2 Days in Melbourne: Street Art, Shrines, and Seriously Good Food

We landed at Avalon Airport, about an hour from Melbourne’s CBD. SkyBus was available for 27 AUD per person, plus a 15 AUD taxi to the hotel from the station. But in the end, we chose the easier option: an Uber for 100 AUD. A regular taxi would’ve cost around 140 AUD.

We briefly considered renting a car, but it didn’t make sense: 100 AUD/day, extra for parking and tolls, plus the headache of returning it to a different airport. On top of that, Hertz closes at 11:30 pm on Saturdays and is closed Sundays at Avalon, so… clearly not meant to be.

We didn’t have much of a plan for Melbourne—just a few loosely marked spots on the map and an open mind.

Walking toward Federation Square, we noticed a crowd taking pictures in a narrow alley. Curious, we detoured and discovered we were in Hosier Lane, the city’s most famous street art laneway. Melbourne doesn’t have graffiti everywhere—probably because people can report it using QR codes on public trash bins—but here, it’s like an outdoor gallery.

We made it to Federation Square, crossed the Yarra River, and walked toward the parklands. The Shrine of Remembrance caught our eye—free to enter, with a great view from the top. Built after World War I, it’s massive and humbling.

The Royal Botanic Gardens seemed closed, likely prepping for the LightScape event happening after dark. On our way back, we dropped into the National Gallery of Victoria, which is mostly free, and wandered through some modern and classic art. Outside, whimsical animated birds on the lawn made us smile.

Somewhere between exploring and snacking, we passed the Parliament House, and when a free tram rolled by, we thought: why not? We hopped on and rode it out, ending up in Docklands, just walking around and enjoying the waterfront vibes. Almost watched a movie, but kept moving.

One miss: we didn’t make it to St Kilda Pier for the penguin parade at sunset. Yes—tiny penguins show up at dusk at the breakwater. No ticket needed, just patience (and luck). You might also spot rakali, native water rats.

As for the food—wow. We tried Mr. Pho for lunch and loved it. Dinner that night was at the much-recommended Chin Chin, where we chose the Chef’s Table tasting menu. The flavors were bold, creative, and spot-on. I finished with a dairy-free Vietnamese coffee, which instantly brought back fond memories of Vietnam.

Before flying out, we managed to sneak in another Vietnamese meal—this time at Saigon Restaurant, and again: impressive.

Melbourne is undeniably a foodie’s city.

On the way out, Melbourne Airport security was… intense. Both my hiking bag and my husband’s were pulled aside. Turns out we each had small scissors (mine in a first aid kit, his for grooming). Even though they were rounded and small, the scanner couldn’t tell, and they had to double-check everything. Lesson learned: no scissors, even baby ones!

Would we return to Melbourne? Maybe not. It’s a cool city, and we’re glad we saw it, but we feel like we got the essence. Next time, we’d probably visit St Kilda Pier at sunset, maybe do a gold mine tour an hour away, or check out the animal sanctuary in the opposite direction.

That said—we had a lovely time, and Melbourne gave us great walks, good art, and unforgettable food.