MELBOURNE

Melbourne is one of my favorite cities! The city is beautiful and spread out over a huge cake. Old and new building give the streets a unique vibe, backpackers from all over the world meet international students and people on the working holiday visa, what gives you the opportunity to connect and make new friendships. Melbourne has also amazing mural art to offer! I'm sure you will enjoy your stay or even start a Road Trip on the Great Ocean Road from the Street Art Town.

A night bus ride a way from Sydney is Melbourne. The ride lasted around 12h and along the stops I talked to the friendly - of course he was friendly he's Australian! - bus driver. I was astonished because he rode the 12 hours by himself and we never stopped longer than 30 minutes. He also mentioned really casually, that he sometimes hits a Kangaroo, what made my chin drop to the ground. Later, I realized Kangaroos in Australia are just like deers in Switzerland, and it's not uncommon that sometimes one runs in front of the car - I pray it will never happen to me!

Anyways, Melbourne, one of my favorite cities! The city is beautiful and spread out over a huge cake. I recommend you to stay in the city center somewhere along or close to the ELISABETH STREET, since there are a lot of Restaurants, Shops and things to see in this Area.

CITY CENTER

You'll find yourself strolling through the streets close to the MELBOURNE FLINDERS STREET TRAIN STATION, where you can find plenty of Shopping possibilities like BOURKE STREET MALL. There's also CHINA TOWN with a Hong Kong Dessert Place - if you haven't try the Red Bean Dessert you haven't lived! Also make sure to check out the fanxxy CHUCKLE PARK BAR. Close to the station is the NICHOLAS BUILDING, home to Melbourne's Art and Craft culture.

A DAY IN THE GREEN

Spend your Sunday strolling along the YARRA RIVERBANK and make your way to the beautiful ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS. There are beautiful parks and gardens everywhere, making you completely forget, that you are actually in the capital city of Victoria!

BEACH DAY

Pack your Beach Stuff, catch a bus or rent a bike and make your way to the. I recommend you to rent a bike from PRINCES PIER all the way to ST. KILDA BEACH. There are plenty of Beaches at the shore and also plenty of possibilities to park your bike within 30 minutes so you don't have to pay for the rental. Once you reach ST. KILDA make sure to check out the SAILING BOAT HARBOR, before you are heading to the crowded beach.

CITY CENTER

When you get hungry you find the ACLAND STREET, within a 10 minutes walk behind the Beach. There are Shops and Restaurants. You'll also see the LUNA PARK, where you can end your day after a little stroll through the ST. KILDA BEACH TWILIGHT MARKET.

Tram Stop: Belford Street / Acland Street

HIDDEN GEM

If you don't like crowded Beaches, a 10 minutes walk north from St. Kilda Beach is a beautiful spot. It looks just like straight out of a romantic movie.

WATERFRONT CITY

Make sure to stroll around the NEW QUAY area, check out the huge SHIP at the WATERMARK DOCKS and walk until you reach the WEBB BRIDGE. It was so quiet in this area and the weather was so nice, we decided to order UBER EATS and just hung out in the grass, letting the feet bath in the water and enjoy the sun - perfect Hangover Hangout spot ;-)

On your way back you can stop at the MARVEL STADIUM and right behind is the SOUTHERN CROSS STATION, where you can shop and the next the catch a bus to Phillip Island.

SHOPPING - SIGHTSEEING AT H&M

Once I arrived in Australia, my warm winter clothes almost killed me and my Day Backpack was damaged beyond paperclip and duct tape reparation so I was glad to find a TARGET. Make sure to wander around the famous QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET, along SMITH STREET you can find various FACTORY OUTLETS and if you are more into Vintage there is the RETROSTAR VINTAGE CLOTHING. Another nice Shopping place is the HARBOR TOWN.

HIDDEN GEM:

Make sure to check out the H&M at Elisabeth Street. I'm not a huge H&M fan, but that store's interior is just mind blowing!

BRUNSWICK EAST

More by accident than intentionally I ended up in the BRUNSWICK EAST DISTRICT. I was walking along Royal Parade Street and came across the beautiful UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE, where I found myself suddenly being tempted by the idea of actually going to study. A little bit further is the UNIVERSITY OVAL STADION and shortly after the huge PRINCESS PARK. Brunswick East struck me as an alternative District, with a lot of Healthy and Vegan Restaurants and many other things to do.

Tram Stop: Barkley Square / Sydney Road

ABOVE THE ROOFTOPS

I stumbled a cross a ROOFTOP CINEMA and watched Star Wars: Solo under the stars, with an amazing night view of the city. I went alone, but ended up sharing my popcorn with a guy next to me and we ended up catching a drink in the bar below the cinema. I love Australia. There are a couple of Rooftop Cinemas in Melbourne.

Hidden Gem:

You can catch another stunning view from the Toilet of the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Street

GO WILD ON PHILLIP ISLAND

Not only can you see the PENGUIN PARADE at Sunset, but you can also feed KANGAROOS and KOALAS at the WILDLIFE PARK. You can even do a WHALE WATCHING TOUR or explore the Island by bike.

HOW TO GET THERE BY BUS:

V/Line bus services run between Southern Cross Station in Melbourne and Phillip Island.

The journey from Melbourne requires a change of bus at Koo Wee Rup and takes around 2 hours 20 minutes to Cowes.

STREET ART PARADISE!

YES! STREET ART! EVERYWHERE! I felt like I arrived in heaven. I spent more than just one day exploring the wall paintings and filled my SD Card more than once with pictures of colorful walls. Maybe that's why Melbourne is one of my favorite cities! There are also countless free ART GALLERIES to get your creative fix!

Most known spots: HOSIER LANE, AC/DC LANE, CENTER PLACE, KEITH HARING MURAL, CALEDONIAN LANE, CROFT ALLEY, DUCKBOARD PLACE, RANKINS LANE, FITZROY MURAL, STEVENSON LANE