Hazel Lee

They don't call us "marvellous Melbourne" for nothing, you know. Our city has more than a dozen attractions and experiences you can't find anywhere else, not to mention our one-of-a-kind residents (we have Carrot Man, need we say more?).  Many know Melbourne for the laneways and art galleries. Our affinity for coffee and incredible food also knows no bounds. But to really experience the best of Melbourne, we’d suggest hitting up some of the more unusual sites on this list. RECOMMENDED: 101 things everyone in Melbourne needs to do at least once.

Everyone knows how much this city loves a bottomless brunch. Huxtaburger knows this, so every Sunday, they're swapping their signature burgers for an all-you-can-eat-and-drink lunch session. The Melbourne burger joint is offering a boozy meal charged with unlimited wings, chips and gravy. For boozing, you will be treated to 90 minutes of free-flowing drinks, including Furphy, shiraz and sauvignon blanc from Republic as well as Batch and Co Sorrento Spritzes (with pear, fig and pinot grigio) and Bondi Spritzes (with guava, strawberry and rosé).  It will set you back a reasonable $35 per person, and it’s running every Sunday from 11am to 4pm until September 15. No bookings are required, but you can choose from the Huxtas located in the CBD, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Prahran, Eastland or Footscray. Find more of the best bottomless brunches around Melbourne.

It’s safe to say that we’re all looking forward to the end of this miserable winter weather. But before it warms up, Mt Baw Baw is holding its great toboggan race on Saturday, 10 August.  There will be heaps of prizes up for grabs with competitions open for adults and kids. Toboggan the fastest and you might even be crowned the national champion. The tobogganing after party will be held at the Alpine Hotel with the Picassos serving up sweet covers from the past 60 years. Entry to the competition is free but you’ll need a toboggan lift pass or a ski lift pass to take part. Thin plastic toboggans will not be allowed due to safety reasons, but you can rent a sturdy toboggan on site. Mt Baw Baw is a two and a half hour drive from the CBD – since the event starts at midday, you’ll have to hit the road early. Closer to home, check out this immersive photography exhibition about Chernobyl. Plus Carlton Gardens is getting the Mad Max treatment for White Night.

Nothing says "Melbourne" like throwing in craft beer at unexpected places. It seems this is also the case for our airport. Yes, you heard that right. Collingwood's Stomping Ground Brewing Company will be opening a brand-new airport brewery inside the international terminal at Melbourne Airport.  It will officially be known as the southern hemisphere's first-ever airport brewery. As the Stomping Ground team will be brewing on-site, you'll get to choose from (and taste) a wide range of craft beer, plus a selection of food from the brewery's Collingwood menu. Maybe having your flight delayed isn't so bad after all... As part of a new hospitality upgrade, Melbourne Airport will also be opening new outposts by some of Melbourne's most loved cafés and bars. Chef Scott Pickett will open a second Pickett's Deli & Rotisserie (you'll find the original at Queen Vic Market); TV personality Shane Delia will open Moors by Shane Delia; popular café Cobb Lane will bring their famous pastries, plus there will be new outposts for Axil Coffee Roasters, Proud Mary and heaps more. New venues will start to open in September while full renovations of Terminal 2 and 3 are expected to be completed by December 2019. Stay tuned. Get excited: the 8 most exciting thing coming to Melbourne by the end of 2019.

Want to indulge in vinos but feel bad leaving your dog at home? Now you can forget the sad goodbyes and head out on a tipsy trip with your four-legged friend. Pooches and Pinot is offering an all-inclusive Yarra Valley wine tour where your pooch is welcome. This private tour allows up to four guests and their dogs (two at a maximum) to visit boutique wineries and distilleries in one of Melbourne's premier wine regions. Guests get to sit back and relax with their dogs as they are driven to pet-friendly wineries and cellar doors all over the Yarra Valley. As you sip, your dog can have a sniff and stretch and get plenty of pooch love. There's an array of lunch options from gourmet picnics to winery lunches for those who hop on a full-day tour. The Pooches and Pinot tour is a great option for dog owners who want to go on a Yarra Valley wine tour, but aren't so keen on driving themselves around. You can find out what the fuss is about and book here. Don't have a dog? No worries. Pooches and Pinot will happily bring along their own dogs, George and Henry, for those without a dog. Check out some of our favourite wineries in the Yarra Valley.

