Things to See and Do in Melbourne and Mornington Peninsular

Explore the Laneways & Street Art
Hosier Lane: Iconic for colourful, ever-changing street art. Degraves Street & Centre Place: Bustling café culture and boutique shopping.

Federation Square
Cultural Hub: Home to ACMI (film and digital culture), galleries, and events. Located opposite Flinders Street Station, Melbourne's famous railway landmark.

Royal Botanic Gardens
Peaceful escape with lush landscapes, lakes, and guided Aboriginal heritage walks.

Queen Victoria Market
One of the largest open-air markets in the Southern Hemisphere. Great for food, local goods, souvenirs, and night markets (seasonal).

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Australia's oldest and most visited art museum. Free general entry.

Melbourne Museum & Royal Exhibition Building. Fascinating exhibits on science, Aboriginal culture, and natural history.

Eureka Skydeck. 88th-floor observation deck with panoramic views of the city.

Catch a Game at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). Especially during AFL season (winter) or cricket season (summer).
Includes a sports museum and guided tours.

Take a Ride on the City Circle Tram. Free hop-on, hop-off tram that loops the city, with audio commentary.

Nightlife & Food Scene. Dine in world-class restaurants, rooftop bars, or hidden cocktail lounges. Chinatown, Lygon Street (Little Italy), and Fitzroy for diverse eats.

Day Trips & Nature Escapes from Melbourne. Great Ocean Road. Drive: One of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. Must-Sees: Twelve Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Apollo Bay, Lorne.
Best as a full-day or 2-day trip.

Phillip Island. Penguin Parade: Watch little penguins return to shore at sunset. Also: Koala Conservation Reserve, Nobbies Boardwalk, surf beaches.

Yarra Valley. Renowned wine region, about 1 hour from Melbourne. Wine tastings, gourmet food, hot air balloon rides.

Dandenong Ranges. Forested hills with gardens, hiking trails, and mountain villages. Puffing Billy Railway: Historic steam train through the rainforest.

The Mornington Peninsula

1–1.5 hours southeast of Melbourne is a beautiful coastal region known for its beaches, wineries, hot springs, and charming seaside towns. Here's a comprehensive list of things to do on the Mornington Peninsula:

Relaxation & Wellness. Peninsula Hot Springs. Natural thermal mineral pools in a lush setting. Spa treatments, saunas, and private bathing available.
Alba Thermal Springs & Spa. A newer, luxurious alternative to Peninsula Hot Springs. Sleek design, outdoor pools, and fine dining.

Food & Wine. Winery Tours & Tastings. The region is famous for cool-climate wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Top wineries include: Montalto (includes sculpture trail). Pt. Leo Estate (includes outdoor art park). Paringa Estate. Red Hill Estate

Beaches & Coastline. Sorrento & Portsea. Historic towns with upscale shops, dining, and beautiful beaches. Sorrento Back Beach: Surf side, dramatic coastline.
Portsea Front Beach: Calm bay beach, great for swimming.

Snorkel or Dive at Portsea Pier. See weedy sea dragons, marine life, and crystal-clear waters.

Millionaire's Walk (Sorrento-Portsea Artists Trail). Easy clifftop walk past luxury homes and stunning bay views.

Water-Based Fun. Swim with Dolphins & Seals. Departures from Sorrento or Rye. Tours include snorkelling and eco-guides.

Boating, Paddleboarding & Kayaking. Calm bay waters are ideal—especially around Dromana, Rosebud, and Mount Martha.

Antique Stores & Art Galleries. Found across Flinders, Red Hill, and Sorrento.

