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Photograph: Supplied/Common State

41 things to do in Melbourne this weekend

We've got you covered for the best things to do in Melbourne this Friday to Sunday

Liv Condous
Written by
Liv Condous
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October 23, 2023: Our city is currently sartorial heaven with the advent of Melbourne Fashion Week, with plenty of trendsetting events. Plus, music fans are spoilt for choice, with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and the new Eighty-Six festival all rocking out this weekend. The awe-inspiring BBC Earth Experience opens this week, taking visitors inside a nature doco to get up-close to the wonders of the world. Plus, award-winning musical Miss Saigon takes the stage. If you're craving a decent feed, head to Global Foodie Fest to take your stomach on a trip around the world. 

There's always something happening in this fair city of ours, so don't let the week pass you by without popping a few fun events into your social calendar. To help you plan, we've rounded up all the best activities happening this week, so all you have to do is scroll, pick and embark on your adventure.

When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 101 things to do in Melbourne before you die.  

Looking for more ways to fill up your calendar? Plan a trip around our beautiful state with our handy travel guides.

The best things to do in Melbourne this weekend

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Melbourne

Whether you’re more partial to a lasagne-themed street party or an all-day music hop across dozens of venues, you can do both with the brand-new festival the Eighty-Six. Running from October 23 to 31, the festival will take over venues along High Street in Melbourne's northern suburbs, from Westgarth to Preston. All along the 86 tram route, theatres, record stores, bars, restaurants and bowls clubs will participate in what is touted as the largest party a tram line has ever thrown.

 

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  • Things to do
  • Melbourne

It's the most wonderful time of the year for fashion fans — Melbourne Fashion Week is returning for a six days of sartorial heaven. 

This year, M/FW runways will pop up in unique and unexpected locations, including the rooftop pool deck at new CBD hotel Le Méridien, the Regent Theatre alongside Moulin Rouge! The Musical, the immersive art exhibition Connection at The Lume, an abandoned industrial garage, plus many more. The program for 2023 includes more than 100 free and ticketed fashion events, including nine premium runways, as well as exhibitions, workshops, talks, shopping events and performances. Showcasing their collections on the premium runways will be some of Melbourne's fashion favourites, including Jason Grech, Bec + Bridge, Ngali, Aje, J’Aton, Oroton, Arnsdorf, to name just a few. 

Vogue American Express Fashion’s Night Out will return again this year, with the shopping festival running from October 26 to October 29. Head into the city for access to free in-store experiences, exclusive discounts, roving entertainment, and giveaways.

Tickets for Melbourne Fashion Week are on sale now. For the full program and to purchase tickets, head to the official website. But get in quick – those premium runways tend to sell out in a flash.

Looking for more fashion? Check out our list of Melbourne's best sustainable stores.

  • Theatre
  • Musicals
  • Melbourne

Cameron Mackintosh’s award-winning production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Miss Saigon will hit Her Majesty's Theatre this October, in partnership with Opera Australia. 

Inspired by the 1904 opera Madama Butterfly – which Opera Australia brought back to Handa Opera on the Harbour in March to critical acclaim – Miss Saigon has become one of the most successful musicals in history since its premiere in London in 1989. The original Broadway production of Miss Saigon opened in 1991 and went on to play for nearly ten years.

While this technically spectacular production showcases a talented cast, this popular musical has a complicated legacy that can be difficult to reckon with. 

Miss Saigon tells the story of a young Vietnamese woman named Kim, who is orphaned by war and forced to work in a bar run by a notorious character known as the Engineer. There she meets and falls in love with an American G.I. named Chris, but they're torn apart by the fall of Saigon. For three years, Kim goes on an epic journey of survival to find her way back to Chris, who has no idea he's fathered a son.

The new production is a stunning spectacle, with the cast of 42 performing the soaring score, including Broadway hits like ‘The Heat is On in Saigon,’ ‘The Movie in My Mind,’ ‘Last Night of the World’ and ‘American Dream.’ 

