Budget Melbourne

Description:

There is a cheap yet fun (not to mention delicious) way to experience Melbourne. You might have to give taxis and five star accommodation the flick, but there’s no better way to really get a feel for a city than by exploring on foot, bike and public transport. Lucky for the frugal amongst us that Melbourne’s best culinary experiences aren’t necessarily to be found in the glitz of a table cloth and fine china. Family run bakeries and hole-in-the-wall kitchens are where the real flavors of this city mix it up. Same goes for the contemporary art scene; local hipsters with less money than you run a plethora of free galleries all over the city for your cultural fix. So put your wallet away and get yourself a tram ticket, Melbourne is an easy place to be with your short on cash.

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Author: Nicole Muir


Day 1 - Melbourne


First off, jump aboard the City Circle Tram to get your bearings. It’s free, and a great way to get around the CBD border. If you’re counting your pennies, you will want to know Melbourne’s public transport system inside out, and a trip to the Met Shop is the place to buy bulk Met tickets and save. The State Library of Victoria is just down the road and stunning architecture and free public lectures makes it well worth the visit. For a cheap culture fix and insight into Melbourne’s pumping contemporary art scene, pop into the RMIT Gallery. There’s also a bevy of Artist Run Initiatives dotted all over Melbourne’s CBD showcasing the work of up-and-coming contemporary artists. Both West Space and Blindside galleries are highly regarded and exhibit challenging and engaging shows. When it comes to eating on the cheap, Melbourne’s Chinatown is strip to hit. Shark Finn House is a Melbourne institution and nice place to share a bottle of BYO clean skins over chopsticks. If sharks aren’t your kettle of fish, take a left down Tattersall’s Lane and experience the Bollywood shenanigans at Gaylord Indian Restaurant. Cheap and delicious, the electric décor and live music are enough to entertain. Head to up to Meyer’s Place for affordable beer on tap whilst getting a glimpse into Melbourne’s thriving bar scene.


1

City Circle Tram

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Location:

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Melbourne
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 3 9619 2727


2

Met Shop (The)

Location:

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103 Elizabeth Street
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

13 16 38 (Local calls only: Met Transport Information Centre)


3

State Library of Victoria

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expert pick

Location:

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328 Swanston Street
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 (0)3 9669 9888 / +61 (0)3 9669 9810


4

RMIT Gallery

Location:

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344 Swanston Street
RMIT Storey Hall
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 3 9925 1717


5

West Space

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Location:

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Level 1
15 - 19 Anthony Street
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 3 9328 8712


6

Blindside

Location:

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37 Swanston Street
Room 14, Level 7, Nicholas Building
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 3 9650 0093 / +61 432692184


7

Chinatown

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expert pick

Location:

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Little Bourke Street
(Between Swanston and Russell streets)
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 (0)39 658 9658 (Visitor Information Centre)


8

Shark Fin House

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Location:

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131-135 Little Bourke Street
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

61 03 9663 1555


9

Meyers Place Bar

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Location:

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20 Meyers Place
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

61 3 9650 8609


10

Gaylord Indian Restaurant

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Location:

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4 Tattersalls Lane (off Little Bourke Street)
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

61 03 9663 3980


11

Nunnery (The)

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expert pick

Location:

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116 Nicholson Street
3065 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 (0)3 9419 8637


Day 2 - Melbourne


Hire a bicycle and build up your appetite as you ride along Melbourne’s main river, The Yarra. Take the Yarra City Trail and stop off at the Collingwood Children’s Farm for some brunch out on the ranch… Only a few kilometers from the city but with the calming benefits of a country escape, this lush retreat is a regular for city slickers that need a breath of fresh air. Pick up some fresh produce at the Farmer’s Market held on the second Saturday of every month, and ride back town for a picnic lunch among the highly manicured lawns and blooms in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Garden. It’s time to park your bike and get a beverage. Cookie affords punters the class and sophistication of a Fitzgerald novel, but with beer on tap, you won’t need pockets as deep as the Great Gatsby’s to have a good time. Soak up the booze at Pellegrini’s, no fuss Italian that’s cheap and quick, it’s impossible to blow your budget.


1

Main Yarra Trail Bike Path

Location:

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Mullum Mullum Creek
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 3 9533 8030


2

Yarra River

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Location:

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Southbank Promenade
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 3 9658 9658 (Tourist Information)


3

Collingwood Children's Farm

Location:

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St Helliers Street
Abbotsford
3067 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 3 9417 5806


4

Royal Botanic Gardens (Melbourne)

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Location:

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Birdwood Avenue
South Yarra
3141 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 3 9252 2300


5

Cookie

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Location:

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252 Swanston St
CBD
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

03 9663 7660


6

Pellegrini's

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Location:

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66 Bourke St
Melbourne CBD
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

61 03 9662 1885


Day 3 - Melbourne


Take a tram south of the river to the St Kilda Esplanade Market. Be sure to collect a take-away café latte and pastry from one of the many cake shops on Acland Street before you meander along the boardwalk, perusing the handmade and affordable goods for sale. St Kilda beach makes for a tempting backdrop, so pick up some cheap Asian-fusion take away from the popular Bala’s and enjoy it with your toes in the sand. Spend the afternoon exploring St Kilda’s most infinite drags, Fitzroy Street and Acland Street. The once artistic playground for Melbourne’s bohemia in the 1950s, the stunning Art Deco architecture and colorful locals make for hours of entertaining people gazing. Visit the neighboring suburb Prahran and go to Lucky Coq for a pub atmosphere with seriously cheap pizza. The train’s your best bet back to the CBD from here. Stop off at Horse Bazaar on your way home – part bar, part multimedia gallery, there’s always something entertaining projected on the walls in this joint. In fact, no surface is left blank, even the urinal in the gents can have George Bush’s face projected on it. Hours of entertainment…


1

St Kilda Esplanade Market

Location:

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The Esplanade
(St Kilda)
3182 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 (0) 39 534 0066


2

Bala's

Location:

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1E Shakespeare Grove
St Kilda
3182 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

61 3 9534 6116


3

St. Kilda Beach

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expert pick

Location:

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Jacka Boulevard
St. Kilda
3182 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

+61 3 9658 9658 (Melbourne Visitor Centre)


4

The Lucky Coq

Location:

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179 Chapel Street
Windsor
3181 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

61 3 9525 1288


5

Horse Bazaar

Location:

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397 Little Lonsdale Street
Between Queen Street and Elizabeth Street near the corner of Hardware Street
3000 Melbourne, Australia

Phone:

61 3 9670 2329


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