Park Trek Walking Holidays is bringing two things that Melburnians love together: hiking and relaxation. For four days, you can join a fully guided hiking and yoga tour in the Victorian Alps, covering approximately 58 kilometres of the spectacular High Country region. The trip will include plenty of scenic walks through the mountains, including a hike of one of Victoria's highest peaks. As well as the walks, there will be yoga and meditation exercises happening throughout the day. Worried about not having enough experience? Never fear. All walks and yoga exercises are led by skilled guides and instructors. Keen campers can book here but keep in mind that there are only ten spots available. Currently, there's a tour running from November 16 to 19. It'll set you back $1700 per person for a twin-share, with an additional $300 for your own room. You'll be covered for three nights accommodation in Falls Creek Village, all national park entry fees, food, drinks and group transfers that depart and return to Melbourne.  Take a hike: Here are more of Melbourne's best day hikes to try. Looking for things to do this chilly winter? Here's everything we love about winter in Melbourne. 

Melbourne’s independent electronic music promoters Novel have transformed an old Italian club and unused sporting complex into a techno lover's playground. The venue, which is located in Thornbury, is now known as the Thornbury Social Club.  Spread over two levels, the venue has multiple areas to explore including old squash courts and even an extravagant ballroom. Just last month, Thornbury Social Club debuted with established DJ Ben Klock, who brought a wall of sound to an old bocce ball court. Photograph: Supplied The venue was selected for its secluded location with the team managing to secure a rare late liquor license that runs until 5am.  Novel is known for big projects in the techno scene like Pitch Music & Arts, Let Them Eat Cake and Living Room Festival. Some big and exciting international artists are expected to play at the venue soon, including one of the biggest names in techno right now, Stephan Bodzin. Thornbury Social Club is located at the Furlan Club, 2-8 Inman Street in Thornbury. More here. FYI Cherry Bar has revealed its final day of trading (for real this time).

Melbourne’s beauty is a kind of subtle, low-key one; it’s not the in-your-face kind where it demands your attention (we’re looking at you, New York) but instead, it takes a bit of insider knowledge to find its best bits. If you do take the time to look around our fair city, you might just realise how much our city loves concrete.    Prahran Hotel Photograph: Clinton Weaver, © Blue Crow Media   There's really quite something about these big, chunky slabs of pale light or dark concrete. And we’re not the only ones who think so. Following on from their Brutalist Sydney Map, Blue Crow Media have released a Concrete Melbourne Map. This map cements (pun intended) concrete as the basis of Melbourne's most eye-catching buildings.   The Royal Women's Hospital Car Park in Parkville Photograph: Clinton Weaver, © Blue Crow Media   This two-sided guide walks readers through 50 concrete projects across Melbourne. There’s the underground car park in the University of Melbourne (you might recognize from the police garage scene in the first Mad Max movie), the Royal Women’s Hospital Car Park, the circular addition to the Prahran Hotel, and St Kilda Library. Photograph: Supplied Cop one of these maps at any independent bookstore or here for $16.95. Find more of Melbourne's most beautiful buildings here.

Ever dreamt of falling asleep and waking up in a secluded paddock with views over bushland, swimmable dams and a gorgeous skyline? With a strong reception in NSW, In2thewild Tiny Holidays has finally launched in Victoria and is excited to bring Sancho, a new tiny house to the state. Located less than 90 mins drive north-west from Melbourne CBD, Sancho is located in the Hepburn Shire – but the exact location of the house won’t be revealed until a few days out from your arrival. Exciting! Photograph: Supplied Sancho sleeps three with a single loft bed and a queen bed set under a picture window, creating a sense of the outdoors while still tucked up in bed. The tiny house also comes with a full bathroom with toilet, hot shower and basin, and a fully-equipped kitchen with plenty of space to move around or kick back. Wintry nights should be less of a worry as the in-built heater will keep everyone in the house warm and toasty. Photograph: Supplied Step outside and you get to enjoy a campfire, barbecue, picnic table and local residents (also known as friendly goats and kangaroos) will also be part of your wilderness adventure. Reservations are now open, with prices starting from $229 per night for a midweek stay. Keep in mind there’s a minimum two-night stay.  Looking for more cosy cabins? Stay in one of these near Melbourne.