Young Australian singer Abigail Adriano will make her mainstage lead debut in the coveted role of Kim. Of the hundreds of auditioning hopefuls, 18-year-old old Sydney-born new-comer Abigail was the clear standout. Singing from a young age, Abigail performed in Tim Minchin’s Matilda the Musical when she was 11, and then went on to perform on The Voice Kids Australia and in the Netflix/ABC television series The Unlisted.

The role of Kim has proven to be a career-defining role in musical theatre, launching many
performers to stardom and earning them critical acclaim. Lea Salonga, who originated the role of Kim at age 17, went on to be the first Asian actress to win a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Also leading the stellar cast is Seann Miley Moore as the Engineer, Nigel Huckle as Chris, Kerrie Anne Greenland as Ellen, Nick Afoa as John, Laurence Mossman as Thuy, and Kimberley Hodgson in the role of Gigi.

The casting team spent six months engaging with performers, artists, singers, dancers and acrobats from across all corners of Asia-Pacific in an effort to find the more than 40 talented individuals, representing a diverse range of skills, backgrounds and experiences.

Tickets are on sale now, starting from $79 and you can get them on the Ticketek website here.

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  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Melbourne

Melbourne’s brimming with fabulous high tea experiences, but now there’s a new one you need to add to your rotation. Call your nan, your girlfriends, or whoever else it is you ferry along with you to fulfil your highest high tea fantasies, and get your names on the list right away.

The Melbourne Marriott Hotel on the corner of Exhibition and Lonsdale Street has announced an exquisite New York style high tea, designed to delight and bedazzle your taste buds all afternoon long. Perfect for two, the three-tied stand is offering a selection of cold and warm dishes, plus handmade pastries and desserts. 

The high tea will take place daily from noon to 3pm until the end of the year at the hotel’s signature restaurant, The EssenceInspired by the hotel’s American roots, Marriott Melbourne’s head chef Swami Nanden is bringing Big Apple classics to the table and infusing them with a local Melbourne twist. Think traditional baked raspberry cheesecake, mac and cheese croquettes with sweet mustard pickle, mustard mayo, and mouthwatering pastrami and sauerkraut bagels. Swami has worked in some of the world’s most famous restaurants, Michelin-starred Benares Mayfair, Noma and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s. 

“It’s about creating delicious morsels that look and taste amazing,” Swami said. “So many people eat with their eyes – plus, we live in an Instagram age – which is why we’ve paid particular attention to detail and the aesthetic appearance of these dishes.”

Forget about exxy flights to NYC, because this dazzling array of savouries and sweets will take you there through taste. Other highlights on the menu include cucumber, avocado and cream cheese sangas on granary bread, Bahamian lobster sliders and melt-in-your-mouth chicken and leek pithivier pies. If you’re a sweet tooth, you’ll be all over the espresso martini cake, cereal milk panna cotta with cornflake crunch and mini choux pastry eclairs. 

And of course, a high tea isn’t a high tea without scones, so here you’ll be served them freshly baked with strawberry jam and fresh cream. The package also includes bottomless barista-brewed coffee and leaf tea, such as green tea with lychee and ginger, rose with French vanilla, Italian almond, peppermint and more. 

Per head, the experience costs $59 without alcohol, $70 if you’d like a tipple of King Valley prosecco, $75 for a glass of Yarra Valley Chandon Brut instead, or $79 for a fun New York-inspired cocktail. 

Ready to get your luxe Manhattan fix? Go to the website.

Pining for pastries? These are the best patisseries in Melbourne. And for more fun high tea experiences, check out our round-up of the city's best. 

  • Art
  • Paintings
  • Melbourne

Experience the wonders of Aranda Country in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, through one hundred beatific watercolours at the free NGV exhibition Watercolour Country: 100 works from Hermannsburg. 

