Duration: 2-3 hours
Price Guide: $0
Last Reviewed:

When it comes to shopping, Chapel Street is one of Melbourne’s best known areas. If you’re fed up of high street shops and looking for something a little bit different, this street is second to none when it comes to variety. For everyone after something run of the mill, I advise you head elsewhere; you’ll find no tracksuits or Target stores here. Three words to best describe this street? Vintage, unique and expensive…

Catch a train to Windsor (Sandringham Line). From the city loop it should take approximately 15-20 minutes.

As you exit the station turn left, you are now at the start of Chapel Street.

First impressions can be deceiving - I admit at first glance I thought this place seemed rather shabby, dull even, with nothing obviously special to offer. However, after you’ve passed the first few rows of laundrettes and kebab huts, you’ll start to notice some interesting little boutiques. Go in them. Every one is fabulously different!

After roughly ten minutes walking you’ll notice Chapel Street Bazaar to your left.

I found this huge store/mini market to be strangely reminiscent of my Gran’s living room. Even if you’re not after anything it’s worth a look - from kitsch costume jewellery to vintage clothes and accessories, bizarre ornaments and every collectible imaginable, it’s all utterly useless in the most wonderful way. (It’s alarmingly easy to convince yourself that you do actually need some of this junk, I found myself debating whether or not to buy a pair of $150 geisha shoes … don’t ask.)

Exit the Bazaar and continue down Chapel Street.

If you’re hungry, there’s plenty of choice. The cafes are cute and the restaurants are swish; I personally sampled lunch at Tusk (a corner cafe 10 mins from the station on your left), which I couldn’t fault. There are also a few specialist cake shops which you probably wont be able to resist either. Pran Central Food Court is a 20 minute walk from the station, once again on your left, situated in the Pran Central Shopping Centre (just after Wittners shoes). This offers yet more variety.

About 20-25 minutes down Chapel Street you can turn onto Commercial Road (at the traffic lights, left or right)

There isn’t too much here apart from a few more restaurants and high street shops. But if you have time to kill, it could be worth a gander (there is also an outlet of one of Melbourne’s favourite handbag and accessory stores, Quick Brown Fox).

Continue down Chapel Street.

Did I mention how good for shoes this place is? No? Well, it’s really good. If you’re after some retro cowboy boots or 60s pumps then you’re spoilt for choice. And surprisingly enough, heaps of shops here are very affordable. There are, of course, a couple of tres exclusive boutiques that charge ridiculous amounts for second-hand jumpers that look like your Dad’s, but they’re not the only sorts of shops. As you near the Commerical Road end of Chapel Street you will notice the boutiques fade out and are replaced with more restaurants and chain stores.

Tiring, all that shopping eh? If you really can’t be bothered to walk back, you can catch a tram back right to the station anywhere along Chapel Street, catch the number 8 tram from Commercial Road into the city or walk west up the hill from the Chapel and Commerical corner to South Yarra Station where you can catch any of the City Loop or Flinders Street-bound trains into town.

Duration: 1-2 hours
Price Guide: $0-$unlimited, depending on how much shopping you do!
Last Reviewed:

If you’d like to see the Gleadall St Market in action (the final stop on this tour) you’ll need to time your tour for a Saturday morning as the market finishes at 1pm each Saturday.

Catch a train to Richmond (Zone 1). From the city loop this should take approximately 10 minutes or five minutes on a direct train from Flinders Street Station.

At Richmond station, follow the signs that direct you to Swan Street. Exit down the ramp and turn left, past the car rental store. Pass under the railway bridge and continue walking.

Swan Street shops: Swan Street may not be as whacky as Chapel Street or as grand as Melbourne’s city centre, but it certainly holds its own when it comes to discount shopping. Many stores sell Australian fashion designers’ seconds or rejects so, if you know a good deal when you see one, you could nab yourself a serious bargain.

Bridge Road is parallel with Swan Street, but it’s about a 10-minute walk from one to another. If you wish to reach it, turn left onto Church Street and walk over the hill; the major road at the bottom is Bridge Road. You may turn left or right to explore. If you don’t want to walk, you can catch the 78 or 79 tram along Church Street to get you there.

Richmond Town Hall: If you turn right at the bottom of the hill you will see the Richmond Town Hall on your left. Inside, it hosts all of Bridge Road’s cultural information. Take note also of the bronze plaques on the buildings, which will provide you with some historical insight to this Heritage-classified area.

