanded to include cinema screenings, exhibitions, immersive art experiences, public forums and more than a dozen new murals.

The festival will showcase a blend of local talents like Lisa King and Travis Price, alongside international artists, including Amanda Valdes, promising a vibrant celebration of street art in the heart of Benalla. Thousands of visitors will join the townsfolk to tour various artworks and watch as others are painted by the more than 15 artists invited to participate in the event and contribute to the changing face of Benalla.

+ benallastreetartfestival.com.au

TIMELESS ROOTS, FUTURE HEIGHTS

Ballarat has it all happening this autumn. From rare flowers to award-winning wines, it celebrates its heritage and looks to the future.

Ballarat in Bloom

Get ready for a display of colourful blooms like no other as the city celebrates the Ballarat Begonia Festival (9–11 March). Taking place in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, the festival showcases the collection of rare begonias displayed at the Robert Clark Conservatory. Throughout the weekend, there’ll be loads of kids’ activities, celebrity presenters, market

stalls, live music, a parade and bees, butterflies and ladybugs on stilts roaming the gardens. If you can’t make it on the weekend, the begonia display can still be seen at the conservatory for the following four weeks.

Heritage on Display

With its backdrop of stunning Victorian architecture, this year’s Ballarat Heritage Festival (17–26 May)

Ballarat Begonia Festival

highlights the city’s golden past and its bright future. Trainspotters can travel to Ballarat by steam locomotive on the Eureka Express (a day tour from Melbourne) or enjoy the scenery on a shuttle between Ballarat and Lal Lal Stations. Continue your exploration of classic transport in central Ballarat where a cavalcade of vintage cars, ambulances, trucks and motorbikes will be on display (18 May). Check out

the Ballarat Antique Fair (17–19 May) in the Civic Hall.

Vineyard Vistas

Get ready for an impressive line-up of local wines, beer, produce, food and live entertainment at the Pyrenees Unearthed Festival (13 April). Held on the banks of the Avoca River, this intimate, family-friendly day out brings together the best winemakers from

the Pyrenees and western Victorian regions. Ballarat is the gateway to the Pyrenees and its excellent selection of wineries. Some, like Mount Avoca, Bigibila and Dalwhinnie, have enticing cellar doors where you can sample the wines accompanied by a glorious view. For sunset vistas and stargazing, try an off-the-grid stay at an Unyoked cabin in the Pyrenees Ranges.

+ visitballarat.com.au

Unyoked cabin

Global Ballooning Australia

Global Ballooning operates 364 days a year (weather permitting), gently floating over the world’s most liveable city or the countryside. The flight path is determined by the breeze, so every journey is different. Enjoy awardwinning balloon flights over Melbourne city, Yarra Valley and Mansfield.

Yarra Valley is a stunning wine region, located only a leisurely 50-minute drive from Melbourne. The local producers of food, wine and cider will tantalise your tastebuds and keep you wanting more. Return CBD transfers available!

Use code OVG10 for 10% off any WEEKDAY Yarra Valley adult flight.

T&Cs apply

t: 03 9428 5703

w: globalballooning.com.au

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Healesville Sanctuary

Dinosaurs are back at Zoos Victoria, and they're bigger and better than ever before! Visit Healesville Sanctuary from 29 March to witness 16 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs in a stunning bushland setting, surrounded by Australian wildlife.

Hurry, the dinosaurs are here for a limited time only.

Kids visit free on weekends and school holidays.

Open: Daily, 9am to 5pm

Glen Eadie Avenue, Healesville

t: 1300 966 784

w: zoo.org.au/healesville

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Otway Fly Treetop Adventures

Otway Fly Treetop Adventures is the ultimate outdoor nature experience, located just 20 minutes from the start of 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.

Open: Daily, 10am-5pm

360 Phillips Track Beech Forest, Weeaproinah

w: otwayfly.com.au

Find us on:

FRENCH FANCY

Take a step back in time when Paris from a century ago comes to Bendigo.