Running from October 27–April 14, 2024, at the Ian Potter Centre, the exhibition threads together watercolours made by Aranda, Western Aranda, Eastern Aranda and Kemarre/Loritja artists working in the Indigenous community of Ntaria/Hermannsburg across the generations. 

Among the artworks is a new acquisition by Albert Namatjira, who is regarded as of Australia's most prolific artists, after he found fame through his pioneering landscapes of the Central Australian outback. The exhibition also features contemporary artists Benita Clements and the likes of Gerhard Inkamala and Cordula Ebatarinja – one of the only women to have a career as a painter during the boom period of the Hermannsburg School. 

Whether it's far-flung eucalyptus trees, slender ghost gums or jagged rock formations, Watercolour Country: 100 works from Hermannsburg spotlights the wild beauty of not only Aranda Country but the stories etched within.

Discover more about the upcoming exhibition by visiting the NGV website here.

Feeling inspired? Why not check out some of the best art, craft and life drawing classes in Melbourne.

 

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  • Music
  • Pop
  • Melbourne

You may not talk anymore, but the singer-songwriter Charlie Puth still wants your attention. The Grammy-nominated singer and pied piper of catchy pop songs has announced he will embark on his first-ever Australian tour later this year. 

Produced by Live Nation, The Charlie Puth Presents The “Charlie” L Experience will kick off in Brisbane before arriving at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena to perform on October 29 and October 30. 

Born in New Jersey, Puth began playing piano at four and later attended the Manhattan School of Music as a jazz piano major. The singer then started up his own YouTube channel, where he posted viral cover songs and original music. But it was his collaboration with rapper Wiz Khalifa on his debut single ‘See You Again’ – featured in the movie Furious 7 – that jumpstarted Puth's career. 

Following the success of ‘See You Again’, Puth released his debut album Nine Track Mind in 2016, which included the singles Marvin Gaye’ and ‘One Call Away’. He continued to release new music, such as the chart-topping songs ‘Attention’ and ‘We Don’t Talk Anymore’ featuring Selena Gomez. 

Puth has released three studio albums in under a decade and amassed eight multi-platinum singles, four Grammy nominations, three Billboard Music Awards, a Critic’s Choice Award and a Golden Globe nomination. He has also collaborated with several artists such as Meghan Trainor, James Taylor, Katy Perry and John Legend, and also helped co-write songs for bands like One Direction and Maroon 5. 

Tickets to see Charlie Puth are on sale from June 16 at 1pm. For complete tour and ticket information, visit the Live Nation website here.

Love live music? Here's where to see it every night of the week in Melbourne.

  • Film
  • Film festivals
  • Melbourne

As the cost of living crisis grinds on and on, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the film title We’re Broke, My Lord! might be a biopic of your own life. Instead, it’s a big and beautiful samurai-themed comedy from director Tetsu Maeda. Opening the 27th Japanese Film Festival (JFF) proudly presented by The Japan Foundation, it’s adapted from the novel Daimyo Tousan by Jiro Asada and follows the misadventures of Koshiro (Ryunosuke Kamiki, who voiced Bô in Spirited Away).

 

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  • Dance
  • Melbourne

¡Ole! It’s time to don your frilliest dress as the critically acclaimed traditional flamenco show Authentic Flamenco is set to make its Melbourne/Naarm debut this October. In partnership with Fever and the Royal Opera of Madrid, Authentic Flamenco presents Paula Rodriguez will run for four nights only between October 20 and October 28 at Melbourne’s Capitol Theatre. 

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Moorabbin

If you're a fan of eating your way around the world, then there's a festival in Melbourne's Southeast that will be right up your alley. Global Foodie Fest kicks off on October 14, showcasing the food of a different culture each Saturday night across a month-long celebration of global culinary delights. 

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  • Comedy
  • Musical comedy
  • Melbourne

Australia’s own internationally recognised, poly-talented provocateur and piano man, Tim Minchin, is playing a handful of intimate, informal solo dates around the country this summer. 

