111 Things to do in and around Melbourne

Without further ado (read the full story about the list here), here are the 111 things I will do in the course of next year:

1. Get the big picture of Melbourne from Eureka tower’s Skydeck 88 shortly before sunset
2. Go to the Red Hill community market
3. Ride the roller coaster in Luna Park
4. Indulge in freshly baked scones with jam and cream at high tea at the Windsor
5. Shamelessly devour a Bogan Burger at the Napier Hotel
6. Have fish and chips at Brighton Beach
7. Soak in a hot pool on a stormy day at St Kilda Sea Baths
8. Play mini golf at Wetlands Golf ‘n’ Games
9. Swallow salt water by trying to kite surf at St Kilda beach
10. Skinny dip at night on South Melbourne Beach
11. Sleep over at the Melbourne Zoo
12. Find yourself in the Enchanted Maze Garden
13. Take sunset pictures at the Shrine of Remembrance
14. Play chess at St Kilda Botanic Gardens
15. Hit the high notes at Glee Club Singing at The Butterfly Club
16. Attend one of Madame Brussels’ summer garden parties and make sure the dress code fits the location, so go scouting before partying
17. Take a balloon ride and watch Melbourne from above
18. Spend a day outside of Melbourne, have high tea at Chateau Yering and while there experience the beauty of the surrounding wineries
19. Have an old school swim at Brighton Sea Baths and take a picture in front of the “Aussie Beach House”
20. Stroll along leafy Lygon Street to discover Little Italy and watch an art house movie at Cinema Nova
21. Try the spaghetti with crab meat at Giuseppe Arnaldo’s
22. Have vodka shots at Get Naked for Satan and enjoy the stars at Naked in the Sky
23. Recover with weekend breakfast at the Espy
24. Treat yourself at Aurora Spa retreat in St Kilda
25. Go to Hill of Content on Bourke Street and get a good book recommendation … and buy the book
26. Take the book and spend a weekend in Daylesford to experience the official spa centre of Victoria
27. Haggle with Melbourne’s loudest sales people on an early Saturday morning at Queen Victoria Market
28. Beat the Tan Track
29. Rock out at Festival Hall
30. Enjoy a heart warming play at the State Theatre on St Kilda road
31. Conquer the Pink Room at Rainbow Karaoke
32. Watch a classic on a picnic blanket at the Moonlight cinema in the Royal Botanic Gardens
33. Enjoy the beauty of free opera at the Myer music bowl
34. Get street arty at Section 8 container bar after taking an hour long walk up (or down) Hosier Lane
35. Rock out at the Palace Theatre
36. Lift off at the trampoline park (Bounce Inc.)
37. Swim with seals and dolphins in Sorrento
38. Leave everything behind and spend a long weekend at Apollo Bay
39. Learn how to wear a tux in style by watching the penguins in St Kilda and afterwards get a drink at Republica – bonus points for scoring a swing seat
40. Lunch under trees at Lavendula and capture the beauty of the lavender fields on photo
41. Watch a movie in art deco at The Sun Theatre in Yarraville
42. Rescue Ricotta ravioli out of the pool of tomato sauce at the Waiters Club
43. Enjoy the warmth and generosity of Cafe di Stasio in St Kilda
44. Dare to ruin a white shirt at the communal kitchen table of Italian Melbourne at Pellegrini’s
45. Enjoy the view over the city at Siglo with a nice single malt in your hand
46. Do the late night refuel at Supper Club
47. Ask the barista at Cumulus why their coffee is supposed to be the best in town
48. Spend an afternoon people watching at Mario’s in Fitzroy
49. Watch the sun set on St Kilda pier
50. Get into the grunge at a live show at the Tote
51. Scream your heart out at a footy match at the MCG … and go with somebody who can explain what’s going on
52. Overspend for a dinner experience at the Flower Drum
53. Wine and dine your girl at Moon Under Water and talk about the George Orwell essay after which it is named
54. Have dessert with your breakfast at Chez Dre
55. Participate in an activity of your choice at Melbourne’s White Night
56. Take overexposed food photos of your breakfast at St Ali Coffee Roasters and immerse with Melbourne’s most colourful people
57. Indulge in an afternoon wine at Three Bags Full
58. Watch the Formula 1 from the grandstand seats and make sure to see the winner open and distribute their champagne
