Awesome Free Things To Do In Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is one of the best cities in Australia in my opinion. My fiancé (at that time and now husband) and I really enjoyed walking around the city because of it's cool and hip vibe. I feel calm, and relaxed in Melbourne maybe because the people are also very chill--that's why the city won the number 2 spot in the global livable cities report for 2019. I also love that despite Australia being an expensive country relative to the Philippines, you can still do so much without spending money. Here I will share to you the awesome free things to do in Melbourne.

First things first, the best way to go around the city is by riding the bus or tram. You can purchase a Myki Card so you avoid the hassle of lining up the ticket booth every time you will ride the train. You can have the card topped up and use it to pay in convenient stores. There's also the convenience of an Uber but it could be pricier.

The City Circle Tram (number 35 tram) is FREE transportation int he CBD and Docklands where you can hop-on and off to check out Melbourne's attraction. There is a recorded tour where they feed you information about the stops such as: the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Zoo, Royal Exhibition Building, Museum, Federation Square, the Old Treasury Building, Parliament House, and the Princess Theater.

1. Walk around Victoria Flinder's Street Station - This is the iconic station because this is the very first station built in Australia in 1854 and it is the heart of Melbourne. Here you can do and visit the following which are all walkable from the station.

a. Stroll around the Yarra River- There is a food hall and lots of quirky restaurants along the river. You can have your lunch or dinner here.

b. Go people watching and appreciate art at the Federation Square- This is Melbourne's venue for arts, culture, and public events.

c. Visit St. Paul's Cathedral- Opposite to the Federation Square you can see the majestic and neo-Gothic style cathedral, the St. Paul's Cathedral.

d. Have your Instagram-worthy photoshoot in Hoiser Lane's famous street alley- Hoiser Lane is just opposite the Federation Square and few streets away from the Cathedral. So many people go here to have their photos taken so make sure to go there early and choose your best spot. We also had our prenuptial photoshoot taken in this alley. Just bring your camera or cellphone and a tripod or selfie stick then you're good to go! We also saw street art classes and tours where you can book and create your own street art.

2. Soak in the sun and take your vitamin SEA at Brighton Beach- This beach is one of the most photographed spots in Australia because of its famous 82 multi-colored bathing boxes. You can swim in that beach but it's a bit rocky. Brighton is very accessible via the Brighton beach railway station.

3. Have a quiet afternoon reading or learning time at the State Library Victoria and the ACMI (Australian Center for the Moving Image)- Their library is so beautiful you would want to study in Australia and just lounge all day there. You may check out the schedule for the free exhibits in ACMI too.

4. Shop for trinkets, food, and bargain at the Queen Victoria Market- There are so much to see and buy in Queen Victoria Market. You can purchase Australian souvenir in this place and try Aussie food from the food stalls or food truck if there's an event. If you want to save money, this is the best place to shop for raw meat (for steak nights, maybe?) and local produce versus the supermarket because it's fresh and prices are low. Check out my photo of the giant lemon and potatoes!

Note: check out the official website of Queen Victoria Market for the opening time and days. I believe they are closed every Mondays and Wednesdays and night markets are open seasonal every Wednesdays.

There you go! These are some of the places you can visit in Melbourne without spending so much. All you need is your comfy walking shoes and lots of time to admire the awesome places. BTW, we only spent one whole day visiting all of the places listed above. You can plan your itinerary this way and I suggest you dedicate one whole day if you want to have a road trip to The Great Ocean Road.