Minchin will perform songs drawn from his “serious” 2020 studio album, Apart Together, from his musicals, Matilda and Groundhog Day, from his TV and film writing, and from his early songwriting days around the turn of the century. The set list will be fluid, the chat unplanned, and the vibe informal.

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Dance
  • Melbourne

Under the big top at Festival Park’s the Vault, it’s easy to feel nostalgic for childhood trips to the circus where you sat in awe of soaring acrobats and aerialists. However, once the action in Matador kicks off, it becomes clear that although there’s no shortage of performers hanging high, this spectacle is much spicier than your typical circus. Instead, we enter an alternate dimension where love (and sex) reign supreme and wearing red is pretty much compulsory.

 

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  • Sport and fitness
  • Football
  • Melbourne

After such an incredible World Cup campaign, the Matildas have brought football to the front of Australia’s collective consciousness. If you're not ready to shrug off the excitement and passion that the beautiful game brings, the good news is that you don’t have to. 

The league that every Matilda once played in is starting back up for the 2023/24 season and, with season passes cheaper than a new pair of cleats, there’s no excuse not to get behind the new generation of female footballers in the Liberty A-League.

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Moorabbin

One of the things Melbourne does very well is food – in particular, food from other countries. The multicultural diversity of our city means that we have so many top-notch eateries offering authentic cuisine, from Spanish and Vietnamese to Indian and Thai

If you're a fan of eating your way around the world, then there's a festival in Melbourne's Southeast that will be right up your alley. Global Foodie Fest kicks off on October 14, showcasing the food of a different culture each Saturday night across a month-long celebration of global culinary delights. 

The first week will showcase Oriental cuisine, followed by Latin food on October 21, African dishes on October 28 and finally the traditional foods of the Indian Diwali festival on November 4. 

But the celebrations won't stop at the food, with a jam-packed line-up of entertainment each week. Throughout the four-week festival, you'll be able to watch everything from K-Pop routines and Latin bands to Afro-fusion music and Bollywood dance workshops. Plus, there'll be market stalls where you can grab a gift for a loved one (or yourself). 

It's all about good food and good times, what more could you want? Grab your mates and make sure you come with an empty stomach. This event will be held at Morris Moor, 1 Cochranes Road, Moorabbin. For all the details, visit the website here

Feeling hungry? Check out our list of the best cheap eats in Melbourne.

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  • Art
  • Installation
  • Carlton

Traversing time and space, Wurrdha Marra is a new exhibition celebrating the diversity of First Nations art and design. From October 12, the ground floor and foyer of the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia will become a dynamic and ever-changing exhibition space that displays masterpieces and never-before-shown works from the NGV’s First Nations collection.

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Fitzroy

‘Voulez-Vous’ a fabulous arvo filled with singalongs to classic tunes, yummy cocktails and the most fabulous drag queens? Who wouldn’t! Evie’s Disco Diner in Fitzroy is serving up drag lunch with Swedish flair, featuring all the hits of the iconic band ABBA. You’ll be treated to brunch and a show with ‘Dancing Queen(s)’ slaying all the ABBA hits like ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Lay All Your Love On Me’, ‘SOS’ and many, many more. 

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  • Theatre
  • Musicals
  • Melbourne

Calling all dancing queens, the jukebox musical to rival all jukebox musicals is voulez vous-ing its way back to Melbourne in October and November for a strictly limited season. You’d have to have lived under a rock since the mid-2010s not to have a passing awareness of Mamma Mia! Critics may be divided, but the 65 million tickets sold worldwide are a testament to the popularity of this smash-hit phenomenon – let alone the two box office smashing movies it inspired.

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Docklands

"So, you wanna go to a real party?" Well, now's your chance: a ship inspired by the 1997 blockbuster starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is setting sail from Docklands this November. Dress in your finest Victorian attire and hop aboard the Victoria Star Boat, where you'll enjoy an evening of theatre, dancing, music and a sumptuous roving buffet dinner. Let your imagination run free while you dance wildly in the third-class cabin or sip Champagne in the finery of first-class, and recline with a cocktail in hand as a friend draws you like one of their French girls. 