Top: Paul Signac, Le Pont des Arts 1928, oil on canvas. Musée Carnavalet. © CCO Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris

Right: Pair of signs from the snail merchant ‘Lazare Successeurs’ at 13 rue de la Cossonnerie between 1852-1870 c.1851, gilded metal. Musée Carnavalet © CCO Paris Musées / Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris

Walls of History

Imagine Paris a hundred years ago. It was flourishing, with an emerging wealthy class and a strong contingent of artists and intellectuals. The scenes from both sides of the Seine and in bustling markets, grand boulevards and atmospheric bars were captured by the artists of the time. Now, they’re coming exclusively to Bendigo Art Gallery. Paris: Impressions of Life 1880–1925 (from 16 March) features more than 170 works of art and objects from the Musée Histoire de Paris Carnavalet.

Follow the Theme

Divided into seven themed pathways, the exhibition presents objects like historical couture, decorative arts and other ephemera alongside some spectacular artworks. See paintings by Jean Béraud, Maurice Utrillo and Paul Signac, the pioneer of pointillism, and graphic prints by Toulouse-Lautrec and his contemporaries.

Stay Longer

Enjoy immersing yourself in the Paris of yesteryear then explore the rest of Bendigo. Chef Jay Harkness uses

classical French training to execute the menu at Alium Dining, which combines local produce with unique herbs and spices. If the paintings of Paris’s exquisite gardens inspired, take a walk to Bendigo Botanic Gardens. Stay the night at Bendigo Ernest Hotel, which has 10 individual suites, all adorned with Australian art, in a refurbished grand bank building. + bendigoregion.com.au

MURRAY MOMENTS

Make the most of autumn days and head to the region boasting Australia’s most famous waterway.

Floating Away

One of the most relaxing ways to enjoy the mighty Murray is on an Echuca Paddlesteamer. These river vessels carried cargo and passengers during the 1800s, but have now been fully restored and offer a variety of cruises every day. You could get even closer to the water and wildlife on a guided

Murray River Kayak Adventure

Ranging from 90 minutes to three hours, these tours take you through a lagoon ecosystem known as the Kakadu of the South.

Take a Swing

Just five minutes from Swan Hill, you’ll find Murray Downs Golf and Country Club. This par-72 course with its challenging greens and backdrop of river gums is rated the best on the Murray River. Enjoy a world-class golf course without the city crowds, or why not try your hand at social bowls on the three greens.

Desert Illusions

Are you in the Murray region or Mexico? At Cactus Country, you’ll be surrounded by succulents from across the world. Follow one of the eight themed trails, such as the Andes Walk or the Valley of the Giants, each planted with prickly bushes best admired from a distance. It’s a great spot for photographers and, if you’re hungry, there’s an onsite restaurant serving Mexican dishes, as well as cactus cake and cactus ice-cream. + visitthemurray.com.au

Echuca Paddlesteamer Ben Savage

GET ACTIVE OUTDOORS

Boroka Lookout, Grampians

Make the most of sunny autumn days by taking it outside and into Victoria’s open spaces. These activities will have you breathing in fresh air and get the blood pumping.

Step Out

Take a stroll through historical nursery plantations at La Gerche Forest Walk. You’ll see the changing colours of autumn on this 2.2km loop trail, situated a 20-minute drive north of Ballarat. In the Murray region, Barmah National Park is home to easy walking trails that take in forests, swamps and, of course, the Murray River. ♦ The 3.5km Broken Creek Loop Track is a great option if you want to spot waterbirds and see Aboriginal oven mounds.

+ visitthehepburnshire.com.au

+ visitthemurray.com.au

Trail Tracker

Those who want a challenge should tackle the Grampians Peak Trail, where there are a variety of walks among the dramatic peaks, from day hikes to the whole 164km trail that

takes 13 days to complete.

♦ In the High Country, North Jawbone Peak Walk isn’t long, but can be strenuous. The views from this part of the Cathedral Range State Park are incredible. ♦ See the best of Wilsons Prom on a multiday trek that takes you to its southern reaches. Several adventure companies lead hikes here if you prefer not to carry your gear.

+ visitgrampians.com.au

+ victoriashighcountry.com.au

+ visitgippsland.com.au

Pedal Power

This time of year is beautiful in the High Country and the 120km Great Victorian Rail Trail takes you past historical sites, public artworks and quaint towns like Bonnie Doon and Yea. ♦ The Red Hill Rail Trail is a shorter 6km path from Red Hill to Merricks. ♦ Take it slow through the

lowland forest and visit some of the nearby wineries for tastings, a picnic or lunch in one of the restaurants.

