Melbourne is back, and in November it’s stunningly beautiful—you sure you don’t want to come see it?
Everyone, it’s been almost a week since I returned from Melbourne. In my dreams, I’m still chasing little penguins on St Kilda Beach and bumping into street art in the alleys of Fitzroy... November in Melbourne is like God spilling a palette of romance, a mutual embrace of art and nature. The best part? This trip was full of amazing experiences without spending too much. Today, I’m sharing this heartfelt guide with you!
🌇 Why is Melbourne in November worth your trip?
If Melbourne is Australia’s artistic heart, then November is the most vibrant pulse within it. The warmth of spring hasn’t faded yet, summer’s heat is brewing, cherry blossoms still hold their last pink hues on branches, and the countryside maples quietly turn orange-red. Walking the streets, sunlight filters through century-old buildings, the aroma from corner cafés mingles with street musicians’ melodies. At that moment, you suddenly understand why some people never want to leave Melbourne once they arrive—every inch of air here spells “romance.”
🗺️ Five days and four nights deep exploration: Capture Melbourne’s soul in your memory
Day 1: City landmarks and artistic encounters
• Flinders Street Station: Melbourne’s “front door,” a century-old building with a vintage filter vibe. Whether it’s the busy morning commute or the golden glow of dusk, it’s worth snapping countless photos.
• Federation Square: Just a step from Flinders Street Station, with futuristic architecture. The art exhibitions and street performances here are always fresh. Sitting in any corner offers an immersive city-watching experience.
• St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne: A free-to-enter Gothic architectural gem. The moment you step inside, time seems to slow. Sunlight streams through stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns on the floor, blending solemn faith with artistic splendor.
• Fitzroy District: The soul of Melbourne’s art scene! Exploding colors on graffiti streets, indie designer shops in alleys, hidden niche cafés on corners... every step feels like opening a mystery box, and every shop you pop into might surprise you with a “wow” moment.
Day 2: Nature’s charm and echoes of history
• Royal Botanic Gardens: November’s gardens are a green paradise. Though cherry blossoms have faded, lush greenery and carefully arranged landscapes will keep you exploring for hours. Lie on the lawn, watch the blue sky and flying birds—this is Melbourne’s relaxation.
• Melbourne Museum: To understand the city’s past and present, this is the place. Indigenous culture, colonial history, natural ecology... the exhibits are rich and vivid, deepening your love for Melbourne.
• St Kilda Beach: Come here at dusk! Feel the sea breeze while watching the sunset. When it gets dark, join locals to see the penguins return to their nests (tickets as needed, booking on the official website recommended). Watching the little penguins waddle ashore will melt your heart.
Day 3: Vintage markets and Yarra River vibes
• Queen Victoria Market: The largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, full of food, handmade goods, and vintage treasures. Be sure to try freshly made Aussie meat pies and fresh juices. When tired, find a stall to sit and soak in Melbourne’s lively street atmosphere.
• Yarra River Cruise: Pick a sunny day, take a boat slowly along the Yarra River. Buildings, parks, and bridges pass by in sequence, offering a fresh perspective on Melbourne’s charm.
• Southbank Arts Precinct: The cruise ends here. This area has arts centers, galleries, and street art. When the lights come on at night, the atmosphere is simply magical.
Day 4: Great Ocean Road day trip (join a local small group tour for convenience and value)
Though the Great Ocean Road is a bit far from Melbourne’s city center, it’s a must-visit once in a lifetime! November on the Great Ocean Road is less crowded than midsummer, with a peaceful grandeur.
• Twelve Apostles: The millennia-old battle between waves and rocks creates this breathtaking view. Standing on the viewing platform, watching waves crash and sunlight change colors on the rocks, you can’t help but feel awe for nature’s power.
• Loch Ard Gorge: Compared to the Twelve Apostles, this spot is more secret and beautiful. Walking down the trail, you can feel the collision of the gorge and ocean up close.
• London Bridge: The broken stone bridge stranded in the sea looks like a lonely yet romantic painting from afar.
Day 5: Hidden gems and farewell to the journey
• Brighton Bathing Boxes: Colorful small wooden huts lined up by the beach, one of Melbourne’s popular photo spots. Wear bright clothes and take fresh photos here—the vibe is instantly elevated.
• Carlton Gardens: Visit the gardens one last time to say a proper goodbye to Melbourne’s spring. Sitting on a bench, reflecting on the past days, your heart will be full of reluctance.
🍽️ Melbourne cuisine: From street food to restaurants, a never-ending feast for your taste buds
• Aussie brunch: Melbourne’s brunch culture is world-famous! Highly recommend the eggs Benedict at Hardware Societe and caramel banana toast at Top Paddock—so good you’ll want to stomp your feet!
• Street snacks: Meat pies and fish and chips at Queen Victoria Market, ice cream at St Kilda Beach—any choice is a safe bet.
