Free things to do in Melbourne
Travel is much like building a house; no matter how well you budget, there are always unexpected costs. Melbourne is no exception, but it is not a city to be missed when visiting Australia. So I’ve compiled a list of a few of my favourite free things to do when visiting the city.
A tower in a shopping centre - Melbourne Central © A. Harrison
i) St Kilda and her penguins
St Kilda is an intriguing area of Melbourne, and also home to quite a few free things to do. High on my list is seeing the fairy penguins return at dusk.
On a balmy summer evening, as dusk falls, the walk along the beach to St Kilda Pier is beautiful enough in itself to warrant the visit. People promenade along the boardwalk as some brave souls splash in the waves and kids play on the sand. Tourists and locals alike sit in the various bars and restaurants and watch it all unfold. The delicious smell of fish and chips wafts through the air.
At the far end of the pier, hidden amongst the rocks of the breakwater, a colony of fairy penguins make their home. Each day before dawn they head out to sea; at night they come home for sleep and shelter. There is a special viewing platform for watching them, and guides (with special infra-reds lights so as not to disturb the penguins) point out the gentle creatures as they settle down for the night. Some sneak home, barely noticeable, while others put on a display, proudly waddling along the steps and platforms as if they thoroughly enjoy the attention.
Afterwards, it is but a ten-minute stroll to choose one of the many restaurants along Auckland Street (perhaps not so free!)
St Kilda Botanical Gardens and the Veg Out Communal Garden © A. Harrison
ii) Take Your Pick of Gardens
In the centre of Melbourne lies the Royal Botanical Gardens, a green oasis offering a well-deserved break from sight-seeing and shopping. As well as guided tours, there are often free concerts and performances, and for the foot-weary there is The Garden Explorer: a hop-on, hop-off vehicle traversing the 38 hectares.It’s a cross between a Jeep and a trolley which would be quite at home exploring the savannahs of Africa
A smaller version can be found in the St Kilda Botanical Gardens. They are a perfect place to sit and be after running the gauntlet of shopping and eating on Acland Street Village and surrounds. The gardens are more likely to be filled with locals having their lunch or taking their kids for a stroll then with tourists.
At the other end of St Kilda is the Veg Out Communal Garden, where locals get covered in dirt as they work one of the over 140 plots. Visitors are free to wander around, provided they follow the paths as they meander through flowers and undefined vegetable beds. It’s well worth a visit just for the artwork on display, as well as the colour and imagination of many of the scarecrows and garden ornaments.
The ever-changing graffiti and street art of Melbourne © A. Harrison
iii) Visit Free Art Galleries
Although the temporary exhibitions often have an entry fee, entry to Melbourne's art galleries is free. The National Gallery of Victoria (or NGV) is one of my favourite galleries, so much so I'm a member although I live in another state. As I write this, there is an exhibition featuring the works of Escher. The medieval section is a delight; small enough to wander through without being overwhelmed, yet with enough treasures to satisfy both mind and soul.
An extension of the NGV is the Ian Potter Centre, in Federation Square. This gallery specializes in Australian art from colonization to the present day, as well as housing an extensive collection of Indigenous art.
Then there are the numerous smaller galleries and art-shops throughout the city, many featuring local artists – find them as you wander, or use google to help plan the adventure (there are many free WiFi zones throughout the city).
An archway behind St Paul’s Cathedral, and a colourful street in Brighton © A. Harrison
v) Simply Wander
The heart of Melbourne is best explored on foot. Wander the lane-ways to discover great graffiti and street art; I once came across a Banksy, which has since vanished. Hosier Lane is the most famous, and always filled with tour groups, but street art is in most lanes around Melbourne, as is always changing. Maps are available from any of the Visitor Centres, whether it be a guide to the lane-ways, a foodie tour, a literary tour or simply the best streets for window shopping.
Then there are the shops and shopping centres (free if you don’t buy anything, and filled with eye-candy). Walking through the Royal Arcade en route to the Bourke St Mall to see the statues of Gog and Magog, or Father Time, I defy you not to be distracted by the vintage jewellers and the boutique shops. Head up to Melbourne Central where the Coop’s Shot Tower, one of only three remaining shot towers in Australia, has been preserved within the building.
Temptation within the Royal Arcade © A. Harrison
vi) The State Library
The State Library of Victoria, up on Swanston Street, is always an oasis of tranquility. There are a few excellent coffee shops outside, a little fuss as you enter the foyer, than blissful quiet. I’ve spent many an hour here writing, reading, or simply being, sitting in the stunning six-storied Domed Reading Room. It’s not only the oldest public library in Australia, it was one of the world’s first free libraries.
Among the temporary exhibitions are permanent displays which include Ned Kelly’s armour and Captain Cook’s folios. In the upper corridors running beneath the dome is the World of the Book exhibition, which charts the history of book design, production and illustration, from the Middle Ages to modern times.
The Dome Reading Room, complete with gorgeous green desk lamps © A. Harrison
This is but a few suggestions - there is a lot more to find in this city, not to mention the surrounding suburbs (such as Brunwick, Prahan and South Yarra, or Brighton with her beach huts) which are an adventure of their own.
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