PRE & POST TOURING
There are plenty of things to do while in Melbourne. On this page you will find exclusive discounted tours by 'Show me Melbourne', that have been selected especially for the delegates and partners attending the conference, as well as other suggested things to see and do in Melbourne CBD, free walks and things to do in Regional Victoria.
SHOW ME MELBOURNE TOURS:
The tours below have been selected especially for the delegates and partners attending the International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health in Melbourne. For enquiries for any other private tours, please email info@showmemelbourne.com.au
Saturday 16th November
4pm - 6pm - Melbourne Urban Adventure Scavenger Hunt
Explore Melbourne's hidden gems in our Urban Adventure Scavenger Hunt. Hunt, snap, and discover the city's secrets, ending with wine and prizes at a rooftop bar!
Cost: $40 per person.
Click here to book and for more information.
Saturday 16th November
4pm - 6pm - Cocktail Making Masterclass
Learn the art of mixology from one of the best! Enjoy a cocktail and charcuterie on arrival, then mix two cocktails of your own with expert tuition.
Cost: $95 per person
Click here to book and for more information.
7:30am - 7:30pm - Great Ocean Road Tour
Explore the Great Ocean Road, the most iconic coastal journey. Visit the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and the Great Otway National Park.
Cost: $205 per person
Click here to book and for more information.
Monday 18th November
10am - 1:30pm - Melbourne Sports Walk
Explore Melbourne's Sports Precinct on foot and uncover why Melbourne has been voted the Sports Capital of World. This 3.5 hour walking tour includes a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Cost: $140 per person
Click here to book and for more information.
Monday 18th November
2:30pm - 5:30pm - Essential Melbourne Walking Tour
See Melbourne through the eyes of a local! Discover what makes Melbourne tick as we explore the city on foot, visiting major landmarks and hidden gems.
Cost: $90 per person.
Click here to book and for more information.
Friday 22nd November
Down laneways, up dark staircases and behind locked doors, experience Melbourne’s underground bar scene with this exclusive hidden bar tour. Finger food included. Optional upgrade available to include cocktails.
Cost: $75 per person
Click here to book and for more information.
Saturday 23rd November
9am - 5pm - Yarra Valley Experience
The very best of the Yarra Valley - A morning visiting Australian animals at Healesville Sanctuary followed by lunch and wine tasting. All inclusive.
Cost: $315 per person.
Click here to book and for more information.
Saturday 23rd November
A delightful day trip to encounter some of Australia’s most iconic and unique animals including the famous Penguin Parade at Phillip Island!
Cost: $240 per person
Click here to book and for more information.
MELBOURNE CBD:
Visit the National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the oldest and most visited gallery in Australia. Situated over two magnificent buildings – NGV International and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia – the Gallery hosts a wide range of international and local artists, exhibitions, programs and events; from contemporary art to major international historic exhibitions, fashion and design, architecture, sound and dance.
Founded in 1861, today the NGV holds the most significant collection of art in the region; a vast treasury of more than 76,000 works that span thousands of years and a wealth of ideas, disciplines and styles. It is a collection that is yours, and it’s free! Share in these riches and the many activities, exhibitions and events developed at the NGV.
Cost: Entry to the Gallery is free however entry fees may apply to special exhibitions.
Click here for more information.
Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Voted ‘Australia’s Best Major Tourism Attraction’ at the QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards, and best Victorian Major Tourist Attraction for three years in a row, the heritage-listed Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the contemporary native Australian Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, offer a plethora of unique outdoor experiences.
From a punt ride on the lake, or a relaxing picnic under the oaks, to a guided cultural walk or explorer bus ride along the many meandering trails, there’s always something new to enjoy.
Cost: Admission to the gardens is free.
Click here for more information.
Shop at Queen Victoria Market
An historic landmark spread over two city blocks, it’s a vibrant and bustling inner-city market where you can shop at over 600 small businesses for everything from Australian fruit and vegetables, local and imported gourmet foods, clothing and souvenirs.
Officially opened on 20 March 1878, the Queen Victoria Market has been serving the people of Melbourne for more than 140 years. The Market has seen many transformations and was added to the National Heritage List in recognition of its links to the early colonial population of Melbourne and its ability to demonstrate the principal characteristics of a 19th century metropolitan produce market.
Experience their Ultimate Foodie Tour
Experience the Market at its liveliest on their Ultimate Foodie Tour. Led by a local Market guide, you’ll discover the very best produce on offer, learn fascinating history and uncover the specialty foods you can buy.
Cost: Entry to the market is free. Foodie tours start from $99.
Click here to book a tour today.
Visit the Melbourne Skydeck
Located in the heart of the city, Melbourne Skydeck captures everything that is special about Melbourne and beyond.
