ACMI

As a city that embraces all manner of cultural pursuits, Melbourne is one of the best places in the world to awaken your interest in cinematic art—the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, or ACMI for short, is a good place to begin your sojourn. 

ACMI is Australia’s museum of film, TV, video games, digital culture and art. Located in the bustling cultural centre of Federation Square, the centre is also part-l of Australia in 1901. 

Or pick up some creative memorabilia from the NGV design store at The Ian Potter Centre – a treasure trove of Australian art and design books, and unique indigenous design products.

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The Johnston Collection

Calling all history and antique buffs. The Johnston Collection (TJC) – an award-winning and critically acclaimed museum – is a must-add to your Melbourne itinerary.

Described as an “Aladdin’s cave of stunning antiques,” TJC has an impressive collection of English Georgian, Regency, and Louis XV fine and decorative arts. Housed in a historic townhouse in an unpublished location (the address is kept secret to protect the privacy of the residents in the vicinity), the home-museum and its exhibits were bequeathed to the people of Melbourne. 

Tours are available but they must be pre-booked. All visitors must arrive via the TJC courtesy bus, which departs from the Pullman Melbourne on the Park. And no, you need not put on blindfolds during your bus trip there!

Wunderkammer

If you and your loved one have a taste for the weird and wondrous, be sure to make a retail pit-stop at Wunderkammer. From minerals and fossils, to skeletons (in cabinets and capsules) and taxidermy, the museum and store certainly lives up to its name – an enchanting moniker which means wonder chamber in German. 

Natural history lovers will probably find this hidden gem an enchanting escapade  of sorts and may thus want to allocate their time accordingly. But even if animal and insect anatomy is not your cup of tea, you can still appreciate the wonders of nature bottled up, framed, and stuffed here at Wunderkammer. 

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Block Arcade

Get transported back in time with a walk through the Block Arcade. Built between 1891 and 1893, the Arcade is heralded as one of the world's finest examples of late Victorian architecture. With mosaic floors, wrought iron decoration, stained glass windows, and carved stonework, you can easily imagine a bygone era filled with Victorian ladies promenading in their Sunday best. 

While you are here, check out the quaint shops and pick up some decadent rocky road chocolates from Haigh’s Chocolates. 

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For more quirky, off-the-beaten-track experiences in Melbourne, head over here. 

University of Melbourne

Did you know that the University of Melbourne is Australia’s second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria? Or that hundreds of couples flock to the University’s grounds to snap their wedding photos each year?

If you would like to follow in their footsteps, know that you will be rewarded with effortlessly classic wedding photographs shot against English gothic architecture. 

While you are there, walk a few blocks down to Melbourne’s slice of Italian food heaven—Lygon Street. A favourite haunt of Melburnians, the gastronomic paradise is filled with tons of restaurants and cafes offering authentic woodfired pizzas, mouth-watering pastas, and aromatic espressos. Guaranteed to give you the carb and caffeine boost to look your photogenic best!

Tip: To avoid having to share the spotlight with crowds of students, do schedule your wedding shoot on a weekend.

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Who says you cannot mix photography with pleasure? Enjoy relaxing moments with your better half while floating down the lake on a punt – a long, narrow flat-bottomed boat propelled by a long pole – and go trigger-happy at the same time.

Available during the warmer months of September to May, your punter will also regale you with funny stories and knowledge about the local birds and wildlife. If you are lucky enough, you may even get close enough to photograph a few of them.  

Book your punt tour here.

There are few places in Melbourne as romantic and stunningly picturesque as Carlton Gardens - particularly with the iconic Royal Exhibition Building in the background. 

Pack a picnic and capture snaps of the lush manicured gardens, and simply while away a leisurely afternoon here with your loved one.

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Hochi Mama

Laneway dining is probably one of the most unique Melbourne things to do, and you won’t go wrong at Hochi Mama. The casual restaurant bar puts a modern twist on Vietnamese street food. Expect surprising interpretations of classic Vietnamese dishes, such as the Pho’pling – a hybrid of Shanghai dumplings and pho (the famed Vietnamese soup noodle). 

The restaurant’s cocktail menu was dreamed up by expert mixologists, with each fancy fabrication designed to complement the fusion cuisine. Hot favourites include the tropical Lycheezy and the refreshing Hoochi Mama.  

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Vue de Monde

Perched atop the Rialto Tower is the grande dame of Melbourne fine dining, Vue de Monde. A regular feature on many a Melburnian’s must-eat list, the degustation menu is pricey—but for the “theatre-on-a-plate” experience, such splurges may be befitting for a special occasion (and a special someone).

With surprising props like liquid nitrogen making an occasional dramatic appearance, a dining experience here may conjure up Alice-in-wonderland feels; expect nothing less than the theatrical. The dishes are French-inspired but quintessentially Australia. Think: Native oysters, Tasmanian sea urchins served with bunya bunya (a local pine nut) and Australia wagyu with lovage, oyster leaf and horseradish.  

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Miss Marple’s Tea Room

If you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a day, we know just the thing. Nestled within the lush surrounds of the Dandenong Ranges in a perfect little Tudor-style building is the ever-popular Miss Marple’s Tea Room. This delightful establishment pays homage to Agatha Christie's most famous sleuth Miss Jane Marple, so do not be surprised if you’re greeted with floral curtains and matching tablecloths as well as memorabilia of the beloved detective. 

Expect a wait though, as visitors and locals tend to flock here like bees to honey. It is best to arrive early, put your name down on the waitlist, and then wander around the quaint village of Sassafras. Or better yet, make Miss Marple’s a pit-stop to a breath-taking winery adventure in the rolling hills of Yarra Valley.

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Cumulus Inc

While nursing a coffee or a gin at Cumulus Inc. Eating House and Bar, you may or may not realise you are smack in the middle of Melbourne’s renowned art and fashion precinct, Flinders Lane. The restaurant is part eating house and part social hub, with a lively buzz of patrons streaming in and out throughout the day. 

Cumulus offers a seasonal menu showcasing the best of Victorian produce, culminating in a culinary experience that can only be described as three-dimensional. If you are there for brunch, do tuck into a house-made crumpet – it looks deceitfully ordinary but has been described as “orgasmic”. 

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Looking for quality accommodation for your upcoming Melbourne staycation for two? Get in touch with our friendly Pan Pacific Melbourne team today!