Continue down Bridge Road.

Corner of Bridge Road Church St: there are vast numbers of cafes, restaurants and bars to be sampled around this intersection, including venues offering Thai, Burmese, Malaysian and Lebanese cuisine. Sweet Bunny is a super-cute confectionery shop that should also be visited.

Adjacent to the Town Hall is Gleadell Street Market (open Saturdays 7am-1pm) where you will find a wide range of local seasonal produce being sold by the people who grew or made it.

Gleadall Street Market: Richmond’s Gleadell Street market on Saturdays is packed with seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, herbs, flowers and gourmet delights. The market is open 7am to 1pm every Saturday except Easter Saturday, Anzac day and two Saturdays over the Christmas period. The original Richmond market opened in 1873 and this market continues the traditions of farmers travelling to Richmond to sell their fresh produce.

Duration: 1-2 hours
Price Guide: $0
Last Reviewed:

This amazing 38 hectare garden is said to be one of the world’s finest botanic gardens - boasting over 10,000 species of plants (many endangered) and an array of wildlife, it’s not hard to see why. Directions to the gardens are surprisingly sparse, but thankfully it’s not too hard to find. Open 7.30 - dusk (5.30 or 6pm in winter, spring and autumn, 8.30pm November to March); admission is free. The directions I have given follow a scenic route along the Yarra River, taking about 25 minutes in total. Alternatively, you can ride the free Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle to the Royal Botanic Gardens - the Shuttle begins at the Melbourne Museum and runs every 15 minutes between 10-4pm daily.

Catch a train to Flinders Street Station (on the city loop)

Exit via the main entrance of the station and cross over to Federation Square.

Federation Square holds a host of attractions to suit every desire. From swanky cafes and bars to the incredible National Gallery: Ian Potter Centre (which hosts Australian art), it’s a mix of culture and style. Perfect for lunch or cocktails.

Walk diagonally through Federation Square and down any of the sets of steps that lead to the Yarra River (Transport Bar will be on your right, the Ian Potter Centre on your left) At the bottom of the steps turn left.

The Yarra River runs through the very centre of Melbourne. It has played a huge part in the city’s development, once effectively a drain for the city’s early industry it has been cleaned up and now provides miles of picturesque walks for all to enjoy, is host to numerous rowing clubs, fisherpeople and other water activities. It is also host to events that are held as part of the Melbourne Festival and the Moomba Festival.

Continue walking alongside the river, following the path around until you reach Swan Street Bridge (approximately a 5-10 minute walk)

Throughout this walk you will notice various sculptures and other art dotted around. This is the Birrarung Marr precinct; art that is not confined to gallery walls. Just right of the footbridge are the Federation Bells, which play set compositions daily. On the other side of the river you will see the various rowing and boating clubs of Melbourne.

Cross Swan Street Bridge. Go straight over the road and turn left. To your right is a big hill. Follow the path that leads diagonally up and left. At the end of this path you will see a gate. This is one of the entrances to the Botanic Gardens.

Immediately as you enter there is a map showing you the layout of the park. There is no set route to go, so take your pick. Be warned - the scale of this park is huge, so be prepared to get lost - thankfully there are cafes and tearooms within the park should you need a pick-me-up. Most trees and plants are marked with informative plaques so you can get an idea of what you’re looking at. It’s hard not to see the wildlife here as most come to you; whether it’s a skittish possum or one of the overly friendly black swans (hold onto your sandwich, one was harassing me for mine). In the lake, the eels are prolific. On a sunny day, this is a truly beautiful place to visit, so be sure to take your camera. Once amongst the flurry of fauna and flowers, you almost forget you’re in the middle of a huge city; there aren’t any buildings near the park grounds and little of the city skyline is visible once you’re within the garden fence. If you have the time, try and see everything, but my personal favourites include the Lily Lake, Long Island and the Glasshouses.
One weekends the gardens are a very popular picnic spot and many functions, particularly weddings, are hosted there. During summer, there is a cinema at night and plays and pantomimes are also held on the grounds. There is a charge for all these events, see the Tourist Office in the city for more information.

Duration: 1-2 hours
Price Guide: $0-$unlimited, depending on how much shopping you do!
Last Reviewed:

Sunday: 9am-4pm (limited stalls only)

Catch a train to Melbourne Central Station.

