A Thrifty Guide to Melbourne
Known for its coffee culture vibrant culture, there’s more to Melbourne/Naarm in Victoria than meets the eye. Brimming with arts, restaurants and scenic places to explore, follow this guide in your Thrifty rental car and you’ll find a city of adventure and thrilling activities.
Known for its coffee culture vibrant culture, there’s more to Melbourne/Naarm in Victoria than meets the eye. Brimming with arts, restaurants and scenic places to explore, follow this guide in your Thrifty rental car and you’ll find a city of adventure and thrilling activities—all without breaking the piggy bank.
Discover Melbourne’s Beaches
Forget Bondi or Fremantle—Melbourne is home to its very own collection of stunning beaches. These seaside neighbourhoods don’t just boast wide expanses of golden sand to roll your towel out on and work on your suntan, but are also hubs of exciting activities and eateries to keep you entertained no matter the weather. South of the city centre you’ll discover the famous St Kilda Beach and shopping strip on Acland Street. Wander along the foreshore and stop for fish’n’chips at Pink Flake Fish and Chips for the ultimate St Kilda experience. For when you get thirsty, The Vineyard Restaurant is the perfect place to stop by for a refreshment at happy hour as you watch the sunset over the heart of St Kilda. If you’re after a dose of a thrill, check out the smiling face of Luna Park on The Esplanade for the ride of your life. Across the bay, discover another of Melbourne’s favourite beaches at Williamstown. Only a half an hour drive from the CBD, Williamstown not only offers a gorgeous beach to splash about in, but also a collection of piers to walk down and get closer to the shimmering blue of Port Melbourne bay.
Indulge in Arts and Culture
There’s no other arts and culture precinct in the country like the one you’ll find in Melbourne. Park your Thrifty rental car at any of the carpark centres situated around the CBD (Southbank is perfect) and head on over to the National Gallery of Victoria. While Melbourne’s heritage City Circle Tram (number 35) is a great free way to navigate the city with audio commentary about the city around you, Melbourne’s city centre also offers free tram rides on all routes within the Free Tram Zone if you don’t feel like walking. At the NGV International on St Kilda Road, you’ll discover a free permanent collection that houses more than 75,000 works, as well as rotating ticketed exhibitions. Only a five minute walk down the road in the heart of the CBD is Federation Square, a meeting place and centre of cultural activity. A range of pop-up exhibitions and festivals often run through Fed Square, so make sure to check out this hub as you wander around the city. While you’re there, look across the road at the majestic Flinders Street Railway Station and take in a Melbourne of times past.
Embrace City Life in the CBD
A walk through the city isn’t just through the towering masses of the skyscrapers and heritage buildings—if you look a little closer, you’ll find a hidden Melbourne that is yours to explore. Between the buildings and down unassuming streets, Melbourne is home to a wide variety of laneway art. Melbourne doesn’t just show its best works of art at the NGV—many of them you can find just walking around the city and hidden between walls. Hosier Lane is a must-stop area to see some of these pops of colour and shapes on display. If you get lucky, you might even see an artist creating their own art piece right there in front of you! When you’re making your way through Melbourne’s laneways, like AC/DC Lane and Presgrave Place, you can’t miss out on stopping for one of the city’s famous cups of coffee.
Relax in the City’s Gardens
Melbourne isn’t all skyscrapers and beaches. The city is also home to a variety of urban gardens and parks. For the ultimate dose of nature, make sure to check out the Royal Botanic Gardens by the Yarra River. To top off a trip to the Botanic Gardens, bring a picnic rug and a packed lunch and listen to the birds sing in the native trees all around you. On the other side of the CBD in the inner-city suburb of Carlton, only a ten minute drive from the city centre, make sure to check out the epic Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building that stands majestic in the middle of the lush greenery. Equipped with tennis courts, a playground and a basketball court, this stunning expanse of gardens are perfect no matter what activity you want to tackle.
From sunswept beaches to gorgeous gardens, hidden street art to prolific galleries, Melbourne makes for the perfect getaway. Easy to navigate and full of adventure, all you need is your Thrifty rental car and this ultimate guide to make the most of the vibrant city.