The Six Best Things To Do In Melbourne Over Summer

If you’re going to be in Melbourne over summer you’re in for a treat, you lucky thing. The bars are full and flowing, the streets are flooded with exhibition this and pop-up that. The city is flourishing with a giddiness that only comes at this particular time of year. From the 18 million different options you have to choose from, we’ve selected six of the best things to do in Melbourne over summer.

Dine at Attica

According to the Australian Food and Travel Guide, Ben Shewry’s Attica is the best restaurant in Australia. Action Bronson of rapping and F*ck, that’s Delicious fame called it one of the greatest experiences of his life. With dishes like Whipped Emu Egg with Quandong, and Kangaroo with Wattles and Waxflower, you might be making the same claims as Bronson.

Visit the Amy Winehouse Exhibition

If you haven’t yet seen the documentary, Amy, do so. After that, dry your eyes and head off to the Jewish Museum of Australia to check out the exhibition dedicated to the beautifully tragic life of Amy Winehouse. Curated in 2013 by Amy’s brother and sister-in-law along with the Jewish Museum London, this touching and heartbreaking exhibition gives an intimate glimpse into the life of one of the best singers of the modern era.

Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait will show at the Jewish Museum of Australia until March 25 2018. 

Go to the Australian Open

The Australian Open is the first of the four grand slam tennis events of the year, but by no means is it just for the racquet fanatics. The Aus Open is as much about the atmosphere, pop-up bars and balmy summer nights, as it is about the world’s best tennis players.

The Australian Open runs from Jan 15-18 2018.

Walk the Capital City Trail

Believe it or not, there is a 30km inner-city walking track in Melbourne. The loop starts at Federation Square and winds it’s way past some of the best cultural, entertainment, sporting and outdoor recreation spots in Melbourne. Pub crawl anyone … or should it be a café crawl?

Visit Hyper Real at the NGA

“From eerily lifelike sculptures to out-of-this-world virtual reality, this major exhibition charts the evolution of hyperrealism into the 21st century” – we’ll have to agree with you there, National Gallery of Australia. The 50 astonishing digital art and ultra-realistic figures by 32 international artists are mind blowing, to say the least.

Hyper Real will run until February 18 2018 at the National Gallery of Australia.

Sink Rooftop Cocktails

Pick a rooftop bar, any rooftop bar. Easier said than done – the city is littered with them – and no one is complaining. Hit one of the top dogs, like Rooftop at QT, Good Heavens or Naked in the Sky … or go exploring and find a rooftop that suits your mood.

words by niall roeder