+ greatvictorianrailtrail.com.au

+ visitmorningtonpeninsula.org

Action Stations

If you want to plummet down a hill, head to the Mt Beauty Big Hill Mountain Bike Park. It has more than 40km of cross-country and downhill trails that traverse stunning mountain terrain. Whether you’re a beginner or skilled rider, there’s a trail for you.

♦ Driving the Great Ocean Road?

Stop at Apollo Bay Surf & Kayak where you can join a guided tour to the local seal colony. Observe them on rocky outcrops or they may just play around you.

+ ridehighcountry.com.au

+ apollobaysurfkayak.com.au

Great Victorian Rail Trail

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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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 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

AUTUMN CELEBRATION

Shepparton and Goulburn Valley will shine as festivals bring art and culture to the region.

European Festivities

Albanian migrants first began arriving in the Shepparton region in the 1920s and were one of the first Muslim communities to establish a home in regional Victoria. Now, a century later, Albanian expats and their families travel from across Australia to take part in the Shepparton Albanian Harvest Festival (3 March). This is the twenty-fifth celebration of the festival and everything that comes with the end-of-season harvest. Come along and join in with the traditional Albanian singing, dancing and cuisine.

Art Affairs

Shepparton Festival (5–21 April) brings art, literature, food and performance to the entire community. A diverse program of events will unfold in both expected and unusual spaces. The presentation of showcased works encompass pieces commissioned by the festival, alongside those collaboratively developed with artists. These works highlight both community-created art and professionally crafted performances.

Cultural Highlights

The annual celebration of the local First Nations and multicultural communities takes place during Converge on the Goulburn (12–13 April). For two big nights, there’ll be music, dance, cultural displays, interactive children’s activities and delicious food from around the world. Set against the backdrop of Shepp’s Victoria Park Lake, this is an event offering fun for the whole family.

+ sheppandgv.com.au

Shepparton Festival

FRESHNESS GUARANTEED

Right across Victoria, farmers and growers take pride in what comes from the land. Here’s where to experience the taste of the state.

Crunch Time

Fresh is best, and that’s especially true when it comes to apples. The Orchard at Montague, on the outskirts of Melbourne, has an excellent produce store where you can get fresh-fromthe-farm apples, pears and more, or you can choose to pick your own fruit.

♦ To create great cider, you need excellent ingredients.The orchard at Daylesford Cider Company grows heritage English apples from which small-batch and seasonal ciders are made. Taste them in the tavern or find a spot outside in the sunshine.

+ montague.com.au

+ daylesfordcider.com.au

Vine Times

The diverse landscape of Gippsland produces an equally wide range of cool-climate wines. Across the region, you can taste excellent chardonnay, pinot noir and shiraz at wineries like Bass Phillip, Entropy Wines and Narkoojee. ♦ Celebrate the premier red wine of the Geelong region at Pinot Affair (17-19 May), where wineries

host masterclasses, guided tastings, picnics and more. ♦ Pinot noir fans should also consider a visit to the Mornington Peninsula, where many of the 60 wineries produce exemplary versions of the variety.

+ winegippsland.com

+ pinotaffair.com.au

+ morningtonpeninsulawine.com.au

Region’s Finest

From Yarrawonga to Nathalia, the Murray Farm Gate Trail links some of the finest producers and restaurants in the region. ♦ It’s best tackled by car, but if you’d prefer to cycle, try the Bellarine Taste Trail where wineries, smokehouses, produce stores and restaurants are all on offer.

♦ Celebrate a different Yarra Valley harvest at the Kalorama Chestnut Festival (5 May). For more than three decades, it’s brought local handcrafts, produce and chestnut dishes and products to the people.

+ visitthemurray.com.au

+ visitgeelongbellarine.com.au

+ chestnutfestival.org.au

Farm Fresh

Throughout March, head to Dunnstown, outside of Ballarat where the fields have turned a vivid shade of yellow. What started as a small sunflower farm is now Pick Your Own Sunflowers, where you can snip an armful of these beautiful flowers to take home. It’s best to book a time, as it gets very popular. ♦ On the third Saturday of every month, stock up on the best of Gippsland’s produce, preserves and other handmade goods at Warragul Farmers’ Market.

