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Wondering what to do in Melbourne in October? We can help. Check out our curated guide to all the fun things to do in Melbourne, including performances, pop-ups, exhibitions and more. Planning for next month? Here are all the best things to do in Melbourne in November.

If there's one thing that Australia does right, it's really beautiful beaches – and a lot of them, to be precise. With a whopping 12,000 fringing our island continent, it would take you a wild 32 years to see them all – if you tackled one beach per day. Assuming that your 32-year plan doesn't singularly involve beach hopping around Australia (although, we can of course, dream), we've put together a list of the best and prettiest beaches in Australia that you should visit in 2024 – or at least once in your life. Each beach on this list has been selected for its remarkable beauty, safe swimming conditioning (read: you won't see anywhere with saltwater crocs on this list), and proximity to other incredible activities, so your adventure out doesn't end with just one dip. Some of these picks have been richly awarded in the past, while others are less mainstream – but rest easy knowing that every single one of them is well worth their salt, in more ways than one. Now, all that's left is for you to find out for yourself. RECOMMENDED: The best nudist beaches in Australia. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

There’s no denying it – Australia is one of the world’s most incredible destinations for travellers. We might be biased, but you can’t argue with our stunning turquoise beaches, ancient tropical rainforests, flaming red desserts and buzzy metropolitan cities. Choosing where to go and what to see on your next trip around Australia is as challenging as finding a shady spot at Bondi Beach on a warm, summer’s day. But don’t worry, our editors at Time Out are here to help with their personal recommendations of the best places to visit in Australia.  RECOMMENDED: How many of Australia's most popular travel spots have you ticked off this list?

There's always something happening in this fair city of ours, so don't let the week pass you by without popping a few fun events into your social calendar. To help you plan, we've rounded up all the best activities happening this week, so all you have to do is scroll, pick and embark on your adventure. Some of the best new things to do in Melbourne this weekend include one of the biggest events on our city's cultural calendar: the Melbourne International Film Festival. Other highlights are the the much-anticipated Jurassic World exhibition, a massive op shop pop-up in the CBD and the delicious Hot Chocolate Festival. In the theatre world, classic play Streetcar Named Desire, a rockin' musical all about Elvis returns, and beloved Disney production Beauty and the Beast are both on stage. The NGV's much-anticipated, major winter exhibition Pharaoh recently opened, and a showcase of famed street artist Banksy has also landed. When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 101 things to do in Melbourne before you die.   Looking for more ways to fill up your calendar? Plan a trip around our beautiful state with our handy travel guides.

There's always something happening in this fair city of ours, so don't let the week pass you by without popping a few fun events into your social calendar. To help you plan, we've rounded up all the best activities happening this week, so all you have to do is scroll, pick and embark on your adventure. Some of the best new things to do in Melbourne this week include one of the biggest events on our city's cultural calendar: the Melbourne International Film Festival. Other highlights are the exciting new Jurassic World exhibition, a Hot Chocolate festival and fun pop musical Six. Also in the theatre world, classic play Streetcar Named Desire and beloved Disney production Beauty and the Beast are both on stage. The NGV's much-anticipated, major winter exhibition Pharaoh recently opened, and a showcase of famed street artist Banksy has also landed. Plus, the Queen Victoria Night Market is back on Wednesday nights for more wintery goodness.  When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 101 things to do in Melbourne before you die.   Looking for more ways to fill up your calendar? Plan a trip around our beautiful state with our handy travel guides.

Morgan Mitchell is no stranger to the intensity of the limelight that comes with competing on the world stage. She intimately understands the experience Australia’s Olympic athletes have just had – after all, she made a name for herself at the 2016 Rio Games, and was further catapulted into the public eye when she featured in buzzy Netflix documentary Game Changers soon after.     “It is daunting,” Mitchell admits. “It feels like the whole world is looking at you… the criticism can be quite difficult.  “When I see people [having a go] at athletes, no matter what sport they play, I try to get them to understand: imagine you go to your nine-to-five job and you've got 10,000 people over your shoulder commenting on not your job, but how you look, how you speak, or how you present yourself… while all you're trying to do is run fast or kick goals.” Photograph: Carmen Zammit But her one piece of advice for athletes currently experiencing the Olympic whirlwind is simple: enjoy the moment.   “Take a moment and lap it up… one thing I wish I did is really soak it in, because it does just become a memory, and it becomes a memory very quickly.” It feels like the whole world is looking at you The 29-year-old is a two-time Olympian and a household name in the athletics realm. On top of multiple appearances at the World Championships, she ran at both the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. She’s one of the top ten all-time fastest Australian women to run the 400 metres (a list topped by Cathy Freeman

Wondering what to do in Melbourne in August? We can help. Scroll down for our curated guide of the best attractions, events and places to visit in Melbourne this month. And if you're keen to make the most of winter, try these hot chocolates, mulled wines or great winter getaways.  Heading to the slopes this winter? These are the best ski resorts to visit. Plus, how to do the snow on the cheap.

