{"id":8330,"date":"2019-07-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-20T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/?p=8330"},"modified":"2020-05-01T13:23:29","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T03:23:29","slug":"cheap-free-melbourne-hacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/melbourne\/tips\/cheap-free-melbourne-hacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Melbourne hacks: 18 of the best cheap (and free) things to do"},"content":{"rendered":"

Melbourne is the most liveable city in the world (okay, now second to Vienna<\/a>). Whether you\u2019re a local looking for ways to spend a Sunday without spending all your hard-earned money, or a visitor searching out experiences, here are 18 ways to experience Melbourne<\/a> without blowing the budget.<\/p>\n

1. Make a run for it<\/h2>\n

Explore the paths and sprawling lawns of the lush Botanical Gardens<\/a> or, if you\u2019re feeling energetic, run The Tan, a 3.8km track which loops around the gardens. If yoga is more your speed, you can take free classes every Wednesday night at 7.15pm at the Lululemon store<\/a> in the Melbourne Emporium<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Free
Go for a morning run in Melbourne\u2019s Royal Botanical Gardens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Experience art<\/h2>\n

Visit the NGV<\/a>, Melbourne\u2019s oldest and most distinguished public art museum. Admission to the permanent collection is free, but entry fees apply for special exhibitions. If you\u2019ve got the kiddies with you, good news! The NGV welcomes families<\/a> with dedicated areas for hands-on activities for little ones.<\/p>\n

3. Step into someone else\u2019s shoes<\/h2>\n

Visit the Immigration Museum<\/a> to discover the huge impact migration has had on the food and culture of Melbourne (did somebody say coffee and alfresco dining? \ud83d\ude09) You\u2019ll also learn about some of the people who left their homes to start a new life in Australia.<\/p>\n

4. Enter the Tram Zone<\/h2>\n

The antique City Circle tram<\/a> runs every half hour between 10am and 6pm during the week and until 9pm on weekends. An audio commentary explains the history of the Museum, Parliament House, Docklands, Federation Square, Melbourne Aquarium and the Princess Theatre.<\/p>\n

\"Cheap
Go for a ride on the FREE City Circle tram.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Check out The Espy<\/h2>\n

Music lovers, pay attention! St Kilda Beach is the home of Melbourne music institution The Esplanade Hotel<\/a>. This is where Aussie music royalty Paul Kelly recorded Live at the Continental and the Esplanade<\/em>, as well as where everyone\u2019s fave music quiz, RockWiz<\/em>, was filmed. But it\u2019s not all about the music \u2013 during footy season, you can also catch an AFL game on the big screen in the front bar. Once you\u2019re done, take a pay-what-you-think-it\u2019s-worth walking tour<\/a> of the greater St Kilda area with a local.<\/p>\n

6. Indulge your coffee addiction<\/h2>\n

Soak up some of that enviable Melbourne coffee culture in one of the city\u2019s busiest cafe strips, Degraves Street, which cuts between Flinders Street and the clothing boutiques on Flinders Lane. Try Degraves Espresso<\/a> for the feel of Italy in the heart of Melbourne.<\/p>\n

7. Loiter in laneways<\/h2>\n

Take a Hidden Laneways<\/a> tour and discover the awesome laneways this city is so famous for. Everywhere you look, you\u2019ll find hidden bars, unique shops and street art that will take your breath away.<\/p>\n

\"Things
Have you even been to Melbourne if you haven\u2019t hung out in a laneway?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8. Eat like a king<\/h2>\n

Stock up on well-priced (and delicious!) supplies at the Queen Victoria Market<\/a>. Sample cheeses in the Deli Hall, pore over the organic produce, and watch the meat purveyors and fishmongers flamboyantly hawk their goods.<\/p>\n

9. Get your groove on<\/h2>\n

Stroll the streets of Collingwood and Fitzroy and follow the music every night of the week. From dive bars to classy cocktail joints, from blues to rock \u2018n\u2019 roll, there\u2019s something for everyone. Rock out at The Old Bar<\/a>, The Tote<\/a>, or The Evelyn<\/a>.<\/p>\n

