One Week in Melbourne, Australia

After an overnight flight and a layover in New Zealand, I finally arrived in Melbourne around noon — about 15 hours ahead of my internal clock. I had pre-booked my transfer and took a quick 30-minute drive to my friend’s flat. Though I was completely exhausted, we decided to stroll along the South Bank of the Yarra River. There are plenty of little shops and restaurants to explore, but the view of the river itself is entertainment enough.

After our walk, we headed to Ponyfish Island, a magical little bar tucked beneath the concrete belly of the Evan Walker Bridge. It offers gorgeous views of the waterway and serves up pizza, cheese boards and oysters— perfect for pairing with a spritz or a Ponyfish lager.

Before calling it a night, we made a must-see stop at Melbourne Central, the city’s massive shopping mall that never seems to sleep. One of the biggest surprises was discovering the vibrant Asian community in Australia — harajuku crepes, ramen shops and bubble tea are all abundant. We ended our evening at Asian Beer Cafe because it was St. Patrick’s Day. And what’s funnier than two Americans celebrating an Irish holiday at a Japanese bar in Australia?

I spent my first full day in Melbourne exploring solo. While the transit system is easy to navigate, I opted to explore the city on foot. As a young female traveler, I never once felt unsafe. All I needed were comfortable shoes and Apple Maps to guide me.

Melbourne is famous for its murals, which are scattered across the city’s blank walls. What surprised me, though, was how even the alleyways were transformed into mini-museums, art galleries and even restaurants. My first stop was a charming alleyway pub called Chuckle Park. Adorned with lanterns, greenery and a disco ball, the alley is home to a tiny tin trailer serving lunch and drinks. This remains one of my most memorable experiences in Melbourne.

Next, I visited the State Library of Victoria. With its high vaulted ceilings, old-world desks and marble floors, the library exudes historical grandeur. Several free exhibits allowed me to delve deeper into the area’s rich culture and history. This exploration led me to my next stops: The Parliament of Victoria and St. Paul’s Cathedral, both architectural marvels that left me in awe.

I ended my afternoon at Skydeck, the southern hemisphere’s highest observation deck. From 88 floors up, I enjoyed stunning views of the city, the river and the coast. While I opted for a general admission ticket, Skydeck offers several experiences, including “the edge,” where visitors can take photos suspended 300 meters above the streets of Melbourne.

After a much-needed nap, I spent the evening at the Queen Victoria Market, the perfect spot to shop for local goods and grab dinner. I enjoyed chicken fried rice served in a fresh pineapple, followed by a freak shake—an over-the-top, candy-topped milkshake that’s an Australian specialty.

One thing we love about Australians: they eat their pancakes with ice cream. We started the day at The Pancake Parlour, which is located inside Melbourne Central. It did not disappoint!

From there, we hopped on the tram and headed toward Brighton Beach. Brighton Beach is known for its soft golden sand and colorful Victorian-era bathing boxes, an amenity for the elite. We walked the beach taking in the different colors and artwork adorned on each bath box, every now and then getting to peak inside of one. We attempted to dip our toes in the water, but mid-March brings windy, chilly weather and freezing water as the country transitions into Winter.

On our way back into the city, we stopped at Luna Park, an old-school amusement park featuring a wooden coaster and vintage carousel. Unfortunately, it was too windy for the roller coaster to run, so we enjoyed the carnival games and other entertainment available instead.

You can’t visit Australia without seeing a koala or a kangaroo, so we spent my fourth day at the Melbourne Zoo. Described as an urban oasis, the zoo is home to an impressive 320 species of animals. I was thoroughly impressed by not only the animal exhibits but also the beautiful displays of native flora. Melbourne Zoo claims that every step is an invitation to explore, and this couldn’t be more true. Highlights for me included the bamboo garden, the reptile house, the butterfly house and the up-close animal experiences. We spent most of the day exploring this fantastic location.

In the evening, we returned to the Queen Victoria Market for the Night Market. Held once a week, the Night Market features additional vendors and live entertainment in the open-air space. We ended the day people-watching under twinkling lights, enjoying macaron-topped freak shakes.

My fourth full day brought another solo adventure. I began my morning having coffee at a renovated public bath house. These public buildings were once open for swimming and bathing for the public; most of these historic locations are now turned into local businesses or coffeehouses.

After coffee, I walked to the trendy neighborhoods called Brunswick and Fitzroy. Both neighborhoods featured local merchants and boutiques. I spent my day wandering in and out of little shops, admiring murals and discovering hidden treasures like a flower market.

The evening brought us back to Ponyfish Island; if this spot has not already made your list, add it now!

My final day in Melbourne — one last chance to walk through the vibrant streets of the city and explore. I began my day at the Royal Botanic Gardens, a picturesque garden spread over 70 acres. We explored more than 8,500 species of plants and flowers and ended our afternoon picnicking in one of the many lush areas.

One of the best parts of Melbourne is that you will continually find hidden treasures. As we walked back to our flat, we stumbled upon the Shrine of Remembrance. Modeled after a tomb in Greece, this multi-level war memorial is free to the public. We explored the museum, admired the stone hallways and even explored the crypt. Here we found a beautiful light display of Australia, a perfect place to capture a picture of my time here.