Follow the signs to the Elizabeth Street exit of the station and turn right when you exit so you’re facing north up Elizabeth St. Walk, or catch the tram, up the the Queen Victoria Market. It’s four short blocks and all flat walking. Alternatively, all three tram routes on Elizabeth St will drop you at the door.

Officially opened on 20th March 1878, Queen Victoria Market stands strong as one of Melbourne’s most historic landmarks. Its colourful (sometimes controversial) past includes time as a school, a livestock market, a drill hall and a cemetery. I do not exaggerate when I say you can buy almost anything here! The food halls are worth a visit, boasting copious amounts of fresh fruit, veg and seafood, all of incredible quality. In the section over the road (the market is huge so take your time and explore) are stalls, stores and shops selling fashion, gifts and souvenirs.

Head back down through the market to the food area.

If you’re hungry, the food halls are an amazing experience, so don’t be unadventurous and slope off the nearest cafe. Inside the halls it can be jam packed with buyers and sellers haggling over a crate of asparagus or scrabbling for the last swiss loaf, so push your way through and nab yourself a sandwich brimming with fresh meat and antipasto, or treat yourself to a slice of heavenly mudcake from a selection of cake stores. Or, cherry pick from the different stalls – bread here, cheese there, fresh fruit somewhere else – make up a picnic and go on to our next stop.

Walk out of the market back onto Elizabeth Street, turn right and go back the way you came until you reach the corner of A’Beckett Street. From there, turn right and walk up two blocks to William Street, across the road you’ll see the Flagstaff Gardens.

* a great view through to Docklands.
Enjoy.

Duration: 1-2 hours
Price Guide: Nil
Last Reviewed:

Nice little coastal walk with plenty to do and see. There are swimming spots along the way, so bring your swimming gear if the weather is suitable. There are also a number of picnic spots along the way if you’d like to bring a packed lunch.

I caught a bus from Bondi Junction which took around 5-10 minutes. However, if you go to Central Station, you can get buses from outside the station.

The bus from Bondi will drop you right at the beach outside The Coogee Brasserie. Directly in front of you will be the beach.

Your first destination is Coogee Beach. Enclosed by cliffs on either side, this beach is quite small but definitely nice and cosy. To the left of the beach, on the cliffs, is a Bali Bombings Memorial and a good view of the beach. There are some shops and restaurants across the road from the beach, a nice grassy area for picnics and bbqs, and last but by no means least, the beach is really nice and the water is extremely inviting.

Make your way back to the promenade and continue along it south towards Maroubra. Once you get to the end of the beach, you will want to keep going past the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club (on your left). There is a children’s play area on your right if that’s of interest to your group.

After about 10 minutes of walking along this path you will come to the south head of Coogee Bay. There will be a large, open grassy area on your right hand side, directly in front of you will be an awesome view of the ocean and Coogee beach to your left. There are various benches facing the sea, or again you could use the grass for picnics etc. This would be good for photo opportunities.

Now you want to keep following the path with amazing sea views on your left (Plant lovers - According to the signs there are various rare plants along this part of the walk etc). You will hit a wooden walkway that will go under a canopy of trees (like something from Rivendell). After a while the pathway will cease and you will have to continue following the coast keeping on the yellow footpath that veers away from the road to the left.

There is an excellent view point on the left along this path which you may want to stop at.

If you stay on this path, you will come to a point where the path ends and you will be in a small cul de sac. Once the path ends, you will want to take the first right onto Palmer Street. At the end of Palmer Street, turn left onto Close St and then take the first right onto Cuzco Road. At the end of Cuzco Road turn left onto Malabar Road. Follow the main road south until you get to the first set of shops, keeping a look out for Torrington Road on your left. Turn left down Torrington Road, and keep walking to the end.

At the end of Torrington Road is a beautiful memorial park. There are rocks to your left that you can sit on, good grassy areas, good views, toilets, a small pool on the rocks and areas for bbqs etc. To your right you can see our final destination, Maroubra Beach, home to the infamous Bra Boys.

Once you are ready to move on, you just need to continue along the various pathways towards Maroubra (only about 5 - 10 minutes away from the memorial park).

Maroubra beach is longer and more open than Coogee, and there seemed to be more people there as well. There are opportunities to surf or skate as well as the usual beach activities. If you have time, I recommend following the beach round to the other side of the bay up onto the cliffs, as the views are amazing. Again there are shops and restaurants opposite the beach as well. If needed, you can catch the 395 bus from Maroubra to Central Station, which cost me $3.90.

