Robert’s guidebook to Melbourne and Around

Robert
Robert’s guidebook to Melbourne and Around

Sightseeing

Remarkable architecture in this city centrepiece, near all the key galleries and museums and across the road from the Arts Precinct. Lovely to wander in the summer. If you follow the side down to the river there are some great little bars and restaurants hidden away.
797 locals recommend
Federation Square
797 locals recommend
Remarkable architecture in this city centrepiece, near all the key galleries and museums and across the road from the Arts Precinct. Lovely to wander in the summer. If you follow the side down to the river there are some great little bars and restaurants hidden away.
Modern Art museum set in the country. An easy journey and a great destination. https://www.heide.com.au
98 locals recommend
Heide Museum of Modern Art
7 Templestowe Rd
98 locals recommend
Modern Art museum set in the country. An easy journey and a great destination. https://www.heide.com.au
The sporting centre of Melbourne.
976 locals recommend
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Brunton Avenue
976 locals recommend
The sporting centre of Melbourne.
The historic maritime part of the city. Great to wander around and lots of bars, pubs and restaurants.
61 locals recommend
Williamstown
61 locals recommend
The historic maritime part of the city. Great to wander around and lots of bars, pubs and restaurants.
A family favourite, hands-on science for kids of all ages. Often major exhibitions. Get there by boat from Flinders Street Station, a fantastic river trip.
103 locals recommend
Scienceworks
2 Booker St
103 locals recommend
A family favourite, hands-on science for kids of all ages. Often major exhibitions. Get there by boat from Flinders Street Station, a fantastic river trip.
Melbourne's smartest department store. Well worth a shopping wander if you are so inclined. From fashion to food to random artefacts and a vast array of beauty products.
David Jones
310 Bourke Street
Melbourne's smartest department store. Well worth a shopping wander if you are so inclined. From fashion to food to random artefacts and a vast array of beauty products.
One of the world's better zoos. A great day out for families and easy walking/cycling from 264A.
389 locals recommend
Melbourne Zoo
Elliott Avenue
389 locals recommend
One of the world's better zoos. A great day out for families and easy walking/cycling from 264A.

Food scene

Place I like
Restaurants end to end. A great place to start in the city. Surprisingly most are pretty good.
Flinders Lane
Flinders Lane
Restaurants end to end. A great place to start in the city. Surprisingly most are pretty good.
Modern tasty food. My favourite on Flinders Lane. Can get crowded but often seats at the bar. If you are on your own? the people-watching is good.
200 locals recommend
Cumulus Inc.
45 Flinders Ln
200 locals recommend
Modern tasty food. My favourite on Flinders Lane. Can get crowded but often seats at the bar. If you are on your own? the people-watching is good.
Opened quite recently. Stunning food in a glamorous setting.
Hazel
164 Flinders Ln
Opened quite recently. Stunning food in a glamorous setting.
Go to the top floor bar for a drink and a view. AVOID the restaurant, which is crazily expensive and noisy. The bar is good, and the drink prices are worth it for the amazing views across Melbourne.
270 locals recommend
Vue de monde
525 Collins St
270 locals recommend
Go to the top floor bar for a drink and a view. AVOID the restaurant, which is crazily expensive and noisy. The bar is good, and the drink prices are worth it for the amazing views across Melbourne.
A class act. Asian / Australian fusion food in a luxurious, quiet setting but not stuffy. We go here a lot. 15 Minute walk or a 3-minute tram ride.
12 locals recommend
Matteo's Restaurant, Melbourne
12 locals recommend
A class act. Asian / Australian fusion food in a luxurious, quiet setting but not stuffy. We go here a lot. 15 Minute walk or a 3-minute tram ride.
Northcote High Street nearby is full of little independent cafes, bars and shops and is about a 20-minute walk north from here.
6 locals recommend
High Street
High Street
6 locals recommend
Northcote High Street nearby is full of little independent cafes, bars and shops and is about a 20-minute walk north from here.
A very stylish world-class bar and restaurant. Expensive but worth it. Their 'Gimlet' cocktail is amazing and the drinks and food are excellent. Perfect for a special occasion, dress up night out or just a smart drink. MUST BOOK for meals. sometimes can walk-in for a drink.
Gimlet
A very stylish world-class bar and restaurant. Expensive but worth it. Their 'Gimlet' cocktail is amazing and the drinks and food are excellent. Perfect for a special occasion, dress up night out or just a smart drink. MUST BOOK for meals. sometimes can walk-in for a drink.

