Best birthday ideas in Melbourne for your next birthday bash
There are a thousand ways you can spend your special day, right? And while slouching on your couch and putting on your favorite show is a perfectly valid way to celebrate, how about switching it up for once?
Sure, you can quickly Google or search Reddit to see what you can do, but think of how much time that’s going to take! That’s why we’ve curated a comprehensive list of the best birthday ideas in Melbourne.
Whether you’re in for an intimate movie night or a mystery-filled cocktail party, there’s a little bit of everything for whatever may interest you on your very big day.
Adventure activities
Hot air balloon ride over the city
– Media credit: globalballooningaustralia
Website: https://www.globalballooning.com.au/melbourne/
Address: 30 Dickmann St, Richmond VIC
Contact details: +61 3 9428 5703
Operating hours: Monday to Friday – 9 AM to 5 PM
If you feel like you’re on top of the clouds on your very special day, Global Ballooning can make you feel like it, literally. You’ll ride a giant hot air balloon and see Melbourne’s skyline in a whole different view.
Expect to fly over the metropolis during sunrise to see some of its attractions such as the MCG, Port Phillip Bay, and Eureka.
You’ll also get the chance to take in the beauty of the city’s landmarks and enjoy a buffet breakfast at the 5-star Pullman Melbourne on the Park hotel after the ride.
Starting at a rate of $595 per person, enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience, minus the breakfast. If you don’t mind splurging just a little bit more, go and spend $640 to get the complete experience with a ride and a high-quality buffet.
Both rates are inclusive of a 1-hr hot air balloon flight, a discounted parking fee at the hotel, complimentary in-flight photos, and a digital flight certificate to authenticate the experience for you.
Pro tip:
If you’d like to take a private hot air balloon flight over Melbourne, you can take advantage of their private flights, with a starting rate of $5800 for 2 pax.
Kayaking tour on the Yarra River
– Media credit: kayakmelbourne
Website: https://www.kayakmelbourne.com.au/
Address: Community Boating Hub at The Dock, 912 Collins St, Docklands VIC
Contact details: +61 459 750 065
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday – 9 AM to 6 PM
Kayak Melbourne offers those aged 10 and above a chance to celebrate their birthday paddling through the heart of Melbourne and tour the area by water.
Starting at $82 per person, guests can explore the waterside suburb in Docklands, or at $120, they can paddle through Victoria Harbour under the moonlight.
One of the fan favorites, though, is the City Sundowner or the sunset kayak tour through the Yarra River. At $120, guests are given 3 hours to tour under the Princes Bridge, paddle through the river, and pass Flinders Station and the iconic Polly Woodside Tall Ship at South Wharf.
Pro tip:
If you’re celebrating with 7 other people, you can purchase their Custom Kayak Experience. The rate is discounted at only $75 per person as long as there is a minimum of 8 paying guests.
Relaxation experiences
Spa day at Sense of Self (SOS)
– Media credit: sos.senseofself
Website: https://sos-senseofself.com/
Address: 30-32 Easey St, Collingwood VIC
Contact details: +61 3 9917 5412
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday – 7 AM to 9:45 PM
- Monday – 10 AM to 9:45 PM
There’s no better way to celebrate another year of existence than to personally indulge in the peaceful ambience and services of a relaxing spa such as Sense of Self.
Established in 2020, SOS has been providing Melbourne, specifically Collingwood, with warm magnesium pools, a sauna, and a relaxation lounge for the community’s total quality wellness.
Starting at $160, you can enjoy a 60 minute relaxation massage (The Hiatus). It combines Swedish massage, aromatherapy, and mindfulness techniques to provide guests with the ultimate relaxation experience.
Should you wish to get a longer, 90 minute, relaxing massage, you’d have to spend $220. If you have targeted pain and sore spots, you can try out their remedial massage (The Fix) for $170 and get a 60-minute targeted massage, together with assessments for further referral.
If you want to have the freedom to relax on your own, try out their bathhouse for $65 on a weekday, and $75 for a weekend, both for a duration of 2 hours.