Duration: More than 3 hours
Price Guide: $0-29
Last Reviewed:

Prices were correct at the time of publication.

Catch a train or a tram to Melbourne Central (on the city loop). All train lines, except Sandringham and Williamstown, have loop services. Any of the Swanston Street tram lines (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67, 72) will take you to the Melbourne Central corner.

As you exit the station (Swanston Street entrance) turn left and walk up the hill to put yourself on the corner of Swanston and Latrobe Streets.

There is lots to see on this corner. Directly opposite is the State Library, whose magnificent recently restored domed reading room is well worth a visit (walk straight through the library and go up via the stairs or the elevator to access it). There is also free internet access here.

Diagonally opposite the station entrance is the vivid green 3D facade of RMIT University’s Storey Hall. This building caused a lot of controversy when it was first built, but is now a much loved part of the city’s architecture. If it is a weekday you may be able to go in and look around (though the interior is not as exciting as the exterior), but it is University property so be careful not to interrupt any events they may be hosting there.

As you exit Storey Hall or the Library, turn right. If you cross to the opposite side of the road and look up you will see Hardrock: Melbourne’s indoor climbing centre.

Whether you’re a hardcore cliff scaler or a complete novice, hardrock is suited to all types. Be aware that you must come with someone else as it’s a two-person operation. On your first session you’ll be given a basic introduction (around 15 mins) showing you the ropes (literally, excuse the pun) and safety measures. After that you and your fellow climber are free to climb any walls you wish, for as long as you want (although I wouldn’t get too cocky and try the advanced walls straight away; you’ll just scrabble around trying to get higher than 10ft and fall off). Overall, it’s a lot of fun, not to mention a great way to get fit!

Cross the road opposite Hardrock - you will see a large red brick building with steps leading up to it on either side; this is Melbourne City Baths.

Another way to keep fit! Facilities include a 30m lap pool, spa, sauna, gym and squash courts. You’ll note that each side is marked Male or Female over the entrance. The pool no longer has separate entrances for the different genders, nor does it have gender-segregated facilities.

Duration: 2-3 hours
Price Guide: Depends
Last Reviewed:

The cost of this guide is technically zero, however, how much you spend depends on how much you drink.

Prices indicated were correct at the time of publication.

Make your way to Central Station and head to the Bus Station outside the George Street exit.

You want to take the no. 378 bus from stop A (the journey will take around 10 minutes and costs $1.70). Ask the driver to stop on Oxford Street in Paddington. Keep your eyes out for The Light Brigade on your left, this is our first destination.

The Light Brigade has just been renovated, keeping with the popular Art Deco style. It hosts a fairly spacious drinking area, friendly staff, a cocktail bar, a wine bar and restaurant upstairs. Food is available for $11 per meal, which isn’t bad. There were still some building materials up when i went, due to renovations, but i can’t imagine they will be there for long.

As you come out of the Light Brigade turn right and continue down the road. You will pass an ANZ branch on your right. Just after the ANZ is The Paddington Arms.

The Paddington Arms has a modern-looking interior with bar-style tables, stools, subtle lighting and quiet music. Food is available from $8.50 and upwards and there is a good choice of cocktails for around $15.

As you come out of The Paddington Arms turn left, continue along the road past a set of traffic lights and turn left onto Elizabeth Street. Roughly 75m along Elizabeth Street, on the right, is The Grand National.

A simple bar/pub with a slightly less modern feel with separate eating and drinking areas. Reminds me of some English pubs, with simple decor, again mostly stools for seating, a couple of TVs for those who enjoy watching their sports and food is also available.

As you come out of The Grand National, turn right and continue along Elizabeth Street. After about 100m, The London Hotel will be on your right.

The London Hotel has a much more spacious environment with comfortable leather couches. Food is available from $12 per meal, there is a courtyard, games room and TVs.

Turn left as you exit The London Hotel, directly in front of you is William Street. Follow William Street until you reach the main road. To your left (on the corner) is the Paddington Inn.

Paddington Inn greeted me with amazing smells of tasty food. It had a relaxed atmosphere, with cozy leather couches and some funky colour schemes. There is a lounge and terrace upstairs, some crazy lighting, food and a small smoking area downstairs. Definitely finishing with my personal favourite.

There are more pubs etc in Paddington, which you’re more than welcome to experience the art of drinking in, however this is the end of my tour. If you follow the the directions back to the start of this tour you can get buses back to Central from here quite easily.