Movies

Great cinemas that are worth a walk or a tram ride
Cinema Nova is Melbourne's home of quality arthouse and contemporary cinema, as well as regular film events, Q&As, Nova Deluxe, film festivals, the Cinema Nova Bar and CineTrivia. With 16 screens, Cinema Nova offers the best in new release films, together with upmarket commercial releases. All delivered in a warm, intimate environment of architecturally challenging design. Nova Deluxe in cinema dining - Friday to Sunday
321 locals recommend
Cinema Nova
380 Lygon St
321 locals recommend
Cinema Nova is Melbourne's home of quality arthouse and contemporary cinema, as well as regular film events, Q&As, Nova Deluxe, film festivals, the Cinema Nova Bar and CineTrivia. With 16 screens, Cinema Nova offers the best in new release films, together with upmarket commercial releases. All delivered in a warm, intimate environment of architecturally challenging design. Nova Deluxe in cinema dining - Friday to Sunday
Fabulous old-fashioned movie house on a nice food and bar strip. 15 minutes walk from Bluestone
166 locals recommend
Palace Westgarth Cinemas
89 High St
166 locals recommend
Fabulous old-fashioned movie house on a nice food and bar strip. 15 minutes walk from Bluestone
Melbourne’s premiere metropolitan cinema, located at Collins Place in the city’s CBD. The Kino features seven screens, with a superb selection of local and international feature films, documentaries and mainstream titles. Kino offers a stylish café and bar area, ideal for post-film catch-ups, film festival soirées, or even hosting your own special events. The Kino is open from 10 AM – 10 PM, 7 days a week.
83 locals recommend
Kino Cinemas
45 Collins St
83 locals recommend
Melbourne’s premiere metropolitan cinema, located at Collins Place in the city’s CBD. The Kino features seven screens, with a superb selection of local and international feature films, documentaries and mainstream titles. Kino offers a stylish café and bar area, ideal for post-film catch-ups, film festival soirées, or even hosting your own special events. The Kino is open from 10 AM – 10 PM, 7 days a week.
It's BIG and the 3D effects are awesome. They regularly have natural history and exploration movies as well as the odd blockbuster.
315 locals recommend
IMAX Melbourne Museum
Rathdowne Street
315 locals recommend
It's BIG and the 3D effects are awesome. They regularly have natural history and exploration movies as well as the odd blockbuster.

Museums & Galleries

One of the world's great art galleries. An interesting permanent collection and always one or two world-class travelling shows. The Garden Restaurant is great too. Don't miss this place. An easy tram ride from Bluestone Cottage.
1737 locals recommend
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St Kilda Rd
1737 locals recommend
One of the world's great art galleries. An interesting permanent collection and always one or two world-class travelling shows. The Garden Restaurant is great too. Don't miss this place. An easy tram ride from Bluestone Cottage.
Incredible museum covering history, science and a lot more. Good permanent galleries and great visiting shows. Must Visit
593 locals recommend
Melbourne Museum
11 Nicholson St
593 locals recommend
Incredible museum covering history, science and a lot more. Good permanent galleries and great visiting shows. Must Visit
How Australia was populated. Brilliant coverage of every wave of arrivals. Some amazing stories are told here.
96 locals recommend
Immigration Museum
400 Flinders St
96 locals recommend
How Australia was populated. Brilliant coverage of every wave of arrivals. Some amazing stories are told here.

Traveler advice

Getting around

Trams and trains are the way to go.

All use the Myki card. There are two loan Myki cards on the front table, which should have a few dollars on them. Most stops in the city and most stations have a machine to check and recharge. Please recharge if you use them.
Don't miss

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)

This is a world-class art museum that always has interesting exhibitions and an excellent permanent collection. No 11 tram into town and an easy walk from Stop 6 Melbourne Town Hall. https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au
Don't miss

One Hour Out from Melbourne

This site https://onehourout.com.au has multiple events and ideas all One Hour Out from Melbourne
Don't miss

Websites about Melbourne.

A good overview of Melbourne and Victoria - Check out Visit Melbourne (dot com) AND for the city - Time Out Melbourne Airbnb does not allow live links!