Weird, unique and unusual things to do in Melbourne

Delve beneath the surface, and there’s a world of weirdness to discover in Melbourne. Take a walk on the wild side with these offbeat attractions.

Explore an after-dark art experience at State Library Victoria

See State Library Victoria transform into an out-of-this-world late night art experience for Now or Never festival's Soft Centre. Hear live music in the iconic reading room. See mind-blowing multimedia works. And watch performances from some of Melbourne’s edgiest artists.  

Live like a pirate in a century-old building

To get your pirate on, heave ho to the heritage listed Mission to Seafarers and test your pipes at a free sea shanty sing-along session. These ever popular sessions are the ultimate way to blow off some steam, pirate-style. They run every Thursday, so dust off that eye patch and head on down for a pint and an evening of old timey music.

Pay homage to Elvis at the cemetery

The closest the King of Rock and Roll got to Australia was Hawaii. But no matter, Elvis Presley is honoured with a shrine in the Melbourne General Cemetery. It’s believed to be the only authorised Elvis memorial outside the US. Commissioned by Presley’s Victorian fan club, the landscaped grotto was unveiled by rock legend Johnny O’Keefe in 1977.

Go on a tour of Melbourne's rare treasures

See a Foster's beer tower from the good old days, retro Moomba Monarch crowns and a bottle of spumante dating back to who knows when. For the first time ever, City of Melbourne's Art and Heritage Collection is opening its doors to the public for free guided tours. There's also an Auslan tour for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Solve puzzles on a mystery bar crawl

If you can't decide where to go for drinks this weekend, leave it in the hands of the experts. AmazingCo has mashed up a bar crawl, walking tour and escape room into one glorious afternoon. Book the Mystery Basement Bar Hop and solve the puzzles to discover three of Melbourne's coolest subterranean bars. Once you've cracked the code, revel in your reward – cocktails and bar snacks!

Visit a gallery frozen in the 19th century

Multi-award-winning, critically acclaimed and held at an undisclosed East Melbourne location. The Johnston Collection is quite literally a hidden gem. The home’s maze of rooms are filled top to bottom with all that’s gilded and antique. Think chequerboard floors, glittering chandeliers and portraits of ruffle-necked figures. The special house museum hosts exhibitions and events year-round.

Go to the city's first axe-throwing bar

Melbourne's first – and we'd hazard to say only – axe-throwing bar just opened on Elizabeth Street. From the outside, Maniax looks like a black tunnel into nowhere. Approach the stairs and you're met with a dazzling neon sculpture. Head down and learn how to throw from the pros in a purpose-designed axe arena. Then refuel with pizza, cocktails and craft beer in the separate bar.

Get served by robot kitty waiters

Love them or hate them, robots are becoming a bigger part of daily life. To combat staff shortages, and to give hard-working waiters extra assistance, heaps of Melbourne's best new restaurants are utilising these cute animatronic kitties. See the machines in action at Kata Kita and Din Tai Fung. Then swing by Sam Sam to see the ultimate invention: a massive robot arm that does nothing but cook fried chicken.

Leave reality behind in an escape room

Want weird rather than everyday challenges? Find the clues and solve the puzzles posed by Melbourne’s perplexing escape rooms. Bring a team along to Trapt to journey through the wonderful world of Oz. Dial up the fear factor to explore the paranormal world of Annabelle at Lost in Melbourne. Or use your critical thinking skills to unlock the Odditorium at Escape Hunt.

Walk on the weird side of science

Melbourne's Science Gallery is home to some of the most unusual art installations in town. Explore the newest exhibition from August 3, SCI-FI: Mythologies. Think futuristic sculptures, cinema and more. Or check out an after-dark party in the gallery and enjoy DJs, short films, performances and giveaways.

Discover hidden coin booth karaoke

Private karaoke rooms and the odd open mic night are pretty well-known in Melbourne. Mini coin-operated singing booths? Not so common. Enter Kono, a hidden gem lined with disco-lit nooks perfect for solo or small group singing. Regulars can be heard singing along to BUZZ ballads in perfect Korean, but there’s a bumper book of English tunes to pick from, too.

Get chased by zombies

Put on your VR headset and pick up your free-roam controller. Then be transported to a virtual world at Zero Latency. Fend off undead swarms in Zombie Survival. Or fight to the death against killer robots in Singularity, lost in the depths of space. Choose your adventure in this huge virtual-reality gaming arena. You’ll be amazed by the ‘reality’ of this immersive experience.