9 Melbourne Hidden Gems and Where to Find Them

From cool urban street art and hidden laneways to some of the best coffee spots in Australia (arguably the world!), there's a lot to love about a Melbourne vacation.

But after you've caught a match at Melbourne Cricket Ground, visited the National Gallery of Victoria and updated Insta with your Hosier Lane photoshoot, it's time to venture off the beaten path. Because trust us when we say there's more to this city than shopping trips on Collins Street, the Melbourne Cup and chic rooftop bars.

Ready to swap those tourist hot spots for the laneway less travelled? These are the Melbourne hidden gems to check out the next time you visit Australia's cultural capital. 

• Uncover a 19^th-century time capsule hiding in plain sight
• Admire the dreamy pink hues of an inner-city salt lake
• Go shopping for the best local produce underground
• Experience a real-life night at the museum
• Step into a fairytale European village
• Stand amongst Victoria’s Californian giants
• Discover a secluded art walk in the middle of the Yarra River
• Climb aboard a punt for a unique tour of an iconic attraction
• Wander the laneways less travelled

It's no secret that architectural icons like Flinders Street Station, the Block Arcade and the Royal Exhibition Building are packed with history. And don't get us wrong, they're all unmissable attractions when visiting Melbourne. As in, you literally can't miss them, with their ornate decorations and grand architecture.

By contrast, most people walk straight past this hidden gem without realizing that they're actually passing a heritage-listed window into the late 1800s. Coop's Shot Tower hides in plain sight, somewhat overshadowed by the impressive glass dome of Melbourne Central Shopping Centre.

The 50m tower used for producing lead shots was once Melbourne's tallest building, which is hard to imagine now when you look at the city's modern skyline. Today, tourists in the know can visit the Shot Tower Museum and enjoy a unique look into Australia's industrial past. 

You might have heard of the salty pink lakes found out in remote Australia, like Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in South Australia and Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia, but did you know that you can experience this spectacular natural phenomenon right in the urban heart of Melbourne?

You'll find Westgate Park on the banks of the Yarra River in the inner-city suburb of Port Melbourne, under the West Gate Bridge. When conditions are just right — normally during the summer when salt levels rise and rain levels fall — the lake in the middle of the park transforms from its regular murky hue to a vibrant shade of bubblegum pink!

Add some peaceful walking trails set against the backdrop of Melbourne's iconic city skyline and you've got yourself the perfect day out. Fair warning: you'll probably have a hard time convincing your friends and family that you haven't photoshopped your camera roll.

If you're keen to explore this city like the Melburnians do, you won't want to miss this delicious hidden gem. A local favourite found in downtown Melbourne, Spring Street Grocer is sure to delight foodies from all over with its high-quality produce and European deli aesthetic.

But wait, that's not even the best bit. Head into the middle of the grocer and descend the mysterious spiral staircase. Just like that, you're standing in Australia’s first underground cheese maturation cellar — a dimly lit cheese cave hidden beneath the busy shop floor above!

This is the perfect opportunity to stock up on some of the best artisan cheese produced in Australia and internationally, with many varieties matured on site in one of two maturation rooms. The grocer is also just a short walk from both Fitzroy Gardens and Carlton Gardens, so why not go for a wander after your shopping trip? Because let's face it, a DIY cheeseboard park picnic is about as Melbourne as it gets!

The Melbourne Museum is the biggest museum in the Southern Hemisphere, and it's one of the city's most well-known attractions. No stay in Melbourne is complete without a wander through this iconic venue, but for those looking to discover the museum in a different light (quite literally!), come with us.

Once a month, the Melbourne Museum hosts an extra special event and opens its doors after dark for nocturnal history lovers and anyone excited to explore the museum at night without any kids running around — yup, this one's 18+ only! Think two levels of museum exhibits, special lectures and tours combined with food, drinks and live music. There's nothing stuffy or boring about the museums in Melbourne.