When visiting a new city, it’s highly likely that, at some point, you’ll find yourself standing in front of a big and beautiful museum or gallery. Come rain, hail or shine, these brilliant buildings are the place to brush up on historical happenings and learn a thing or two about local heritage.  Inside you’ll find some of our country’s greatest treasures and a huge diversity of subject matters too, ranging from natural history and cultural artefacts to science marvels and sporting achievements. Don’t wait until the next rainy day to explore Australia’s best museums with this ultimate guide.  RECOMMENDED: The best art galleries to explore in Australia.

Here at Time Out, we're all about spotlighting the individuals and organisations that are making lasting change in the city's arts, hospitality, community and culture sectors.  So let us introduce Melbourne's Future Shapers for 2024 – a group of creative types, clever thinkers, risk takers, boundary pushers and legendary locals who are dedicated to making our beloved city a better place to work, live and play. Read on to find out more about these seven remarkable people. Melbourne's future really is looking bright. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

In her line of work, Bonnie Dukakis is often the youngest person in the room, and she’s often surrounded by politicians and government officials. But she doesn’t find this intimidating. Instead, she finds strength in knowing that the vast community of other young Indigenous Victorians who she advocates for in those rooms are behind her.  “I know, sitting in those spaces, that I'm not there to represent myself and what I think,” Dukakis says. “It’s because of the people around me, who I've worked with, that I actually can sit in those spaces and challenge how things are done.” When recounting the stories of the young people she’s worked with, Dukakis reveals she’ll often imagine them being in the room with her to spur her on.  It’s powerful. Dukakis, a Gunditjmara woman, is the executive officer of the Koorie Youth Council (KYC) – a representative body dedicated to advocating for Indigenous Australians under the age of 30. This is no small feat for the team of ten staff (who are all also under 30), especially considering that more than 50 per cent of Aboriginal people are in that demographic.  Alongside her team, Dukakis works to develop strategies and positions that will influence how organisations and government departments respond to the needs of young Aboriginal people, pertaining to areas like justice, health, housing, family violence, education and more.  “Generally speaking, we represent the voices of young people broadly in all those spaces… we get a lot of access to k

Fascinatingly, it takes four generations of monarch butterflies to complete their annual migration. The brightly coloured insects spend entire lifetimes travelling thousands of kilometres, pollinating flowers along the way, on a mission to further the collective journey of their species.   Nevo Zisin approaches their advocacy work with the monarch butterfly’s ethos. They’ve accepted that it’s work that will last a lifetime.  “I think it's so amazing that these monarch butterflies start this migration knowing that they're never going to finish it, but they do it anyway because that's part of their journey,” Zisin says.  “That's how I've been treating this life… how can I get as far down the migratory pathway as possible so that my descendants can carry on the baton?” Zisin is a social justice advocate who works as a public speaker, author and educator across a variety of spaces, including their own social media platform. As a transgender, non-binary person, they’ve dedicated much of their life to outspokenly raising awareness of issues that impact their community, as well as creating spaces to support and uplift trans and queer people.  Their identity is part of what inspires them to take on this butterfly approach to their work, as they know that the systemic changes that have propelled society this far have already spanned generations.  “There's no way I would have been able to make a life as a trans public speaker and author if it weren't for our many, many LGBTQIA+ communi

James Parr wears the responsibility of being an intersectional role model much like he wears the designer clothes he models on runways – with seemingly effortless ease. As a First Nations queer man with a disability, he provides representation in the fashion industry for a vast scope of marginalised people. But behind his rise as an in-demand model, is a core dedication to advocacy. Parr’s flourishing career in fashion is a relatively new development in his life, which he found as a somewhat unexpected passion after becoming an amputee. In 2019, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, otherwise known as bone cancer, which led to the sudden amputation of one of his legs below the knee. In the short time since, Parr has not only worked as a model, but also as a passionate advocate for representation of people with disabilities. He was just named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for the Asia Pacific region, and to top it all off, he also competes in para-triathlons on the side. Impressive doesn’t begin to cover it.  But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Parr to reach this point. After his cancer diagnosis, he spent a year receiving treatment and feeling like he’d lost his grip on what was left of the life he knew before.  “In that year, you've lost control of any aspect of your life. So I couldn't make plans, I couldn't do anything,” Parr says. “Throughout that, I would constantly have people telling me what I could and couldn't do or how long it would take me to be able to do this or