+ pickyourownsunflowers.com

+ warragulfarmersmarket.com.au

Travel on a Shoestring

Did you know you can explore anywhere in Victoria for under $11? You need either a myki, V/Line paper ticket or regional bus paper ticket for your journey. Use the free PTV app or visit the website to plan your adventure. + ptv.vic.gov.au

Pinot Affair Shannyn Higgins

Pt. Leo Estate, Mornington Peninsula

Pick Your Own Sunflowers Matt Dunne

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

Visit Moonlit Sanctuary, Melbourne’s award-winning wildlife park, for an unforgettable experience with Australia’s diverse wildlife. Explore our enchanting bushland while engaging with more than 70 Australian species, including endangered animals.

Get up close and personal with kangaroos and wallabies as you hand-feed them. There’s also the chance to cuddle adorable koalas and take part in captivating encounters with colourful birds, adorable wombats, mesmerising reptiles, playful dingoes and other fascinating creatures.

Open: Daily, 9�30am to 4�00pm

550 Tyabb-Tooradin Road, Pearcedale t: 03 5978 7935

w: moonlitsanctuary.com.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

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KARRIE’S TOP SPOTS

Champion Aussie golfer Karrie Webb picks her favourite places on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula.

Golfing Days

“By far, one of the best aspects of the Bellarine is its array of spectacular courses just an hour from Melbourne,” says World Golf Hall of Famer, Karrie Webb. “Barwon Heads alone is home to three of the top 50 Australian public access courses.

“Thirteenth Beach Golf Links has courses designed by Nick Faldo and Tony Cashmore. It’s one of the places I look forward to playing when I’m here, plus it has accommodation if

you’re keen to wake up overlooking the greens.”

Best of the Rest

Barwon Heads Golf Club has an old-world charm and Lonsdale Links has great views of Lake Victoria and pristine Moonah forest. But peel away and you have more options.

“On the other side of the peninsula is Clifton Springs Golf Club, with its 18-hole course right on the water,” says Karrie. “And Queenscliff Golf Club is set

on Swan Island – if you hook it on the 11th, you’ll end up in the bay.”

Between Holes

Away from the courses, there are plenty of great places to eat and drink. “One of the best spots to relax is Jack Rabbit Vineyard,” says Karrie. “There are two restaurants there serving up delicious food. The Portarlington mussels basically come from the water you’re staring at.”

+ visitgeelongbellarine.com.au

Karrie Webb Karrie’s Top

ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

Head out of the city and to the forests and ocean to learn more about the incredible native animals and birds that call Victoria home.

Back to Nature

At Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve, you’ll be able to look for emus, kangaroos and koalas in the dormant volcano crater near the Great Ocean Road. Other great places to spot wildlife include the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park and the You Yangs Regional Park, near Geelong, where echidnas are common. If you want to get even closer, head to Ballarat Wildlife Park, where you can feed the kangaroos, meet a koala and learn more about reptiles.

+ parks.vic.gov.au

+ wildlifepark.com.au

Saving Species

Take the Dingo Encounter Tour to find out more about Australia’s only canid species and get an insight into the work of the Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre in Toolern Vale. At Phillip Island, walk along the treetop boardwalks at the Koala Conservation

Phillip Island Penguin Parade

Ben Savage

Healesville Sanctuary

LVDI/Tourism Australia

Reserve and observe these marsupials in their natural habitat. Healesville Sanctuary in the Yarra Valley is home to a huge range of native animals, with talks from the keepers throughout the day.

+ dingofoundation.org

+ penguins.org.au

+ zoo.org.au

Water World

Seals and dolphins are common off the Victorian coastline. See them on a Phillip Island Seal Cruise with Wildlife Coast Cruises or on a trip to

Lady Julia Percy Island off Port Fairy with Southern Coast Charters. Here, between 10,000 and 12,000 Australian fur seals make up the biggest colony in the world. There’s no need to go out on the water to see Phillip Island’s cutest residents. Each night, the Penguin Parade sees little penguins return to their burrows from the sea, and you can book to watch them from the viewing platforms.

+ wildlifecoastcruises.com.au

+ southerncoastcharters.com.au

+ penguins.org.au

Sky High

If twitching is more your scene, the forests of Dandenong Ranges National Park will reveal species like the lyrebird, powerful owl, eastern yellow robin and king parrot to those who are patient. The Great Otway National Park is home to about 240 avian species, including many birds of prey, colourful kingfishers, fairywrens and honeyeaters.

