Cool Things To Do In Melbourne During The Semester Break 

Semester break whilst you’re living and studying in Melbourne can be super fun. We’ve compiled together a list of activities you can do, as well as places to visit during your well-deserved time off.

The Great Ocean Road

  • Exploring the Great Ocean Road is a must! If you don’t own a car, it’s definitely worth hiring one and driving along the scenic coastline. 
  • You can stop at The Twelve Apostles, see Koalas at Kennett River, take the short walk to Erskine Falls, and much more! 
  • Seeing the Californian Redwoods is also a major highlight. Take some snacks and you and your mates can spend time amongst the giant trees. 
Cool thing to do during the Semester Break in Melbourne: Drive along the Great Ocean Road
12 Apostles at Great Ocean Road by Daniel Seßler

South Melbourne Market & Queen Victoria Market

  • Who doesn’t love a good market? Melbourne is home to some iconic ones – they’re the perfect place to spend a Saturday or Sunday morning. 
  • South Melbourne Market has been around a long time and is home to hundreds of traders. If you’re a foodie then you’ll love it. Plus, there are loads of unique clothes stores. The Jam Donuts and Dim Sims are a must try!
  • Queen Victoria Market is more focused on the fresh produce side of things, however, still great to visit, with plenty of traders selling great local food. 
Cool thing to do during the Semester Break in Melbourne: Visit the Markets and eat Jam Doghnuts
Jam Doughnuts at Queen Victoria Market by Navavan

Weekend Getaway to Torquay 

  • Road Trip to Torquay with your mates for a weekend getaway. 
  • You can visit the famous Bells Beach, also known as Australia’s best surf spot! Although not always swimming friendly, it’s a great spot to watch the best surfing! 
  • Torquay has several other swimmer friendly beaches you can visit. 
  • There’s plenty of coastal walks/hikes you can do and you’ll be fully immersed in nature.
Cool thing to do during the Semester Break in Melbourne: Visit Torquay
Surfers at Torquay by Arnaud Mesureur

China Town

  • You and your mates won’t be disappointed with lunch or dinner in Melbourne’s China Town.
  • There are loads of restaurants to choose from, with some of the best dumplings in the city! 
  • It has a great vibe and atmosphere, and can be the perfect place to meet your friends for great food and drinks before going out. 

Tour the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

  • If you love your sport, especially cricket, then touring the MCG would be worth your while. 
  • The Stadium has a rich history of Australian cricket, and you can see the ins and outs of the iconic sporting venue as well as unreal views of Melbourne’s skyline. 
Cool thing to do during the Semester Break in Melbourne: Visit the Melbourne Cricket Grounds MCG
MCG by Rodger Wang

Take The Ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento 

  • The Mornington Peninsula is definitely worth visiting during your semester break and easily accessible from Melbourne. You can drive or maybe catch the vehicular ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento. The price for a return trip starts from around $44. 
  • The Portsea Hotel is worth visiting for lunch, it is a great venue and view!
  • Millionaires Walk is another fun activity in Sorrento. 

Pub Crawls 

  • Pub Crawling around suburbs like Richmond, Brunswick and Fitzroy is always going to be a fun day out – they have some of the best pubs and bars in the city. 
  • In Richmond, Corner Hotel has a great rooftop bar and has good live music gigs. The Precinct is another fun pub, and is an unreal place to watch the AFL. 
  • In Brunswick, you can quite easily pub crawl from The Cornish Arms, to the Railway Hotel to the Retreat. All are great venues and a guaranteed good time. 
  • In Fitzroy, you can’t go past the Fitzroy Beer Garden for a pint and a parma!

Visit Phillip Island 

  • Phillip Island is another great place to visit with your friends, for the day or for a weekend. 
  • It is famous for the Penguin Parade, which you wouldn’t want to miss, plus there is more incredible native wildlife to see. 
  • Kilcunda Coastal Reserve is also worth exploring!
Cool thing to do during the Semester Break in Melbourne: Visit Phillip Island
Penguin Parade at Phillip Island by Visit Victoria

Conclusion 

There is so much to see and so many things to do during your semester break in Melbourne. All of the diverse activities we’ve suggested will give you a proper glimpse into Melbourne’s beautiful landscape and vibrant culture! You’ll be so busy ticking off all these items on the list. Grab your mates and plan your itinerary now. 

Are you planning to visit other cities in Australia? Then check out our articles on Cool Things To Do in Sydney, Perth, and Adelaide!

/The Switch