To celebrate the arrival of spring, a fun-filled festival will take over Federation Square in September, with free family-friendly events that celebrate our natural world and how to better look after it.  RESET festival is all about starting fresh, refreshing ideas and getting inspired to take on new ways of living. It's about reinventing little parts of our lives to make big changes in the world.  The program is full of activations, markets, activities, film screenings, talks and workshops, all focused on minimising negative impacts on the environment and increasing positive impact. There's fun to be had almost every weekend for the month, with plenty of fun for the little ones during school holidays.  Highlights include Plant Based Paradise, a vegan market with tons of delicious plant-based food and cruelty-free fashion on Saturday, September 7. Plus, at the Zero Waste Festival on September 14, you can learn valuable tips and tricks from experts on how to lead a waste-free lifestyle through panel discussions, talks and activites.  As school holidays kick off, bring your youngest environmentalists along to enjoy heaps kid-friendly activities and events, from September 23.  Learn all about how to reduce, reuse, recycle and repair at this festival to take care of our precious planet. For more information on the full program, check out the website here.  Looking for more things to do for the whole family? Check out our guide to all things kid-friendly in Melbourne. 

From September 14 to October 6, take in the magical sights of Japan right here in Victoria at the gorgeous CherryHill Orchards in Coldstream, Yarra Valley. You'll have the opportunity to wander through rows of millions of gorgeous cherry blossoms in bloom, sip on cherry-based drinks, enjoy delicious cherry ice cream, listen to live music and participate in fun activities for the whole family.  In addition to the cherry-themed goodness, the festival will offer an adorable high tea picnic, where you can nibble on scrumptious sandwiches, cheese and other sweet and savoury treats among the beautiful blossoms.  And there are plenty more fun-filled activities on offer, including candle making, cake decorating, perfume workshops, Japanese flower and jewellery making classes, and more. To top it all off, you can enjoy stunning sky-high views with a hot air balloon ride over the Yarra Valley at sunrise.  The festival is introducing brand-new elements for the 2024 edition, including a special kids hub with interactive workshops, face painting and fairy fun – while the adults can properly appreciate the beauty of the blossoms.  Plus, there'll be special evening sessions called Blossom by Light from September 20 to 29 at the Wandin East orchard, where illuminated cherry blossom trees will turn into a mesmerising display of light and colour. Visitors can arrive before sunset to enjoy the picnic area, cherry-flavoured beverages and a selection of tasty food trucks prior to the magical ligh

If you're looking for a guilt-free dose of retail therapy, op shops are the answer. And from August 16-18, a mega pop-up thrift store is opening in the heart of Melbourne, with a huge haul of clothes on offer. The Red Cross Pop-Up Shop is returning for a third year, taking over the Melbourne Town Hall.  The theme of the event is 'Fashion for a Cause', with thousands of quality second-hand clothes and brand-new designer outfits up for sale. Walk in and be wowed by rack after rack of quality, stylish clothing to add to your wardrobe. The best part is, all proceeds go towards supporting disadvantaged Australians to give them a hand up.  For more information about the pop-up shop event visit the website.  Love thrifting second-hand clothes? Here's our list of the best op shops in Melbourne.

Preston Market has long been known as one of the most prolific market precincts in Melbourne's north, serving the ever-growing and diverse neighbourhood for more than 50 years.  And to celebrate its devoted Italian community, the market will host a free, one-day festival on Sunday, August 25, with a jam-packed line-up of tastings, entertainment and fun activities for bambinos and nonnas alike. The festa stage will feature performances from female string quartet Romanza, singers Carmelo Di Giglio, Tania Barbaro, Toni Marchi and Lorenzo + Co, and guitarist Raffaele Basso. Australia's only vintage Vespa DJ, Moto Bella, will also be on hand to spin bangin' tunes from a fully restored 1968 blue Vespa.   Of course, there will be a smorgasbord of authentic Italian dishes to feast upon. You can try zeppole doughnuts from Sorelle Catering or grilled arrosticini (meat skewers) from Abruzzo Lab. Thirsty? Gindu will be serving up bespoke gin cocktails. There's even something for the kids: from 11am until 2pm they can take part in a pasta necklace workshop. Preston Market’s Italian Day will run from 10am-3pm on Sunday, August 25. Entry is free and you can find out more at the website. Craving pizza and pasta? These are the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne right now. 

