Ace Rental Cars Blog

The capital city of Australia’s south-eastern state of Victoria, Melbourne/Naarm, is the second largest cosmopolitan hub in the country. Filled with a diverse range of people, places, wildlife and activities, it’s easy to find some epic free adventures all around the city and its surrounding suburbs. In your Ace rental car, all you need to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Get Amongst the City Lights

Melbourne’s CBD offers a broad range of activities to enjoy without breaking the bank. Start exploring the city by parking your Ace rental car and enjoy the city scenery on foot. There’s even a free City Circle tram for you to hop on and off for when the walking gets tiring. This traditional tram in its green and yellow colours doesn’t require tickets, so you can reach many of Melbourne’s attractions for no cost at all as you get a scenic experience of the city streets. Flinders Street Station is Melbourne’s major train station, situated in the heart of the city and right by the Yarra River. Australia’s oldest train station, this heritage building has maintained its lavish design and famous clock faces above the station’s main entry. Queen Victoria Market, on the west edge of the CBD, is another iconic landmark attraction that has defined the face of Melbourne over the centuries. This large market of fresh produce, hot food and interesting items is free to enter and explore. You could easily spend a whole day jumping from stall to stall at the Queen Vic.

Learn About Melbourne’s Rich History

Melbourne has a rich and treasured history that can be explored through its buildings and landscape. Back in the CBD, stop by the [State Library of Victoria]https://www.slv.vic.gov.au) to find out more about the lesser-known parts to Melbourne’s past. These majestic halls, elegant reading rooms and dense library shelves are not only a great way to learn more about Melbourne’s history with their free exhibits and helpful librarians, but also a quiet place to relax. Next up, Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on the southern edge of the CBD is a war memorial where you can learn more about the service and sacrifice of Australians in war and peacekeeping. Finally, wander along the Birrarung Marr, also known as the Yarra River. This river runs all throughout the city and much of Melbourne’s surrounding suburbs. While the river is iconic to modern Melbourne, it also holds a deep cultural and spiritual significance for Melbourne/Naarm’s Indigenous communities. You can observe symbols of this significance along the Yarra on the city’s eastern edge, with installation art sculptures lining the urban park by the river.

Explore the City’s Natural Spaces

Melbourne delivers the best of both worlds with big city lights sitting alongside wide open natural spaces. If you’re in the CBD, make sure to check out the Royal Botanic Gardens for a day of beautiful flora and fauna right in the heart of the city. The Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building both sit on the city’s northern edge and make for a great day of wandering around immaculate gardens and resting in the shade of trees. If you’re after a slice of paradise not too far from the city, Melbourne delivers with a coastal getaway only a twenty-minute drive from the heart of the CBD. St Kilda Beach is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike and offers some great window shopping and eateries along the nearby palm tree-lined Acland Street.

Embrace the Arts and Culture

If you’re after a dose of spectacular arts and culture, look no further than Melbourne CBD. The National Gallery of Victoria stuns with a large permanent free exhibit that is enjoyable for the whole family. Right in the heart of the city, this is the perfect way to spend a day as you wander from artwork to artwork. Just down the road you’ll find Federation Square - a hub of events and culture. There are often free events and exhibitions happening in and around Fed Square, so keep a look out for what’s on. Otherwise, Fed Square makes for a relaxing place to chill out between sightseeing. Finally, you can’t visit Melbourne without seeing some iconic laneway art. This free street art can be observed on Hosier Lane, AC/DC Lane and Croft Alley.

From wandering around the city to exploring the natural scenery, we’ve got so many things for you to see and do in Melbourne in your Ace rental car - and all of them are free.