Melbourne Hidden Gems: Unmissable Places and Experiences

Melbourne is one of Australia's most famous cities, known for landmarks such as Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, the city's laneway culture, and the gateway to drive the Great Ocean Road. But once you've seen the big must-see attractions, what else is there to see and do in Melbourne?

I've dug a bit deeper into this iconic Aussie city and found some of Melbourne's hidden gems, places not all tourists get to see. Some of them are hiding in plain sight!

No matter how many secret spots you get to visit on your next Melbourne trip, make sure to stop and sample Melbourne's famously excellent coffee and internationally recognized Yarra Valley wines.

If you only have a few days in Melbourne, also check out my 2-7 day Melbourne itinerary.

1. Princes Pier

Princes Pier is the second-largest timber-piled wharf structure in Australia built between 1912 and 1915 and it served as an arrival point for migrants to the country.

Now derelict, it is a fascinating and somewhat magical place to wander, with lots of signage explaining the local history.

The pier is a beautiful place for sunrise or sunset to explore and a great place for lots of photos!

2. Alternatives to Hosier Lane

Melbourne is well known for its artistic alleyway culture and mazes of tiny laneways that reveal unexpected shops, restaurants, and bars.

Hosier Lane is among the most popular areas to explore, with lots of street art forming an open-air art gallery. However, on my recent visit to Melbourne, Hosier Lane felt a lot dirtier with some art being vandalized by youngsters and I didn't enjoy it as much anymore.

So I went on a hunt to find less touristy streets holding fantastic art pieces.

Follow your feet to Presgrave Place off Little Collins Street for laneways full of hole-in-the-wall galleries and designer boutiques.

Duckboard Place is where WWII troops on leave came to be entertained. Now you can find small live music venues between Chinese and Indian restaurants. Right next door is AC/DC Lane, named after the Australian musical legends, which feels like a 1980s rock and roll haven.

3. Queen Victoria Night Market

Melbourne's markets are a great way to discover its unique artists and creators from the area, and who doesn't love a good night market?

While the QVM Melbourne is definitely touristy, I recommend you head to the Queen Victoria Night Market on Wednesday evenings between November and March for street food and artistic stalls.

If you prefer early morning markets for fresh seafood and fusion recipes, head to the more local Prahran Market with its market-to-table meals.

On Sundays head to Camberwell for the city's longest-running market, which is great for quality secondhand clothes and goods.

4. Ponyfish Island

Ponyfish Island is a gem hiding in plain sight that I only discovered on my recent visit. It's a floating bar on the Yarra River that sits under the Southbank pedestrian bridge, offering a great mix of Asian dishes and craft cocktails.

At my time of visit in winter, they also served mulled wine, something I miss having from growing up in Germany with its magical Christmas market culture.

Named for a mysterious fish thought to swim in the river, the venue has a quirky and mystic vibe to it. The walls are adorned with exotic flora and fauna designed to appeal to the artsy Melbourne vibes. No bookings, you need to turn up and try your luck.

5. URBN Surf

While Melbourne might not have the same surf credentials as Sydney and the Gold Coast, you can catch scores of perfect waves in Melbourne at URBN Surf, Australia's first artificial surf park.

As we landed late at night in Melbourne, we chose to stay right across from URBN Surf and went really early in the morning for the first session at 8 am. You can check the current wave schedule here.

URBN Surf is like a little theme park for surfers, with sessions for learners and enthusiasts, plus lagoonside fun, a big hot tub (which was needed with the cooler winter temperatures, note that the water is not heated and you will need a good wetsuit to surf!) and other surf-related activities.

After our surf session, we had breakfast at Three Blue Ducks restaurant overlooking the surf park and watched the next set of surfers catch barrels.

URBN Surf is located just 10 minutes from Melbourne Airport and is open from 6 am to 10 pm in the summer, so there is no excuse not to catch a wave!

6. Old Melbourne Gaol

The Old Melbourne Gaol, constructed in 1839, emerged a mere four years after the establishment of the city. It remained a functioning correctional facility from 1832 to 1992, serving as the site of execution for several notorious Australian criminals, including the infamous outlaw Ned Kelly.

Buy your general entry ticket here and skip the line.

The reason that the gaol is now a hidden treasure is that it is tucked away within a college campus, that was more built around the complex. There are several different tours to sign up for depending on your age and interest.

7. Gin Palace

Of course, Melbourne's alleyways are best known for their fantastic secret bars! But you need to know where the best ones are to find them.

Gin Palace is among the best of the best, in a basement in a dark alleyway near Russell Place, it has more than 200 gins to sample. The decor takes you back in time to the 1920s prohibition era, even though there was never prohibition in boozy Australia.

Other great hidden bars include State of Grace, a busy restaurant with fantastic rooftop views, but it also has a secret stairway that leads to the Fallen From Grace cocktail bar underneath.

Trinket Bar on Flinders Lane is another popular eatery, but behind a hidden door, you will find its famous Cellar Bar.

8. Koorie Heritage Trust Cultural Walk

The traditional Aboriginal culture of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation are essential to understanding the fabric of the city, but it is not always easy to see when visiting Melbourne today.

Join the one-hour walking tour at 1 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays starting at Federation Square and walking down to Birrarung Marr Park to see art installations and hear about the culture, past and present.

9. Sol 38 Car Park Restaurant

Another quirky restaurant to check out which is not as popular as it deserves to be is Sol 38. This Thai cafe is located in a multi-level car park on Little Collins Street.