If you love antiques and all things vintage, the Melbourne Fair is a way to kit out your home and wardrobe with high-quality items from the past.  There will be more than 50 of the country's best antique, Art Deco and vintage dealers offering an array of exquisite pieces of furniture, art, jewellery, antiquities, home decor, and vintage designer pieces from around the globe. The styles span everything from the Georgian era all the way through the mid-20th century, and of course, plenty of Art Deco goodies. The Victory Room at Marvel Stadium will be transformed into an opulent trove of wonders from September 12 to 15, with an eclectic array of artistic, historic, and cultural pieces for visitors to explore. Most excitingly, this year the event will feature dresses from the wardrobes of Hollywood icons Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, available for purchase. Yes, you could wear a beautiful dress once worn by these stars of the silver screen. Plus, you can marvel at rare and extraordinary items on display, such as a solid gold box gifted by the King of Spain, a magnificent 19th century birdcage, and an Egyptian wood sarcophagus mummy mask from 1189 BC.  Hear the stories behind many of the unique pieces, with presentations and discussions lead by experts and some of the country’s most notable dealers on hand to share their wisdom. You can book tickets online to the event here, or purchase at the door.  Looking for more things to do in Melbourne? See what's on this week here.

Tucked away on a leafy side street off South Yarra’s bustling Toorak Road is the Lyall – a luxe boutique hotel that seeks to emulate a Parisian escape in the heart of Melbourne.  Over the past 20 years it has garnered a reputation as a beloved establishment, but after closing for two years for a transformative renovation, it’s now back with dazzling, all-new interiors that still maintain its charming character. The Lyall reopened in March this year, after it was sold to the same owners behind another local boutique hotel, the Royce. It’s been reimagined by the DKO Interior design team, who have meticulously brought to life a vision that combines refinement with comfort. Down to the most minute detail, every aspect of the Lyall feels considered. There’s a careful curation of all elements, from the plush hallway carpet to the Japanese maple garden in the centre courtyard with meticulously trimmed hedges. The blend of Australian and European furniture with quality, but minimalist pieces creates a true sense of understated luxury. Overall, it feels modern and fresh, but still classic.  Stepping into the lobby, guests are greeted as though they’ve returned home, and invited to sit down by the fireplace as they check in. There is clearly a deep respect for the tradition of hospitality here, with small but meaningful touches that are a testament to diligent consideration and anticipation guest’s needs. The Lyall is a favourite of stars like tennis champ Novak Djokovic, but you’d bel

The tiny town of Mirboo North was devastated by a catastrophic storm at the beginning of this year. With thousands of trees struck down and the local pool totally destroyed, the community was devastated and had no access power for over a week. Even while more than thirty families are still unable to live in their homes, all of this hasn't broken the community spirit of the town's residents. The hilltop community are throwing a celebration of their beloved bushland home this winter, in a show of resilience and to help the town bounce back.  Mirboo North Winterfest will be two days of wintry festivities on the weekend of August 3 and 4, with a program filled with wholesome activities and entertainment. Best of all, the majority of the events throughout the weekend are free to attend, with lots of live music, dance and drumming workshops, a lantern street parade, live timber sculpting display and much more. The festival hub is inside a giant tipi, making for a memorable winter outing.  So pile into the car and in just two hours you'll be in Mirboo North to make some cosy winter memories. You can find out more about the festival and its program on the website.  Looking for winter festivities in regional Victoria? Here's our guide to festivals across the state. 

Fresh spring flowers are the perfect antidote to a long, chilly winter, and thanks to the return of the Tesselaar Tulip Festival, you'll be able to get them in spades. Now in its 69th year, the bloomin' good festival has become a must-visit destination for Victorians from far and wide, attracting around 100,000 visitors each season.  This year, the four-week festival will run daily from September 14 to October 13, with the added fun of themed events. Learn about Turkish, Irish and Dutch culture across three dedicated weekends, treat the tots to a day of floral fun during the school holidays with entertainment for kids, and eat, drink and be merry during the food, wine and jazz weekend. You can find the full schedule of events here.  The festival will run extra special attractions for kids between September 23 to 26 and September 30 to October 4, with a reptiles display, bubble show, drumming workshops, Dutch Findlay Fairground Organ performances, a fairy garden, treasure hunt, tractor rides and much more — making it the perfect family day out during school holidays. Plus, possibly the most exciting part of the festival, you can marvel at Australia's largest clog.  More than a million blooms will transform the fields into a vibrant kaleidoscope of colour, with everything from traditional buds to rare and exotic varieties on show. Fun fact: there will be more than 120 cultivars of tulips alone. Beyond the floral displays, the festival will feature an array of activities and ent