+ parks.vic.gov.au

FUNNY BUSINESS

What happens when you let two comedians loose in Nagambie, a region known for wine, craft beer and fun on the water? Let’s check it out.

Lakeside Fun

When comedians Merrick Watts and Lizzy Hoo were in the Nagambie Lakes wine region for the Comedy in the Vines festival, we decided it would be a good idea to show them around. First stop, for Merrick at least, was Wacky Splash and Play, a huge inflatable water park with slides, climbing walls, obstacle courses and more at Buckley Park. The two then met up for a cold beer while enjoying

the superb view across the lake at Nagambie Brewery & Distillery.

The Finer Things

The dynamic duo sat down to lunch at Mitchelton Estate, one of the region’s finest wineries. “Nagambie has a little micro-climate really suited for wine growing,” says Merrick. “It has more sunny days than the Gold Coast. That’s a lot of sunny days.”

Michelton Estate Peter Foster

The meal is chicken salad with pear, apricot and turmeric paired with a glass of riesling. Then it was off to Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art. The work of more than 15 different art centres and communities around Australia is on display here. One of the more interesting pieces is ‘Message Stick Vehicle’, a Vietnam War ambulance painted by 200 First Nations artists and recognised as a token of peace and unity by Nelson Mandela and Whitlam.

Vintage Vibes

Another prestigious vineyard is Tahbilk, where the first Marsanne vines were planted in 1927 and you can tour the supposedly haunted cellars. “Tahbilk is really famous for growing this Marsanne,” says Merrick, “and legitimately makes one of the best varieties worldwide.”

At the cellar door, you can taste different vintages of the Marsanne. Lizzy and Merrick sample one from 2017 and another from 1999.

“That smells good and tastes even better,” says Lizzy of the 1999 drop. “What would you eat with this?”

“It’s such a beautiful wine,” replies Merrick. “On its own, it’s amazing or maybe with a bit of seafood.”

+ nagambiebrewery.com.au

+ mitchelton.com.au

+ tahbilk.com.au

Nagambie Brewery & Distillery Peter Foster

Tahbilk Peter Foster

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

Discover 10 special features of Melbourne Airport

Beyond the usual hustle and bustle of everyday travel, Melbourne Airport has a host of traveller services and amenities, designed to make your journey that little bit easier.

1 WELCOME CENTRE

The China Welcome Centre provides everything you need to know when touching down in Melbourne. They can assist you with prepaid SIM cards, local maps, device adapters and multilingual information services. Find it in the arrivals hall of T2.

2 SECURE WRAP BY SECURE TRAVEL

Avoid preflight flusters with Secure Travel’s bag wrapping services, available within the check-in area before security in T2. They offer superior and quick luggage protection at great value, so you can travel with ultimate peace of mind.

3 CHAPLAINS SERVICES

The Airport Chaplains are on site every day to provide support to passengers of all or no faiths with compassionate, caring and practical support. The Chaplaincy office is located before security on level 2 in T2.

Secure Wrap by Secure Travel

Welcome Centre

4 AIRLINE LOUNGES

Travelling overseas but not an airline lounge member?

Don’t stress, you can purchase a one-off pass to the lounges listed below ahead of time or on the day, located throughout the international terminal.

OPEN ACCESS LOUNGES

The House | T2 airside on the third floor

Marhaba Lounge | T2 departures, between gates 9 and 11

Plaza Premium Lounge | T2, after security

7 PARENTS ROOMS

Parents rooms are available at every bathroom throughout the airport. Each room feautres a quiet sitting area, change table and private rooms to settle bubs prior to boarding your flight.

5 CURRENCY EXCHANGE BY PROSEGUR

Haven’t swapped your money for foreign cash yet? There are eight Prosegur Foreign Exchange stores stocking over 50 international currencies, and they’re located throughout T2 for your convenience.

6 PET RELIEF ROOM

If you’re visiting the airport with an assistance animal, rest assured that their needs can be taken care of. Visit the dedicated dog relief rooms after security in both T1 and T4, where you’ll find synthetic grass and watering facilities.

8 PRAYER ROOM

Melbourne Airport features two dedicated prayer rooms. Open 24/7 they are multi-denominational, located on the ground floor between T3 and T4, and after security in T2.

