As a traveller in Monash, you may have little pockets of time to explore the city and enjoy its serene surroundings. Here are some activities that you can indulge in during your free time.

Waverley Antique Bazaar

Spend an hour or two antique shopping at Melbourne’s best-kept secret for hidden treasures. With more than 240 stalls, there is always something to be discovered at the Waverley Antique Bazaar. From antiques, vintage items, glassware, art, clothing to collectables, you can always find unique, unusual and even bizarre items at this quaint and charming marketplace. An excellent place for finding gems to bring home to the family.

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Wetlands Mini-Golf and Games

Take a break from work and go golfing at the Wetlands Mini-Golf and Games. Its two-hole courses are sufficiently challenging for players of any age and skill level— even outdoor and undercover courses. Regardless of the weather, you can enjoy a fulfilling game of golf. 

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If you are looking for a staycation or a vacation to rejuvenate and recharge, Monash has plenty to offer. From nature parks to experiencing farm life, here are some suggestions for your Monash city adventure.

Soar above the Yarra Valley, the Dandenong Ranges or Mornington Peninsula at sunrise on a scenic hot air balloon flight. What better way to experience the undulating landscapes of the beautiful Yarra region than a bird’s eye view?

Be prepared to set your alarm clock early though, because a sunrise balloon flight means starting just before dawn. Whether you are a morning person or not, once you are up in the air and looking out over the panorama of forests, farms and vines, it will be all worthwhile.

Bookings are essential and balloon flights are dependent on the weather. Find out more here.

Monash Gallery of Art (MGA)

Widen your (art) horizons at the Monash Gallery of Art (MGA)—a niche museum which specialises in photographic art. Housing around 3,400 Australian photographic works, the MGA prides itself on being the country’s leading public art gallery. As the only cultural institution in Australia that focuses solely on Australian photography, MGA’s exhibits comprises genres like landscape, architecture, abstract and portrait photography. Highly rated, the gallery is a real treat for those keen in the art of photography.

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One Room Escape

You may have been to escape rooms, but you may not have tried an escape room like The One Room Escape—a high-end version of escape rooms guaranteed to thrill. Each room is elaborately themed with mechanical high-tech interactive setups and stereo sound effects. Some of the immersive themes here include an ancient Egyptian Room, a Hospital setting, and an Asian Pavilion. Each room comes with a storyline and puzzles for participants to solve.

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Damper Creek Reserve

There are a handful of reserves in Monash, and one of the must-visits here is the Damper Creek Reserve—an 11-hectare bushland that is habitat to diverse wildlife native to the area. Keep your eyes peeled for the Southern Bell Frog, Grey-headed Flying Fox, Peregrine Falcon, Gang Gang Cockatoo, Sugar Glider and other charming woodland critters. The reserve is also rich in indigenous flora and fauna like kangaroos and wallabies. 

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Myuna Farm

Get a taste of farm life with a visit to a working farm, where you can cuddle baby animals, see kangaroos and other native animals roam around, and learn more about Australian farming. At the Myuna Farm, you may rub shoulders with bunnies, alpacas, ducks, turkeys, baby goats, sheep, fawns and deer—all of which can be fed and petted. There is also a playground for your little ones to expense their boundless energy. If you are lucky, you may even catch free roaming chickens visiting the playground!

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Take a closer look at the university attended by both local and international students. Founded in 1958, Monash University is the second university in Victoria, named after General Sir John Monash.

The institution offers two-hour student-led tours, giving parents and potential students a glimpse into what to expect, with a comprehensive, insightful look at life on campus. Occupying a sprawling green campus, Monash is especially popular with students from nearby South-East-Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, as well as students from China and India.  

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Jells Park

Relax in the company of your family at Jells Park—an oasis offering respite from hectic varsity life. The vast expanse of the park is made for an afternoon of lounging, catching up and recharging. Set up a picnic mat and do some wildlife spotting. You can choose from a few picnic areas set up around the park with facilities such as barbeque pits and toilets. 

Stretch your legs with a stroll along the river or the paved walkways around the park. If you have forgotten something for your picnic, you can always pop back into the cafe in the park. 

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If Monash is going to be the second home for those here to work or study, it always helps to learn about its history. Take the entire family to the Local History Park, where you can soak in the sun while learning something new about the city named after a general.

At this outdoor history lesson disguised as a park, visitors can take the heritage trail to unravel Monash’s unique local history. There are also sculptures and plaques dotted all over with tidbits of information—a trip here offers both exercise and history lessons in spades. 

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Secret Souv

Sink your teeth into authentic Greek food at the Secret Souv. Cooked over charcoal, the meat here is all tender and tantalizing. Using only fresh ingredients, the portions served here are sizable and suitable for a family unit. The must-try dishes here are the lamb souvlakis and its platters. If you are not a lamb fan, there are other meat dishes that will suit your taste.

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