Featuring the Southern Hemisphere’s highest observation deck, the Melbourne Skydeck experience dazzles, entertains and informs through its spectacular and ever-changing views, state-of-the-art virtual and augmented reality technology, and Melbourne Skydeck App.
The multi-million-dollar Voyager Theatre is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere taking guests on a voyage of discovery through Melbourne and Victoria in glorious Super high-definition 8K video with 6D sensory immersion.
Conclude your experience at Bar 88 with a delicious array of drinks and snacks. This is Melbourne, on another level.
Cost: General admission tickets are $28 if purchased online, and $34 if purchased at the gate.
Click here for more information.Visit Old Melbourne Gaol
When the Old Melbourne Gaol was built in the mid-1800s, it dominated the Melbourne skyline as a symbol of authority.
Between 1842 and its closure in 1929 the gaol was the scene of 133 hangings including Australia’s most infamous citizen, the bushranger Ned Kelly. Today you can visit the Old Melbourne Gaol to find out what life was like for the men and women who lived and died here all those years ago.
Cost: $35 Adult.
Click here for more information.
Take a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Nothing can match the tradition and heritage of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Go behind-the-scenes and relive your favourite moments at the 'G.
Tours depart regularly between 10.00am and 3.00pm.
Immerse yourself in the history and world-class facilities of the MCG, as you go behind-the-scenes to gain an insight into Melbourne's sporting culture, while exploring one of the world's most iconic stadiums.
Highlights of this must-see tour route include a walk along the boundary line of the arena, the famous MCC Long Room, the MCC Library, player change rooms, cricketers' viewing rooms, Panoramic views of Melbourne's skyline from Level 4 of the Ponsford Stand and more!
Cost: $35 Adult.
Click here for more information.City Circle Tram
Travel on the City Circle Tram is free, so hop on and off as often as you like. The City Circle Tram service provides a free and convenient way to get around central Melbourne. Tourists, shoppers, office workers and families can use the City Circle Tram for travel to major attractions, shops and city events.
Tourists can spend all day on a City Circle Tram. Information leaflets, including an 'easy to understand' map of the city are available on board each tram.
To catch the City Circle Tram service (route number 35), simply board the tram at any of the specially marked stops on the route. You don't need a myki (ticket) if you're only travelling in the city's Free Tram Zone or on the City Circle Tram.
Timetable: Every 30 minutes - between 10am and 6pm from Sunday to Wednesday and between 10am and 9pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Cost: FREE
Click here for more information.
WALKS:
Free Guided Walking Tours
Uncover the hidden lanes, arcades, history and culture of Melbourne. These tours are offered on a “pay what you think it’s worth” model so people of any budget are able to turn up and enjoy the tour and discover and learn about our great city.
Melbourne Sights Walking Tour: Departs 10:30am Daily.
Experience the culture and discover the history of Melbourne, from its Indigenous beginnings to the city it is today. We’ll uncover the stories behind its landmark buildings, scenic gardens, people & events.
Culture Capital Walking Tour: Departs 3pm most days.
Leave the beaten path behind. We’ll uncover the secrets behind Melbourne’s famous culture as we take you through some of Melbourne’s best hidden laneways, arcades & architecture.
Cost: FREE
Click here for more information.
Aboriginal Melbourne Walk
The Eastern Kulin is an alliance of 5 Traditional Owner groups: the Wurundjeri, Bunurong, Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wadawurrung peoples. Eastern Kulin Country extends around Port Phillip and Western Port, up to the Great Dividing Range and through the Loddon and Goulburn River valleys. The groups are spiritually, culturally, politically and economically connected with a shared creator, Bunjil.
Cost: FREE
Click here for more information.
Street Art Walk
Discover the best of Melbourne’s world-renowned street art scene on this self-guided walk through the city’s laneways.
The artwork is as changeable as Melbourne’s weather, so you'll always see something new.
This walk is approximately 3 km and takes around 2 hours.
Cost: FREE
Click here for more information.
Melbourne Music Walk
Melbourne is widely known as one of the world’s great music cities, and has more live music venues per capita than any other city in the world. The city itself has featured in many music video clips for bands like AC/DC and The Cat Empire.
From music venues to busking hot spots and historical sites, this walk will take you on a tour of the city's music highlights. We hope you feel inspired to catch a show or visit one of Melbourne’s record stores.
This walk is approximately 3.5km and takes around 90 minutes.
Cost: FREE
Click here for more information.
Iconic Laneways and Arcades Walk
Wandering through the city’s mosaic arcades and art-filled laneways might be the ultimate way to see Melbourne on foot. Here’s where to find the hole-in-the-wall cafes, secret shops, tiny wine bars and iconic restaurants of the small streets.
