Best Outdoor Activities in Dandenong

"Easily Melbourne's largest and most popular beach, a day out at St. Kilda beach is always a mixed bag in terms of what to expect. Popular with people from all walks of life (especially during the summer months) including those with kids, it is always a major drawcard for a ton of tourists, especially in comparison with some of the other beaches listed here, and is basically Melbourne's equivalent to a Manly or Bondi of Sydney beach fame. While St. Kilda beach has a fairly "seedy" reputation, many steps have been taken over the past decade or so to clean up its image and improve on the public perception, especially in terms of catering to families with kids, with the beachfront having been recently redeveloped."

"From here it’s a 15 minute cab ride (or 30 minutes by tram) to St Kilda beach, where you can stroll along the esplanade and historic St Kilda Pier, and enjoy a cake at one of Acland Street's famous patisseries. AfternoonFrom St Kilda it's a half hour tram ride back to the city centre. Visit Australia's oldest gallery, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), which hosts a wide range of local and international artists, exhibitions and events. Or you may like to see Melbourne from a new perspective aboard a cruise along the Yarra River."

"Not the world’s most beautiful beach, but great for getting to quickly from town. There are also plenty of other attractions close by and delightful cafes and restaurants all along the promenade. Getting there: Trams Route 16, 96 and 12 stop at St Kilda and the beach is just a short walk away."

"The calm waters of Elwood Beach make it great for swimming, and sometimes there’s enough surf for some boogie boarding. There’s the Bayside Trail bike and running track if you fancy a walk or cycle, plus cafes a’plenty. Getting there: Elwood Beach is 9km from the city centre."

"A little bit further south, Elwood Beach comes with plenty of parking and is less crowded than its famous neighbour St Kilda. Elwood has a great beachside vibe with quaint little shops and cute cafes. The promenade is great for prams and scooters."

"Albert Park, a suburb located right in the south-central of Melbourne, is home to a lovely little beach featuring a sandy, narrow stretch of coastline with safe, sheltered waters that makes it a great choice of beach destination in Melbourne with kids, especially due to how easy it is to reach from most major accommodation spots in the city. Accessible via public transport within around 20 minutes from the Melbourne CBD and situated next to the tram terminal on Victoria Ave, Albert Park Beach eases gently into the shallow and calm waters of Port Phillip Bay, making for ideal swim conditions for kids. The beach is a popular location for all beach-going purposes; not only swimming but sunbathing, windsurfing, kite boarding and walks along the road pier are all viable options to pass the time on the beach, while there are also many walking and bicycle paths that are popular with those rollerblading or simply going for a stroll."

"This tiny soft serve parlour is easily swirling up the most photogenic desserts in town. Their original sea salt flavour arrives in an adorable shade of pastel blue, which you can adorn with caramel popcorn, popping candy, toasted marshmallows, and best of all, a big cloud of fairy floss. They’ve even got colourful, decorated walls for you to take pics up against."

"Restaurants Vegan Fitzroy. This take-away spot makes plant-based desserts: we're talking soft serve, gelato and cakes, plus maca fudge bars, matcha almond tarts and bounty bites. On the drinks menu, you'll find spiced mylks, cold pressed juices, smoothies and thick shakes (all vegan, of course)."

"Fitzroy is already spoiled with some of the best food in Melbourne, especially when it comes to casual eats. So it’s no surprise that a good ol’ fashioned pub steak meal is perfected by the Fitzroy Town Hall Hotel. Like many other entries in this best steak in Melbourne guide, the kitchen has the good sense to use the O’Connor family for their star attraction – a $150 1.1kg grass fed Côte de Boeuf served with bordelaise sauce."

"If your family loves sports then the Melbourne Cricket Ground needs to be on your itinerary!. If there are no matches on you can still visit. Just book the tour and also make sure you visit the National Sports Museum."

"Visit the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens for somewhere unique in Melbourne – it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest existing exhibition buildings in the world. The building hosts various exhibitions and events in all areas of interest, of which price for each will vary so check out what’s on before visiting. Regardless, a simple walk around the outside provides a moment to admire the restoration work on this wonderful building!"

"If you are planning a visit to the Melbourne Museum which is located in the historic Royal Exhibition Building then you can’t walk past the wonderful Carlton Gardens. These gardens are world heritage listed and are well worth a visit in any season. Make sure you check out the ornamental lakes and the fountains (kids love water in action)."

"A little bit of New Orleans comes to Fitzroy with Po’ Boy Quarter, a Louisiana-inspired eatery from the team behind everyone’s favourite food truck, Gumbo Kitchen. The attention to detail is exceptional: even the tiles out the front are from New Orleans. As for the menu, it’s all free-range southern chicken, freshly shucked oysters and bowls of steaming hot, flavoursome gumbo."

"181 Victoria Ave, 3206, Albert Park (VIC)"