10. Hear a ghost story<\/h2>\n

Tours of the State Library<\/a> leave from the Russell Street Readings bookshop at 11am every day. Learn about the beginnings of the collection, the architecture and even the ghost stories of Australia\u2019s first free public library. Ooooo! \ud83d\udc7b<\/p>\n

\"Cheap
Books, history and ghosts \u2013 the State Library of Victoria.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

11. Drag up your night<\/h2>\n

Every Friday, bring a little YAS QUEEN into your life with outrageously fun, FREE drag performances with Fellas in Frocks at The 86 Cabaret Bar<\/a> on Smith Street, Fitzroy. Insider Tip \u2013 it\u2019s on the 86 tram \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

12. Do Happy Hour by the river<\/h2>\n

Walk along the promenade and stop for a drink (or two) at one of Southbank\u2019s many riverside restaurants. Fatto Bar<\/a> has happy hour from 4-6pm every day. If beer is more your thing, check out Hophaus<\/a> on a Friday night.<\/p>\n

13. Step it up<\/h2>\n

Get out of town and race your friends on one of Melbourne\u2019s favourite walking tracks. The 1000 steps Kokoda Track Memorial Walk<\/a> in the Dandenongs will get your heart pumping.<\/p>\n

14. Row, row, row your boat<\/h2>\n

A peaceful day out in the bush that\u2019s just ten minutes from the city \u2013 yes, please! Pack a picnic and head to the Fairfield Park Boathouse and Tea Gardens<\/a>. You can explore scenic river tracks or hire a rowboat and paddle the Yarra.<\/p>\n

\"What
Go for a row in Fairfield Park.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

15. See more shows for less<\/h2>\n

Theatre and opera don\u2019t have to cost the earth. To get discounted tickets to some of Melbourne\u2019s most fabulous shows, head down to Halftix<\/a> on Swanston Street and see what\u2019s available on the day. Cash only here!<\/p>\n

16. Laughing therapy<\/h2>\n

Melbourne\u2019s comedy scene is bursting with free shows every night of the week. On Mondays head to Spleen<\/a> or Lido<\/a>, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays go to The Imperial Hotel<\/a>, and on Thursdays check out The Rochester<\/a>.<\/p>\n

17. Feast on goodness<\/h2>\n

Stroll the grounds of the beautiful Abbotsford Convent<\/a> and lunch at social enterprise Lentil as Anything<\/a>, which provides jobs for the underemployed and provides a great skills-building program as well as serving up delicious vegan meals. Pay what you think the meal is worth, or what you can afford, by popping your cash in the box. On weekends you\u2019ll usually find some incredible design markets to check out too.<\/p>\n

\"Where
Strolling the grounds at Abbotsford Convent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

18. Test your knowledge<\/h2>\n

Think you\u2019re a bit of a whizz when it comes to general knowledge and useless bits of information? Then you\u2019ve got to check out the free trivia nights that abound in Melbourne. Visit the Queensbury in Carlton on a Monday. Or try Trivia Tuesdays at Evie\u2019s<\/a>, where you\u2019ll also get your meal for half price with any alcohol purchase. Northcote Social Club<\/a> also has trivia on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays, go to Lucky Coq<\/a> in Windsor, and on Thursdays try your luck at The Albion<\/a> in North Melbourne.<\/p>\n<\/i> PLAN YOUR MELBOURNE GETAWAY <\/a>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Melbourne is the most liveable city in the world (okay, now second to Vienna). Whether you\u2019re a local looking for ways to spend a Sunday without spending all your hard-earned money, or a visitor searching out experiences, here are 18 ways to experience Melbourne without blowing the budget. 1. Make a run for it Explore …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":8335,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[774,80,784],"tags":[539,540,541,542,537,536,538],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8330"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8330"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8353,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8330\/revisions\/8353"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}