Top things to do in St Kilda, Melbourne

by | Last updated Apr 24, 2024 | Melbourne | 0 comments

Some say, a trip to Melbourne is not complete without a visit to St Kilda. So find out for yourself as I take you on on a day trip to St Kilda. Discover this magical bayside suburb located a mere 6km from Melbourne CBD. See the top things in St Kilda and then make up your own mind as to whether your visit has competed your Melbourne trip. 

In this post come for a walk around St Kilda to find out why so many backpackers gravitate towards it, families and locals love to live here and why so many visit this bayside suburb. Yes, it is a residential suburb in the south of Melbourne that has an active beachfront lifestyle. So you can enjoy sun, sand and cakes. Cakes!, You will have to read on to find out about cakes on this Melbourne day trip to St Kilda.

The thing I love the most about St Kilda is that during the day you can enjoy the beach, sit in a cafe or attend some event that may be happening. Then at night, you can go out to eat, sit on the beach and watch a sunset, see the little penguins come home to the pier and dance all night at the Esplanade Hotel if you want. Yep, there is heaps to see and do in St Kilda day and night.

 

Organise Your Day to St Kilda

 

Apparently St Kilda was named by Charles La Trobe who was the superintendent of Port Phillip District after watching a boat named ‘Lady of St Kilda’ anchored off the beach in 1841. St Kilda officially became St Kilda in 1842. During the 1900s, St Kilda became a favoured suburb of Melbourne’s elite, and many palatial mansions were constructed along its hills and waterfront. It sounds very much like what Brighton was to London in England.

People would come to St Kilda to enjoy the water and was known as a seaside playground, and it still is!

 

Best time to go to St Kilda

 

Any time is a good time to go to St Kilda. During the summer months of December, January and February crowds swell on the sands during the hot weather. But you can catch the tram to St Kilda anytime as there is plenty to do there, both indoors and outdoors throughout the year.

 

How to Get to St Kilda

 

You can drive to St Kilda but due to all the cards and lack of free parking it is best to catch a tram from the city. You can catch No. 96 tram from Bourke Street, No. 12 from Collins Street or No. 3 from Swanston Street. Trams run approximately every 10 minutes between 5.30am and 1.30am and depending where you get on can take anywhere from 30-45 minutes to reach St Kilda. 

 

Extend your visit to St Kilda

 

If you want to spend more than a day at St Kilda, consider spending a night or two. You can book the best accommodation in St Kilda here.

 

Top 11 Things to See and Do in St Kilda

 

Walk, Run or Cycle Along the Foreshore

 

St Kilda Foreshore is a bay beach with golden sand and calm bay waters.

walk, run or cycle along the St Kilda foreshore

 

One of the best places to start your visit in St Kilda is at St Kilda Beach. Sitting right on the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay this bay beach is a great place to sit, swim, walk and enjoy the great outdoors. The foreshore is always bustling with people enjoying the beachfront lifestyle. There are locals, couples, backpackers and families to St Kilda with kids. Everybody, comes to St Kilda.

 

Have a Picnic at Catani Gardens or a play in Alma Park

 

Head to Catani Gardens located behind St Kilda Beach and enjoy the manicured grass and high palm trees. Grab some food from Acland Street or Fitzroy Street and have a picnic in the park. There is plenty of space to spread out and if visiting St Kilda with kids, it is a great place for them to run around to use up their energy. Definitely put Catani Gardens on your list to visit as one of the top things to see and do in St Kilda. 

Catani Gardens is just one of the green spaces to visit in St Kilda, there is also Alma Park with a great playground for kids. There is also the quirky and supercool St Kilda Adventure Playground with climbing frames, a pirate ship and other secrets for kids to explore and discover.

 

Walk along the Pier

 

St Kilda Pier - a long timber pier in Port Phillip Bay.

walk, fish and see the penguin parade at St Kilda pier

 

A visit to St Kilda is not a visit unless you go for a walk out along the pier. Just stroll or maybe take your fishing rod. If there in the early evening as the sun is setting you may see the little colony of penguins coming home. Known as the ‘penguin parade’, these fluffy little residents live in the rocks at the end of St Kilda Pier. 

 

Hang out at the skate park

 

Enjoy skate boarding? There is a great skate park in St Kilda located in the Marina Reserve off Marina Parade. There are plenty of bowl sizes for all abilities. 

