Australia is a dream holiday destination for many, but at the same time, it is also one of the priciest nations on the planet. This is especially true for a city like Melbourne, which is known for its culture, events and attractions. However, there are a few things that can be done for free, in this city. Choose Melbourne bus charter to visit some of these places and participate activities that won’t cost you money.
Explore The Beautiful City Gardens
The city of Melbourne is full of green spaces, being home to a couple of best parklands in Australia. The Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens is a masterpiece, given the range and extent to which you will find floral beauty of the Kangaroo Island. Showcasing the native flowers, shrubs and trees, there’s a Forest Adventure Walk, and then the Children’s Garden featuring a bamboo forest, sculptures and water features.
On the other hand, we have the Fitzroy Parklands, with the main attraction being the fairy tree, which was planted around 3 centuries back. Fairies were carved into the trunk from 1931 to 1942 by Ola Cohen. The conservatory is open throughout the week, with amazing floral displays on offer, and is one of the most popular activities in the city.
City Circle Tram
The City Circle Tram ride is surely one of the best ways to explore the city at the cost of almost nothing. It operates within the CBD of Melbourne, with the circular route going past significant tourist attractions, including The Melbourne, Fitzroy Gardens and The Parliament. The trams plying this route runs in both the directions, with stops including the vibrant Flinders Street, Victoria Street, Spring Street, Docklands Drive, Harbour Esplanade and La Trobe Street.
You just cannot find a better way to experience the best of the city, as you lay back and relax, while enjoying the sights. If you want to explore something on the way, get off the tram, and get back to it when switching places. It a mini-city tour with convenient tram services, making up your perfect commute in Melbourne.
Have A BBQ Party
Does free BBQ tickle your fancy bone? It’s there all across the city for you to experience a mouth-watering stuff. Grab some coleslaw and bread, add delicious sauce, toss a bread snag and you are good to go. Docklands Park and Birrarung Marr are two of the most popular spots in city for BBQ, with the latter offering skyline view of the city.
If you want to have a treat overlooking the iconic gardens, head to the free BBQ on the northern bank. The Docklands Park features interactive playground and public art gallery to keep everyone busy. A perfect plan would be to catch the tram to Harbour Town and do some shopping, before feasting on the BBQ in Australian style.
Queen Victoria Market
A visit to Melbourne is incomplete without exploring the Queen Victoria Market, where you will be literally lost wandering. It houses a wide array of items, including homewares, vegetables, meat and souvenirs. Covering an area of 17 hectares, this is the largest outdoor marketplace in the whole of southern hemisphere. In fact, one doughnut seller has been consistent here since 5 decades.
During the winter months, you can consider visiting the night markets with your friends and family. It features a wide array of performers and food trucks, with a free tour available for visitors coming for the first time. The tour will be running four sessions a day, and it’s a great opportunity to interact with the local community.
Discover The Beaches Of Melbourne
Melbourne is home to some of the pristine beaches in the country, which has attracted thousands of visitors from across the world. The most popular one here is the St Kilda beach, which can be easily accessed by tram from CBD. It features calm waters with sandy bottom, making it perfect for swimming. For exceptional views of Port Philip Bay and Melbourne, take a stroll at the St Kilda Pier. At the end of it lies the Penguin Colony, where you can spot some penguins during late night and early morning.
The harbor Port Melbourne encompasses walking and biking paths, beach tennis and playgrounds, while the Beach in South Melbourne is admired by swimmers, sunbathers and family groups alike. You will also see people playing volleyball at the beach and carry out fishing here, with some fish and chips to snack on. Luna Park in St Kilda is another top attraction you can check out, with the oldest running Roller Coaster, made of wood right here.
Street Art
When it comes to street art and graffiti, Melbourne is one city that comes into our mind instantly. The Hosier Lane is a breeding hub of streets artists, being a world famous place for impeccable street art. Other such places include the laneway off the Flinders Lane between Swanston Street and Russell Street, housing a wide array of artworks. The city council has shown faith in artists to coat the concrete barrier into masterpieces, with the recent arrival of concrete bollard.
The National Gallery of Victoria at the Federation Square and St Kilda Road have many displays to view without any tickets. You will find everything here from rotating displays to modern artworks, by some of the underrated artists of our generation.
Visit The Southbank Precinct
Known to be one of the most happening places in the city, Southbank precinct stretches all the way to the Melbourne Convention Centre from the Yarra river. There are heaps of performers working in this part of the city, which is always buzzing with free events throughout the year. The regular marketplace held every weekend is one of the admired events, and there are some award-winning restaurants along the strip to satisfy your hunger craving.
It is quite popular among the prudent tourists to have a light breakfast at the Southbank precinct, as they watch the city come to life. You can either choose to wander throughout the day, or do some shopping at the nearby malls!