Need a break from the hustle and bustle of the inner city? Make for Montsalvat Arts Community on the outskirts of the CBD for a unique Melbourne experience straight out of a European fairytale.

An eclectic mix of galleries, romantic French-provincial vibes and dramatic Gothic architecture awaits you at Montsalvat Arts Community. Think Beauty and the Beast meets Hogwarts meets peaceful Aussie bushland!

The creative community is set on almost five hectares of land and there's also a delightfully cozy café and wine bar on site, making Montsalvat a great place to unwind and enjoy a quieter, less touristy day out in Melbourne. You'll find it in the suburb of Eltham, towards the eastern end of the Main Yarra Trail and en route to Victoria's famous Yarra Valley wine country.

Okay, okay, so this one's not technically in Melbourne, but it's an easy 90-minute drive from the CBD and makes for a magical day trip if you're planning to rent a car for your Victoria vacation.

When you think of Australian nature spots, you're probably picturing the iconic red dirt of the outback or the native gum trees found in the bush... so, you'll be surprised to discover that there's a forest full of towering Californian redwood trees within day-tripping distance of Melbourne!

Some of the trees in the Cement Creek Redwood Forest (aka Warburton Redwood Forest) were planted close to 100 years ago, but did you know that Californian redwoods can live for over 2,000 years? Despite their relative youth, the trees in this forest tower straight up into the sky, creating a beautiful atmosphere for walking, exploring and photography outside of Melbourne's city limits.

No doubt you'll spend plenty of time along the Yarra River while exploring Melbourne, but most visitors don't realize there's a secret island and art walk waiting to be discovered just beyond the Yarra's banks.

You won't find this hidden gem on popular tourist maps and walking tours! In fact, the Herring Island Sculpture Trail is only accessible by boat (catch the free punt service which runs on weekends during the summer), helping it to fly under the radar of locals and tourists alike.

There are nine environmentally-themed sculptures to explore on the island, created using all-natural materials and carefully curated to blend seamlessly into the island's native vegetation.

Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens was established in 1846, making it one of the oldest botanic gardens in Australia (after Sydney and Hobart). Spanning more than 38 hectares and home to over 8,500 types of plants from all over the world, if it wasn't for the iconic city skyline peeking out over the greenery, you'd forget that you haven't left the city.

But if you're looking for a more unique experience in one of Melbourne's top attractions, how about a guided punting tour on Ornamental Lake within the gardens?

Punting tours operate from September to May and leave from just outside the Terrace café. Your guide will take you on a picturesque, English-style boat ride on the lake, recounting Melbourne's history and pointing out the scenery as it drifts by.

They'll even provide old-timey parasols for the ultimate Mary Poppins-inspired photo ops!

Last but certainly not least, it's very well known that Melbourne offers world-famous street art and quirky laneway restaurants, cocktail bars and street food. In fact, Melbourne's actually a little too cool for its own good! It's why the city's once hidden gems like Hosier Lane (an iconic street art destination near Federation Square) and Easey's (an Insta-famous burger restaurant set in decommissioned train carriages) are now tourist hot spots.

But one of the most exciting things about Melbourne is that it's a melting pot for creativity and innovation, always evolving and transforming. So here are some of our favourite lesser-known laneways worth a visit the next time you're in Melbourne.

• Presgrave Place: A quirky dark alleyway just off Little Collins Street with framed artwork decorating the walls.
• Guildford Lane: Offering a distinctly less grungy vibe, this redbrick alleyway is lined with greenery, great coffee and rustic cafés.
• Rutledge Lane: Not exactly a hidden gem but we can pretty much guarantee it'll be less crowded than Hosier Lane, just around the corner!
• Meyers Place: Generally credited with kickstarting Melbourne's laneway bar scene but now often skipped by visitors, this street is rich in history and places to enjoy a drink!

Consistently ranked as Australia's most liveable city, Melbourne is a must-visit for anyone planning a vacation down under. Ready to explore Melbourne's hidden gems? Check out our latest travel deals or chat with one of our Travel Experts to start planning your trip!