A massive, hyper-futuristic augmented reality entertainment complex has just opened in Melbourne, where you're greeted by a robot before taking off on an adventure across new worlds. Dreamskape utilises immersive light, sound, and movement to create new realities where attendees can play, watch and interact with advanced technologies.  The complex features six activity zones with more than 100 games and 50 different immersive experiences, being the first of its kind in the country. No headsets are required here – everything is visible to the naked eye.  It's fun and games for the whole family – with multiple game rooms, a 540-degree cinematic experience, an augmented reality rollercoaster, as well as super cool modern art and colourful, IG-worthy spaces.  The complex is a family-affair for two Melbourne entrepreneurs, who worked in consultation with their own kids to intricately design an experience jam-packed with excitement.  Located at District Docklands, you can find out more about Dreamskape or purchase tickets on the website.  Looking for more kid-friendly activities? Here's a list of the best activities for kids in Melbourne.

Consider yourself formally invited to the Bridgerton Ball, courtesy of the Queen herself. Step back in time to the Regency era in London and dance across a grandiose ballroom with other esteemed guests at this immersive experience based on the hit Netflix TV show. The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience is coming to Melbourne for its Australian debut, after smashing success across the United States (and plenty of viral TikTok moments). At the Queen's Ball, prepare to be entranced by beautiful period costumes, live music (straight from the show's soundtrack) and elaborate theatrical performances. You will also get to meet enchanting characters and witness a love story unfold before your eyes.  Bridgerton's mysterious columnist Lady Whistledown will be your guide for the event as you learn Regency dance steps, visit Madame Delacroix's modiste for a fitting, uncover secrets and try to win Her Majesty's favour as she looks to choose her 'diamond of the evening'.  Plus, there are recreations of the show's set that are perfect for photo ops and special themed cocktails to enjoy at the after-party when you cut loose on the ballroom dancefloor. The attraction's arrival in Melbourne is almost perfectly timed for the highly-anticipated release of Bridgerton's third season on May 16, so there's no better way to get around the hype.  The Queen's Ball will waltz into Melbourne on May 24, with a party every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening until June 23. You can sign up for the waitli

The majesty of whales has long been lauded far and wide, but for us city dwellers, these giants of the sea are fairly elusive. But whether you're a whale fanatic or have always wanted to see one in the flesh, Phillip Island's whale festival is the place to be on the first weekend of July.  With fascinating talks presented by experts, virtual reality and immersive experiences, doco screenings, aquatic-themed activities and craft workshops and of course, guided whale watching sessions – you'll feel like a whale expert yourself after spending the day or the weekend at Island Whale Festival.  Phillip Island's coastal waters play host to humpback whales, southern right whales and occasionally killer whales, typically from May to September. Wander along the Whale Discovery Trail for the best vantage points, or if you're a super keen whale watcher, you can even head out on a boat cruise.  There's a tonne of whale-themed fun happening across the three days, so head to the event's website to dive into the full program. A festival pass is $10 which allows access to most of the talks and activities, other events have tickets available for purchase.  Want to find out more about whale watching in Victoria? Check out our guide here.

The longest night of the year will soon descend upon us, and the township of Queenscliff will celebrate with a mid-winter festival that unites fire and ice.  Nightide returns to the Bellarine Peninsula on Saturday, June 22, with an event that's sure to spark intrigue. At this free festival located at the Queenscliff Ferry Terminal, you can expect the usual wintery trappings of mulled wine, roaring bonfires and live music – but revellers will also have the opportunity to take a plunge in ice baths under the stars, before warming up in seaside mobile saunas. That sounds like a very special way to mark the winter solstice, if you ask us. Once you've thawed out from an icy dip, enjoy bevs and bites from pop-up bars and food trucks, as well as entertaining performances by local acts. Plus, there'll be a dramatic fireworks display at the end of the evening, soundtracked by live opera.  The festival also has ticketed events, including a VIP party inside the ferry terminal's lounge, complete with endless canapes, cocktails, DJs and mystery entertainment. Plus, you can indulge in four decadent dessert courses crafted by chef Michael Demagistris from Tarra restaurant. Or if you're looking to really test your limits, at 3.30pm the inaugural Frostbite solstice swim invites attendees to dive into freezing waters, either for a 500-metre swim or a fancy dress float in the ocean.  To find out more about the festival, register for a free ticket or purchase a pass to one of the ticketed events

