Mrs. R and I will be in Melbourne, Australia, in late April to visit Littlest R, who is currently studying at the U of Melbourne. We’ll be there about a week. Mrs. R and I are figure out what to do while there, with our usual batch of “No, click over there!” spats along the way 
.
Any must-see stuff?
Any delightful day trips? (I think I’ll rent a car)
I’d spend a day in the CBD just wandering: we also have a ‘tourist tram’ (free) which circumnavigates the CBD, you can jump on or off anywhere along the way. Check out the State Library perhaps, or just take a wander through the Botanic Gardens (or any of the numerous parks and gardens within one or two km of the city).
Day trips are probably dependent upon the weather. Whilst Melbourne itself is on a large bay (Port Phililip) we have some amazing ocean beaches within an hour or two of Melb as well. Check out the Mornington Peninsular (south east) or head down (south west) to coastal towns like Torquay, Lorne and beyond. These towns are on the famous Great Ocean Road, which deserves it’s name: not a drive for the vehicularly-anxious though.
A drive to the Dandenongs (mountain range on the eastern fringe of Melb) is very pleasant with towering Mountain Ash trees and monster tree-ferns. Many cafes, galleries and quaint shops to visit in every little ‘village’. If there in the evening, a must-see is the lookout at the summit: you can see just how massive the Melb metropolitan area is.
Others will be along to add more…gotta go to work, sorry!
For some interesting people-watching, try Acland St St. Kilda, Brunswick St Fitzroy, Chapel St (Prahran, South Yarra), Sydney Rd Coburg and Smith St Collingwood (all accessible via fairly short tram rides from the city.
Melbourne is a very multicultural city, and you will find restaurants of just about every ethnicity on the planet. Victoria St Richmond is a haven of Vietnamese cafes and markets, Lygon St Carlton is traditionally the cultural centre for all things Italian, Footscray has a large number of new comers from the African continent…whatever your food predilictions, you’ll find them here in Melbourne.
If I may ask, where are you staying while here?
We have our eye on a motel not too far from the University (south and west about eight blocks) but haven’t made reservations yet.
Grr. My post disappeared.
April is still nice for the beach, Williamstown is my favourite in the metro area, but a bit out of the way unless you’re already on the west side. St. Kilda is easy to get to and still very nice, although crowded. Melbourne beaches are nicer than any I’ve seen in the US, but not as nice as Queensland/northern NSW coast. Some low-key fun snorkeling in the sea grass meadows.
Anakie Gorge in the Brisbane Ranges is out of town to the west, and is a great place to see wild koalas. If you want a captive wildlife experience, Healesville Sanctuary is worth it (drive and admission) but Melbourne Zoo or Western Plains are both more focused on exotics.
Melbourne Museum, yes. Melbourne Aquarium, no. Queen Vic Markets, yes. Footscray Markets, no (unless you need Asian ingredients). Just drink lots of proper coffee in proper cafes. Be prepared to spend a lot of money - everything costs more in Australia than in the US.
How are we doing so far? What kind of experiences are you hoping to have?
[ul]
[li]Don’t forget to see if Chloé is still parading nude. Ask at Young and Jacksons.[/li][li]The Queen Victoria Market is a trip.[/li][li]Shrine of Remembrance.[/li][/ul]
Ack, I obviously mean Werribee Open Range Zoo, not Western Plains, which is in Dubbo, NSW!
Shrine is a good call if you’re interested in military history, it’s right in the Botanic Gardens, which is a nice spot for a walk or picnic lunch.
Daylesford is a nice spa town for a day trip. Ballarat or Bendigo for the gold mining heritage vibe.
Huh, maybe I miss Melbourne more than I realized…
It’s NEXT to the Bot Gardens, but actually part of Kings Domain on St Kilda Rd.
I’ll second a visit to Healesville Sanctuary for a great introduction to Australian indigenous fauna.
If you’ve got a designated driver, perhaps a drive through the Yarra Valley for a bit of quaffing of our local plonk.
You’ve actually picked a great time to visit Melbourne. Aprils (middle of our autumn) are notoriously beautiful, with warm, calm days and chilly nights.
However, that being said, things can change here…very quickly.
Melbourne Boy checking in here.
As always, it’s hard when you live somewhere to pinpoint what are good tourist things to do. I am sure we have everything that other major cities have. Museums, art galleries, theatres, State Library - ah, here, if you like impressive architecture, the 5-storey domed reading room is worth a visit. All have our own particular flavour. However: -
If you are into sport, an AFL match at either the MCG or Docklands stadium is worth going to - MCG definitely for preference. Pick a big game for preference to get the atmosphere.
