The 10 Best Indoor Activities In Melbourne Australia

Melbourne is unfortunately well-known for its ‘four seasons in one day’ weather. But don’t let Melbourne’s unpredictable weather ruin your plans. There are many attractions around the city to enjoy when the weather outside isn’t being cooperative. Here are the 10 best indoor activities to check out in Melbourne.

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Visit the National Gallery of Victoria for free

Art Gallery, Building

Great Hall, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Australia featuring stained glass ceiling by Australian artist Leonard French

The National Gallery of Victoria is Australia’s oldest, biggest, and most visited art museum. It’s a great free thing to do in Melbourne. The gallery has two sites in the city: NGV International, and the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. It’s known for housing one of the world’s finest art collections, including over 4000 works in their Asian Art collection, and 16,000 international prints. There are children’s workshops and exhibitions for families as well. Another option is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, which has both paid and free exhibitions.

Learn more about the city at Melbourne Museum

Museum

A natural and cultural history museum, Melbourne Museum is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s located opposite the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens, just outside the CBD. Learn more about Victoria’s indigenous culture at Bunjilaka, the Aboriginal Culture Centre. Discover more about Melbourne in the The Melbourne Story exhibition, get up close to interesting insects in Bugs Alive, wander through the living Forest Gallery and the Dinosaur Walk, explore The Mind exhibition, or see a movie at IMAX Melbourne.

Shop until you drop

Melbourne is Australia’s shopping capital. There are outdoor shopping areas, like Chapel Street and Bourke Street Mall. But head to one of the city’s indoor shopping centres when the weather turns bad. Chadstone Shopping Centre is Australia’s largest shopping centre by area, and claims to be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere as well. More than 20 million people visit the 530 stores annually, which include Myer, David Jones, H&M, Sephora, and Uniqlo. In the city, head to Melbourne Central, which is home to shops, vintage boutiques, a bowling alley, a cinema, and a large food court.
Chadstone Shopping Centre, 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone, VIC, Australia, +61 3 9563 3355

Destinations Unlocked:

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Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.

CentralAmerica

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

CentralAmerica

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.

CentralAmerica

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.

SouthAmerica

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

SouthAmerica

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.

Europe

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Europe

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.

Europe

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.

Asia

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Asia

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.

Asia

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price

Africa

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Africa

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.

Africa

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.

Melbourne Central, La Trobe and Swanston Streets, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, +61 3 9922 1100

Relax inside the State Library Victoria

Library

Hide from the rain in the city and relax inside State Library Victoria. Not only is it Australia’s oldest public library, but it was one of the world’s first free public libraries too. Aside from its stack of books, the library is also home to a large collection of historical artefacts. Don’t miss taking a photo of the spectacular reading room. State Library Victoria is also home to Mr Tulk Cafe, which is named after Melbourne’s first chief librarian. It’s a great place for studying, and catching up with friends over brunch.

Spend the day inside the Crown Complex

Casino

Crown Melbourne is a juggernaut. The entire Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex takes up the equivalent of two city blocks. This makes it the Southern Hemisphere’s largest casino complex, and one of the biggest in the world. The complex includes three hotels, nightclubs, nightly entertainment, a casino (of course), luxury designer boutiques, a cinema and bowling alley, and a spa for rainy day relaxation. There are also 29 restaurants to choose from, which include some of the best fine dining experiences in Australia and the world.

Cliffhanger Climbing Gym

Gym

For those who want an adventurous indoor activity in Melbourne, check out Cliffhanger Climbing Gym. Known as the best indoor rock climbing centre in Australia, the walls at Cliffhanger are the highest in the Southern Hemisphere. They reach 20 metres (66 ft). Cliffhanger offers a diverse range of graded climbing walls, and has a juniors program, so it’s a perfect activity for all ages.

Do as the locals do and brunch

Going for brunch is a very popular pastime for many Melbourne residents. But which cafe do you choose? You could head to Fitzroy, which may be the unofficial brunch capital of Melbourne. Industry Beans is a local favourite, Bentwood Fitzroy does delicious panna cotta, and Belle’s Hot Chicken has chicken and waffles for brunch on weekends. There are plenty of places that do innovative brunch dishes too. Collective Espresso does ‘gravity waffles,’ Kettle Black has the prettiest pancakes, and Common Galaxia is known for its Ferrero Rocher waffles.

Visit SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Aquarium

The whole family will enjoy a visit to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. Spread over four floors, some of the animals you’ll spot at the aquarium include tropical reef fish at the Coral Caves, grey nurse and reef sharks in the Mermaid Garden, penguins, a crocodile in the Croc Lair, rays, and seahorse and sea stars. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium’s conservation efforts include rehabilitating sea turtles, and a grey nurse shark breeding program. The aquarium is also home to the world’s first IVF shark — a brown-banded bamboo shark.

Catch a movie

But don’t just watch a film in any old cinema. Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn first opened in 1912, and shows a diverse program of films. Cinema Nova is one of the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest independent cinemas with 16 theatres. It not only does the best choc top ice creams in Melbourne, but it also screens stage productions from the Met Opera and London’s National Theatre. Then there is Yarraville’s Sun Theatre, an art deco dream that first opened in 1938.

Scienceworks

Museum

Scienceworks is a world-renowned science museum. Some of the exhibitions at Scienceworks include Sportsworks; Think Ahead, which explores what the future will look like; and Beyond Perception. It’s also home to Melbourne Planetarium and the Lightning Room. The latter hosts 30-minute live shows daily. Scienceworks invites everyone to join them on an “expedition to understand the mysteries of the universe and our everyday lives”.

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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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.