If you regularly travel to and from regional Victoria by train, then you're probably aware that V/Line trains sometimes have some issues. From train faults causing delays to crowded carriages, the experience of venturing out to the regions can be made pretty unpleasant when things go off the rails. It's no wonder that the fare prices decreased last year.  Luckily, there are changes in the works to fix these problems. The state government has announced that a fleet of freshly-built trains will be rolled out this year, in order to support the increasing demand for regional rail travel.  We can expect 23 shiny new VLocity trains to hit the tracks, with an eye-watering price tag of $601 million. That'll bring it to a total of 141 trains of the latest model, and hopefully, they'll all run smoothly. The VLocity trains are the fastest yet, with a top speed of 166 km/h.  The new additions mean that the old Classic Fleet trains can finally be phased out – and it's definitely time. These trains were a refurbished model from the 1980s, built out of carriages originally made in the 1950s. So they're due for their retirement.  The Bacchus Marsh and Geelong routes will gain the new locomotives, to help improve reliability and capacity issues. But the entire VLocity fleet runs across the entire V/Line work, to Albury, Ararat, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Echuca, Geelong, Maryborough, Seymour, Shepparton and Traralgon.  This is all part of the government's grand plan to add a whopping 200 more addi

Head to the Victorian High Country for the ride of your life, with a new mega cycling trail offering biking enthusiasts a memorable journey on two wheels through the heart of our great state.  The beloved Murray to Mountains Rail Trail has just gained a 32-kilometre extension, turning it into one huge 180-kilometre off-road track. The new section connects two previously separate trails, now creating a continuous route that spans from Wangaratta to Yackandandah via Beechworth in Victoria's northeastern region. It stretches in multiple directions, so you can pick your destination in a choose-your-own-adventure style.  The upgrades also include nine new bridges and a boardwalk, so riders can enjoy scenic riverside vistas.  Along the world-class cycling trail, riders can take in picturesque valleys, rolling farmland fields and lakeside views, stopping at quaint regional towns along the way. Plus, there'll soon be art installations to enjoy throughout the ride, too.  Jump in the car (with a bike rack in tow) and drive three hours out of Melbourne to get to the trail. You can find out more about it here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Melbourne has ranked as one of the best cities in the world for culture, beating Venice and Florence It’s happening: Melbourne is hosting the first-ever Bunnings Warehouse Party A striking rooftop restaurant is about to open atop Melbourne's newe

Many of us know and love the CherryHill Blossom Festival, where millions of buds bloom into beautiful flowers on countless rows of cherry trees, making for a truly stunning sight. Now, the festival is unveiling a new way to appreciate and enjoy the blossoms, with its inaugural after-dark event this spring.  Photograph: Supplied At Blossom by Light, the cherry blossoms will be transformed into a mesmerising display of light and colour underneath the night sky of the Yarra Valley. The event is sure to be a unique experience for lovers of the pretty plant, enhancing the beauty of the blooms in a different way. The lighting design is by the same team behind beloved glowing events Lightscape and Puffing Billy's Train of Lights, so you know it's going to be magical.  Photograph: Neisha Breen Visitors can arrive by sunset to kick back on the lush lawns and enjoy a picnic, cherry-themed drinks or dinner from one of the on-site food trucks. At sundown, the two-and-a-half hour-long light show will illuminate the orchard.  The spectacle will be on show from September 20 to 29 at the CherryHill orchard in Wandin East, located about an hour's drive from Melbourne's CBD. Tickets are now available to buy on the website.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Rental e-scooters will officially be banned from Melbourne's CBD later this year Arbory Afloat has just revealed an Italian-inspired t

RIP e-scooters, it's been real. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but it seems like our rental e-scooter era is over. The City of Melbourne council has suddenly voted to ban them from the CBD's streets, and they'll be completely gone by the end of this year.  It's a ban that's come out of the blue – apparently, e-scooter rental companies were working alongside the City of Melbourne to devise new ways to make the service safer, with new measures set to make Melbourne's e-scooter scheme the most regulated in the world. Private e-scooters were only permanently made legal in Victoria last month. But Melbourne's new mayor Nicholas Reece has backflipped to ban them, putting forward a motion to cancel the current contacts with e-scooter rental companies like Neuron and Lime in a council meeting on August 13, which passed with a majority vote.  There are a few reasons for the ban, including safety concerns for both pedestrians and riders. Residents of the CBD have complained en masse about the lawlessness of e-scooter riders who endanger others by riding on the footpath in pedestrian-dense areas. Plus, thousands of riders have been caught by police not wearing helmets and driving while intoxicated.  Rental e-scooters were introduced to our city in 2022 as part of a two-year trial, and current contracts were due to expire in six months – but the issues caused by e-scooters were so dire that the ban couldn't wait. Now, the companies will have mere weeks to remove hundreds of e-sc