 

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  • Theatre
  • Musicals
  • Melbourne

Ladies and gentlemen, we're here to report that Elvis will officially be in the building when Elvis: A Musical Revolution takes over Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from September 30. Brought to you by the team behind the saucy Cruel Intentions: the '90s Musical (awarded five stars by our critics), Elvis is set to feature dazzling choreography, incredible costumes and plentiful sing-along songs. 

 

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Brunswick

Are you ready to be transported millions of years back in time, to when fearsome giant creatures roamed the Earth? If that’s a hearty yes, this is for you. Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience is a brand new exhibition featuring more than 80 life-size and hyper-realistic dinosaurs – we’re talking velociraptors, pterodactyls and, of course, the mighty T-rex. In addition to moving animatronics, there will also be a virtual aquarium (where you can get up close with some truly terrifying monsters of the deep), VR technology, incredible installations and even an interactive area where kids can pretend to be paleontologists in search of dino bones.

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  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Coldstream

Spring calls for road trips to the picturesque Yarra Valley, and this year there's no better pit stop than the granddaddy of all wineries, Domaine Chandon. The premium sparkling wine producer has launched a series of unique vino tastings just in time for the warmer months, designed to immerse you in the sophisticated world of top-tier bubbly. Set amidst the lush rolling hills and vines of Chandon's estate, you'll be treated to stunning panoramic views of the Yarra Valley, plus your choice of a curated tasting experience.

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Bendigo

The beloved regional town of Bendigo will bask in the glow of the changing seasons with a massive, colourful festival in September. The annual celebration of spring called Bloom is celebrating its 20th year, bathing the town in colour with more than 50 events and experiences throughout the season. From idyllic gardens to cultural tours, foodie events and even a tram party, there's so much to explore during the festival.

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  • Things to do
  • Pop-up locations
  • Melbourne

Expect a magical night out at this cocktail bar popping up in Chinatown — not just metaphorically, but an actual magic-filled evening featuring a line-up of magician superstars direct from Japan. 

Stepping into the neon-lit Maho Magic Bar will whisk you away to Tokyo, with up-close-and-personal experiences with expert magicians alongside delicious cocktails. There's no stage for the performers here as the intimate show will take place right at your table, where you'll be just inches away from the bamboozling sleight-of-hand magic. 

Japan’s best magicians will suprise and delight visitors, incorporating debonair storytelling, illusions and even hyponotism. While you enjoy the show, you'll sip on bespoke cocktails mixed by a Japanese master mixologist. Or if you're after a more traditional libation, try authentic Japanese sake, whisky, shochu and rare spirits like umeshu. On the 'special menu' the magic of performance and mixology will combine, with those who are daring enough to order a special drink receiving a surprise magic trick in return. 

“I wanted to showcase Japan’s electric energy here in Australia and give audiences an experience unlike anything they have had before," says Broad Encounters creative director Kirsten Siddle. "Seeing close-up magic really does inspire awe. The sheer skill, finesse and charisma of these master magicians is intoxicating. People can indulge in the ultimate hedonistic night out in Tokyo without even leaving Melbourne.”

If you're prepared to be dazzled, this experience will surely do the trick. Maho Magic Bar will open from September 14, with performances from Tuesday to Sunday. The whole family can be wowed by the magic with family-friendly shows on weekend afternoons. Tickets start at $64. Find out more details on the website

Do you enjoy indulging in a sophisticated cocktail? Here are the best cocktail bars in Melbourne.  

