Hi, we are visiting Melbourne 14 to 20 Nov. Could anyone advise us what we could do there from 6pm to 10pm? No pubs, please, we have kids age 12 & 15. Thanks.

Friday night is the only evening when the shops are open and that's untill 9pm. However at that time of the year its daylight savings time and its not dark untill about 8.30pm (maybe a bit later) so you can walk in the parks. I'm assuming you'll want to eat and there is a huge choice of foods available in Melb, but you may want to head out of the city and go to one of the eating streets - Lygon and Brunswick are the most popular, but there are plenty of others as well. There are cinemas and live theatres and one not to be missed is one of the 2 viewing platforms - Rialto and Eureka and I suggest the evening is the best as you get 2 views - day view and then watch the sun set and then the lights come on all over the city and suburbs.

You can go on a sunset cruise to see the City Penguins in Port Phillip Bay. This is only 5 km from the CBD. The little fairy penguins parade ashore to a rock. On the way out to the bay you pass the city, the Port of Melbourne, Westgate Bridge and Williamstown. Departure is at 7pm. When I was there the tour took two hours because pick-up was at Docklands. But I think they have made changes and now start in St. Kilda, so the tour is shorter. Anyway. The tourist info on Federation Square can make the reservation for you. Of course, this cruise depends on the weather. So bad weather or rough sea means: no cruise.

More info here:

www.urbanpenguins.com

The Botanic Gardens are open until 8.30pm in November.

You can also cruise the Yarra River in the evening.

I love strolling along the Yarra at southbank at night. There is so much going on and the surroundings are wonderfully pleasant. I walk from the Casino area down to the Flinders Street Bridge, cross over and come back on the other side. Plenty to see and many many eateries of all kinds and prices.

Places to find good restaurants: China Town, Fed Square, Lygon Street Carlton, Docklands New Quay area, Southbank, Crown Complex to name but a few.

Places/Things to see: Fed Square, walks along Yarra River, Fitzroy gardens, Royal botanical gardens, Birrarung Marr (park next to fed square),MCG, Alexadra Gardens skate park, St Kilda beach/luna park.

All these places are in or really close to the city.

BTW, Lygon Street Festa may be an option for you. Its a street festival celebrating the ethnic diversity of this famous street. Located just north of the CBD in Carlton. I believe its in November this year. ne1 confirm pls?

Sorry - just to contradict sirgaw - late night shopping in Melbourne (and indeed many parts of Australia) is Thursday nights.

Lady Godiva, please get on that horse of yours - LOL

>Sorry - just to contradict sirgaw - late night shopping in Melbourne
>(and indeed many parts of Australia) is Thursday nights.

For some reason Melb generally is Fri night and other cities Thurs night. Don't know why we are different, however supermarkets are open every night till 10pm or some midnight.

Now Lady Godiva you might have to ride that horse on Thurs night looking for shops where you can cover the modesty - but I think you'll freeze before you find anything. Let me know when and I'll take the photo - LOL

Definitively the night for late night shopping in Melbounre is Friday night. Supermarkets are open every night until at least 10pm but a good deal are open until midnight.

Granted, I haven't been home since 2006, but when I was there all the shopping centres etc had late night shopping on Thursday nights and they still do. Shops are open late on Fridays too now, but Thursday nights always used to be the only late night shopping night.
http://www.chadstoneshopping.com.au/centreinfo/tradinghours/
http://www.eastland.com.au/trading_hours/trading_hours.cfm?dynID=7http://www.knoxshoppingcentre.com.au/tradinghours.amx
http://www.foresthillchaseshopping.com.au/tradinghours/

Maybe we should both get off (or on) our horses, as we're both right ;o)

Yes you are both right but the safe night for late night shopping in Melbourne is Friday night. Some will also open late on Thursday, but nearly all will be open until 9pm on the friday. You need to take into account the strip shopping centres, CBD shops, the DFO etc.

Thanks eggboy - and here's another link http://www.myer.com.au/stores/tradinghours_vic.asp and its a hotch-potch of closing times. Myer city closes at 7pm Thurs, but the major shopping centres its 9pm. Everywhere its 9pm for Fri evening.

I'd still like to see Lady Godiva trying to buy clothes to cover up on a Thurs night along Bridge Road Richmond and gives a whole new meaning to the term "strip shopping" - LOL

Hey Eggboy - yup, it's Nov this year. Thanks for the advice =)

gosh, i realised we will miss the shopping night as we will arrive on Sat 15 Nov morning leaving on Thu 20 Nov morning!!

Should be much warmer in November for the Lygon st festa. Might take myself and the "egglets" along. It can get really crowded so keep an eye on the young ones.

Eggboy