Dine on a papaya salad, raw oysters, and Thai BBQ hotpot. What started out as a popup is set to become a Melbourne feature.

As an extra special surprise, you can pick up a bottle at a natural wine shop housed in the car park's old ticket booth. Remember that many Melbourne restaurants allow BYOB (bring your own booze).

10. Botanicah Indoor Greenhouse

Botanicah is what you can probably call Melbourne's best plant shop and a stunning indoor event space with more than 250 plants and high-pitched ceilings with fantastic hanging plants. It is sometimes called Melbourne's indoor jungle.

As a big plant lover, I always love to shop around for my next green plant pet!

You can also organize a special event in their venue space, or sign up for one of its workshops such as Bonsai for Beginners, Wreathmaking, Plant Propagation, and Rare Plant Discovery.

They now have multiple locations!

11. State Library Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Victoria State Library is without a doubt a fantastic place to visit and one that pops up as one of the most popular things to do in Melbourne.

But you can also discover its secrets on the free Dome to Catacombs tour, which books out very fast!

On this tour, you will journey from the pinnacle of the renowned Dome in the La Trobe Reading Room to the concealed sections beneath the Library, referred to as the catacombs.

You will have the opportunity to discover Library areas typically off-limits to the general public, such as the Pendulum Staircase, the Card Catalogue room, and the Elephant Lift, which was originally utilized to transport stuffed elephants (true story!) during the period when the building housed the Melbourne Museum.

12. Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit

If you enjoy Formula One racing and you are in Melbourne between 21 and 24 March 2024, it would be a crime not to visit the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.

If you aren't visiting in March, you can still see the venue as part of a sports lovers' tour of Melbourne.

As well as Albert Park, you'll visit the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG), Australian Sports Museum, Melbourne Park Tennis Courts, Flemington Race Course (where the Melbourne Cup happens), and Marvel Stadium.

For anyone visiting outside of major racing events, Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne offers a scenic and tranquil setting, ideal for leisurely walks, a picnic, and enjoying the serene lakeside atmosphere.

13. Punting in the Botanical Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is almost 200 years old and covers more than 38 hectares.

The gardens are a great way to get away from the city and are a place to discover some of Australia's unique plant life.

Why not take in the gardens from a different view by punting around the garden's Ornamental Lake while a professional guide tells you some of the garden's best secrets.

13. Toilet with the Best View in Melbourne

If you are looking for a place to take in the city skyline, do it differently by heading to the Sofitel on Collins Street. On the 35th floor there is a bar, and by all means, have a fantastic cocktail.

But take a trip to the bathroom on the east side of the building for some of the most spectacular views in the city.

Alternatively, I recommend staying at the voco Melbourne Central and opting for a higher floor to secure your personal haven for tranquil bathroom views.

Other excellent rooftop bars in Melbourne include Her Rooftop but expect to queue, the Rooftop at QT, the simply named Rooftop Bar, Fable Melbourne, and Bomba, which also has some of the best tapas in the city.

14. Easeys Restaurant

If you enjoy a good burger and an interesting setting, Easeys is a hidden gem. While it serves up some of the best burgers and hot dogs in the city, the attraction is that the restaurant is housed in a couple of decommissioned train carriages placed on a Fitzroy rooftop.

In true Melbourne style, you can expect special events at the restaurant every time an important football match is showing, and it transforms into a music venue sometimes as well.

15. Pink Lake at Westgate Park

While the lake at Westgate Park is beautiful at any time, it is particularly stunning when the right combination of the water's algae, salt, and sunlight turns the lake a vibrant pink.

It usually happens in the warmer months, but it can be unpredictable, so you'll need a pinch of luck as well!

You can explore the lake via various scenic walks, that also offer spectacular views of the city. Unfortunately, it is not recommended for swimming.

Find the best places to stay in Melbourne here.

Melbourne's Hidden Gems – Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ What is Melbourne iconic for?

Melbourne is often called the world's most liveable city, mixing Australia's coastal lifestyle with a distinctive “European” vibe. Visit the city and you will discover that it is iconic for its art, culture and sporting events such as the Australian Open and Melbourne Cup Races, its coffee culture, especially the humble flat white, and historic architecture. Melbourne is also the gateway to the iconic Great Ocean Road.

📍 What is Melbourne's most famous landmark?

Flinders Street Station is probably one of Melbourne's most well-known attractions and it is a gateway to discover the city. But suitably for such a sports-obsessed country, its other major landmarks are mostly sporting venues, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). There is also the iconic and classic Luna Park amusement park and the labyrinthine alleyways that crisscross the city center.

❓ What are five interesting facts about Melbourne?

(1) Melbourne has one of the most iconic cafe cultures in the world. (2) Most of Australia's big sporting events happen in Melbourne. (3) 50% of people who live in Melbourne were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. (4) Melbourne is known for its unpredictable weather and it's not uncommon to experience “four seasons in one day,” with rapidly changing weather conditions. (5) Melbourne has frequently been ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world by various international indices, thanks to its high-quality healthcare, education, and culture.

Melbourne's Hidden Gems – Final Words

Melbourne is a big international city packed full of famous sites, hidden cafes, cocktails bars and plenty of unique experiences.

There is simply so much to discover if you dig a bit deeper and head off the beaten path. Get to know the true heart of the city with these must-visit hidden gems in Melbourne.