Within their bathhouse, you can roam through their magnesium pool, sauna, cold plunge, and their Hammam at your own accord. If it’s your first time, you can ask their staff for guidance to maximize your experience.
Pro tip:
If you plan to go to the bathhouse with your friends, take note of their booking policy that only allows groups of 3. They claim that groups larger than 3 can impact the experience.
Picnic at the Royal Botanic Gardens
– Media credit: royalbotanicgardensvic
Website: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/
Address: Birdwood Avenue
Contact details: +61 3 9252 2300
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 7:30 AM to 5:30 AM
Royal Botanic Gardens offers a recreational and educational experience to all guests, especially those on their special day.
For more than 170 years, it has been one of Melbourne’s treasured attractions that hosts more than 8,500 species of plants from around the world in its more than 38 hectares of space.
Explore the garden at your own pace and immerse yourself in the Sonica Botanic. where you can listen to the atmospheric music of nature as mimicked by sound artist Patrick Cronin. Indulge in the vastness of botanical information made available for your enjoyment.
You may also take advantage of some of their free programs like the Free Guided Walk, where you’ll walk throughout the garden with a passionate guide, educating you about the plant diversity of the sanctuary you’re in.
There is also a nearby cafe called The Terrace, where you can enjoy breakfast all day next to the stunning Ornamental Lake.
Pro tip:
Do budget your time when visiting the garden. Despite the 7-5 operation hours, lots of visitors have highlighted how there wasn’t enough time to roam around and enjoy the entirety of the garden.
Cultural outings
Visit to the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV)
– Media credit: ngvmelbourne
Website: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/
Address: 180 St Kilda Rd
Contact details: +61 3 8620 2222
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Looking to immerse yourself in the cultural and artistic expressions of both local and international artists? The National Gallery of Victoria has got you covered.
As the oldest and most visited gallery in Australia, NGV has been holding a multitude of over 76,000 artworks, all for the artistic and educational benefit of the community.
To spend your day more productively, you can take on their one-day courses and unlock your artistic potential. Just be sure to check out their website to see available courses they have.
If you don’t feel like learning for your birthday, you can hop on to some of their free tours, depending on what suits your palate. You only have to worry about what tour you’re going to take since they have tons of available ones, all free of charge.
Pro tip:
You can book a private tour for you, your friends, and family if you want to enjoy the gallery exclusively.
Historical house tour at Rippon Lea Estate
– Media credit: ripponlea_by_the_gardeners
Website: http://www.ripponleaestate.com.au/
Address: 192 Hotham St, Elsternwick VIC
Contact details: +61 3 9656 9889
Operating hours: 10 AM to 5 PM
Built in 1868, the Rippon Lea Estate is one of Melbourne’s hidden attractions that takes guests on a historical trip around acres of green space and through the expanse of the 33-roomed mansion.
The place offers guests a glimpse of what suburban estate life originally looked like in Australia back in the 19th century. With its Victorian architecture and impeccable landscaping, it has captured a historical landmark for the present generation to relish.
For $10 and $15, you can take a guided tour through the magnificent mansions and the 14 acre garden, respectively.
The estate also holds a vast number of events that might pique your interest. You can check out their website to see what ongoing and upcoming events they have that you might like.
There’s also a “tea room” where you can satisfy your hunger with their food offerings like sandwiches, cake, and hot and cold drinks. A gift shop is also on-site where you can grab some gifts and homewares you might want to take home with you.
Pro tip:
If you’re one of those people who enjoy the occasional technological integration, you can check out the Hidden Rippon Lea. There you can engross yourself in a sound and VR experience that lets you explore the estate’s features beneath your feet.
Entertainment and nightlife
Rooftop cinema experience at Lido Cinemas
– Media credit: lidocinemas
Website: http://www.lidocinemas.com.au/
Address: 675 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn VIC
Contact details: 03 8658 0000
Operating hours:
- Saturday to Thursday – 10 AM to 12 AM
- Friday – 10 AM to 1 AM
If you feel like “going to the movies” for your birthday, we highly recommend you go to Lido Cinemas. With eight indoor cinemas, and a rooftop cinema, coupled with a 4k projector and Dolby Atmos sound system, you know you’re in for a cinematic treat.
