Five experiences you can have travelling north-south on the Route 96 tram

Think the city has a monopoly on Melbourne's street art scene? Think again. Napier Street, Fitzroy is a street artist's playground, with an ever-changing colourful array to enjoy (and, let's be honest, to Instagram). Just hop on the 96 tram to stop 12 (Melbourne Museum/Nicholson St) and have yourself a wander. You'll find works by some of Australia's best-known street artists, as well as some special paintings from international creators. A good place to start is 74 Napier Street, but make sure you take in Napier and Johnston streets. As is the nature of street art, the murals change frequently, but you'll always find something special. 

Run by brother-sister team Kate and Cameron Reid, Lune Croissanterie sees lines snaking out of the store nearly every day that they open and their pastries fly out of the shop by noon most days, but does Lune really cut the mustard? In short, yes. Created in a climate-controlled lab, Lune croissants are almost mathematically perfect: crisp and golden with visible layers of delicate pastry. Having a tightly controlled cubic lab in the centre of their Fitzroy warehouse store for optimum pastry-making doesn't come across as too unusual when you consider the fact that Kate Reid used to be a racing car engineer. No less than The New York Times declared the croissants "the best in the world". Hop off the 96 at stop 16 (Kay/Nicholson St) early in the morning  if you want to nab a twice-cooked almond croissant or the lemon curd cruffins, piped to the gills with a tart curd and sprinkled with citrus sugar. 

Each Saturday and Sunday the Rose Street Market gathers some of Melbourne's most exciting artists and designers to display their wares and talk all things handmade. Weave your way through the crowds and duck into the warehouse to check out the handmade fashion, food and curios for sale. The artists are usually on hand to compare crochet needles and discuss their work, so drop in for a squiz, a chat and a haircut from the resident hairdresser. The best way to get there is stop 16 (Kay/Nicholson St) on the 96 tram. 

People have been playing bowls at the St Kilda Sports Club since 1865, and they've been using the clubhouse since it was built in 1876. That's an awful lot of history in one peaceful acre of grass and sports facilities in the heart of St Kilda. You don't have to be a member to enjoy the lawn bowls, dartboard, pool table and bar. Lawn bowls lanes (called rinks) can be hired for parties and events, and members of the public are always welcome at the bar. The St Kilda Sports Club is also home to the Emerald Hill Cricket Club, the Port Phillip Darts League, Petanque at St Kilda and the St Kilda Bowling Club. Catch the 96 to stop 133 (Canterbury Road) to have a go. The bar is open late, but you don't need to worry about getting home, because the 96 is part of the Night Network.

With its close proximity to Acland Street, it's no wonder St Kilda has one of the most popular beaches in Melbourne. The shore is home to all kinds of sport, whether you're a beach cricket, volleyball or frisbee enthusiast, and the water is safe for swimming and watersports. Take a walk down to St Kilda pier and breakwater and you might just spot one of the local fairy penguins (they're most active at dusk). Head down the other end of the beach and you'll eventually come to the ever-smiling face of Luna Park. You can get there on the 96, just get off at the end of the line at stop 145 (Acland St). All of the 96 trams are low floor and accessible, so those with mobility issues need not miss out on seeing these little cuties.