This walk is approximately 2.4km and takes around 2 hours.
Cost: FREE
Click here for more information.
THINGS TO DO IN REGIONAL VICTORIA:
See the 12 Apostles
Witness the rugged splendour of the famous 12 Apostles, magnificent rock stacks that rise up majestically from the Southern Ocean on Victoria's dramatic coastline.
View the 12 Apostles at sunrise and sunset as they change from a brilliant sandy yellow colour under a full sun to appearing dark and foreboding in shadow.
The 12 Apostles are located 275 kilometres west of Melbourne – approximately a four-hour drive along the Great Ocean Road.
Cost: FREE
Click here for more information.
Visit the Yarra Valley Wine Region
The Yarra Valley’s unique landscape is a big part of what makes it one of the best wine regions on earth. With mountains on either side like a pair of welcoming, open arms, it follows the iconic and culturally significant Yarra River across the valley floor, which then winds its way into Melbourne.
With over eighty vineyards dispersed throughout Healesville, Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Seville and Lilydale, the Yarra Valley is Australia’s premier cool-climate region, and is renowned for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and méthode traditionnelle sparkling.
Cost: Entry to the wineries is free however fees may apply to tours and tastings.
Click here for more information.See the Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Watch little penguins dash home across the sand at dusk at Phillip Island Nature Parks' Penguin Parade. Explore boardwalks after dark to see, smell and hear these penguins in the colony, greeting neighbours, partners and their chicks. While you wander, keep an eye out for resident wildlife including swamp wallabies, Eastern barred bandicoots, Cape Barren geese and short-tailed shearwaters.
Every visit to the Penguin Parade protects nature for wildlife. Visitors support Phillip Island Nature Park's vital research, education and conservation projects that ensure Phillip Island's native habitats thrive into the future for both wildlife and all to enjoy.
Book a tour to have a private ranger guide sharing conservation stories and penguin information with you, or opt for the self-guided viewing and enjoy the free interactives inside the visitor center.
Cost: Tickets range from $32 for general viewing to $100 for a guided tour.
Click here for more information.
Visit the Tarra Bulga National Park
With its lush gullies, giant mountain ash trees and tree ferns, Tarra Bulga National Park is one of only four major areas of cool temperate rainforest in the state.
Have lunch at the Tarra Bulga Picnic area, just off the Grand Ridge Road and try out one of the numerous walking tracks that emanate from the picnic areas. The rainforest is a haven for plants and wildlife. Discover a wide variety of birds including the pilotbird, yellow tailed black cockatoo, eastern whipbird, and currawongs. Visit in the evening when the forest comes to life as possums, owls and bats emerge to feed.
Cost: FREE
Click here for more information.
Visit the Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre a significant attraction on Victoria's Great Ocean Road. Narana seeks to build understanding of Aboriginal history and culture in a welcoming, friendly and relaxed atmosphere, through personal interaction with groups and individuals from all community backgrounds.
Nestled amongst native trees, walkways, gardens and the resident emus and wallabies, is the cultural display and performance building, Art Gallery, Café Narana and retail outlet.
Cultural Education programs are delivered by expert staff who will fill your mind with the wonders of Australia's Indigenous culture, connection to the land, spirituality, laws, cultural designs, Dreaming stories. You can even learn to throw a boomerang.
Cost: FREE
Click here for more information.
Visit Cactus Country
Immerse yourself in the surreal beauty of Cactus Country, a unique outdoor attraction that transports you straight to the deserts of Mexico, right in the heart of Victoria, Australia. This expansive cactus garden, the largest in Australia, spans nearly five hectares and is home to over 10,000 cacti and succulents from around the globe.
Located in Strathmerton, three hours north of Melbourne, Cactus Country offers a captivating blend of diverse landscapes under vast blue skies. Navigate through eight themed trails such as The Andes Walk, The Valley of the Giants, and The Arizona Walk, each filled with an array of prickly residents from countries like Mexico, Argentina, and the USA.
Photography enthusiasts will find endless inspiration in the garden's unique shapes and vibrant blooms, while foodies can enjoy authentic Mexican flavours at the on-site restaurant. Try their cactus cake made from Peruvian apple, the fruit of the cereus, or kick back with a margarita or a cold Mexican watermelon soda in the sunny adobe courtyard.
Cost: $22.50 for garden entry.
Click here for more information.
Please contact the team at Forum Group with
any questions regarding the Conference.
Forum Group Events & Marketing
Suite 10/Level 1, 285a Crown St,
Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia
Phone: +61 2 8667 0737
Email: aasw@forumgroupevents.com.au
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