9 FLIGHT CENTRE

Don’t have your travel itinerary totally locked in yet? The friendly staff at Flight Centre are here to help. Pop in to talk to the experts about making some last minute plans or to get travel advice on your next adventure. Find them before security in T2.

10 DRY CLEANERS

Did you know that the T2 arrivals hall has a Dry Cleaning Smart Carte service? Simply drop off your items for a short period or pick them up on the way out of the airport.

Parents Room

Currency Exchange by Prosegur

Plaza Premium Lounge

Seasonal Offers

SEASONAL OFFERS

Autumn 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: AUTUMN5

T&Cs: 5% off all items in the gift shop. Excludes animal encounters. Valid until 31 May 2024.

10% OFF ANY WEEKDAY YARRA VALLEY ADULT FLIGHT

Global Ballooning

Global Ballooning Australia has shared a sunrise with more than 120,000 people since 1992. globalballooning.com.au

Use promo code: OVG10

T&Cs: Bookable for flights Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, Chinese New Year, or between 26/12/24 and 31/12/24. Not applicable in conjunction with any other offer. Non-refundable. Valid until 31 May 2024, or for 12 months if flights are cancelled due to weather.

20% OFF RIVER TOURS

Melbourne River Cruises

Save 20% on Sightseeing and Williamstown cruises. Tea, coffee and live 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: Valid only for adult and child tickets booked online. Cannot be redeemed with any other offer. Valid until 31 May 2024.

FREE LUXURY COACH TRANSFERS

Chadstone – The Fashion Capital

Enjoy free luxury coach transfers to/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: Seats on each service subject to availability at time of booking. See chadstone. com.au/tourist-shuttle for all bookings and T&Cs. Available every day except Christmas Day and Good Friday.

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&C: Not valid with any other offer. Online bookings essential at icebaraustralia.com.au Promo code: VISITVIC10 Valid until 31 May 2024.

15% OFF ADMISSION TICKETS

Melbourne Skydeck

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

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

Use promo code: OVGAUTUMN24

T&Cs: Valid for Adult, Concession and Child fare types. Only valid for General Admission tickets onsite or Flexible Admission tickets online. Valid until 31 May 2024.

20% OFF TREETOP WALK

Otway Fly Treetop Adventures

Enjoy 20% off the Treetop Walk this summer.

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

Present this coupon to redeem the offer

T&Cs: Only valid for Treetop Walk. Zipline is at an additional cost and subject to availability. Please check our website prior to visiting for our up-to-date opening hours.Please present this voucher on-site to redeem offer.

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: Not valid with any other offer. Valid for one return only. Excludes public holidays. Valid until 31 May 2024.

15% DISCOUNT

SEA LIFE Melbourne

Enjoy a 15% discount on adult and child tickets purchased onsite or online at SEA LIFE Melbourne.

Corner King & Flinders Streets, Melbourne sealifemelbourne.com.au

Use promo code: OVG15

T&Cs: Not valid with any other offer. All vouchers can be redeemed onsite or online with code ‘OVG15’. Physical voucher to be provided upon entry. Valid until 31 May 2024.

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: OVG24A

Present this coupon at ticketing or quote the promo code OVG24A by phoning +61 (0)3 5951 2830. Not redeemable online. Not valid on public holidays, public holiday long weekends or Victorian school holidays. Valid until 31 May 2024.

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.

Corner of String Bean Alley & Queen Street, Melbourne. 0437 190 249 qvm.com.au/tours tours@qvm.com.au

Use promo code: AUTUMN24

T&Cs: Bookings via website essential. Use promo code AUTUMN24 when you book to receive the 20% discount. Valid until 31 May 2024.

SEASONAL OFFERS

Click here to get seasonal deals straight to your phone

Keep up to date with the latest events, attractions, activities, food and drink with the Melbourne and Victoria Official Guide online. visitvictoria.com/officialguide

Published by Visit Victoria Victoria’s Tourism & Events Company visitvictoria.com

This guide uses paper from internationally certified sustainably managed forests and is printed at a plant that holds the ISO14001 Environmental Management System certification.

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

Melbourne Official Visitor Guide is supported and endorsed by the following organisations:

While every attempt has been made to ensure accurate information at the time of going to press, the publishers accept no responsibility for supplied information or omissions.