Why Honeymoon in Melbourne
Melbourne is a city for long lunches and late dinners. Its restaurant scene runs from Cantonese banquets at Flower Drum, open since the 1970s, to modern Australian tasting menus and casual Vietnamese in Richmond. Coffee is taken seriously enough that a mediocre flat white feels like a local scandal.
There is plenty for different tastes. One of you might spend a morning at the National Gallery of Victoria while the other catches a footy match at the MCG or rides the bayside bike path. Shopping ranges from Queen Victoria Market to designer boutiques on Collins Street.
It is also easy. English is spoken, the trams are simple to use and the city is walkable. For couples coming off a 15-hour flight, a city with good hotels and no language barrier is a gentle way to beat jet lag before heading somewhere wilder.
When to Go
March to May is the best stretch. Autumn days are mild, often in the high 60s to low 70s Fahrenheit, the parks turn gold and the crowds of summer have thinned. November and early December are a close second, with long evenings and outdoor dining in full swing.
January and February are summer. Most days are warm and pleasant, but heat waves can push past 100°F for a day or two before a cool change blows through. The Australian Open tennis fills hotels in late January.
Winter, June to August, is cool and gray, with highs around the mid 50s. It is not a beach season, but it is a good time for cozy bars, galleries and wine country fireplaces. Big events to plan around include the AFL Grand Final in late September and the Melbourne Cup horse race on the first Tuesday of November, when rates climb.
Where to Stay
The CBD puts you within walking distance of the laneways, theaters and the best bars. Collins Street and the streets around it hold most of the luxury hotels. The Park Hyatt Melbourne sits on a quiet edge near St Patrick's Cathedral, while The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne has its lobby high in a tower with long views over the city and bay.
Southbank, across the Yarra River, has big hotels with river views and quick access to the arts precinct and the Crown complex. South Yarra and Prahran feel more residential, with leafy streets, Chapel Street shopping and boutique hotels a short tram ride from the center.
Fitzroy and Collingwood suit couples who like vintage shops, live music and pubs with craft beer, though hotel choice there is thinner. St Kilda puts you by the beach and the palm-lined Esplanade, about 25 minutes by tram from downtown.
Romantic Things to Do
- Spend a morning in the laneways: Degraves Street and Centre Place for coffee, Hosier Lane for street art, then the arcades of the Block and Royal Arcade.
- Walk the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance, then picnic by the Ornamental Lake.
- Book a long tasting menu at one of the city's top restaurants. Reserve weeks ahead for the most popular tables.
- Watch little penguins come ashore at dusk on the St Kilda breakwater, with volunteer guides helping protect the colony.
- Catch a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the city, a Melbourne specialty when the weather allows.
- Take a day trip to the Yarra Valley for sparkling wine and cellar doors, or to the Mornington Peninsula for geothermal pools at Peninsula Hot Springs.
- See a show in the theater district along Collins and Exhibition streets.
Getting There and Around
Melbourne Airport (MEL) is about 30 minutes northwest of the center by car, longer at rush hour. The SkyBus runs frequently to Southern Cross Station. Nonstop flights operate from Los Angeles and San Francisco, typically around 15 to 16 hours, so check current schedules when you book. Many couples instead fly into Sydney and connect, which takes about 90 minutes.
In the city, trams are the easiest way around. Rides within the central Free Tram Zone cost nothing. Beyond it you need a myki card, which you can top up or tap with a contactless bank card on many routes, though check the current setup when you arrive.
You do not need a car in Melbourne itself. Rent one only for day trips, or book a guided wine tour so neither of you has to drive. Australians drive on the left.
Food and Drink
Melbourne eats well at every price point. Mornings start with brunch, a local religion: smashed avocado, ricotta hotcakes and coffee roasted a few blocks away. Lune Croissanterie in Fitzroy draws lines for its croissants. They are worth the wait.
For dinner, the city is strong on Italian, Greek and Southeast Asian cooking thanks to generations of migrants. Lygon Street in Carlton is the old Italian strip, while Victoria Street in Richmond is known for Vietnamese pho. Chinatown on Little Bourke Street has dumpling houses and upscale Cantonese rooms.
The bar scene hides in plain sight. Many of the best cocktail bars are up unmarked stairs or down a laneway with no sign at all. Rooftop bars open on warm evenings. Victorian wine dominates lists, especially Yarra Valley pinot noir and chardonnay, plus Heathcote shiraz.
Honeymoon Tips
Pack layers for both of you, even in summer. A warm afternoon can turn into a chilly evening once the wind swings south. A light jacket earns its place in any month.
Book dinner reservations before you leave home for the restaurants you care about most. Popular spots release tables weeks in advance and walk-ins are hit and miss on weekends.
Mention your honeymoon when booking hotels. Upgrades are never guaranteed, but many properties will add a note or a bottle of sparkling wine.
Melbourne is generally safe. Use normal city sense late at night around busy nightlife strips like King Street. Use rideshare or licensed taxis after the trams stop. Tipping is not expected in Australia, though rounding up or leaving about 10 percent for great service at a nice restaurant is appreciated.
