Things Not To Do in Melbourne – 13 Mistakes Tourists Make

The people who live in Melbourne are friendly and come from many different backgrounds. But if you want to get the most out of your trip, you should follow our advice on these 13 things to make sure you stay safe and follow local rules.

Table of Contents

How to say it Mel-born

When Americans say Melbourne wrong, it makes the locals cringe. If you want to make a good first impression, don’t say “Mel-born.” Instead, say “Mel-buhn,” or “Mel-ben” if you’re in a hurry. Americans have trouble with this because there are cities named Melbourne in both Arkansas and Florida. Both of these cities are pronounced “Mel-born.”

Believe the weather report

Melbourne’s weather is known for being very unpredictable, so the weather forecast is more of a rough estimate. Prepare for anything by carrying a sweater in the summer and wearing layers you can take off in the winter, and don’t believe the predictions. Even the hit song Four Seasons in One Day by Crowded House was based on our crazy weather.

Things Not To Do in Melbourne – 13 Mistakes Tourists Make — Bourke Street, Melbourne, Australia | © Mike Wilson/Unsplash

Drink coffee from a chain of coffee shops

People from Melbourne don’t like people who drink at coffeehouse chains, like Starbucks, because they prefer small, local coffee shops. Locals go to specialty cafes often and know the baristas by name. All of the baristas are highly trained. The flat white and the latte are popular drinks in Melbourne, but our skilled baristas can make any kind of coffee, from pour over to cold drip.

Tip

In Melbourne, it’s not usual to leave a tip because service workers are paid a fair wage and don’t expect extra money. The average minimum wage in Melbourne is $17, so it’s up to the customer whether or not to leave a tip. “Keep the change” is a common phrase in Melbourne. People say it when they get great service or just don’t want to put their coins away.

Red and yellow flags don’t matter.

If you’ve seen an episode of Bondi Rescue, you know that rips are the biggest danger in Australian waters, and tourists and people who don’t know how to swim are often the ones who get caught in them. Always swim between the red and yellow flags, watch the lifeguards, and never swim at a beach that isn’t being watched.

Forget sunscreen

Even though the sun doesn’t shine as often in Melbourne as it does in Queensland and it’s not as hot as it is in the Northern Territory, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear sunscreen. Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, and Melbourne’s changeable weather makes people think they don’t need SPF. Keep a broad-spectrum sunscreen with you at all times to protect your skin.

Stay in the city all the time.

There’s no doubt that the city has a lot to offer. But if you want to see how the locals live, go to the bohemian suburbs of Fitzroy and Brunswick, the historical suburb of Abbotsford, Carlton, and St. Kilda, all of which are within five kilometers of Melbourne’s central business distric

Use too much typical slang

Australians use a wide range of slang, but not all of us talk in stereotypically Australian ways. In fact, you are more likely to hear phrases like “put another shrimp on the barbie” from other tourists than from people who live there.

Drive around town

If you don’t know how to do a “hook turn,” you shouldn’t drive in the city. This rare maneuver involves making a right turn from the left lane, which scares even the most skilled drivers. Melbourne is one of the only cities in the world with a turn like this, so if you’re not sure, we suggest taking public transportation.

Melbourne vs. Sydney debate

Did you know that Canberra was chosen as the nation’s capital in 1909 because of the competition between Melbourne and Sydney? This long-standing disagreement is unlikely to ever end, but it’s not a good idea to bring it up when you’re in either city. But if you have to choose, go with Melbourne, but don’t tell the people of Sydney.

Yarra River Swim

The Yarra River has dirty brown water that probably won’t make anyone want to swim in it, but if you’re still interested, you should know that it’s against the law to swim in some parts of the river. It’s also not good for your health because the water is polluted by storm water runoff, sewage, and plastic, and it has a lot of E. coli in it.

Publicly drink

If you don’t want to get a fine, don’t drink alcohol in public places in Melbourne. It’s against the law. The law is also followed during events and on holidays. We’re not telling you that you can’t drink, but you should only do so in places where it’s legal or at home.

Forget your Myki Card

To take the train, bus, or tram, you need a Myki Card, which you can buy ahead of time at a ticket office or certain stores. You can’t buy a smartcard on a tram or bus, though, so keep that in mind. If you don’t have a card and don’t want to pay $6 for one that doesn’t have any money on it, you can still ride the city circle tram for free.

Topic: Things Not To Do in Melbourne – 13 Mistakes Tourists Make

Become a member of Our Community on Facebook “I Left My Heart in Australia”. A place where members open up to one another, share their stories, travel photos, and experience a different way to travel Australia – together.