Most people are feeling the pinch financially right now – coffees, cabbages and even Caramello Koalas have all doubled in price over the past few years, and life in general seems more expensive. There are certain places where our wallets are being squeezed the tightest, and the latest Cost of Living Index by City has revealed exactly which ones. So, there's good news and bad news. The good news is for Melburnians, it turns out that our city is currently the least expensive major city in the country. Out of 218 cities worldwide, Melbourne ranked 42nd on the list. The bad news is that for our country as a whole, the results aren't looking so good. Six Australian cities landed in the top 50 for most costly places to live. Yikes.  Every six months, data company Numbeo publishes a global ranking of the most expensive places to live. To compile the index, they score more than 200 cities on everything from the cost of living and rent to grocery bills, restaurant prices and local purchasing power (basically, how far your local currency goes).  Canberra has held onto its ranking as the number one most expensive city in Australia and has even climbed two places since the start of 2024, now sitting as the 12th costliest city to live in worldwide. This is a dramatic jump from our capital city’s 117th place ranking only two years ago, with skyrocketing living costs and soaring rents to blame.  Adelaide also cracked the top 20 priciest cities, with South Australia’s capital climbing five

There are so many picturesque towns to enjoy across Victoria, from seaside villages to quaint regional towns, our state has so much beauty to explore. A recent study by MortgageBroker.com.au analysed data from Instagram and Pinterest to identify the most beautiful towns and villages in Australia, and one of Victoria's most beloved towns made the top ten on the list. The quaint town of Daylesford has been named on the list, and we're beaming with pride. If you ask us, the research might suggest a little more about social media use than it does about the actual charm of a town, but if you've been to Daylesford it's hard to dispute its beauty. According to social media data, Richmond – a historic town in southern Tasmania – is Australia’s most beautiful town, with 4,900,000 Instagram hashtags and 1,088 Pinterest pins. Tempted by a Tassie trip? You can read our local’s guide to Hobart over here – Richmond is just under half an hour’s drive from the state’s creative capital. Based on the data compiled in the report, Daylesford has been hashtagged on Instagram 395,000 times. There is certainly much beauty to be enjoyed in the town – it's renowned for its natural mineral springs, charming architecture and tranquil lakes. This picturesque town is a haven for wellness enthusiasts, artists, and foodies. The Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside, while the town’s markets and cozy cafes provide a rich cultural experience. It was the only Victori

It's a great time to be a Western Bulldogs fan – the team is on a winning streak, they're sitting pretty in the top eight AFL teams and their home ground has just gotten a very swish makeover – which can only be a good omen for the final rounds of the season. Mission Whitten Oval, a stadium situated in the heart of Melbourne's inner western suburbs, has just reopened after a huge redevelopment and it'll be hosting AFLW matches very soon. You beauty.  The oval was given the red ribbon treatment in late July this year, unveiling a swag of new features for players and punters alike to enjoy. The grand total on the price tag for the facelift was a whopping $78 million – $46 million of which was funded by the state government – to make the stadium a world-class sports facility.  The new-and-improved stadium has a capacity of 10,500 people and also boasts a freshly revamped Whitten stand (with 920 seats appropriately painted red, white and blue), new food vendors, a fresh merch shop, broadcast quality lighting and a club museum.  Photograph: Western Bulldogs Plus, the upgrades include plenty for the players' benefit, including a 1800 square-metre indoor training field, the largest gym in the AFL, as well as a heat chamber, sauna, and cold and hot pools.  The building will also host administration offices, a function room, an 82-seat theatrette and a space for the club's community foundation.  It's a historic site that holds a lot of meaning for club members – the oval has been ar

It's no secret that Melbourne is a super bike-friendly city with heaps of cycling trails – in fact, it's even been ranked as one of the top ten best cities in the world to explore on two wheels. And now there's some great news for the cyclists among us, specifically the daring mountain biker types: a massive trail has just opened in regional Victoria.  The first section of the Djuwang Baring trails is ready for riders, with 32 kilometres of track officially open. Djuwang Baring means ‘long track’ in the language of the Dja Dja Wurrung people, who are the Traditional Owners of the region.  Situated in bushland on the eastern edge of the quaint regional town of Creswick, the multi-million dollar trail has been a long time coming, with the planning process beginning in 2018. Excitingly, the first half has opened ahead of schedule, with the rest of the 60-kilometre network of trails set to be ready by the end of this year. The trail was actually set to host the cross-country mountain bike riding event for the now-cancelled 2026 Commonwealth Games, but despite the state government backing out, the project went ahead. It's a win for riders, who will now have access to a world-class biking destination right here in our home state.  The trail begins at the Hammon Park Trailhead and Bike Park, situated next to Creswick Creek, which has a beginner-friendly training ground for bikers to hone their skills so they're ready to ride. The site also has a pump track, a barbecue area, cycling