Duration: 2-3 hours
Price Guide: varies depending on how much you drink and eat
Last Reviewed:

Make your way to Central Station and head outside to the George Street bus stop A.

From the bus stop, take the 393 bus to Surry Hills. Ask the driver to stop for you at Cleveland Street and the Surry Hotel. This journey took approx 5-10 minutes. Once off the bus head into the Surry Hotel.

The Surry Hotel is a cosy pub with a bistro, outside smoking area, TV and sports, gaming room, food available from $9.00 and up. A nice pub to start the tour.

Head outside the Surry Hotel and cross the road to make your way down Cleveland Street. On the right hand side (at the first set of traffic lights down this road) is the Norfolk Hotel.

The Norfolk Hotel is again quite small, there were lots of TVs playing sports and a gaming room, seemingly more of a gambling pub. The hotel joins onto a bottle shop and snacks are available at the bar.

After you have finished at the Norfolk Hotel you want to continue making your way down Cleveland Street. The Crown Hotel is on the next set of traffic lights along this road.

The Crown Hotel is a large, spacious pub with refreshing decor. Food is available from $9.00 up. There is also a games room and a TV that was showing sports.

Once outside the Crown Hotel, turn left at the crossroads on to Crown Street. Make your way down Crown Street until you get to the first crossroads. Trinity Bar is on these crossroads.

Trinity Bar is about as close to an English pub that i have seen so far. There is a gaming room, food available and an outside sitting area. It has a library feel to it with lots of bookcases and old books that make up some of the decorations. I liked this pub a lot.

Continue along Crown Street, keeping your eyes out for the Clock Hotel on your right.

The Clock Hotel is a light and airy bar with more of a modern feel. It looks a bit more swanky than the the pubs i have seen so far. Food is available, but a little pricey and there are a couple of pool tables as well.

When you come out of the Clock Hotel, make your way back down Crown Street in the direction you came from. Keep a look out on the right for Devonshire Street. Turn right down Devonshire Street and continue along it. You will go past a park on your left-hand side. A little further than the park is the Shakespeare Hotel.

The Shakespeare Hotel is a really nice and cosy pub with an English theme and a good finisher for this tour. Happy hour is from 3pm to 6pm. Although the pub is a little on the small side, I definitely recommend it if you like English pubs. It is probably my favourite venue on this tour.

Duration: 1-2 hours
Price Guide:
Last Reviewed:

Businesses mentioned in this tour were trading at the time of publication.

Make your way to Central Station and take the Western Suburbs Line to Newtown Station.

Turn right as you exit the train station and continue walking until you reach the Bank Hotel on your right, just past the chemist.

The Bank Hotel is a pretty smooth-looking, comfortable pub and a nice start to a tour of Newtown. There is a really nice outside area on two levels. Food and cocktails are available.

As you come out of the Bank Hotel, make your way to the other side of the road. Directly opposite the Bank Hotel is a road called Eliza Street (in between Holey Moley Zanzibars). Make your way north down Eliza Street until you reach the Memorial Park.

The Memorial Park is a nice place to stop to have a picnic etc. There is a children’s play area, a nice, green open area. Good place to enjoy the sun and relax for a bit before doing some shopping. There is also a pub just outside the park called The Court House Bar.

Make your way back down Eliza Street to King Street and turn right on to King Street. Just past the Newtown Medical Practice (on your right) is a market square.

A small but nice market with some quirky stalls selling various bits and bobs.

Once finished at the market, make your way back the way you came (towards Eliza Street) along King Street. Continue along this road until you reach the shopping strip, which has lots of options.

King Street has lots of shops on it. There are plenty of clothes shops, bohemian cafes, old buildings, an alternative cinema that’s one of the Dendy chain, which shows arthouse films. There are also loads of restaurants, homeware shops and stands on the side of the road selling various things. For the non-shoppers reading this, there is also the Coopers Hotel on the left in which I enjoyed a refreshing pint in before i went home.

When you have finished make your way back to Newtown Station to get home.

Duration: 2-3 hours
Price Guide: $0
Last Reviewed:

Look up as you walk along. While most of the street-level architecture is given over to shops and cafes, above them are some of Melbourne’s fine original buildings, but you’ll only spot their beauty by looking past the shopfronts.

