4 Days in Melbourne, Australia

After spending a week in Sydney, I headed further south to Melbourne, the second largest city in Australia. I spent a few days exploring the city and its beautiful surrounding areas.

Day 1 – Two Free Walking Tours

I arrived at 5:30 AM via the overnight Greyhound bus from Sydney. The timing was difficult since I couldn’t purchase a Myki card yet, which is a physical card for the city’s metro system. If you have an Android you can buy a card online, but iPhone users aren’t so lucky. Instead of dealing with public transportation, I Ubered to Space Hotel, my hostel for the next few days. I dropped by bags off and then rested until the morning’s free walking tour.

I joined the 10:30 AM “Melbourne Sights” tour with I’m Free Walking Tours. These tours are actually free; they just suggest “paying what you think it’s worth” so all income levels can enjoy. You do, however, need to book the tour a day or two in advance since they do fill up. We started the tour at the State Library Victoria and then walked by the Old Melbourne Gaol on our way to Carlton Gardens. Next, we walked through the Theatre District and then Chinatown, which is one of the longest-standing Chinatowns in the world.

View of Melbourne from Space Hotel’s rooftop

Our guide taught us many facts about the city throughout the tour. For me, the most interesting was that Melbourne is one of the most multicultural cities in the world; 60% of its residents were either born in another country or have at least one parent born in another country! We also learned about the “feud” between Melbourne and Sydney, with each one thinking the other is better.

Since I wanted to see as much of the city as possible, I also joined the “Culture Capital” walking tour in the afternoon with the same company. This tour was more focused on Melbourne’s street art, coffee culture, and hidden laneways. While the first tour was good, I absolutely loved this second tour! We learned that many of Melbourne’s best spots aren’t on the main streets, but are instead hidden in alleyways and behind secret entrances. I felt like I had discovered an entire new city on this tour, one that was less polished but more unique and cool.

One of Melbourne’s many laneways

Laneway artwork

After visiting a few different spots, we walked to Hosier Lane and AC/DC Lane, which are both famous for their street art. During the tour we passed many other murals as well, which were all hidden in laneways. We even saw a small piece of art by Banksy! Our guide also taught us about Melbourne’s coffee scene, which began when Italian and Greek immigrants brought their espresso machines and café culture to the city. Nearly every place that serves coffee has a nice espresso machine, even if it’s a gas station or a small store. They also don’t have drip coffee; instead, you can order a “long black” (known in the U.S. as an Americano) or a “flat white,” among other options.

Artwork on Hosier Lane

AC/DC Lane

At the end of the tour, we learned about some hidden bars throughout the city. One has the look of a pizza restaurant on the outside; another has a secret entrance through a wardrobe. After the tour, I grabbed some dinner in Flinders Lane and then had dessert at Brunetti. Melbourne was shaping up to be a very interesting place!

Day 2 – Trip to Phillip Island

The next day, I joined a Viator tour to Phillip Island to see the famous penguin parade. I was picked up from my hostel around 11 AM, and our first stop was the Brighton Bathing Boxes on the south end of the city. It was a cloudy and chilly day, but I could imagine the appeal of these beach huts in the summertime. Next we stopped at the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park, where I saw my first kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas. I also saw some dingos being walked on a leash which I thought was funny. We headed to The Nobbies next, which typically has beautiful coastal views. It was freezing and extremely windy, however, so I sat inside the visitor’s center enjoying a coffee and trying to warm up.

Brighton Bathing Boxes

Mom and baby wallaby

Finally, we headed to Phillip Island to watch the penguins. Every evening, thousands of penguins exit the water and head to their burrows for the night. The penguins were really little and so cute! We enjoyed watching them slowly waddle to their homes. Photos and videos are forbidden, but the park allows you to download its own professional photos of the penguins so you have some for your memories. We watched the penguins until after dark and then headed back to the city. It was a relaxing and enjoyable day.

Penguins exiting the water (photo by Phillip Island Nature Parks)

Day 3 – The Great Ocean Road

I woke up early the next morning for another group tour to the Great Ocean Road. Ideally you can rent a car and drive yourself, taking as much time as you want to explore the area. I didn’t feel comfortable driving on the left side of the road, however, and also wanted to just have a relaxing time not worrying about anything. Our first stop was Torquay, where we had coffee, tea, and biscuits for breakfast and watched the surfers in the freezing water. Next we headed to the Great Ocean Road Memorial Archway where we had some time for photos. We then stopped at Kafe Koala for lunch and spotted a koala hidden in the trees!

Entry to the Great Ocean Road

From there, it was a long and windy journey to the main attraction; I was glad I had taken Dramamine. We stopped at Maits Rest Rainforest Walk where we admired the beautiful trees and temperate rainforest scenery. We then visited the Twelve Apostles rock formation, which is the most famous part of the Great Ocean Road. It was a stunning view despite the cloudy day. I can only imagine how beautiful it is in the sunshine! We visited the nearby Loch Ard Gorge as well, which is the site of a famous shipwreck. Before long it was time to head back to the city, where we stopped for a bite to eat along the way. I was glad I had gotten to see a famous part of Australia’s coastline with minimal planning on my part.

Maits Rest Rainforest Walk

The Twelve Apostles

Beautiful scenery, even on a cloudy day

Day 4 – Food and More Food

I had a much-needed restful morning and then had a late breakfast at Lune, a croissanterie that has been voted the best in the world. They have traditional croissants as well as cruffins, savory croissants, various sweet pastries, and monthly specials. The line was long, but it was worth the wait! I chose a traditional croissant and a coffee for my first visit, which were both amazing.

Lune Croissanterie

I had finally gotten a physical Myki card at a 7-Eleven, so I took the tram to Luna Park amusement park and then the nearby St. Kilda neighborhood. I spent the afternoon wandering around the area and then headed back into the city center to Lygon Street, which is known for its Italian restaurants. I had dinner at Tiamo and then revisited Brunetti for dessert. I was sad to be leaving the city so soon, but thankful to have seen as much as I did in a short period of time. I’ve already visited again since, where I spent a month enjoying Melbourne (and more croissants than I would like to admit).