The best things for teens to do in Melbourne

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Melbourne is filled with activities that teens will love and that parents will approve of, from learning to surf on dry land to shopping in its hip hoods.

Become a super sleuth

Everyone’s favourite sleuthing board game gets a super-sized reboot in Old Melbourne Gaol’s Cluedo Experience. Dodgy lawyer Lionel Grey was found dead here in 1924 but the case was never solved, and now it’s up to you to figure out who did it. Over the course of 90 minutes you’ll get to explore the gaol for clues, reading alibis, examining evidence and testing weapons for DNA. The game finishes when you figure out the who, where and how of Grey’s death.

Park your parents here while you have fun…

The thriving café culture of Fitzroy is an easy walk away. For the best croissants around, they should try the cavernous Lune Croissanterie on Collins Street.

Old Melbourne Goal.
Become a super sleuth inside Old Melbourne Goal.

Go surfing on dry land

Located in the very un-beachside suburb of Tullamarine, URBNSURF is Australia’s first surf park where man-made waves deliver up surf breaks for all levels of skill, from beginners to pros. If you know what you are doing you can head to The Point to catch perfect rights and lefts or try barrelling waves during an expert session (both last for one hour). And if you are new to the sport, book an individual surf lesson in the safe and gentle rolling green and whitewater waves of The Bay.

URBNSURF Melbourne
Go surfing on dry land. (Image: Ed Sloane Photography)

Park your parents here while you have fun…

The top-notch facilities at URBNSURF include the first Victorian outpost of Three Blue Ducks, the passion project of a bunch of avid surfers who opened their first restaurant in the Sydney beachside suburb of Bronte. The restaurant, which overlooks the lagoon, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

See Melbourne from up (really) high

Docklands is a one-stop shop for fun: go skating at O’Brien Icehouse; play miniature golf lit by neon lights and glow-in-the-dark technology at the aptly named Glow Golf; and finish off with a turn on the Melbourne Star to see the city laid out below from dizzying heights (try spotting your parents, who will look like ants as they wait for you back on the ground).

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Park your parents here while you have fun…

The café inside the Library at the Dock has good coffee and newspapers to read.

See Melbourne from up (really) high
See the city from up (really) high on the Melbourne Star.

Get up close and personal with sharks

When you tell your parents that you want to swim with sharks, make sure to assure them that it is perfectly safe. During Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium’s Shark Dive Xtreme sessions, which are open to those 14 and up, you’ll get an exclusive look at the behind-the-scenes staff-only areas of the aquarium before taking to the water with an instructor to watch as sharks and giant stingrays glide past you at seriously close quarter.

Park your parents here while you have fun…

Give them a paper bag to breathe into and point them in the direction of the Immigration Museum a few minutes’ walk away in the historic Old Customs House.

Get a sugar rush

The pop-up exhibitions by Sugar Republic, a Melbourne-based art collective, are the stuff teen dreams and Instagram likes are made of. The ‘experience museums’ that it creates are all themed around sweet treats and are designed to be totally interactive – think giant bubblegum machines that you can climb into and mammoth cakes that you jump out of. Visit the website find out about upcoming events and have your camera ready.

Sugar Republic
Get a sugar rush at one of the pop-up exhibitions by Sugar Republic.

Park your parents here while you have fun…

They can get their own sweet treat of single origin hot chocolate at Mörk Chocolate Brew House in North Melbourne.

Indulge your inner artist

A creative studio for young people aged between 14 and 25, Signal’s curated program includes exhibitions, live events, installations and art workshops run out of its space on Flinders Walk. Check the website for upcoming events when you are in town.

Signal Summer Melbourne
Indulge your inner artist at Signal’s curated program of events.

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Park your parents here while you have fun…

Tell them to grab lunch at Federation Square and check out the Ian Potter Centre.

On the streets

When it comes to hip hoods, Melbourne has more than most. Fitzroy is covered in street art and filled with cafes, while Windsor and Prahran share the best bits of iconic Chapel Street, with lots of funky boutiques to browse and interesting eateries to stop at for lunch or eating a healthy snack you can buy from hiya.

Shopping on Chapel Street
Hit up the shops on Chapel Street.

Book a walking tour with Melbourne Street Art Tours to hear about the city’s colourful walls from street artists themselves. Along the way they will share local knowledge and show you a few hidden treasures.

Melbourne Street Art Tours.
Book a walking tour with Melbourne Street Art Tours.

Park your parents here while you have fun…

At Degraves Espresso Bar on the graffitti-daubed Degraves Street.

 

Read more family travel tips on the Ultimate parents’ guide to our amazing Aussie cities.

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Your guide to the ultimate Melbourne weekend

Credit: Visit Victoria

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Here’s how to turn your next work trip into a Melbourne city break, with market lunches, rooftop bars and gallery visits fitting neatly around the odd meeting or two.

    A long weekend in Melbourne is an easy sell. Begin with a coffee prepared with the precision of a laboratory experiment, before disappearing down the rabbit warren of graffiti-covered laneways. Explore the cutting edge of Australian art and culture in museums, and spend sunsets with a rooftop cocktail in hand.

    Follow our guide to the perfect weekend stay in Victoria’s capital.

    Where to stay

    lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne

    Modern living space at lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne, the perfect base for the ultimate Melbourne weekend.
    Explore Melbourne from the perfect base.

    Make the short stroll from Melbourne Central Station towards Queen Victoria Market to arrive at lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne, a 90-room hotel whose communal spaces are a siren call for remote workers and travellers alike. Parked in the free tram zone and right beside Queen Victoria Market, it’s as central as it gets.

