Melbourne for less: top free things to do in Australia's second city

Qin Xie

Qin Xie

A vibrant art scene, extensive green spaces and some of the best coffees anywhere are all the ingredients that make Melbourne one of the most livable cities in the world.

How to make the most of Melbourne on a budget
How to make the most of Melbourne on a budget © Aleksandar Todorovic - Adobe Stock Image

As it happens, they are also things that attract visitors to this Aussie hotspot. But Melbourne isn't cheap, especially when it comes to food and drink and accommodation. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to save; here are some fantastic free activities in Australia's second city to get you started.

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City Circle Tram

All of the trams within Melbourne's central business district (CBD) are free, which makes getting around the city quick and easy. But for visitors, the City Circle Tram (Number 35) is both an attraction and a mode of transport.

Ride the free City Circle Tram
Ride the free City Circle Tram © RTPeat - Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Served by heritage wooden carriages, the route loops around the CBD, taking you past all of the main attractions. You can hop on and hop off, or stay on board to listen to the audio guides.

There's a tram approximately every 12 minutes between 9.30 am and 5.00 pm each day but you'll want to avoid rush hour when locals will also hop on board.

Victoria State Library

Taking up an entire city block, the enormous Victoria State Library is Australia's oldest public library, and it's extremely popular with locals and tourists alike.

Melburnians love to picnic on the grassy forecourt, which features several statues, including one depicting St George's battle with the Dragon. Inside, there are also buzzy co-working spaces geared towards students and startups.

Most visitors flock here for the incredibly photogenic La Trobe Reading Room. Inspired by London's British Museum and Washington's Library of Congress, the cavernous space is perfectly illuminated by the domed skylight six storeys above.

There's a great view whether you're standing by the vintage wooden tables with their green glass lamps on the ground floor, or in the galleries near the ceiling, just be prepared to wait your turn for photos.

This library has lots of other gorgeous spaces to get lost in though. The Ian Potter Queen's Hall is another magnificent reading room, with Greek-style columns that extend to the ceiling, where natural light flows in through the filigree-patterned skylights.

The interior of Ian Potter Queen's Hall at the State Library
The interior of Ian Potter Queen's Hall at the State Library © Wirestock Creators - Shutterstock.com

There are also several gallery spaces. The Victoria Gallery houses temporary exhibits linked to life in the state of Victoria, the North Rotunda houses an intimate display of paintings, while the South Rotunda showcases the armour worn by infamous outlaw Ned Kelly.

Parliament House

An imposing building home to the government of Victoria, Parliament House is also open to the public.

For several days each month, there are free guided tours of its interior. During 50 minutes, visitors can get a glimpse into how laws are made in the state and even sit in a Member of Parliament's chair.

There's no need to book; just check on Parliament House's website for tour dates, then show up 30 minutes before the start time with your photo ID to secure a spot and go through security checks.

Do bear in mind though that while there are usually multiple tours a day, they're limited to 25 people per group on a first come, first served basis. Tours can also be cancelled at the last minute.

If there isn't a tour when you're visiting, you could always book a table for lunch at the restaurant or sit down for afternoon tea.

National Gallery of Victoria

The National Gallery of Victoria, or NGV as it likes to be known, owns a huge collection of classic and contemporary art, which is housed across multiple galleries. Everything in its permanent collection is free to visit, but there are also special exhibitions that you'll need to book tickets to.

NGV International is the original gallery, and showcases works by international artists in an enormous space south of the Yarra River. Highlights include The Great Wave Off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai and several pieces by Pablo Picasso.

If you're short on time or aren't quite sure what to see, the gallery offers free highlights tours of its collection; just head for the guided tour meeting point on the ground floor.

Contemporary indigenous art at the NGV
Contemporary indigenous art at the NGV © Keitma - Adobe Stock Image

Perhaps more interesting to international visitors is the newer Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, which focuses on works by Australian artists and has an entire gallery dedicated to indigenous artists.

Federation Square, just outside, also plays host to several free events throughout the year so you can easily spend a day here.

Domain Parklands

Following the Yarra River south are a series of gardens and parks that are collectively known as the Domain Parklands. They're scenic and extensive, and you'll most probably want to hire a bike if you want to explore the whole thing.

If you only have time for the best bit, make a beeline for Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens.

The 38-hectare green space is home to more than 8,500 species of plants ranging from climate-ready roses and delicate orchids to leafy ferns and fragrant eucalyptus. There's also a children's garden which is designed to be interactive, helping kids learn about the plant world.

It's worth checking out what's on at Sidney Myer Music Bowl too. The open-air venue hosts a range of performances during the warmer months and some of these are free or very cheap.

The laneways

Melburnians love their laneways, the narrow streets that mostly run north to south in the CBD. There's a good reason for this: tucked behind small shop fronts are hole-in-the-wall restaurants, takeaway coffee shops, speakeasy-style bars and design-led boutiques that give this city its soul.

Go window shopping, bar hopping or just soak up the vibe with a stroll down some of the most famous ones: Hosier Lane, Degraves Street, ACDC Lane and Tattersalls Lane.

People-watching on Hardware Lane, Melbourne
People-watching on Hardware Lane, Melbourne © Rafael Ben Ari - Dreamstime.com

Take your camera; most of the laneways are plastered with colourful graffiti and have become hotspots for street photography.

Queen Victoria Market

As the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere, Queen Victoria Market houses an eclectic mix of stalls that range from fruit and veg traders to butchers and fishmongers.

While Melburnians might come for their weekly shop, for visitors there are also dozens of stalls where you can shop for souvenirs ranging from t-shirts to leather hats, and rifle through bric-a-brac at the small flea section.

And if you're hungry or thirsty, there are food trucks selling cheap eats and casual cafés where you can perch for a relaxed bite to eat.

Climate in Melbourne

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
Sea temperature °C

The above guide shows the climate in Melbourne. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in Australia.

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Qin Xie

Qin Xie

Posted on Wednesday 11th September 2024 in: City Money saving tips Oceania

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