3 Best Time of the Year to Visit Melbourne For Less

Who does not like or love to travel? Anybody? Well most of us definitely wanted to travel once or forever. But traveling to different places affected us most of the time by a major factor which is money. If we can travel for less its better right? Even myself, I always think of a way to travel in a budget, unless we will get someone to sponsor us to our adventures.

While staying in Melbourne for more than a year and a half, I observed when people commonly visit the city and I think the idea is the same in other parts of the world. Events makes a place not only popular but populous too. Melbourne is always busy and visiting the city any time of the year is not an issue at all because there is always something for everybody. But not all the time, events are equal, because there are events that will ask for our money too, but as I say it, it still depends on our preference as well. Here are some of the major events that visitors like you and me that can take advantage when planning the time to visit Melbourne to have all these free stuff.

1.White Night Melbourne – February

If you are more into cultural thing, love to watch shows, performances, exhibitions, music and dances, White Night Melbourne is for you. As this is a one night free event of the year. But don’t just take it for granted that its free because the shows are really awesome and spectacular that you may wonder how on earth such kind of shows become free because it will amaze you. The event happened in 12 hours straight from 7PM to 7AM non-stop and usually happens one night in February. So, if you planned to visit the city during this event, make sure you are ready for it. But if you have few hours to spare for the night, that still alright and you can still enjoy the event. I suggest to visit their official website here to have a clear idea of the detailed schedule in the future White Night Melbourne event. But my advise is, even you are not for 12 hours celebration, still go out there and see the light shows that happens to most notable buildings around CBD and definitely you will not regret it.

My personal experience in the event was described in the post below.

White Night – A Melbourne’s Dreamy Night

2.Moomba Festival – March

If you are bringing your family or even your friends, Moomba Festival will fit into your plans. The festival is the largest free community festival in Australia. The event composed of parade, crowning of monarchs, fireworks displays, carnivals, river activities, live music and bands. This is actually 3-Days event. It is also a family friendly event because of different rides and games available for the young at heart. There are shows to enjoy like water skiing competition and even the funny birdman rally. It’s a great time to spend outside because definitely everyone will have a great time. Its an event in the city that makes Melbourne alive again not only for one day but for three days. If you will attend the festival, you will most likely just going to spend only for your food and carnival rides, the rest of the stuff like shows are all free. So plan your visit in the city when this event is on, you will not regret as its added bonus to your planned vacation.

Below was my post describing the few hours of experience in the festival.

Melbourne’s Moomba Festival – Australia’s Largest Free Community Festival

3.Open House Melbourne – July

If you love buildings, architectures, history and cultures, or even you just wanted to chill and walk around the city to explore and enjoy it, Open House Melbourne is for you. Its two days event in weekend where notable, famous and even private buildings or houses being open to the public to give the chance the people to learn more about the design of the building and to give a chance to explore what’s inside of it. This event is happening in few specific cities in the world every year. One of the city where this event is happening every year since 2008 is Melbourne in Australia. And the great thing about this event is, it’s totally free.

The Open House Melbourne that I got a chance to enjoy was happened more than 3 years ago, last July 2013. Since Melbourne is one of the city that is really great in commercializing its tourism, I found out the event through ads displayed in street and while frequently visiting the Visitors Centre in Federation Square. I used to visit the center because it gives me a lot of idea where to go while in the city, within Victoria state and even within Australia. After finding out that the city will have its open house event, I got so excited. Why? Because I saw that the event is my chance to explore more about the city.

Before the schedule of the event, I did research and found its official website and learned that there are buildings with limited numbers of visitors, I tried to apply for these buildings but unfortunately I was not chosen. Because of that, the alternative for me is to grab my chance to see other buildings that I can still visit.

Because I was overwhelmed with buildings that open to public, honestly I did not know which building to visit at first, I actually bought the Open House Melbourne booklet, and there are available itineraries that listed as well. Because its only two days in a year, I wish it can be longer than that, I never got a chance visit all the buildings. In this event, I got only Saturday, because I was busy on Sunday. My tip is, if you are going to this kind of event, buy the booklet if possible and the price is very minimal, at that time, the book cost $10 AUD.  And look on the buildings that interest you and try to create your own route if you don’t like following the suggested itineraries in the booklet and enjoy the day. Some buildings are only open in 1 day, so check that one too.

The following buildings that I had a chance to tour inside of it during the event are the following :

1. The Melbourne Athenaeum
2. Melbourne Town Hall and Offices
3. Council House 2 (CH2)
4. Queen Victoria Women’s Centre

Do you know other events in Melbourne that will not cost us too much? I welcome feedback.

Notes:

1. Plan to visit Melbourne during the following event ? Please visit their website for more latest updates.

White Night Melbourne official website : whitenightmelbourne.com.au

Moomba Festival official website : moomba.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Open House official website : openhouseworldwide.org
Open House Melbourne official website : openhousemelbourne.org

2. Public Transportation Ticket – Use Myki (Melbourne Ticketing System), please check here for more details.

3. Directions

Using tram

Use tramTracker Apps or even just Google Maps (use directions) and there are tram routes available.

Using train

Visit the official Public Transport Victoria website to be able to use the Journey Planner for the next train schedule.