Things to do in Melbourne on your day ashore

Melbourne packs a surprising amount into the 4 kilometers between Station Pier and the heart of the city. Step into the center to see grand 19th-century arcades give way to narrow lanes painted wall to wall with street art, while tiny coffee bars turn a morning espresso into something of a local ritual. For guests on a cruise to Melbourne who are deciding what to do with one day ashore, this stretch has many options. 

Many of the best things to do in Melbourne, such as Queen Victoria Market, Federation Square and the city’s famous laneways among them, can fit into a day in town. Or go farther, trading city streets for the 12 Apostles, Yarra Valley vineyards or the Dandenong Ranges on a guided excursion.

Station Pier puts guests in Port Melbourne, about 4 kilometers southwest of the city center. For independent sightseeing, tram Route 109 runs from Port Melbourne into the Central Business District, with a stop at Southern Cross Station along the way. Once in central Melbourne, the tram network makes it relatively simple to move between neighborhoods and major sights.

A Melbourne shore excursion offers a more streamlined start, where transportation from the port is arranged as part of the outing. Guests can head directly toward the places they came to see rather than working out connections after arrival.

Melbourne's laneways, arcades and gallery scene

Across the city center, creative spaces range from grand 19th-century shopping arcades to laneways where the walls themselves have become canvases. You can experience several sides of the city’s visual culture in a single day.

Laneways and street art

Some of Melbourne’s most interesting addresses barely look like streets. In the city center, narrow laneways cut between larger thoroughfares, revealing murals, tucked-away cafés and historic shopping arcades. Hosier Lane is one of the best-known stops for street art, but the artwork across the city changes regularly — one reason exploring with a guide who knows the current scene can pay off. The Local Connections: Arcades & Alleyways excursion pairs these smaller corners of Melbourne with the perspective of a local guide.

The National Gallery of Victoria and the city's art scene

When you want to see the city’s creative side, check out the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia’s oldest and most visited art museum. Its international collection is housed on St. Kilda Road, just south of the Yarra River, with works spanning centuries, continents and artistic traditions. Across the river at Federation Square, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image turns the focus to film, television, video games and digital culture.

Federation Square and the city's landmark sights

Melburnians have met “under the clocks” at Flinders Street Station for generations. Look up and you’ll see the row of clocks above the entrance, along with the station’s yellow facade and distinctive green dome. Look across the street and you’ll see Federation Square, which mixes sandstone, zinc and glass in a modern public plaza beside the Yarra River.

From here, guests can continue to two of the city’s green spaces, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Fitzroy Gardens. The Discover Melbourne: Past & Present excursion brings several of these landmarks together in a guided city overview, while Best of Melbourne & Surrounds (guests must be over the age of 18 to participate in the wine tasting at the wineries) expands the itinerary beyond the central sights. Or pair garden paths with a different perspective on the city during the Fitzroy Gardens & Yarra River Cruise excursion (offered only on transit calls, not on full turnaround day).

Queen Victoria Market and city shopping

Queen Victoria Market has been selling to Melburnians since 1878. More than a century later, shopping here still comes with the clatter and color of a working city market. Spread across historic sheds and halls, stalls are piled with fresh produce, cheeses, breads and specialty foods alongside clothing, jewelry, art and locally made goods. Guests who prefer to browse at their own pace can use the Queen Victoria Market on Your Own excursion (closed Mondays/Wednesdays; must board coach unassisted) for dedicated independent time.

For shopping on a much bigger, more contemporary scale, Chadstone Shopping on Your Own takes you from market stalls to one of Australia’s largest shopping centers, with Australian and international brands under one roof.

Coffee, dining and Melbourne's distinct neighborhoods

In Melbourne, a change of street can also mean a change of menu. Lygon Street in Carlton is closely associated with the city’s Italian community, while Chinatown has centered Chinese dining around Little Bourke Street since the 1850s. Both are convenient choices for guests staying near the city center and looking to build lunch into a day of sightseeing.

With extra time, head just beyond the center to Fitzroy or Richmond. Fitzroy pairs independent cafés with boutiques, galleries and the lively stretch of Brunswick Street, while Richmond’s Victoria Street is known for Vietnamese restaurants and grocers. Wherever the day leads, Melbourne’s specialty-coffee culture is rarely far away. Espresso bars and independent cafés are woven through both the city center and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Day trips beyond the city

At a glance

Melbourne may be the port, but it doesn’t have to be the whole day. Victoria’s coastline, wine country, forested ranges and gold-rush history give you even more reasons to leave the city behind.

The Great Ocean Road is the headline route, following Victoria’s southern coast toward limestone formations carved by the Southern Ocean. Its best-known sight is the 12 Apostles, a group of towering limestone stacks rising offshore. The 12 Apostles - Great Ocean Drive excursion turns the journey into a full-day outing to see the coast's limestone formations.

Inland, the Yarra Valley swaps sea cliffs for vineyards and rolling countryside. The Healesville Sanctuary, Yarra Valley & Wine excursion combines the region with a wildlife sanctuary and local wine.

For a journey with a little more steam, the historic Puffing Billy Railway winds through the forested Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. Guests can experience the railway on the Puffing Billy & Dandenong Ranges excursion, while the Blue Dandenongs & Mountain Village excursion offers another way to explore the ranges.

History points west to Ballarat, where Sovereign Hill recreates the sights and trades of Victoria’s 1850s gold rush. The Ballarat Wildlife & Sovereign Hill excursion shows you that history alongside an introduction to Australian wildlife.

Bayside Melbourne

South of central Melbourne, the city meets Port Phillip, a broad bay lined by beaches and waterfront neighborhoods. It’s a different view of Melbourne from the dense streets of the center, with the skyline giving way to open water along the coast.

One way to explore this part of the city is by bicycle. The Melbourne Bayside Electric Bicycle Tour excursion (strenuous Activity; moderate fitness required) follows Melbourne’s bayside coastline by e-bike, so you can cover a longer stretch of waterfront than you typically would on foot.

Getting around and what to expect

Melbourne’s tram network connects many central sights, and travel is free within the designated Free Tram Zone. Outside that area, regular public-transit fares apply. Weather can shift during a day ashore, so check the forecast before leaving the ship and bring a light layer if conditions call for one.

A day in Melbourne can be as focused or far-reaching as you make it. Explore the city on foot, reserve a shore excursion or devote your time in port to seeing more of Victoria. Whichever itinerary fits, Princess Cruises will make your hours ashore count.

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