There’s plenty of good food options - we have a Little Chinatown, Little Vietnam, Greek Street (Lonsdale St), and Little Italy (Lygon St) - all worth a visit on a Friday or Satuurday Night. I imagine most cosmopolitan cities have those anyway.
The Botanic Gardens are very good - if you are into that. You can tie that into a walk along the river, into the gardens, the Domain and The Shrine of Remembrance (war memorial) - easy day.
Day trips - a million of them. Port Phillip Bay has 200 Kms of shoreline, Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsular wineries are an hour from town (different directions, alas).
Checking dates - the Melbourne Comedy Festival is on from 9th-20th of April. Really exciting time. Shows range from $50 State Theatre productions to free shows in a pub. They are just good nights. Dozens of venues (all within 5ks of city centre). City is jumping for a couple of weeks. Check it out on the Interweb.
One word of warning if driving in the CBD. We have this strange little thing called a ‘hook turn’ at some of the intersections.
Good luck. 
“Any delightful day trips?”
The Hume Highway, the full length
Gets better the further you travel.
Now how did I know what you were going to say?
Don’t listen to this curmudgeon Rocketeer. He’s one of those Sydneysiders with an inferiority complex. Understandable really, must be hell to live there: I feel sorry for the poor schmuck.
For a snack treat only Melbourne has Lord of the Fries. But which sauce?
I’ve heard of Sydney; something about opera. Ah–Wasn’t the Marx Brothers’ A Night at the Opera filmed there? ;)
Hey, thanks to everybody for the suggestions!
When my family went to Australia, we LOVED The Old Melbourne Gaol.
http://www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au/
Try to get a night tour. Freaky and creaky!
It’s not cheap–but I don’t know what the exchange rate is these days.
Phillip Island is well worth a day trip.
There is great art and coffee to be found in Melbourne’s laneways. Don’t be afraid to wander through them.
The Queen Victoria Market is a bit of a tourist trap but close to where you will be, to see Melbournians from all over the world in their natural habitat a short train ride to Preston or Footscray markets is good value if you like people and weird looking vegetables and tasting the world. My US based friends always want photos of themselves with hanging dead critters.
If you tell people you are American you won’t get the same backslapping welcome as you may if you claim Canadianship.
Second the Preston and Footscray Markets…they’re both within a tram/train ride of where you will be staying.
I don’t know whether your daughter has warned you, but you need to buy a MYKI ticket nowadays to travel on PT. Costs 6 up front, then you 'load' the card with X to get around Melbourne and suburbia. Max of around $11 (AUD) per day, it CAN be good value if you scoot around the place like mad people.
Nobody’s mentioned the Exhibition Building in Carlton yet. Ensconced in gardens, it was the site of the first sitting of the Australian Parliament: nowadays it hosts things like Caravan and Camping shows, Garden shows, and is the venue for scores of students to sit their VCE examinations, and for many Melb Uni students doing their exams as well. You can fit the Ex Build into a Day in the City Adventure.
More day journeys, I’d also second Eliahna’s suggestion of Phillip Island…you can check out koalas in their natural habitat, and if there of an evening, visit the Penguin Parade (fairy penguins making landfall after a day out fishing in the strait). It’s tres popular though, so be prepared to elbow out LOTS of tourists.
Seriously, within two hours of Melbourne, you have a PLETHORA of really nice places to visit. In every direction. My favourites though are in the south east: a drive along the Grand Ridge Road in south Gippsland, with a slight detour to the Tarra/Bulga National Park, a visit to Walhalla (totally amazing little joint, google it) and Wilsons Prom.
But you’ve only got a week…maybe you’ll fall in love with this wonderful city and stay for a week bit longer.
Is that the Quest just off Lygon Street? My parents generally stay there when they come, it’s quite decent and very well located.
Museums are good - if I’m right about your intended location your just about on top of Melbourne Museum, across the way from the Exhibition Buildings. The Immigration Museum in the city is good too (opposite the Aquarium. That’s a bit of a tourist trap, but not bad if you don’t mind being charged an arm and a leg for the privilege)
In the city centre, I like the Chocolate Tour. You don’t have to be a chocoholic (I’m not) - it’s as much about the history of the city as the sweet brown gooey stuff (nice sweet brown gooey stuff though!)