10 Unique Experiences You Can Only Have In Melbourne

From cultural events such as the AFL Grand Final, the Melbourne Cup and Moomba to attractions such as Sovereign Hill, Puffing Billy, and the Penguin Parade, Melbourne is packed with exclusive experiences. Here are 10 unique things to do in Melbourne.

Moomba

Dating back to 1955, Moomba is Australia’s largest free community festival, attracting over a million people each year across the Labour Day long weekend in March. Celebrating Melbourne’s diversity and traditions, Moomba features a variety of events including the Moomba parade, the crowning of the Moomba Monarchs, a carnival, fireworks, live music and the birdman rally.

AFL Grand Final

1. Puffing Billy

Train Station

Located in the Dandenong Ranges, an hour east of Melbourne, Puffing Billy is one of the most popular steam heritage railways in the world. First opened in 1900, Puffing Billy takes passengers on a scenic journey from Belgrave to Gembrook. Dangle your legs over the side just like you did when you were a kid or board the Steam & Cuisine Luncheon for a unique dining experience.

2. Rap Jumping

Building

Founded and commercialised in 1989, Rap Jumping is an advanced form of freestyle rope work and forward abseiling which involves running down a seven-storey building face first. In addition to the original Rap Jumping experience, the company offers Intro to Abseil for beginners, Night Rap Jumping and a VIP Ultimate Experience.

Rap Jumping 334 City Road Southbank, VIC Australia + 61 1300 780 266

Something to brag about | Courtesy Rap Jumping

3. Royal Melbourne Show

Organised annually by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria the Royal Melbourne Show has been delighting Melbournians since 1848. The show not only showcases the agricultural industry but also features blue ribbon competitions, amusement, arts, and crafts, pop up restaurants, and a variety of pavilions. The Royal Melbourne Show is also famous for its wide selection of show bags.

Royal Melbourne Show 2016, Melbourne Showgrounds Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale, VIC, Australia

Grab a show bag or two | Courtesy The Royal Melbourne Show

4. Sovereign Hill

Museum

Depicting Ballarat’s gold rush era (the 1850s), Sovereign Hill is a 25-acre open-air museum in regional Victoria. Opened in 1970, Sovereign Hill has a diverse range of attractions including gold panning, sweat making, mine tours, coach rides and more. A major highlight is the multi-million dollar sound-and-light show ‘Blood on the Southern Cross,’ which tells the story of the 1854 Eureka Uprising.

5. Themed bars

Bar

From Cold War Germany at Berlin Bar to vintage arcades at Bartronica, Melbourne is renowned for its unique array of quirky, themed bars. Other favourites include IceBar in Fitzroy, 29th Apartment in St Kilda, The Croft Institute in Croft Alley, Storyville on Lonsdale Street and Madame Brussels on Bourke Street.
IceBar, 319 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Drinks with a difference | Courtesy IceBar

6. Penguin Parade

‘Take a waddle on the wild side’ at Phillip Island’s world-famous Penguin Parade; the only commercial venue in the world where people can see penguins in their natural environment. Explore the interactive displays at visitor’s centre before watching Little Penguins wobble up Summerland beach and into their burrows each day at sunset.

Penguin Parade at Philip Island, 1019 Ventnor Rd, Summerlands, Victoria, Australia +61 035951 2800

Watch the penguins | Courtesy Penguin Parade

7. Luna Park

Amusement Park, Park

While Luna Park is found in both Sydney and Melbourne, the St Kilda amusement park was the first to be built in Australia and features the Scenic Railway – the oldest continually operating roller coaster in the world, which dates back to 1912. It’s also one of only three roller coasters in the world with a brakeman who stands in the middle of the train. Other attractions include the Carousel, the Ghost Train, the Spider, Twin Dragon, and The Pharaoh’s Curse.

18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda VIC Australia +61 3 9525 5033

Lunapark © | Adam Carr/WikiCommons

Melbourne Cup

Known as the race that stops a nation, the Emirates Melbourne Cup is run on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington Race Course. The most-anticipated race of the Spring Racing Carnival, the Melbourne Cup is the ‘richest two-mile handicap’ thoroughbred horse race and is celebrated in Victoria with a public holiday.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.