It's been a long time coming, but a massive hospital project in Melbourne's western suburbs is finally set to begin construction very soon. The state government has officially announced that works will begin this year on Melton Hospital, which will be Victoria's first fully electric hospital powered completely by renewable energy.  The new $900 million hospital will service Melbourne's booming outer west, made up of suburbs like Caroline Springs, Rockbank and Melton. It's an important piece of health infrastructure that many Melburnians would argue is well overdue, as residents of the area have been campaigning for a local hospital for decades. The City of Melton has a population of 206,070 people, and is the second-fastest growing municipality in Victoria and the fourth-fastest in the country – so it's pretty wild (and dangerous) that it doesn’t have a hospital.  Photograph: Victorian Health Building Authority The project was first announced in 2021, with funding from the state government announced the following year, and the construction is set to be completed in 2029. If the need for the new hospital is dire now, it will be critically urgent by then – as the Australian Bureau of Statistics has projected that the population of Melton will grow by 93 per cent by 2036.  Located on Ferris Road in Melton, next to Cobblebank station, the new hospital is set to include a 24-hour emergency department, at least 274 beds, an intensive care unit, ambulatory care and maternity, neon

Victoria has a plethora of picturesque regional towns, boasting everything from world-class galleries to fine-dining restaurants. But with so many to choose from, which ones are truly worth a visit? Well, the verdict is in: the best of the best spots have competed for gold medals at the TAC Victorian Top Tourism Town Awards, and three very deserving destinations have taken out the top prizes. Bendigo was named Victoria’s Top Tourism Town (for places with a population over 5,000), Daylesford took gold for the Top Small Tourism Town Award (for places with a population between 1,500 and 5,000) and Timboon (of ice cream fame) came out a winner for the Top Tiny Tourism Town Award (population under 1,500). You can read more about the winning towns here.  These annual awards – hosted by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) – recognise and reward Victorian towns that go the extra mile to create an amazing experience for visitors by working together with local businesses, tourism operators and the local community. Seventeen outstanding finalists were competing for the prize this year, with townships like Warrnambool, Sorrento and Arthurs Seat earning silver medals, and Ballarat, Heathcote and Koondrook achieving bronze recognition. The three Victorian gold winners will now go on to compete for the coveted title of Australia’s Top Tourism Town in their respective categories, which will be announced on September 10 at Parliament House in Canberra. We’ll absolutely be cheering t

Melbourne has so many big transport projects in the pipeline right now, it can be hard to keep track of which new tunnel is going where. But despite all these exciting new additions to our city’s public transport, a new survey has shown that the project Melburnians want to be completed the most is the same one that the government has been pushing back constantly for years – yikes. The Committee for Melbourne, an independent not-for-profit that advocates for bettering our city, published its Living in Melbourne 2024 report, which shone a light on what really matters to Melburnians. Public transport is always a hot topic for Melbourne, but discussions have become particularly heated as our city’s outer suburbs continue to boom in population, with poor accessibility becoming a serious issue.  One part of the report surveyed residents on which major transport project they supported the most. No, it’s not the much-hyped Metro Tunnel, the opening date of which has ambitiously been brought forward to 2025. It’s not the Suburban Rail Loop either, the next huge rail project planned, which isn’t slated to be fully completed until as late as 2053. Hopefully, we’ll have the technology to teleport by then and won’t need to bother with public transport.  These two projects only garnered 59 and 58 per cent support ratings respectively, which sounds all right, but a reformation of our bus system actually received more support, at 66 per cent. Unsurprisingly, the people just want a bloody tra

The mystique of rare celestial events never fails to excite, from green comets to huge blue supermoons, we're always keen to know what the next cosmic phenomenon we can experience will be. If you share in this excitement, then hold onto your hats, because an unusual occurrence is set to happen in our skies. The stars have aligned for two dazzling meteor showers to coincide, with both expected to simultaneously peak tonight. It's time to dig out your binoculars and telescopes!  The two annual celestial events in question are the Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids showers, which occupy the southern sky and are both most visible in the Southern Hemisphere – so we're in luck! With the combination of the two showers, you could see up to a whopping 30 meteors streaking across the sky per hour (providing the sky is totally clear).  In order to spot this sparkly sight, it helps to have a little bit of astronomic know-how. Being able to locate various constellations and celestial bodies helps a lot, as these meteor showers will radiate from the Aquarius and Capricornus constellations. Fortunately, there are plenty of astrology resources online to help you with this. Other tips to bear in mind for meteor-spotting are heading to your chosen stargazing spot in the early hours of the morning (around 2am-3am) and ensuring you wait long enough to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness (about half an hour). And considering it is the depths of winter, bring plenty of warm layer