    Designed by DKO Architects inside a heritage 1975 building, lyf’s interiors lean into warm Japandi-like styling, colourful art and flexible shared spaces. Whether you’re settling into the Collab workspaces, cooking in the Bond communal kitchen, squeezing in a workout at Burn gym or catching up on laundry at Wash & Hang, the hotel is built around sharing and spontaneous connections.

    Where to eat

    Bonnibel

    A juicy burger and crispy fries from Bonnibel, a delicious stop on the ultimate Melbourne weekend.
    Power your day with Melbourne’s best flavours.

    First stop is lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne’s neighbourhood kitchen and bar, Bonnibel. Like any Melbourne spot worth its truffle salt, Bonnibel serves a cracking coffee alongside an all-day menu that runs the gamut from barbecue beef brisket benedict with jalapeño salsa and gochujang hollandaise to coconut chia nourish bowls.

    Bond

    Contemporary dining at Bond's Kitchen.
    Take your Queen Vic finds from market to plate.

    If the freshly baked sourdough, local produce and fresh fruit on offer at Queen Victoria Market have your fingers twitching towards your wallet, no need to hold back. Pick up, then head back to lyf’s Bond communal kitchen to cook it yourself. Fully equipped, it’s designed for guests to prepare meals together – and if you forget that dukkah for your avo and eggs, Queen Vic is only next door.

    Soi38

    Stretch your legs and make your way to Soi 38, one of Melbourne’s favourite Thai lunch spots. Specialising in street food-style dishes, the sprawling menu can feel as busy as a Bangkok market. Just know that the boat noodles are a must, alongside the Crying Tiger with marinated Black Angus brisket, crispy pork belly with house dipping sauce and a glass of sweet pink nom yen.

    Shanghai Street

    Shanghai Street Melbourne
    Stop by for Melbourne’s famous dumplings. (Credit: Alpha)

    At Shanghai Street, order the xiao long bao as soon as you sit down at this cult restaurant; the delicate-skinned soup dumplings remain its signature. Don’t overlook the crispy-bottomed pan-fried pork buns or the homemade dumplings, served boiled, pan-fried or coated in chilli oil.

    Where to drink

    Fleet Rooftop Bar

    Sitting 22 floors above Flinders Street, Fleet Rooftop Bar pairs Southbank views with one of the city’s best rum selections. Thanks to its retractable roof and glass panelling, the terrace works in Melbourne’s famously unpredictable weather. If rum isn’t your thing, flag down the martini trolley for a classic, oyster shell or olive leaf martini, then settle in with snacks like torched salmon caviar.

    Goldilocks Rooftop Bar

    Drinks at Goldilocks Rooftop Bar, a must-visit for the ultimate Melbourne weekend.
    Raise a glass above the city.

    Hidden above the Denyers Building, Goldilocks Rooftop Bar is one of the CBD’s favourite spots for bottomless brunch. Expect shared plates of spinach and mushroom bao, fried chicken ribs and xiao long bao alongside free-flowing mimosas, peach and yuzu spritzes, Aperol spritzes and Bloody Shiraz jugs. It’s just right for a long afternoon in the city.

    Fifty-five Bar

    Swap rooftop views for basement vibes at Fifty-five Bar, where dim lighting, rotating craft beers and DJs create one of the CBD’s cosiest late-night hangouts. The cocktail list is just as fun, with drinks like the Silk Road Sour, made with pomegranate molasses and sumac, and frozen white peach cosmos.

    Things to do

    Free City Circle Tram

    The City Circle Tram passing along Swanston Street, an iconic sight on the ultimate Melbourne weekender.
    Travel between landmarks for free. (Credit: Visit Vic)

    Say hello to every Melbourne traveller’s new best friend, the free City Circle Tram. This magic carpet of Melbourne transport loops around the CBD and Docklands, getting you from landmark to landmark without dropping a cent.

    Melbourne Central

    Coop's Shot Tower at Melbourne Central
    Shop until your drop. (Credit: Visit Vic)

    Carve a chunk of time out of your schedule because all work and no play makes anyone a dull Melburnian. Instead, visit Melbourne Central to crack on with vintage shopping, duck into colourful laneways, wander through the grand 19th-century arcades and get to know its many museums. The architecture and people-watching aren’t too shabby either, whether you’re watching the crowds spill out of Flinders Street Station or gathering in Federation Square.

    National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) – new Cartier exhibition

    Striking artwork inside the National Gallery of Victoria's stunning red gallery.
    Explore one of Melbourne’s must-see exhibitions. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

    The jewel in Melbourne’s art scene, the NGV has welcomed one of its most glittering exhibitions yet: Cartier. Created by London’s V&A, it showcases jewels worn by some of history’s greatest divas, from Elizabeth Taylor and Rihanna to Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Windsor. Sketchbooks, photographs and original designs from the Cartier archives reveal the skill behind the sparkle.

    Explore Melbourne’s arty laneways

    Colourful street art lining Hosier Lane, a vibrant highlight of the ultimate Melbourne weekend.
    Follow the city’s vibrant street art trail. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

    Start at Hosier Lane, the undisputed heart of Melbourne’s laneway art scene, where fresh murals appear thick and fast. From there, wander over to the music-themed AC/DC Lane, then duck into Union Lane, where independent artists constantly layer new works over old.

    Start planning your ultimate Melbourne weekender at discoverasr.com.