Start this tour from Flinders Street Station (on the city loop). (You can also start at Melbourne Central Station if you wish, as the two are only a few blocks away from each other, but starting at Flinders Street will avoid any backtracking). Over the course of this tour you may get hungry for lunch - on this particular tour you’ll pass too many possible lunch venues to mention, of every conceivable variety. While in Melbourne I sampled many cafes and restaurants and have yet to have a bad experience in one, so relax and take your pick. Many of the quirkier, one-off shops require a little more exploring to find, but follow this guide and you’ll be in the right track. Also, check out our Cheap Eats section for some more ideas.

Walk out through the main entrance at Flinders Street Station and cross over to the Swanston Street and Flinders Street corner, outside Young Jackson’s Pub.

Opposite the station, on the south-eastern corner of the intersection, is Federation Square. Boasting some of Melbourne’s hottest bars and cafes, plus the Ian Potter Centre: National Gallery of Victoria, it’s a hotspot for both locals and visitors. Just past Fed Square (as it’s known to locals) is Birrarung Marr, Melbourne’s most recently created major park. It can be reached from the Federation Square car park, by heading down the stairs along the southern side of Fed Square or by taking the path along the river next to the Princes Bridge.

Continue north along Swanston Street.

Swanston Steet offers both compelling architecture and shopaholic bliss - from one-off boutiques to tacky souvenir stores (cork hat anyone?) there’s something to suit everyone. Better-known brands housed on the strip include Mango and Quicksilver. By following Swanston Street all the way up you’ll pass - in this order - Melbourne Town Hall (on the corner with Collins Street), the State Library (on the Latrobe Street corner, it also has free internet) and Melbourne City Baths, just past RMIT up the top end of the city. All are on your right as you go along and all of which are worth a visit. In terms of clothes shops, it’s better to turn off and explore the streets, lanes and arcades that make up the grid of the city centre. Also, if you fancy it, there are horse-drawn carriages available for hire to take a leisurely spin around the city’s highlights.

After crossing over Flinders Lane, turn left or right (you choose) at the next intersection, taking you on to Collins Street.

Collins Street is undeniably an awe-inspiring streetscape - the wealth invested in this street over two hundred years is obvious as you pass the grand banks and stores such as Tiffanys and Chanel. Other sights to see on this street include Scots Church and St Michaels Uniting Church (140 and 120 Collins Street), as well as the Regent Theatre (191 Collins St).

An absolute must see whilst wandering through the city is the Block Arcade. You can enter it either through Elizabeth Street or Collins Street - inspired by the Galleria Vittorio in Milan, the design is beautiful, and having been restored, fully intact. There are a few specialist shops spread out inside (of most note to me, Haighs chocolates). Block Place connects the arcade with Little Collins Street, which consists of a tiny street rammed full of delightful cafes (I strongly recommend breakfast at Caffe Cortile).

If you had turned left from Swanston Street onto Collins Street, turn right at the end of the street onto Elizabeth Street and continue walking until you see Bourke Street on your right. Or, if you chose to turn right, turn left onto Russell Street then walk down the hill to Bourke Street. Turn left onto Bourke Street and walk down to the corner of Swanston and Bourke.

Be sure to check out Jetty Surf too for a huge range of summer fashion and beachwear, also PriceLine; a discount store for cosmetics and toiletries - there are several of these stores dotted around the town centre, the biggest of which can be accessed from both Swanston or Bourke Street.

When you’re done shopping on Bourke Street Mall, return to the Swanston Street corner, continue to head north and you will soon see an entrance to Melbourne Central - enter this central-city mall and you will find yourself amongst four floors of bars, cafes, a cinema, homewares and – you guessed it - more fashion, not to mention a food court.

Lunch: if you haven’t eaten lunch already, you could give one of the many restaurants here a try.

Exit Melbourne Central back onto Swanston Street, turn left onto Latrobe Street and continue walking down the hill until you reach Elizabeth Street.

Elizabeth Street has a couple of boutiques dotted along it, such as Shibuya (which is quite pricey) also several shoe shops. The shopping’s not nearly as glamorous as Collins or even Bourke or Swanston Streets, but if you have a motorbike fan with you, they’ll be in heaven as Elizabeth Street is packed with motorcycle shops with their wares arrayed on the footpath.

To get back to where you started, walk south down Elizabeth Street and you’ll soon see the familiar golden-yellow bricks of Flinders Street Station in front of you. This is the back entrance to the station. You can simply walk east along Flinders Street to get to the main station entrance if that’s where you need to be.