 

Joy Ride at Luna Park

 

St Kilda Luna Park Big Dipper Ride.

ride the second oldest roller coaster in the world at Luna Park

 

Luna Park is the heritage listed theme park in St Kilda. It has the world’s second oldest roller-coaster which has great views over St Kilda – if you have time to look! So step through the open mouth of the entrance and into another world of fun and rides. Don’t forget to get a photo from the outside! You will find Luna Park at 18 Lower Esplanade.

Luna Park is open
Thursday 1pm-7pm
Friday to Sunday 11am-7pm
and everyday during school holidays.
Purchase your ticket online here.

 

Have a Splash at St Kilda Seabaths

 

Another historic icon in St Kilda is the St Kilda Seabaths. This is an indoor salt water pool, spa, food and entertainment complex right on the beach front. First opened in 1860 it has undergone transformations over the years and it is a popular place for a swim if it is cold outside!

 

Eat Famous Treats on Acland Street

 

lots of cream cakes in the cake shops on Acland Street, St Kilda.

enjoy a cream cake or two on Acland Street

You could say Acland Street is the main street of St Kilda and a walk along it is very interesting. Jam packed with small boutique shops, restaurants, cafes and old-fashioned cake shops. Yep, cakes, cream-stuffed cakes and yummy pastries. You won’t be able to resist indulging with a cup of coffee.

 

Check out The Veg Out Community Gardens

 

The allotments at the Veg Out Community Gardens are rented to locals to grow their own produce. You can walk around and see some of the quirky sculptures amongst the produce.

 

Check out The Op shops

 

Love to shop, then you will love thumbing through the products in the charity shops on Carlisle Street. There’s plenty of racks of second hand clothes, accessories, furniture and other brick-a-brack. And if visiting St Kilda on a Sunday browse The Esplanade Market. Open every Sunday 10am-4pm, selling everything from homewares, jewellery, beauty products to crafts all handmade by local small businesses. Tourists to St Kilda may even pick up unique souvenirs.

 

Watch a Show at The Palais

 

Palais Theatre St Kilda.

see a show at the Palais Theatre

 

The Palais Theatre, built in the 1920s, is found in the entertainment district of St Kilda. Known for staging big name comedy acts and live music shows, it’s worth taking a look at their website and book a show.

Enjoy a Meal and a Band at The Esplanade

 

The Esplanade Hotel or ‘The Espy’ is an institution in St Kilda and is St Kilda’s best pub. There’s plenty to do here as it is set over five levels. Grab a good meal, relax with some drinks or catch a band. Even just go for a walk by to check out the architecture! Check out what’s happening at The Esplanade here.

 

Other things to see and do at St Kilda

 

  • Skydive over the beach
  • Zen out with yoga in the park, or on the beach
  • Kitesurf at the beach
  • Go on a fishing charter
  • Sunset paddle board or kayak
  • Watch the sunset on the beach with some fish and chips.

 

Are You Ready to Visit St Kilda?

 

So after visiting St Kilda, you can then say your trip to Melbourne is complete. But first, you need to enjoy the top things to see and do in St Kilda. Have you been to St Kilda?

More Melbourne Day Trips:
A Drive through the Dandenongs
Best 7 Towns to Visit in the Yarra Valley

St Kilda Pin showing tram, the pier and the cake shops on Acland Street.

My Favourite Travel Resources that help me discover Australia now.

* For accommodation I book a bed in a hostel through HostelWorld or a hotel room via Booking.com. For free accommodation I house sit through Trusted Housesitters.
* I purchase camping & caravanning gear through Caravan RV Camping, Amazon and Anaconda.
* I power up my gear and electronics with a Bluetti Powerbank.
* For clothing and travel gear I like North Face  (particularly their jackets and their hybrid backpack/suitcase) and Anaconda. For bags (I take my messenger bag everywhere) I like Bagsmart.
* If I need to rent a car I check out options at DiscoverCars.
* When I need travel insurance I get a policy through World Nomads or SafetyWing.

 

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About Me

Bells Beach Surfing Recreation Reserve Sign shaped like a big white wave with Sharyn McCullum On the Great Ocean Road.

G’Day! Sharyn here, an Aussie discovering Australia. Let me show you around so you can discover Australia too.  Read my story here.



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