Melbourne's Indoor Attractions

When you go to Australia, you’re probably planning on spending a lot of time outdoors. That’s the way to do it, really. The country is full of interesting wildlife, postcard beaches, and all kinds of physical activities. That said, it’s also home to some cities that have gotten used to droves of tourists over the years, and that means there are plenty of urban activities to enjoy as well.

You don’t typically imagine indoor attractions and activities when traveling to Australia. But what if you have a rainy day? What if you’re exhausted by a few days of adventure, or it’s punishingly hot outside? In any of these scenarios, or if you’re merely trying to diversify the experience a bit, you may wind up looking around for something fun to do indoors. These are a few suggestions you might keep in mind for when the time comes.

SEA LIFE Aquarium

The SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium might just be the best indoor activity in town, in part because it keeps up with the theme of enjoying wildlife and nature in Australia. There’s an incredible array of animals on display, including tropical fish, sharks, rays, penguins and more. Furthermore, they’re not all simply stuffed into a giant tank together, but rather belong to different exhibits as you might expect in a zoo. There’s a rain forest area, the “coral caves,” and even some tanks housing a false ship wreck where some of the marine life can swim about the same way they would out in the sea. It’s just a fun place to explore, particularly if you happen to have kids with you on your visit to Melbourne.

Bathhouse Relaxation

That sounds pretty good no matter what else you’ve got going on during your trip, doesn’t it? Spas and bathhouses in big cities are never cheap, but they can be wonderfully relaxing, and in the case of some of Melbourne’s best, they can be scenic as well. For instance, Timeout described one such bathhouse as looking like something out of Gatsby’s manor – which is usually a good thing!

Brewery Tours

Like a lot of big cities these days, Melbourne is home to a lot of breweries, which can provide the perfect indoor attractions for those who are fond of beer. In some cases you can tour a brewery and really get a sense for the process of how beers are crafted. But in others you can simply hang out at a brewery bar, talk to the bartenders, and simply have a good time. The only trouble is narrowing down your choices! The Mill Brewery and Thunder Road Brewing are stylish, authentic options, and at The Public Brewery you can actually try your hand at brewing your own beer.

Crown Casino Gaming

People don’t always look for actual buildings when seeking out casino gaming these days. That’s not because this form of gaming has migrated to the internet. The truth is, that happened about two decades ago! More accurately, it’s because those internet games have since been optimized for mobile phones. That means they’re available at our fingertips more or less whenever we like. Even so, however, the convenience of a smartphone can’t quite top the thrill of feeling poker chips in your hands, or pulling the lever on a promising slot machine. These are the kinds of activities you can enjoy at the Crown Casino, where the sophisticated surroundings add an air of luxury to the experience. It’s always a fun time out, provided you remain responsible about it.

Theater Shows

There are some great theaters and entertainment venues in Melbourne, and in fact some of the best shows you can see are actually at the Crown. The Regent Theatre, Princess Theatre, and Her Majesty’s Theatre are all worth looking into, though of course the main consideration should be what’s playing and how much the tickets cost.