Melbourne is Australia's café and culture capital and, after Sydney, the second big starting point for working holiday makers: lots of barista and hospitality jobs, free trams in the city centre, street art, markets and penguins at the city beach. Here you'll find all 24 checked spots from our map with tips.
From Melbourne Airport the SkyBus takes about 30 minutes to Southern Cross Station in the city; a rail link to the airport is under construction. Within the Free Tram Zone in the centre all trams are free; outside it you pay for tram, train and bus with a myki card. Most hostels are in the CBD or St Kilda.
Melbourne is known for its changeable weather — 'four seasons in one day'. Summer from December to February is warm with the odd very hot day; winter from June to August is cool and grey, but with a buzzing culture and café scene. Spring and autumn are ideal for the city and day trips.
A central hostel with a rooftop terrace and a big kitchen, five minutes from Queen Victoria Market. The Free Tram Zone starts outside the door — a good base for your first weeks and job hunting.
Right opposite Flinders Street Station, cheap and central — a good base for your first nights in Melbourne. You reach everything in the centre on foot or by free tram.
A hostel on St Kilda beach with a rooftop bar, in the city's backpacker quarter. In the evening the penguins come ashore at the pier, and the bars are just around the corner. About 25 minutes by tram to the centre.
Campsites right on the calm bay on the Mornington Peninsula, about 90 minutes from the centre. Mainly open in the summer season — ideal for a few beach days with the van.
The city beach on Port Phillip Bay has calm water and is popular for swimming in summer from December to March. St Kilda is the city's backpacker quarter with hostels and bars. On Sundays there's an arts and crafts market on the Esplanade.
Natural thermal pools on the peninsula south of Melbourne, with views over the hills. Most beautiful in winter, when the air is cold and the water warm. Entry fee; book online in advance.
Melbourne's best-known street art laneway, opposite Federation Square: walls, doors and bins are painted, and the pictures change constantly. Quietest in the morning. AC/DC Lane and Centre Place are just around the corner — together a free street art walk.
A colony of little penguins lives on the St Kilda Pier breakwater and comes ashore in the evening after sunset — right in the city and free. Don't use a flash, keep your distance and follow the volunteer rangers' instructions.
Colourful Victorian bathing boxes on Brighton beach with the skyline in the background — one of Melbourne's best-known photo spots. The light is best in the late afternoon. Train to Middle Brighton, then a ten-minute walk.
The hills an hour east of Melbourne are covered in tall eucalyptus and fern forests. The 1000 Steps is Melbourne's most popular stair walk. It's quieter in the morning; take the train to Belgrave and then walk or catch a bus.
The observation deck high up in the Eureka Tower gives a 360° view over the city, river and bay. Entry fee. Go up just before sunset and watch the city lights come on.
In the city centre all trams are free, including the historic City Circle Tram, which passes the main sights. The zone boundaries are marked at the stops. Outside it you need a myki card — ticket checks are frequent.
A big, free park on the Yarra River with lakes, lawns and plants from all over the world. Around the park runs 'The Tan', Melbourne's favourite running track, just under four kilometres long. Perfect for a picnic in the afternoon.
The square by the river is the city's meeting point, with free events, big screens for sporting events and the free ACMI film museum. Opposite stands Flinders Street Station — the classic Melbourne photo.
A huge historic market hall with fruit, veg, delis and street food — the hot jam doughnuts from the van are a must. Just before closing, fruit and veg get marked down, ideal for the hostel kitchen. Closed on Mondays and Wednesdays; in summer there's a night market.
A narrow laneway full of cafés — Melbourne's coffee culture in miniature. In the morning people stand outside with their flat whites before heading to the office. Order a flat white; it's the standard here.
Fitzroy's nightlife street has vintage shops, bars, live music and cheap food. It's busiest in the evening, and the more interesting places are often in the side streets. Quick to reach by tram from the centre.
Cheap dumplings in Chinatown, popular with students for years. Simple, fast and filling — a classic for little money.
Lygon Street in Carlton is Melbourne's Little Italy: pasta, pizza, gelato and espresso. Mid-range prices, especially lively in the evening. Quick by tram from the centre.
A loud, packed hawker-style restaurant on Flinders Lane with Thai-inspired food, open late every day. With the tasting menu you quickly end up in the upper price range — more for a special night out.
A long nightlife strip in South Yarra and Prahran with clubs, bars and rooftops, busiest at weekends. Reachable by tram or train.
A day tour from Melbourne to the Twelve Apostles takes about 12 hours, much of it on the bus. With a rental car and two days it's far more relaxed — details on our Great Ocean Road page.
Melbourne is Australia's café city, so there are lots of barista jobs — a barista course helps. Add hospitality, events, warehousing and construction. Note: a Victorian RSA isn't valid in NSW and vice versa. You'll find jobs on Seek, Indeed and in Facebook groups.
The state library has an impressive reading room under a huge dome, plus free Wi-Fi and desks — ideal for job applications, paperwork and warming up on cold days.
In the Free Tram Zone in the city centre, yes, including the City Circle Tram. Outside it you need a myki card.
On the St Kilda Pier breakwater, little penguins come ashore in the evening after sunset — free; take photos without flash.
Mainly in cafés, hospitality and events. A barista course and the Victorian RSA help; hand in your CV in person.
All spots on the Melbourne map. Nearby: the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, the Grampians and Wilsons Promontory. The coast at a glance on the Great Ocean Road road trip.
Updated September 2026. Checked against official sources and operator websites. Prices, opening hours and seasons change — check before you go.