7 Secret Zen Places To Recharge In Melbourne

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Melbourne without leaving the city, then these secret sanctuaries are for you. Unwind and find your Zen as you transcend into a state of relaxation. You can thank us later.

1. The Nook at Federation Square

Building

Tucked away in a corner inside the Atrium at Federation Square is a new pop-up venue known as The Nook. In juxtaposition with Federation Square’s modernist architecture, the cozy Nook is styled as a mid-century sitting room complete with retro chairs, a couch and community bookcase. Recharge in the quiet abode or join in with the local groups that occasionally use the space for knitting, embroidery and crafts.

2. Gravity Float

Feel the tension from your daily life slip away as your body defies gravity inside a floatation pod. Surrender to a weightless sensation as the Epsom salt solution induces your mind, body and soul into a deeply relaxed state while relieving musculoskeletal tension. Sound and light proof, the cocoon compels your mind to disconnect while expanding your focus and clarity.

559 High St, Northcote VIC Australia +61 3 8394 6690

3. Cat Café

Cafe

A session at Melbourne’s Cat Café is a serene experience where patrons can play, pat and relax with the café’s 16 rescue residents, while enjoying snacks and beverages. Cat people can attest to the therapeutic benefits of having a feline companion, and studies have shown that cats have pawsitive effects on their owners, including reducing stress and anxiety, lowering blood pressure and decreasing the risk of stroke, which is why a visit to the Cat Café is the purrfect way to unwind.

30 Guildford Ln, Melbourne VIC Australia +61 3 9642 8540

Courtesy of Cat Café

5. Australian Mediatheque at ACMI

Browse through a wealth of visual and audio content at Australian Mediatheque ACMI. Settle into one of 12 private booths, each fitted with four sets of headphones and watch on demand digital films, highlights from over 100 years of Australian, international films, short films, documentaries and more. In collaboration with the National Film and Sound Archive, ACMI’s free visual experience allows movie buffs to tune out from the busy city and enjoy the moving image.

Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne VIC Australia +61 3 8663 2200

6. Guilfoyle's Volcano

Covering 94 acres, Melbourne Gardens, part of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria are often overlooked including Guilfoyle’s Volcano in the south-east corner. Built in 1876 for water storage, Guilfoyle’s Volcano has since been transformed with low water use plants, including succulents and cacti, as well as circling boardwalks and viewing platforms which offer views of the city’s skyline.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Ave, South Yarra VIC Australia

Courtesy of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, photographer Adrian Vittorio

7. Virgin Active Sleep Pods

Fitness Studio, Gym

The gym floor at Virgin Active Collins Street

If you’re craving an afternoon siesta, then visit Virgin Active and drift away in one of their sleep pods. The zero gravity shells recline for optimum comfort, while stimulating blood flow and reducing lower back pressure. Soothing sounds will help you doze off and after 20 minutes, gentle vibrations will rouse you awake, feeling fully rested.

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.