Your Ultimate Student Travel Guide To Melbourne, Australia

After almost two years, Australia has finally reopened its borders to international students and you can now enter without a travel exemption if you’re looking to further your studies Down Under.

One of the more popular Australian cities to study in, Melbourne has an exciting mixture of world-class educational institutions, urban experiences and outdoor adventures – making it a big hit with international students.

If you’ve got your eye on this vibrant city, discover all that it has to offer through our student travel guide to Melbourne!

Be Sure To Comply With The Local Pandemic Safety Measures

Due to the ongoing pandemic, you’d want to be aware of the city’s rules and restrictions for fully vaccinated people.

These include:

• Checking-in with the Service Victoria app or providing your contact details to the owner

• Wearing a face mask covering on public transport, indoor locations such as retail stores and if you can’t maintain physical distance

• Practice physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres between yourself and other people where possible

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

7 Things To Explore & Enjoy In Melbourne Australia

1. Dive Through The City Laneways For Visual Treats & Bar Finds

Check out interesting street art as you wander along Melbourne’s creative laneways and stop by its boutiques, hole-in-the-wall cafes, bars and more.

With lots to do in this bustling area, you might actually have to make more than one trip to fully explore all it has to offer!

2. Stroll Down Melbourne’s Tasty Streets

Foodies, rejoice! Melbourne’s eat streets have a diverse range of tastes and treats that would delight your palate.

At Gertrude Street, you’ll discover fine dining, the best bars and top chefs. If cafes are more up your alley, you’ll love Lygon Street, where you can immerse in Melbourne’s café culture and enjoy a good cup of coffee.

If you’re in the mood for contemporary Asian eateries or pub grub Italian style bites, then Chapel Street should be on your list of food places to check out.

3. Ride A Hot Air Balloon Over Melbourne

Although hot air balloons are a more common sight in the countryside, they fly over Melbourne’s bustling city too!

If you’re able to get up before dawn, it is worth hopping on for a flight and catching the sunrise while taking in iconic views of Melbourne’s famous attractions as the city sleeps.

The beauty of each trip is that the location of where you start, travel and land in your balloon will always be a surprise as each flight is determined by the day’s conditions.

4. Shop Around At Queen Victoria Market

Queen Victoria Market is the largest open-air market in Australia and has been operating for over 140 years.

With over 600 businesses selling unique handmade products, fresh and specialty produce, clothing, food, coffee and more, you’ll be able to find a wide variety of items here.

On Wednesday nights, the Night Market comes to life at Queen Victoria Market so you can expect live music, festival bars and global street food when the sunsets.

Speaking of food, don’t miss the two-hour Ultimate Foodie guided tour, where you get to indulge in the Market’s best food.

5. Get Artsy & Explore Abbotsford Convent

From its early days as a convent, commercial laundry, orphanage and aged care facility in the late 1800s, the Abbotsford Convent has since evolved into Australia’s largest multi-arts precinct and is a place of art, culture and learning.

Home to a vibrant creative community, cafes, a gallery, wellbeing practitioners, two schools, a radio station and green open space, there’s lots to explore in this special place.

Check out beautiful artwork by the artists, grab a bite at one of the cafes or pop by the Collingwood Children’s Farm to visit some furry friends.

6. Pop By The Melbourne Zoo

Located right outside Melbourne’s CBD, the Melbourne Zoo is home to over 320 species from around the world.

Spot Australian cuddly koalas and kangaroos as you wander through the lush rainforests and say hello to a variety of animals including tigers, orang-utans, penguins and more.

Book a close-up encounter to come face to face with your favourite animals in their exhibits!

7. Travel To Yarra Valley For A Getaway Experience

Escape the city and take a day trip to Yarra Valley, where you’ll be surrounded by farmhouses, green hills and vineyards.

If you love wine, you’ll be pleased to know that you can taste wine from the region’s famous wineries every weekend.

Also, you can grab a hearty meal at its range of sought-after winery restaurants and enjoy free tastings at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery.

Take The Next Step Towards Studying In Melbourne With IDP

Now that you have a better idea of the kinds of activities and places to explore, you’re probably excited to make your study trip to Melbourne happen!

If you aren’t sure where to begin, we’ve got your back.

At IDP, we have a team of experienced education counsellors that can offer tailored guidance to help you with your application to study in Melbourne.

Get started by booking your free counselling session with us today!