59. Watch a night match at the Australian Open
60. Give cricket a shot and watch a live match at the MCG … and again, go with somebody who can explain what’s going on
61. Get friendly with Koalas and Kangaroos at Healesville Sanctuary Zoo
62. Take a cooking class at South Melbourne Market
63. Get lost in a world of books at Berkelouw Books
64. Practice your landscape photography at Hanging Rock
65. Blow a week’s wages by having dinner at Vue De Monde – try to get a window seat
66. Experience the beauty of the Grampians and risk your life on a Quad Bike Adventure
67. Pack a picnic, bring a book and lose yourself in the Royal Botanic Gardens
68. Do the Aboriginal Heritage walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens
69. Drive to the Dandenong Mountains, stop off at the gorgeous Olinda and have amazing scones at Miss Marple’s tearoom and walk the Thousand Steps
70. During summer go to the Jazz sessions and enjoy the wildlife at the Werribee Open Range Zoo
71. Enjoy a day in the countryside and take a ride on the Puffing Billy steam train
72. Experience the awesomeness of the Great Ocean Road and drive to see the 12 Apostles
73. Camp at Wilson’s Prom, take any of the amazing hikes and try to spot a wombat
74. Check out the Peninsula Hot Springs and get a massage at the Day Spa
75. Take the vertical route and sky dive onto St Kilda beach
76. Buy the CD, learn the lyrics and sing along at a open air rock concert at the Docklands Stadium
77. Take the visitors’ tour at the National Gallery of Victoria
78. Experience the spiritual heart of the city at a moonlight kayak tour on the Yarra River, bonus points for knowing in which direction it flows
79. Take a trip back to the roaring swing of the 1920s at Melbourne’s Jazz Festival
80. Go 1930s grand and watch a movie at the Astor Theatre having a choc-ice
81. Watch a rock show at the Espy
82. Take one of the City of Melbourne walking tours in German
83. Participate in a Melbourne photography meetup
84. Visit the Centre for Contemporary Photography
85. Play 18 holes on the Eynesbury championship golf course
86. Bet on a horse at Melbourne Cup day
87. Laugh out loud at a show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival
88. Spend an afternoon on the City Circle tram and take pictures
89. Explore life in Victoria at the Melbourne Museum
90. Spend an afternoon at the State Library of Victoria, do research on an awesome topic of your choice and be the last to get kicked out
91. Check out the little crazy boutiques in Fitzroy’s Brunswick street
92. Experience crime and justice in action at a tour through the Old Melbourne Gaol
93. Research and come up with a tour of micro breweries in Melbourne and the Yarra Valley
94. Bike along the Yarra and eat vegan at Lentils as Anything
95. Bike and booze through the Yarra Valley and don’t get busted
96. Find a secret beach at Mornington and spend the day
97. Stroll the little boutiques and shops in the Dandedongs and eat out at Cockoo and take a hike along the thousand steps
98. Have a drink or two at Vineyard in St Kilda and appreciate diversity – bonus points for any waitress without a tattoo
99. Find a cool event at Fed Square and hang there
100. Understand your country, i.e. go see Phar Lap and get to know the story, watch Ned Kelly, Rabbit Proof Fence and Wolf Creek, and read The Slap
101. Attend dawn service on ANZAC day and check out the war memorial with all the small statues and stories around it
102. Have dinner in a City Circle tram and see Melbourne at the same time
103. See some beautiful wineries taking a Winebus Winery tour in summer
104. Join the fun, see some horses and lose some money by going to the Spring Racing Carnival
105. Buy a showbag full of sugary goodness at the Royal Melbourne show
106. Attend a summer music festival – extra point if it’s the Big Day Out
107. Keep on rolling with the yellow tail tuna and beef tataki at Nobu, take a whisky cappuccino as desert and finish it off in style with an Old Fashioned at The Waiting Room
108. Book a table outside and go for the champagne lunch at Number 8
109. Enjoy a night of steak and red at Vlado’s in Richmond
110. Spend a night laneway bar-hopping, make sure to include Misty, Robot, Croft Institute and Berlin Bar
111. Dine on traditional French fare at France Soir in South Yarra