The Best Melbourne Activities

Melbourne activities on this page get you up in the air, behind the wheel, on the Yarra or into a virtual world, from a sunrise balloon flight over the CBD to V8 laps at Sandown Raceway. Browse by type below, or jump straight to hot air ballooning, skydiving or driving and motorsports.

Hot air balloon, helicopter and skydiving activities near Melbourne

The weekday hot air balloon flight lasts up to an hour and drifts over St Kilda, the skyline, the Yarra and the MCG, with free pick-up from CBD accommodation. The sunrise balloon flight is about an hour too, leaving from the Hotel Windsor on Spring Street, and passes over the bay and the Australian Tennis Centre.

For a quicker flight, the 20-minute helicopter flight over the city and bayside departs from Mentone and runs up to St Kilda pier. If you want to jump instead, the Great Ocean Road tandem skydive drops from up to 15,000ft over the beach with up to a minute of free fall and return transfers from the CBD.

Driving experiences at Sandown and Avalon

The V8 6-lap drive at Sandown Raceway puts you behind the wheel of a race-engineered V8 with an in-car coach, on a circuit with 13 corners and 2 drag strips. A race suit and helmet are supplied.

At Avalon, the rally car hot laps strap you into the co-driver's seat of a turbo rally car for 3 laps of the Mount Cottrell track, about half an hour in the car. The defensive driving course at Sandown is a full-day course in braking and vehicle dynamics rather than speed.

On the water: kayaking, waterbikes and snorkelling

The Melbourne City Sights kayak tour paddles the Yarra through the middle of the city with a guide, and the moonlight kayak tour goes out around sunset from Docklands with fish and chips eaten on the water. A 90-minute waterbike tour pedals the same river past the Rod Laver Arena precinct.

South of the city, the weedy sea dragon snorkel tour at Portsea is a 2-hour guided swim with all equipment provided.

Indoor activities in Melbourne

The Melbourne Virtual Reality Escape Room in West Melbourne is a 40 to 50-minute time travel adventure for groups of 2, 3 or 4, where each player works in their own room. If rain is forecast, the Melbourne Skydeck Ultimate Experience adds a VR theatre and the Edge to the Level 88 views.

Frequently asked questions

What Melbourne activities suit couples?

A sunrise hot air balloon flight over Melbourne and the moonlight kayak tour, which ends with fish and chips eaten on the water, suit couples who want something more active than dinner.

Where do Melbourne hot air balloon flights leave from?

The weekday balloon flight meets at Sofi's Lounge in the Sofitel on Collins Street, and the sunrise balloon flight leaves from the Hotel Windsor on Spring Street. Both offer CBD pick-ups, and flights depend on the weather.

Where is the Melbourne V8 driving experience?

The V8 drive experience is at Sandown Raceway, 591-659 Princes Highway, Springvale, in Melbourne's south-east. Laps are driven with an in-car coach, and a race suit and helmet are provided.

Where can you skydive near Melbourne?

The Great Ocean Road tandem skydive drop zone is at Barwon Heads Airport, about an hour and a half from the Melbourne CBD, and the booking includes return transfers from the city. Jumps are from up to 15,000ft.

Are there indoor activities in Melbourne?

Yes. The Melbourne Virtual Reality Escape Room in West Melbourne runs a 40 to 50-minute VR adventure for groups of 2 to 4 players, and the Melbourne Skydeck has a VR theatre on Level 88.

Choose the activity that gets your pulse going and book it above. For something gentler, the Melbourne attractions page has plenty to fill the rest of the trip.