Explore

There are almost endless things to do in Melbourne. After all, there’s a reason for it being labelled as the cultural, culinary and sporting capital of Australia. Here are some ideas for things to do during your conference downtime:

Galleries

Melbourne is home to multiple world-class galleries. This includes that National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) which is located in the Arts Precinct along St Kilda Road. The NGV is home to both local and international masterpieces. As well as having an incredible core collection that is free to access, it often hosts a visiting collection featuring world-class pieces. The building is itself an icon thanks to its beautiful water feature at its entrance.

Additionally, the Ian Potter Centre can be found in Federation Square and is dedicated solely to Australian art and artists, featuring some of the best pieces the country has to offer, including Indigenous art. The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) is the place for you if you have a preference for modern art, and is located next to the Victorian College of the Arts.

Theatre

There are theatres scattered across the city, which means there is bound to be a production on that you will enjoy. You can find the famous Athenaeum on the Paris End of Collins Street and the independent theatre La Mama in Carlton.

Additionally, you can enjoy plays, musicals, operas and ballets at The Malthouse, Her Majesty’s and the Melbourne Arts Centre.

Sport

If you’re a sports fan, July is the perfect time to have a taste of the contagious excitement that plagues the city during the AFL season. If you happen to strike up a conversation with a Melbournian, you can almost guarantee that they will have a fierce loyalty to a team – usually an allegiance that has been passed down through generations. If you want to experience for yourself the passion that the people of Melbourne have for AFL, grab a beanie or a scarf of your favourite team (or pick your favourite colour scheme) and book tickets for a game at the MCG in Richmond or Marvel Stadiums in Docklands.