Melbourne is a very popular tourist destination all year round for people travelling to Australia from overseas or even interstate. Victoria’s capital is full of culture and sport, with a brimming artistic community and home to some of the best food, dining and live music in the country.

With such a wide variety of experiences on offer in this city and its surrounds, what’s the best highlights for the first-time visitor to Melbourne? Here are the top ten must do’s in Melbourne:

1. Explore the city’s laneways that are filled with quirky alley ways, hidden shops, art galleries and indie theatres plus a coffee shop/restaurant or two.
   

   Melbourne Laneway

2. See the wildlife at a Zoo or Aquarium at Melbourne Aquarium, Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary or Werribee Open Range Zoo.

3. Travel to Phillip Island, a very popular natural destination with the world’s largest colony of little penguins, that’s reachable 2 hours’ drive of Melbourne.

4. Experience the stunning Great Ocean Road stretching over an expanse of 243km along the Victorian Coast, 1 hour, 15 minutes drive from Melbourne.

5. Shop at the Queen Victoria Market, the Queen of all markets with vibrant, exciting mix of cultures and ethnicities of Melbourne and a variety of foods and souvenirs.

6. Tour the Dandenong Ranges by riding on Australia’s most notable narrow gauge railway through the breathtaking blue ranges or visit the area by coach.

7. See St Paul’s Cathedral/Flinders Street Station and be amazed at their architecture.

8. Go Hot Air Ballooning and absorb the breathtaking view of Melbourne CBD and the Yarra Valley.

9. Walk the pier at St Kilda beach which provides panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline and Port Phillip Bay. The pier is a popular destination for strolling, cycling, roller-blading and fishing. 

10. Take in a major sporting event or see some of the famous sporting venues in the city – such as the MCG, 2006 Commonwealth Games Village, Melbourne Park, Flemington Raceway and National Sports Museum.

International major sporting events in Melbourne, such as the AFL Football, the Formula One, the Melbourne Cup or the Australian Open Tennis are a definite must-do at least once during your lifetime.

Melbourne Park venue

In January each year the city is abuzz with the first event on the World Tennis Grand Slam calendar, the Australian Tennis Open. I have been to the Australian Open and I can tell you it is a fun and exciting event. It is as though the entire city has gone tennis crazy!

So make sure you get to Melbourne in summer to experience all that this vibrant multi-cultured city has to offer. I can guarantee you will be not be disappointed!