With a revolving door of new things to see and do in Melbourne, there’s simply no need to resort to the usual coffee meet up with friends (although we see the appeal). Read on to discover our top 11 (truly) fun ways to catch up with friends in Melbourne without breaking the bank!
1) Go for a Road Trip to Mornington
Melbourne seems to fare pretty well in the whole Melbourne vs Sydney debate right up until the topic of beaches is excavated by a smug Sydneysider, overtly aware and proud of their city’s pristine beach superiority.
While it’s true that Melbourne’s city beaches don’t quite rival the wow factor of New South Wales’ coastlines, our shores get a lot more exciting after venturing a little out of the inner city. Namely, the Mornington Peninsula is home to crystal clear waters, hot white sand and rocky surroundings.
At only an hour and a half’s drive from the CBD, Mornington Peninsula makes the perfect day trip out of town with friends; meander along the little main streets of the towns, take a dip in the sea life festering rock pools, and stop on the way home for a pizza and beer with a view.
2) Steer a Boat Around the Yarra River
Ever sat in a sustainable boat on the Yarra River with your friends, beverage in hand, and watched life go by in the centre of the city? You haven’t? Let us acquaint you with GoBoat. You have? You’ll be well versed with GoBoat and this should provide you with enough ammunition to do it again.
The idea behind GoBoat is simple; you and up to 7 other friends spend 1, 2 or 3 hours cruising around the Yarra River on an eco friendly boat, admiring the city surrounds. Snacks and drinks are not only permissible but also recommended to make the adventure extra fun, but keep in mind that the designated steerer/ boat rider won’t be able to drink alcohol (to avoid, you know, crashing the entire thing into an innocent bird / non assuming human).
Check out GoBoat here.
3) Go on an AmazingCo Mystery Picnic
As far as picnics go, AmazingCo’s Mystery Picnics (in our humble opinion) reign supreme.
Throughout the course of this all inclusive foodie adventure experience (which likens itself to a giant food scavenger hunt), you and your friends will be solving a number of clues and riddles, the answers to which lead you to multiple boutique food stores where delicious picnic pieces await. To finish off your adventure, you’ll be led to a secret scenic destination to devour your culinary goodies. Seeking an adventure outside of the city? Mystery Picnic destinations are available throughout Victoria, and can be done with friends, a partner or family.
4) Go for a Dumpling Themed Night in the CBD
Legend has it that dumpling nights out are the very best kind of night out, and fortunately, Melbourne’s selection is plentiful when it comes to these exquisite little pockets of yumminess.
Get the girls / boys / mix of girls and boys down to Chinatown in the CBD; here you’ll find all you need for a splendid night of decadent dumplings and Asian inspired cocktails. Your restaurant choices are aplenty, so consider turning the night into a dumpling crawl by frequenting multiple venues - and who knows, maybe your life long quest of finding Melbourne’s perfect dumpling will be achieved.
Image Credit: Unsplash
5) Catch the Last Rays (or Rug up in Style) at Naked in the Sky in Fitzroy
Renowned for its unparalleled impressive skyline views of the city, Naked in the Sky (just above its downstairs counterpart Naked for Satan) on Brunswick Street never fails to disappoint.
While synonymous with a Summer night out in Melbourne, frequenting the North side rooftop bar is just as fun during the colder months (no, really) - get the gang together and rug up in warm coats, order a handsome bottle of hearty red, and watch the city lights twinkle in the distance.
6) Get Your Cultural Fix at NGV
Bored of the usual bar night/ dinner party with friends? Head to the NGV instead, because culture is cool, kids.
Melbourne’s vast variety of galleries, museums and theatres has led to its self classification as cultural capital of the country (try saying that ten times fast), with the National Gallery of Victoria reigning at the helm as our most visited cultural gem.
The gallery’s popularity is understandable; hours can be spent wandering the art lined hallways, the staple exhibition is free of charge, and Fridays see the gallery open its doors late with after hour art, a makeshift bar, and live music.
7) Eat the Melbourne Croissant the New York Times Dubbed “Best in the World”
Situated just a minute’s walk from Brunswick street is Lune, the Croissanterie deemed best in the world by the New York Times (very far away, Parisians are weeping).
Whether the buttery cushions of deliciousness truly rival that of the French capital is something we’ll let you decide, however it’s inarguable that paying the croissanterie (which we imagine is just a word for a very fancy bakery) with a group of friends is top notch fun.
While Lune’s interior is impressive (you can actually watch the bakers mold, create and glaze the croissants behind an enclosed glass kitchen) we recommend buying your treats takeaway and enjoying them in one of the nearby parks, before meandering down to Brunswick Street for a stroll.
Image Credit: Unsplash
8) Paint and Sip
A phenomenon that’s just recently completed its social media rounds (and now looks here to stay) is Paint and Sip; an all inclusive painting class with wine.
One doesn’t need to search far and wide to recognise the appeal of Paint and Sip classes (I mean, it’s a painting class with wine), meaning that its popularity has led to ample arts and crafts stores around Melbourne offering similar classes.
While indubiously great fun, we think it’s just as easy (if you’ve got the equipment) to create a Paint and Sip workshop yourselves for a fraction of the price - nominate a friend’s garden or nearby park as your venue, pack your paint, canvas and ample wine, and let the good times roll.
9) Throw a Dinner Party
Never underestimate the power of a good old fashioned dinner party, especially when you’re seeking something a little more unique for your next friend catch up and you’ve grown tired of visiting the same 5 bars on rotation.
If the idea of hosting a dinner party by yourself is enough to propel you into a stress induced spiral (we well and truly get it), educate yourself with our blog post on the matter here, or consider hosting a potluck. Potlucks are great as they involve all guests bringing a dish to share (so the responsibility of food that actually tastes good doesn’t fall solely on you) but they also allow you to take credit for an excellent evening (it’s at your house, after all).
Image Credit: Unsplash
10) Have a Cook Off
Thanks to the widespread popularity of cooking shows such as Masterchef, cooking a decadent meal and competing against fellow competitors now go hand in hand.
Hold your own cooking competition at home with friends as a fun alternative to the usual night out or dinner party; invite your nearest and dearest over, break off into pairs (or go solo), decide on a monetary amount, and race to the supermarket to collect the ingredients. Once back at home, set a timer and race around the clock to each create the meal - whether you all create the same dish or each pick an entree, main or dessert to tackle is up to you.
11) Join a Class
Not only is joining a class with friends a channel for learning something new, if you’re opting for a recurring class, it’s a surefire way of securing regular quality time with your pals.
What avenue of class you decide to explore is up to you - get your heads clear with yoga or your hands dirty with a ceramic class, or perhaps mastering the Italian cuisine is more up your alley?