• Coffee: As the “coffee capital,” Melbourne’s coffee is everywhere! Every independent café on the corner has its own character. Order a flat white and feel Melbourne’s coffee soul.
• Chinese food: Don’t worry about unfamiliar tastes—Melbourne’s Chinese food is super authentic! Chinatown’s hotpot, Sichuan, and Cantonese cuisine will satisfy your Chinese cravings.
🏠 Accommodation: Balancing cost-effectiveness and experience
• If on a budget, stay near Flinders Street in the city center. Convenient transport and a range of hotels and homestays. I stayed in a loft-style homestay with stylish decor for just over 200 AUD a night—great value.
• To experience local life, choose a homestay in Fitzroy, surrounded by artsy shops and full of atmosphere.
🚌 Transportation: Convenient in the city, flexible around
• Melbourne city transport is very convenient. Everyone has a Myki card (public transport card) usable on subways, buses, and trams, and it’s easy to top up.
• For Great Ocean Road, St Kilda, and other nearby spots, you can join small group tours (about 100-200 AUD per person) for ease, or self-drive to enjoy stunning scenery along the way.
🌟 Some heartfelt tips
1. Melbourne’s weather is changeable—“four seasons in one day” is no exaggeration. Bring a light jacket to add or remove layers anytime.
2. November is already peak tourist season in Melbourne. Book popular attractions on official websites in advance to avoid queues.
3. Parking fees in the city are expensive; public transport is recommended.
4. Locals in Melbourne are very friendly. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have questions—they’re happy to help.
Writing this makes me miss Melbourne’s sunshine, coffee, and those lovely moments again. This city has the bustle of a metropolis and the charm of a small town; the grandeur of nature and the warmth of culture. In November, it’s perfectly beautiful. If you’re looking for a healing and surprising trip, Melbourne should definitely be on your list.
Highly recommended! The museum's design is incredibly creative, and the exhibits are rich and diverse. The animal specimens, in particular, are remarkably lifelike! The text descriptions and physical displays throughout the exhibition hall are meticulously designed and produced. The interactive experiences are especially commendable, with various dynamic displays and videos helping viewers gain a more thorough understanding. It's definitely worth taking the time to appreciate it.
The Melbourne Museum is large, the exhibition setting is also good, the sound and light effects and theme design are very good, the Aboriginal exhibition is more profound than the Sydney one, the ticket price is not expensive, it is worth a visit
The museum is very large and suitable for children. It has a reasonable area division and interactive areas. Students from many schools in Melbourne visit it. It is a very good attraction.
Located in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, it is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere. Its modern shape contrasts sharply with the classical style of the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. The metal frame and glass curtain wall of the Melbourne Museum integrate individual buildings of different shapes and functions into a whole. In addition to creating a visual effect, it also captures more natural light for the public space in the museum. The Melbourne Museum displays Australian social history, Aboriginal culture, scientific development and environment. Adjacent to the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, which are listed on the World Heritage List, the museum also has the IMAX Theatre Melbourne.
The Melbourne Museum is adjacent to the Royal Melbourne Museum and is near the Carton Park. The Royal Museum requires tickets. The Melbourne Museum is free of tickets. The purpose of this exhibition is to popularize the knowledge of natural science. Therefore, many exhibits can be touched and examined closely and repeatedly at close range. Melbourne Museum exhibits are rich and varied, widely involved, concise and easy to understand, especially suitable for students to watch. The hardware facilities in the museum are in place, which is a good place to increase knowledge and learn knowledge.
The Melbourne Museum is not far from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. There are Chinese aunties dancing in the square at the door. I think the aunties did a great job this time. They don't bother the poor students and office workers in our country! Although it is not a weekend, and the ticket price of nearly $10 per person is not cheap, there are still long queues at the museum, especially with children, and there are basically no people with only one child. Many exhibits are interactive. Turning the handle will give you a 360-degree display of the exhibits, which is very attractive to children. Australia is really dedicated to its future successors, which is admirable. Caring for and valuing the next generation is not written in documents or pretended on TV, but to make children interested and discover everywhere. It is recommended that friends with children must go, must go.
Melbourne Museum is the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere. It has a lot of content, but what impressed me most was the exhibition room of various specimens. There are many exhibits in it. If you come with a purpose, you can check the catalog first and then search. If you are just looking casually, you can open the drawer of the specimens and take a closer look. Such exhibition rooms are very popular with children. I saw many parents bring their children here, and the children were particularly interested in touching them. The scene was very moving.
Melbourne Museum, the largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere. In the museum, you can fly from one flower to another like a bee, from one cultural experience to another, and discover a new world. You can immerse yourself in the wisdom of ancient civilizations, feel the novelty of technology, and appreciate the beauty of art. You can talk to ancient civilizations, get close to nature, and shake hands with history.