  • Things to do
  • Sports

The AFLW is back for an eighth season, which will run from September to December this year. The action kicks off on September 1 with reigning premiers Melbourne taking on Collingwood at Princes Park. The jam-packed first weekend will continue with a historic clash between Hawthorn and Essendon in Frankston. The season will be made up of ten rounds of home-and-away matches followed by a finals series featuring the top eight clubs, with the grand final scheduled for December 3. Tickets to all 10 rounds are on sale now online, with adult general admission a budget-friendly $10 and free entry for fans under 18. You can find a detailed schedule of the 2023 season here.

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  • Theatre
  • Performance art
  • Collingwood

All aboard the E.V. Nautilus for Love Lust Lostthe most expansive theatre show to ever take place in Melbourne. Prepare to descend into an underwater theatrical playground where a 360-degree immersive experience – held across three levels – will fuse spoken word, dance, circus and sound in a feast for the senses. 

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Carlton

From two veritable Lego masterminds (and winners of the hit reality TV show competition) comes a unique and playful exhibition, combining intricate Lego creations with antique artefacts. Relics: A New World Rises is the latest exhibition at Melbourne Museum that combines large-scale LEGO creations with vintage treasures to create an innovative spectacle. 

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  • Things to do
  • Pop-up locations
  • Docklands

Grab your besties and get ready to pivot your way down to the District Docklands, because everyone’s favourite '90s sitcom is setting up shop in Melbourne. The Friends Experience is making its Down Under debut on September 1, so you and your pals will soon be able to relive unforgettable moments from the show, for the ‘gram or just for the mems. 

 

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  • Art
  • Installation

Who is conceptual art for, and who gets to make it? With a commitment to exploring the complexity of identity, championing the “other” and “blackening of the conceptual art canon”, artist Newell Harry might just alter your perception. Esperanto, the artist's largest solo project to date, is now open at the Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA), and it's the perfect calling card to prompt you to make the journey to visit the regional centre of Albury Wodonga and its striking art museum.

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  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Melbourne

A unique exhibition at the Immigration Museum highlights the voices of Australians with diverse racial backgrounds, documenting the experiences of mixed and multi-ethnic families alongside issues of culture and racism. Fam is a nuanced visual showcase that takes photographic portraits of 15 families and sets them against stories of their different lived experiences and perspectives, aiming to destigmatise conversations about race and family. 

 

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Theatre
  • Musicals
  • Melbourne

Do you believe in freedom, beauty, truth and love? Yes? Good, because 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' is making a spectacular return to the Regent Theatre on August 20. The Australian cast is led by Alinta Chidzey as Satine and Des Flanagan as Christian. The role of Moulin Rouge proprietor, Harold Zidler, will be filled by Simon Burke while the villainous Duke of Monroth is played by James Bryers. Tickets are now on sale via the website.

 

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  • Things to do
  • Spotswood

Scienceworks invites visitors to explore Earth and the cosmos with a series of after-hours and adults-only film screenings on the huge Planetarium dome, with a drink in hand. Every Friday night, those over 18 can explore the universe through immersive documentaries and wonder at the magic of the universe. You won’t go spacing out at these shows either, as they’re loaded with amazing visuals and stellar content.

Each night features two screenings, one at 7.30pm and the other at 9pm. The September film picks are Black Holes – Journey into the Unknown and a visual version of legendary rock band Pink Floyd's album Dark Side of the Moon with surround sound. For October, it's Starlight, a journey to discover constellations ancient cultures, the birth and death of a star and the inner workings of our sun, as well as Space Rock Symphony, in which a symphony orchestra and cosmic images unite in an action-packed show.

Plus, each night you can take a guided tour of what's in the sky that night, taking you through all the astronomical sights. You can buy tickets to both sessions, or to either the early or late session.

It's a unique way to unwind on a Friday night, with a drink in hand and a trip into space. Find out more details and book via the website

For more cosmic experiences, check out the best places to go stargazing in Melbourne, and the state's best planetariums and observatories.

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • South Wharf

Haven’t had a chance to check out Connection at the Lume yet? There’s still time to book a ticket before the next glowing exhibition rolls in. And while you’re at it, why not upgrade your visit with a three-course meal for two from renowned chef and Bundjalung man Mark Olive?