 

Things to see and do in Adelaide          

Adelaide is a wonderfully walkable, vibrant city with something for everyone—from arts and culture to wildlife, food and wine, scenery, and fun day trips. Here’s a guide to top things to see and do

Cultural & Historical Highlights. North Terrace precinct: This tree‑lined boulevard boasts architectural gems and attractions like Parliament House, the State Library, South Australian Museum, Migration Museum, and Ayer’s Historic House
Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA): Houses nearly 45,000 artworks, featuring Indigenous Australian, European, Asian and contemporary collections, in a beautiful 19th-century building.
Adelaide Botanic Garden: A stunning 50-hectare garden with highlights like the historic Palm House.
MOD (Museum of Discovery): Interactive exhibits with changing topics—great for curious travelers and families

Wildlife & Nature Escapes. Adelaide Zoo: Australia’s second-oldest zoo, home to around 3,000 animals across 300 species
Cleland Wildlife Park & Mt Lofty Botanic Garden: Visit local wildlife like kangaroos and koalas, then enjoy panoramic views from the summit and chill in the garden’s heritage rose collection
Waterfall Gully & Sturt Gorge: Locally loved hiking spots offering scenic trails and waterfall views just a short drive from central Adelaide

Markets & Shopping Districts. Adelaide Central Market: An iconic foodie hub since 1869, offering fresh produce, multicultural food stalls, cafés and local specialties
Rundle Mall: The busiest and longest pedestrian shopping precinct in the Southern Hemisphere, with hundreds of shops, historic arcades, flagship stores and street art

Iconic Venues & Experiences. Adelaide Oval & Roof Climb: Explore this historic cricket and sports stadium, visit the on-site museum, and join the roof climb for panoramic views of the city
River Torrens Popeye Cruise: A relaxing river cruise through the city—some variants include Devonshire tea or short sightseeing loops

Food, Wine & Day Trips. Barossa & McLaren Vale: Both close by and perfect for sampling premium Australian wines, gourmet food and visiting iconic spots like the d’Arenberg Cube, Maggie Beer’s farm shop and vineyards
German village of Hahndorf: A charming historic settlement in the Adelaide Hills with German-style food, boutiques and arts/crafts shops
Kangaroo Island & Monarto Safari Park: Ideal for immersive wildlife experiences with sea lions, koalas, sea views and open‑range safari-style encounters
Dolphin kayaking eco‑tours: Paddle through the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary and watch dolphins in the wild in an environmentally conscious way
 

Tasmania is a nature‑lover’s paradise—with pristine wilderness, rugged coastline, culinary delights, and deep history, the island invites adventure of every kind.

Iconic Natural Landscapes. Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage jewel: jagged peaks, glacial lakes, walking trails like the Dove Lake Circuit and Overland Track, and wildlife such as wombats and Tasmanian devils
Freycinet National Park & Wineglass Bay
The stunning curve of wine‑white beach and crystal waters framed by pink granite peaks—ideal for hikes, kayaking, and photography—plus scenic trails like the Wineglass Bay Lookout
Tasman National Park (Tasman Peninsula)
Home to dramatic coastal formations like the Tasman Arch, Devil’s Kitchen, sea‑blown blowholes and the epic Three Capes Track; plus wildlife cruises that bring you close to whales, seals, penguins and more

Culture, Heritage & Markets. MONA – Museum of Old and New Art. Hobart’s famously quirky and provocative museum-turned-cultural phenomenon, built underground at Moorilla winery. Unique art, festivals like Dark Mofo, and riverside ambience make it a must-see
Port Arthur Historic Site. A poignant UNESCO-listed former convict settlement with preserved ruins, guided walks, and optional ghost tours, located about 90 minutes from Hobart
Salamanca Market, Hobart. A vibrant Saturday institution with over 350 stalls selling local produce, crafts, art and street food against the backdrop of heritage docks and sandstone buildings

Wildlife & Adventure. Bruny Island. Accessible via a short ferry, this island offers coastal wilderness, gourmet experiences (from cheese to oysters to honey), seal and whale cruises, and historic lighthouses
Tarkine Safari & Tahune AirWalk. Tarkine’s temperate rainforest is perfect for spotting platypus, quolls and Tasmanian devils on eco‑tours. Meanwhile, the Tahune AirWalk treetop canopy stroll and optional hang‑gliding offer breathtaking forest views in the Huon Valley

Scenic Lookouts & Hiking. Kunanyi / Mount Wellington (Hobart). A 30-minute drive from Hobart’s centre delivers panoramic views and short mountain trails like the Organ Pipes Walk, showcasing dramatic dolerite formations
Cataract Gorge (Launceston). Urban wilderness just outside Launceston: walk clifftop gardens, ride the world’s longest single‑span chairlift, or take a funicular railway and swim in the First Basin.

