Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Melbourne

"In 1844, Charles La Trobe, the colony’s first Lieutenant Governor, received a request from the Melbourne council asking for parks close to the town, ‘where they could conveniently take recreation therein after their daily labor.’. The 500 acres that La Trobe reserved included Royal Park, The Domain, Fitzroy Gardens, Fawkner Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Royal Botanic Gardens is now one of Melbourne’s finest attractions; stretching over 89 acres, it is filled with 50,000 individual plants representing 8,500 different species."

"This fenced garden is within the Royal Botanic Gardens and provides opportunities for water play and nature play in a popular picnic spot. You can also take your under 5s on a Punt Tour for free!. Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra"

"Lookout north-westerly down the Ceremonial Avenue back toward the CBD as the light fades and the sun drops to the west and the twilight colours briefly fill the sky. Can you see someone staring back at you?. It’s the face of William Barak on the ‘Portrait Building’."

"One of the more lifeless buildings of Melbourne on the outside, the old Melbourne Gaol has quite a ghastly history to back it up. Sitting right on Russel street (another very famous Melbourne street) is an incredibly eerie, 3 story high former prison. While it’s no longer a prison (it was officially closed in 1924), it’s now a museum filled with relics of the past and the history of some of Australia’s most notorious criminals."

"For 87 years, Victoria’s Old Melbourne Gaol housed minor offenders and notorious criminals including gangster Squizzy Taylor. Among those executed were bushranger Ned Kelly and Jack the Ripper suspect Frederick Bailey Deeming. Today, the prison operates as a museum where visitors can see death masks, Kelly gang weapons and memorabilia from prisoners and staff."

"When you first take a look around Melbourne City, you’d be hard-pressed not to be able to see this towering over you. Standing 297 meters tall, it was Australia’s tallest apartment block when completed in 2006 and remains the tallest high-rise building in Melbourne. It’s hard to imagine what Melbourne looks like from the Sky Deck at the top until you actually experience yourself."

"Another one of the cool activities for kids Melbourne has is the Eureka Skydeck. Get a bird’s eye view of the city from the southern hemisphere’s highest viewing platform. Travel up to floor 88 in less than 40 seconds and enjoy fantastic views of Melbourne."

"Eureka Tower – offers stunning views from the highest observation deck in the southern hemisphere, Eureka Skydeck at 297 metres/88 floors. I recommend going up just on sun down so you experience Melbourne by day and as it slips into night."

"With a capacity of 100,000 people, the 'G' is one of the world’s great sporting venues, hosting cricket in summer and AFL (Australian Football League; Aussie rules) footy in winter. For many Australians it's considered hallowed ground. Make it to a game if you can (highly recommended), but otherwise you can still make your pilgrimage on nonmatch-day tours that take you through the stands, media and coaches’ areas, change rooms and members' lounges. The MCG houses the state-of-the-art National Sports Museum."

"Melbourne loves sports - and the Melbourne Cricket Ground is the sports capital of the nation. Commonly referred to as ‘The G’ it is the largest stadium in the southern hemisphere and the 10th largest in the world. Founded in 1853 by the Melbourne Cricket Club, the MCG has since hosted the 1956 Summer Olympics, two cricket world cups, and The Commonwealth Games."

"Stunning Australian Garden, which showcases the diversity of Australian flora, plus free water play. Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, cnr Ballato Rd and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne"

"Melbourne’s most diverse park, only 15km from the heart of Melbourne!. There is something here for the young and the old: hold a rabbit or guinea pig, take a tractor ride to check out the emus and kangaroos, watch a cow-milking demo, feed some animals, watch the chooks being rounded up, or explore some early 20th-century Australian life at Heritage Village. It’s super reasonably priced too, only $10 per adult and $6.50 per child, with family discounts available."

"Similar in feel to Collingwood Children’s Farm, Bundoora Park Farm is located in the northside’s largest green space. You can see and pat farm animals, visit the historic Cooper’s Settlement, ride a tractor and crawl about in the adventure playground inside the farm as well as the fully fenced all ages playground adjacent to the cafe (which doesn’t require an entry fee)."

"Out of all the park in Melton, Navan Park is a childrens park that caters for babies right through to older kids, and is an all-abilities play space. The playground is easy to spot within the park as it has a rocket ship shaped tower in the centre. There is also other play equipment, sand play, paths to scoot on and lots of grassed areas."

"After you finish snacking on pintxos, take the lift to Naked for Satan’s rooftop terrace for some prime Insty material. From up there, you’ll get stunning vistas of the city skyline – the perfect backdrop for photos – and if you pick your timing wisely, you’ll catch the sun setting as they switch on their fairy globes. 285 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy"

"The Moon Dog Brewery comes with a rags-to-riches story about how owners Jake, Josh and Karl opened their Abbotsford micro-brewery with a fistful of coins and a bucketful of determination. Now a household name in the craft beer scene and with changed fortunes under their belt, they haven’t forgotten their roots. Comfy couches and ramshackle style seating provide a chilled vibe in their warehouse pub to harbor a bottle of their Love Tap lager, Old Mate pale ale and Mack Daddy dark ale."

"Sam and Duncan first met while working at wineries in New Zealand and it’s there they hatched their idea for Hop Nation Brewing Co. Housed in a huge 130-year-old warehouse in Footscray, the red brick and wall murals create a relaxed vibe to sip the day away on one of their four core beers, like ‘The Fiend’, an Australian IPA that’s Aussie to the core. Keep an eye on their limited release beers too."

"Sugar Buns Bakery Cafe located in Hampton Park shopping center is one of the trendiest cafes in town. Best known for their outrageous mega-milkshakes that are so decadent you might need to get a health check after one. Featured with permission from sugarbunsbakerycafe"

"Melbourne is in love with this simple dessert, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on the hype surrounding this Japanese-style cheesecake. One of the joys of Uncle Tetsu’s shop is the simplicity — the store sells a couple of simple variations on the perfect combination of wheat, egg, milk and cheese. A slice of the original signature Japanese cheesecake is melt-in-your-mouth soft and fluffy."