The Eureka Skydeck is a great place to start your tour of Melbourne. It’s the highest viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere and it’ll give you a panoramic view of the city. This will help you get your bearing as you’ll be able to see most of the surrounding city landmarks.

If you’re feeling adventurous try “The Edge” which is basically a glass box that’s suspended on the side of the building. Step into it, look down and find out what it’s like to be on the edge of a tall skyscraper.

Ticket prices are comparable to other viewing platforms in other major cities. Make sure to check out the discounted deals like the “Sun & Stars” package which lets you access the observation deck twice over two days. It’s a great way to take in the city views during the day and night. Personally, I’ve always found the views at night more interesting. You can buy your tickets here.

Also referred to as “Vic Markets”, this is the largest open air market in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s offers the best of Melbourne’s local seasonal produce, meat and diary products. Explore the market’s historic sheds to find Melbourne made treasures from a wide range of arts and crafts stalls.

Australia is known for being an expensive country. Thankfully some transportation is free. The famous City Circle Tram is a free hop-on hop-off service that covers most of CBD. The tram passes by some major attractions such as shopping malls, the Old Treasury Building, the Parliament House and Princess Theatre. This is a unique way to get around the city, so hop on and enjoy the ride.

Some cities have a character all unto themselves. Melbourne is one of those cities. It’s filled with quirky alley ways, art galleries, hip restaurants and coffee shops. You literally don’t know what you might find as you cross from one street to the next. Famous alleys include: Hosier Lane, Union Lane and AC/DC Lane.

Click here for my guide to Melbourne’s Alleyways and Arcades.

Visiting Melbourne’s Aquarium or  Zoo are great ways to see Australian wildlife. These are wonderful and affordable options for the family.

The Melbourne zoo holds over 250 species from around the world that are housed in beautifully landscaped settings. This zoo is ranked in the top 25 zoos in the world by TripAdvisor users.

The Melbourne Aquarium has a number of exhibits that showcases animals and fish from different parts of the world. The Aquarium’s 2.2 million litre Oceanarium features a fish bowel viewing that makes you feel like you’re underwater. This aquarium holds sharks, massive stingrays, turtles and hundreds of fish swimming overhead. Your kids will love it.

Stretching over 243km on the Victorian Coast, the Great Ocean Road is a spectacular road offering beautiful vistas and sunsets. It has been voted one of Australia’s Top 10 Destination Experiences in 2013 and has also been recognized as  having one of Australia’s Top 10 Sunsets by Aussie’s themselves. Click here for more my guide to Ocean Road Drive.

A visit to Dandenong Ranges is a great way to escape the busy city life of Melbourne and into the beautiful nature of Dandenong. The Ranges offer fern glades, forests and eclectic villages. It also has an incredible viewpoint from which you can look down on all of Melbourne.

A visit to Dandenong Ranges is not complete without a ride on “Puffing Billy”. This is a restored steam train that winds through the beautiful nature from Belgrave to Lakeside. The charm of the old steam train and the magnificent scenery along the way make for an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

Philip Island is a wonderful daytrip from Melbourne and it’s famous for its “Penguin Parade”. Philip Island is home to a large fairy penguin colony and every night they return to shore in the thousands creating a Penguin Parade. Beside the penguins, Philip Island’s other attractions include:

• A koala conservation centre where you can see these beautiful animals up close.
• The Nobbies, a stunning stretch of headland offering spectacular coastal views from the boardwalks and lookout points.
• Churchill Island Heritage Farm which is a tiny island of 57 hectares. It’s open to the public as a historic working farm. It boasts significant natural and cultural values with world-class wetlands, ancient Moonah trees, heritage gardens and historic buildings.

Yarra Valley is a sprawling wine country that houses over 50 wineries, picturesque countryside towns, and microbreweries. There are many options for exploring this region; you can join a group or do a self-guided tour and discover this region at your own pace.  Click here to read about my Yara Tour Experience.