Food, Wine & Road Trips. Tamar Valley: Tasmania’s premier cool‑climate wine region, famous for Pinot Noir and Riesling, with cellar‑door tastings and scenic drives.
Launceston & Surrounds: Enjoy top restaurants, craft distilleries, local wineries such as Josef Chromy, and truffle hunting experiences in the Derwent’s valleys.

King Island, nestled in Bass Strait off northwest Tasmania, is a rugged, remote and nature-rich destination offering pristine beaches, world-class produce, and remarkable wildlife.

Natural Beauty & Coastal Highlights. Seal Rocks & Copperhead Walk: Awe‑inspiring coastal cliffs rising ~60 m above the ocean. The nearby 7000-year-old Calcified Forest—a surreal landscape of limestone formations—is an unforgettable sight
Disappointment Bay: Far from disappointing—this is a sweeping white‑sand beach ideal for walking, swimming, fishing or paddling. Located along Cape Wickham Road on the island’s north coast
Martha Lavinia Beach: Home to the legendary “A‑frame” surf break, considered one of Australia’s best beach breaks with crystal-clear water and consistent swell. Also great for beach strolls or swims
Pennys Lagoon & Lake Flannigan: Explore Pennys Lagoon—a perched lake atop dunes with birdlife and wallaby sightings—and nearby Lake Flannigan, the island’s largest freshwater lake (1.5 km × 2 km)

Food, Drink & Local Flavors. King Island Dairy: Sample award-winning cheese varieties—blue, ash-rind, aged—and enjoy curated platters in the cheese shop just north of Currie
King Island Brewhouse & Distilleries: Visit small-batch breweries and distilleries to taste island gin, vodka, ale and seasonal creations like limoncello and cannabis-flavoured beer.
Wild Harvest Restaurant & Cooking School: Located in Grassy, this rustic venue features degustation menus centered on local produce—crayfish, abalone, beef and seafood—paired with great views
The Boathouse ("Restaurant With No Food"): A quirky harbour-side structure at Currie where you bring your own food (locally bought). Relax by the water with art purchases on an honesty-box basis

Culture & History. Currie Maritime Trail & Lighthouse Museum: Learn about King Island’s maritime heritage at the museum in the old lighthouse keeper’s cottage, including the original Cape
Wickham lens, then follow the maritime trail that highlights sites like the Cataraqui wreck
Currie Lighthouse Tours: Climb the wrought-iron Currie Lighthouse (21 m, 93 steps) for panoramic views and a sunset experience, with local guide commentary on shipwreck stories
Arts & Cultural Centre: Visit the King Island Arts & Cultural Centre at Currie Harbour to enjoy local art exhibits and vibrant island creativity

Wildlife & Outdoor Activities. Platypus Experience: Guided dawn and dusk walks to view wild platypus in their natural habitat. Only a handful of visitors succeed each year—making it a memorable encounter
Boat charters, fishing & diving: Charter diving for shipwreck exploration, fish from jetties or beaches, or join sea cruises—especially around areas like Grassy and Currie harbours where wildlife thrives

Walks & Scenic Drives. Currie Heritage Harbour Walk: A pleasant 3.3 km loop along the shoreline passing the lighthouse, museum, kelp harvesters and Currie Harbour.
Penny’s Lagoon Loop Walk: A 1.6 km easy stroll perfect for nature lovers and spotting wallabies or birds around the lagoon edge.
Shannon Shipwreck Walk: Beach walk from Yellow Rock Beach to see the partially buried Shannon paddle steamer wreck among coastal te-tree landscapes.

Festivals & Community Vibe. Festival of King Island: Held every early February, this relaxed two-day local event features live music, community spirit and, of course, tasting fresh local food and beer