To further amp you and your celebration, they serve classic cocktails and craft beers that you can enjoy during your choice of movie. They also have their “bougie” take on movie snacks with their cheese platters, edamame, and Mt Zero olives.
If you have spare time before your movie, you can stop by the Lido Arcade where you can comb through a bunch of shops. Eat a hearty meal at Huxtaburger or get a quick cut at The Barber’s Son Hawthorn, whatever your heart desires.
Pro tip:
If you want to enjoy a movie with some of the closest people in your life, you can rent one of their eight cinemas for your own exclusivity. Just check out their website for their rates, which vary on the cinema you wish to hire.
Live music and cocktails at Dr. Watson’s Bar
– Media credit: drwatsonsbar
Website: https://thesherlockholmes.com.au/
Address: 417 Collins St.
Contact details: +61 3 9629 1146
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 10 PM
- Saturday – 4 PM to 11:30 AM
Located in one of Melbourne’s classic British-style pubs, the Sherlock Holmes Inn, Dr. Watson’s Bar offers a touch of sophistication with their Baker Street-inspired cocktail, extensive wine rack, and guest beers on tap.
Motivated by the fiction of Arthur Conan Doyle, the bar features Sherlock Holmes-inspired drinks that will ultimately fuel a fanatic’s boozy (or non-boozy) fantasies.
Whether you’re familiar with the literary work, you can hang out by the bar and enjoy some of their famous offerings.
And if your birthday happens to fall on a Tuesday, go join their Tuesday Trivia, where you can win prizes like a $50 food and drink bar voucher, and other spot prizes, just by answering questions across a range of topics.
Pro tip:
If you want to book the place for your day, you can! Just get in touch with their Events Manager Rosa and choose from their menu what you’d like for a minimum of 20 guests to eat at your party.
Unique experiences
Life-size monopoly at Monopoly Dreams
– Media credit: monopolydreamsmelbourne
Website: https://monopolydreams.com.au/
Address: Lower Ground Floor, Melbourne Central, 290 Lonsdale St
Contact details: +61 3 8617 0250
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday- 10 AM to 7 PM
- Friday – 10 AM to 9 PM
- Saturday, Sunday – 10 AM to 6 PM
If you’ve ever dreamt of playing games of life-sized monopoly, Monopoly Dreams might just turn it into reality!
Here, you can take your chance by playing with your friends, family, or colleagues in unlimited immersive game spaces. You’ll also see popular landmarks of the board game and compete in the carnival games to skyrocket your way through the leaderboard.
Starting at $50, you can freely engage with their interactive exhibits and games with the included $200 Monopoly Dollars, take home an exclusive Monopoly title deed, and access their custom photo booth whenever you want.
You also get a 20% discount to the Monopoly Dreams Cafe along with your paid ticket, so make sure to try out some of their game-inspired food and drinks.
If you’re already tired out from their games, you can step into their 4DX cinema to watch an exclusive movie about Mr. Monopoly and his dog, Scottie, where they explore some of Melbourne’s iconic places.
Pro tip:
For kids, they offer birthday party packages priced for a minimum of 7 children. If you’re an adult and are keen on celebrating your birthday here, you can inquire about their cocktail party.
Virtual reality escape rooms at Virtual Room Melbourne
– Media credit: virtualroom_australia
Website: https://melbourne.virtual-room.com/
Address: 75 Peel St, West Melbourne
Contact details: +61 3 8529 2908
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 10 PM
Virtual Room Melbourne redefines escape rooms with its integration of virtual reality (VR) technology.
What better way to spend your birthday than to enter a 3D virtual world, with your friends or family, where you can play in-house-produced adventures and explore at your own pace.
With the extensive list of games they have in store, we suggest you prioritize playing Time Travel, Asterix, Arrow Dash, and Planet Party, which are some of the fan favorites.
Make sure to bring your people with you since all their games require 2 to 4 players in order to be truly enjoyed.
Pro tip:
Try to finish a game in less than an hour. The owner is generous enough to allow some groups to play another VR game if the place is not packed with customers.