From sedate hot air balloon rides to Japanese room escape games, there is something to do in Melbourne for everyone. Whether you are a lifelong resident or just a visitor who does not want to miss out on all that Melbourne has to offer, here are some experiences that you can’t find anywhere else—well, at least in the Southern Hemisphere. Where else can you start your day at a UNESCO site, have lunch high in the sky, and finish at a Japanese thriller escape room?
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Ride a Hot Air Balloon
There are a few other places where you can ride a hot air balloon in Australia. However, no other major city in the world lets you ride a hot air balloon over the metro area itself. Nothing beats the morning view of Melbourne and the surrounding Yarra Valley from the air.
Whether you want to take a romantic getaway in the sky or are looking for a unique experience to do with friends, a hot air balloon ride is a good choice and well worth the early wake-up call that is required. Routes include views of the Melbourne metropolitan area, the lush landscapes of Yarra Valley, and more.
Enjoy Unique Food Experiences
Melbourne is a good city for adrenaline lovers, but it also has offerings for those whose ideas of a good adventure is a sky-high sandwich. This is the perfect city for gourmands. You can enjoy a wonderful street food experience at Queen Victoria Market, featuring unique vendors such as American Doughnut Kitchen.
If you’re looking for a more unique setting, check out Easey’s, a hotspot that sells burgers out of decommissioned train cars. Melbourne has everything, depending on your favourite cuisine or type of dining experience.
Go Penguin-Watching
Who would have thought that a major metropolitan area would have opportunities to get back into nature, so close to the city centre? In Melbourne, you can go penguin-watching just outside of the CBD (the city centre). St. Kilda Beach is home to a colony of adorable fairy penguins.
Once you’re done penguin watching, if you’re still in the mood for some natural scenery, you can visit one of Australia’s only naturally occurring pink lakes. Just be sure to stop by in late summer, which is when the natural conditions are best to see this unique occurrence.
Visit the Scenes of Australia’s Favourite TV Show
There is a reason that Australians (and even a few Brits) have loved Neighbours for the past three decades. The long-running soap opera, which follows the lives and misfortunes of a few families on Ramsay Street, is beloved for its feel-good utopia with just enough drama to keep it interesting.
While you won’t meet your favourite characters, you can still visit the set for the Official Neighbours Tour, which you can only do in Melbourne. Visit the exterior sets, hear anecdotes from filming, and you may even have an opportunity to meet an actor from the show!
Try a Japanese Thriller Escape Room
Escape rooms are wildly popular across Australia, but few other cities can match the depth and variety of what Melbourne has to offer. You can choose from a variety of themes, including unique Japanese room escape games like Ukiyo that transport you to a whole new world.
Melbourne’s escape rooms are also tailored to all abilities. Whether you are a hardened code cracker or a beginner, you can find a room that will challenge you just enough to keep it interesting. An escape room is a great bonding activity with travelling companions or friends. Plus, you get to escape from your normal life and get transported to a whole new world for a brief moment. Discover tripadvisor escape room recommendations in Melbourne!
See Australia’s Oldest—Everything
Melbourne is one of Australia’s most historic cities and home to several well-preserved markers of that legacy. You can visit Australia’s first building to be awarded UNESCO heritage status, the Royal Exhibition Building, which is home to events such as the Dog Lovers Show.
If architecture is not your thing, you can take in a bit of historic adrenaline at the Great Scenic Railway at Melbourne’s Luna Park, the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the whole world. The vintage decorations add to the very modern thrills. You can also visit the world’s oldest continuous Chinatown in Melbourne, where you can eat delicious meals as well.
Melbourne has something for everyone, including unique experiences that you can’t get anywhere else in Australia—or the world. Take in some history at Australia’s first UNESCO site or historic amusement park. Or, get the adrenaline going with a hot air balloon ride or a Japanese thriller escape room. Whatever your interests, Melbourne has something for you.