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  • Art
  • Street art
  • Melbourne

While a good number of Melbourne laneways are already filled with art, eateries, and hidden bars, there are a fair few that are lesser known and haven’t reached their full laneway potential, until now. Supported by the City of Melbourne, Flash Forward is Melbourne’s most ambitious street art project, with over 40 large-scale works commissioned and set to hit the laneways of Melbourne. Among the program are familiar names like Celeste Mountjoy (filthyratbag), Jarra Karralinar Steel, Olana Janfa, Aretha Brown, DREZ, and Ling, with more lighting, music and creative installations in the works. Find out more on the website

 

  • Art
  • Digital and interactive
  • South Wharf

Experience the sights and sounds of Australia’s First Nations artists like never before with Connection, the latest immersive experience at the Lume. Opening on June 23, get ready to step inside the iridescent world of First Peoples art and culture, displayed on a scale that needs to be seen to be believed. Spanning 3,000 square metres of gallery space, Connection will feature projections four storeys high and an awe-inspiring display of original art.

 

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  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Melbourne

Whether you’re yet to grace restaurateur Chris Lucas’ opulent Society with a visit or you’re a die-hard dinnertime loyalist, it’s well worth a look in for a weekend lunch. From Friday to Sunday in the afternoons, the swish restaurant is hosting the Society Social, an extravagant multi-course affair featuring a generous array of savoury dishes and a roving dessert trolley to dazzle you at the end. 

 

  • Art
  • Photography
  • Melbourne

What better way to hold a mirror up to society than with an exhibition of pictures reflecting our innermost thoughts and feelings? Mirror: New views on photography is a free exhibition at the State Library Victoria featuring 141 images from the photography collection that explores and expands on the meditative theme of ‘mirror’.

 

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  • Art
  • Melbourne

Lovers of the written word rejoice; a free exhibition over at the State Library Victoria is spotlighting the history of book design, production and illustration from the Middle Ages to the present day. World of the Book features more than 300 rare, remarkable, historically significant items in the State Collection, each unravelling a unique story from its pages. 

 

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Melbourne

Get ready to go on a journey through living light when Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium unveils its new interactive digital experience in mid-February. 

Marking the major attraction’s first foray into this ever-evolving art form, Submerged is inspired by the bioluminescent underwater world and will tell the story of the mysterious firefly squid (which emits a glowing blue light from its body) and other majestic ocean creatures. The exhibition will also explore magical locations such as a glittering shoreline in the midst of spawning season and a moonlit deep dive into the depths of the bioluminescent unknown.

Suitable for all ages, Submerged will run until December 2023 while the 2.2 million litre Oceanarium undergoes a massive renovation. During this time, the larger sharks and rays will not be on display – but rest assured there will still be thousands of marine animals and freshwater animals to discover during your visit. 

“As one of Melbourne’s top tourist attractions, we are excited to be diving into new depths with the launch of Submerged," says Claire Burrell, general manager of Sea Life Melbourne. “The digital experience will captivate guests with its vibrance and hyperrealism, providing them with an alternative but no less engaging ocean experience while our Oceanarium is upgraded.”

Access to Submerged is included in the price of your admission and will be open to the public until December 2023. For more information, head to the website.

ICYMI: three adorable baby elephants were just born at Melbourne Zoo – and you can now see them!

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  • Things to do
  • Talks and discussions
  • Coburg

Have you ever wanted to walk the hallowed halls that once housed notorious criminals like Ned Kelly and Mark 'Chopper' Read? Well, soon you'll have your chance: the historic Pentridge Prison in Coburg is reopening for public tours this month. 

 

  • Museums
  • History

Catherine Martin's costumes from Baz Luhrmann's acclaimed movie Elvis have arrived at the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra, joining the exhibition Australians and Hollywood as a major drawcard.

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