Overview

Arriving with just the bag on your back? That's all you'll need for some fun travel or a working holiday around Melbourne and Victoria.

Whether you're here for a few days or a few months, backpacking solo or with mates, get set to make new friends and memories of a lifetime. Want to pack in as much as you can? It's easy and affordable to get around the city and out into the regions, with plenty of budget-friendly ways to experience our vibrant culture, nightlife, foodie and arts scenes, Indigenous history and spectacular natural surrounds.

Highlights

Below are some of the best things you should experience while backpacking in Melbourne and Victoria.
ACDC Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

City laneways

Destinations
There's always something new to discover in Melbourne's hive of bustling, creative laneways with their boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars.
Basket weaving at the Koorie Heritage Trust, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Aboriginal Victoria

See & do
Explore Aboriginal culture and heritage in Melbourne and surrounds. Take a heritage walk and visit cultural centres, galleries and museums.
Fans at an AFL final at the MCG, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Australian Football

Spectator sports
Check out Australian Football. Watch an AFL game at one of Melbourne's famous venues for the ultimate local sporting experience.
Bond Bar, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Nightclubs

Entertainment
Deep house? Electro? RnB? Get hot and sweaty with Melbourne's dance crowd at regular club nights and special events with local and international DJs.
Corner Hotel, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Live music

Art & culture
Variety and energy characterise entertainment and nightlife in Victoria. Melbourne features an ever-changing number of clubs, bars and live music venues.
Surfer at Bells Beach, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

Surfing and windsurfing

Out door & adventure
Throw on your wetsuit and ride the crystal clear waves as they roll in from the Southern Ocean along Victoria's famous and tempestuous coastline.
Reeds Lookout, Grampians, Victoria, Australia

Walking and hiking

Outdoor & adventure
Pack a picnic, map and camera and discover Victoria on foot on walking trails close to Melbourne or within easy driving distance of the city.
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Pubs

Food & wine
Melburnians love their pubs almost as much as they love their footy. And with imaginative pub grub, sunny beer gardens and killer live music, what's not to love?
Baker D. Chirico, Carlton, Melbourne

Neighbourhoods

Destinations
Get out and about to rediscover old favourites and find something new in Melbourne's neighbourhoods.
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Neighbourhood guides

Each neighbourhood in Melbourne has its own unique charms and personality. Learn more with our detailed neighbourhood guides.
Feast of Merit, Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Richmond

Destinations
You won't go hungry in Richmond, whether packing in footy pies, brunching in cosy cafes, or gobbling Vietnamese treats or pizza slices after a gig.
Collingwood childrens farm, Melbourne

Collingwood

Destinations
Peel back the inner-city onion that is Collingwood and discover layers of local history, creative character and effortless charm.
Old Palm Liquor, Brunswick East, Victoria, Australia

Brunswick

Destinations
Pull up a stool at any one of Brunswick's cool cafes, buzzing bars and effortless eateries. Shop, catch a gig, and get a feel for the old-meets-new creative vibe.
D.O.C., Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Carlton

Destinations
Revisit student life, discuss the Il Globo headlines over espresso and eat 'til you're fit to burst in Italian-centric Carlton.
Ice Bar, Fitzroy

Fitzroy

Destinations
Perch in a Brunswick Street bar and celebrate the way that sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same in this bohemian enclave.
Luna Park, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

St Kilda

Destinations
Prepare to play in St Kilda, where you can kick up your heels by the seashore, by the stage at live music venues or on the whirligigs at Luna Park.
City view from Williamstown

Williamstown

Destinations
Put Melbourne in perspective with stunning views from Williamstown, just minutes from the CBD and offering the best of bayside with a western edge.
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Work, study & volunteer

Fancy staying a little longer? Extend your visit with a working holiday, do some volunteering or start a course of study.
Students at RMIT Story Hall, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaStudents at RMIT Story Hall, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Study

Study
Studying in Australia offers great value for money. Melbourne institutions are also recognised for their quality of teaching and high academic standards.
Phillip Island vista, Victoria, Australia

Volunteer

Travel information
Victoria is a great place to do volunteer work. Choose from local projects that help furry or feathered mates or lend a hand in conservation projects.
The George, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Work

Travel information
There are plenty of opportunities to find work in Melbourne and around Victoria, in a wide range of industries. See our tips on finding employment.
St Ali, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Working Holiday visa

Travel information
With a Working Holiday visa you can stay in Australia for up to 12 months and take on short-term employment (up to six months with any one employer).
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Cocktail at Bar Americano, Presgrave Place, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Bars

Food & wine
Take an unexpected turn, duck into one of Melbourne's famed laneways, scamper up some stairs and take a tipple in a bar with a distinct personality.
Mass exhibit at NGV International

What's on

Victoria
Life's worth celebrating in Victoria. A packed calendar of events ensures there's a party in every corner of the state, whenever you visit.
Tour group on the Great Ocean Walk, Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia

Tours

See & do
Jump in a coach, climb on a raft or don your walking shoes and join a tour to let the professionals reveal Melbourne and Victoria's hidden treasures.
Cactus Country, The Murray, Victoria, Australia

Unique, odd and epic attractions

Features
Set out to explore some of Melbourne and Victoria's fascinating one-of-a-kind attractions, from the unique and epic to the unusual and unexpected.