- DF Tours
So you got a new camera for Christmas but have no
idea what to do if you switch it from auto to manual. Join a photographic
walking tour exploring some of inner Melbourne’s most famous and infamous
locations and a few hidden gems. The two hour tour is also an ideal way for
tourists to start their exploration of the city.
Tours will cover many of the camera’s functions as
well as composition techniques. Tours start from Federation Square. Day and
night tours available as well as private bookings.
$66/person
- Bounce
Remember the sheer joy you experienced bouncing on
the bed as a child, well now you can relive that feeling without the fear of
being yelled at by your parents. Bounce has over 50 interconnected trampolines
on its floors and walls as well as a 5 foot deep foam pit. Lessons are
available, join the dodge ball league or just go their and release you inner
child.
Must be 110cm tall, for general sessions, junior
jumper groups available. Bookings are essential
from $15/hour
- Kayak Melbourne
Take a relaxing paddle down the Yarra River to see
the sites of Melbourne CBD from a new perspective. No experience is necessary,
kayaking provides an excellent opportunity to exercise and relax all at the
same time. “Accidently” splashing each other is also a great way to cool down
during the Australian summer.
A variety of tours are available of differing
lengths. Day and night bookings available.
from $72 for 90min tour
- Cutler & Co
Fine dining without the pretence. Treat yourself!
Cutler & Co offer a la carte and degustation
menus. For those on a tighter budget try their set Friday and Sunday lunch
menus. The friendly atmosphere compliments the exquisite combinations of
flavours of the food as perfectly as the wine selection.
Next door is the Supernormal Canteen, described as
Cutler & Co’s experimental kitchen, is laid out like a casual dining café.
Currently it is right next door to its parent restaurant in Fitzroy, but is
cutting the apron strings and finding moving into its own place on Flinders
Lane in March 2014.
$60/person Friday lunch
- Flying Trapeze
Remember sitting, eyes skyward, watching in awe as
the men and women of the flying trapeze seemingly flew through the air? Here is
your chance to do it for yourself. Classes teach basic techniques and even
beginners will get the change to do a back flip and release in their first
lesson. One off classes and term courses available.
Fly Trapeze also offers classes in a range of
circus skills including acrobatics, tumbling and contortion. Stretch yourself,
literally!
$89/2hr beginner class
- Kryal Castle
Kryal Castle offers jousting, knights, maidens,
horses, torture, throne rooms and a hanging or two. Whilst the Kryal Castle
experience is more A Knights Tale than Game of Thrones, this medieval theme park may just provide the
escape from reality into Ye Olde times that is all the trend at the moment.
Sure the scenes might be a little cliché and the
actors are not likely to win an Oscar® anytime soon. Recently renovated, Kryal
castle is a full day’s activity for the whole family. Dinner shows and
accommodation are also available
$17/child, $28.50/adult
- Melbourne Star Observation Wheel
Originally opened in 2008, for 40 days, it has been
under repair for 5 years and is now back in business. The wheel is 120m high
and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete a full rotation. The “flight”
gives visitors the opportunity for uninterrupted views of up to 40km over
Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay.
Each cabin can hold up to 20 guests. Take your
camera and practice the skills you learned with DF Tours.
from $19/child, $26/adult
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival
One of the worlds premiere comedy festivals, MICF
attracts some of the biggest names in the business. The festival boasts over
300 acts performing in rooms all over the city. Go and see the international
artists or the household names from Australian TV and radio, sure, but this is
a festival. Festivals also offer an opportunity to explore something new.
Comedy comes in many genres and all of them will be
on display, as well as the big names the festival is full of new comers and
artists still learning their craft. There will be some hits and misses but it
these acts that will provide the biggest comedic surprises of the festival. For
every big act you see make sure you see an unknown.
- AFL ANZAC Day Match
AFL is the national sport and the ANZAC Day match
is one of its biggest games. This is a chance to get the grand final atmosphere
without the grand final price tag.
The game to see is at the MCG between Collingwood
and Essendon after the ANZAC Day Parade. The media will provide the hyperbole
comparing the “battle” of a game with the life and death struggle that was the
landing at Gallipoli in World War II. Ignoring that and the fact that you may
not follow either team or even understand the sport, there is nothing quite
like 93,000 in full voice at the MCG. There is also nothing like the same crowd
falling into complete silence in tribute to the fallen service men and women
- Melbourne
Zoo
Melbourne Zoo boasts a large and exotic animal
collection each housed in enclosures designed to replicate the animal’s native
environment and encourage natural behaviours as much as possible.
The success of the Asian elephant breeding program
and the regularity of the births is a good indication that they are doing
something right. A highlight is watching and listening to the lions respond to
the overhead p.a. system, defending their territory against announcements about
seal performance times and lost children.
The zoo also has a large walk through exhibit of
Australian native wildlife, perfect for international guests.
$13.30/child, $30/adult
- D’Lish Fish
& Chips at the Beach
Catch the 109 tram to Port Melbourne Beach,
opposite the tram stop at the end of the line walk in to D’Lish Fish and order
your, fish, chips, salads, dim sims the walk west along the beach to watch the
sunset or east to watch the Spirit of Tasmania com into or leave dock.
Walk along the beach, to help the guilt of enjoying
your meal settle, and soak in the Australian evening before returning for a
deep fired Mars Bar for dessert. A simple indulgence that can be enjoyed all
your round.
www.dlishfish.com.au
- Federation Square
This public access venue is in the heart of the
Melbourne CBD, on the banks of the Yarra River directly opposite Flinders
Street Station. Fed Sq hosts many free cultural events, exhibitions and
festivals throughout the year, as well as showing major sporting events on the
big screen – watch the Socceroos battle it out at the 2014 world cup with
thousands of your newest and closest (at least in proximity) friends.
Numerous bars and cafes surround Fed Square and
spill down onto the riverbank. Grab a drink or a bite to eat and then waste an
hour or two people watching, or being entertained by the ever-present street
performers.
- Federation Bells
A short walk along the banks of the Yarra will take
visitors to Federation Bells in Birrarung marr. This collection of 39 upturned
bells sitting atop poles ranging from 2
-6meters high are played 8am, 12.20pm and 5pm daily.
Federation Bells host live events throughout the
year, often in conjunction with a Melbourne-based festival, where the bells are
played live. The website also allows for budding musicians to compose music to
be played on the bells.
- Last one
Comedian Jeff Green jokes that Melbourne has a café
per head of population, and he may be right and the choices of venue are as
countless as the quality prices and coffee styles. One that stands out is SheBeen,
a fully licensed venue it not only sources free trade ingredients where-ever
possible they donate the profits from each menu item back to the community from
which the ingredients were sourced.
The service is relaxed and friendly, the quality is
good, and it is wall-to-wall hipsters. Could any café be more Melbourne than
this?
