Melbourne is an artistic city to its core. It is gritty and vibrant with street art around every corner. You will find unique street fashion, cool architecture, and some fantastic coffee culture. When traveling here it can seem expensive, especially in Aussie dollars, and it definitely can be. However, let me tell you here, you don’t have to spend a dime on your activities as Melbourne has a vast array of FREE things to do.
I studied abroad in Australia in college and in my study abroad program, the last month was dedicated to an Independent Study Project. In this, you would partner with an organization that aligned with your research. I ended up working with Bush Heritage Australia (great organization – check them out) and therefore ended up living in Melbourne for a month with a host family.
So while I was in Melbourne, I was a college girl on a college budget, however I still wanted to experience all the amazing things to do in this city. There is a LONG list of amazing free things to do, but here are my top 5 things to do in Melbourne for free.
1. Self Guided Aboriginal Walk
Aboriginal are the First Peoples of Australia. Australians are respectful of always acknowledging their land, wisdom, past and present in meetings, workplaces, and everyday life. All you’ll need for the walk is your phone, headphones, and the free app you download. The walk is located in Fitzroy or Birrarung, you’ll follow the directions on the app and you’ll hear about the history, stories, and geolocated soundscapes of the Aboriginal Peoples. It’s such a unique activity that enables you to learn and enjoy the outdoors.
Another self-guided tour you can do, is to check out all the street art in Melbourne. Here is a guide to where all the best locations are at – some of the most famous are Hoiser Lane and Finders Way.
A guided tour option is Melbourne free walking tours by GuruWalk, where a local tour guide will show you around and explain the history of the city. You’ll get to see some of the most common sights and get some inside knowledge, with the ability to ask questions and meet other travelers. Of course, this tour is not entirely free and you will need to pay your guide at the end, usually around $10-20 USD
2. Queen Victoria Market
Queen Victoria Market is a vibrant foodie lovers paradise. They have everything ranging from fresh produce, speciality shopping, a food hall, dairy, meat, fish and more. They also have several cultural festivals, concerts, and summer night markets. Check out the website and plan your visit accordingly.
3. National Gallery of Victoria
As mentioned Melbourne is a city centered around art, so going to the National Gallery of Victoria is going to be great. The best part is that it is completely free. They have rotating exhibitions from around the world, but always try to highlight local artists.
4. Ride the City Circle Tram
Pretty self explanatory, the City Circle Tram goes in a circle around the city and is free to ride. Set aside a day to ride the tram. Hop on and off at the different stops to walk around and explore all the different areas around Melbourne.
5. Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens was voted “Australia’s Best Major Tourism Attraction” at the QUANTAS Australian Tourism Awards. It has more than 8,500 species of plants from around the world including rare and threatened Australian species.
Take a break from the bustling city and immerse yourself in some nature. It is open daily and entry is free for everyone. You can also see birds, take a guided Aboriginal walk, and participate in forest therapy (special events, that do cost $)
