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Overview
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Melbourne is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule.
We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the little things that bring that sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Melbourne. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine.
This week, treat yourself to an opulent, choc-peanut butter dessert you won't want to share, meet the creative practitioners of Melbourne and dabble in some Friday night culture with Van Gogh. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here.
All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
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Melbourne’s pan-Asian chef and restaurateur, Andrew McConnell, wants to get you off the couch this Monday evening. Remedy a weekend of bad behaviour with something sweet: namely, the ever-coveted peanut butter parfait, salted caramel and soft chocolate dessert at Supernormal, his ever-popular Flinders Street restaurant. The peanut butter parfait is the final crescendo on the restaurant’s hybrid menu: it injects a nut element into a typical western dessert format, securing its place alongside other Asian-inspired dishes. If you stop by for the peanut parfait, don’t be surprised if you find yourself facing three courses of pan-Asian dishes, showcasing McConnell’s delicate blend of Chinese, Japanese and Korean flavours.
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Take it slow this Tuesday. Make a detour to Readings in Carlton and figure out your winter reading list. The store’s bookshelves are lined with recommendations and the staff are consistently well-informed, friendly and passionate about their favourite books. Head down after work and you may find yourself in the presence of an award-winning author — Readings regularly hosts author talks and book launches at its Lygon Street store. Since it opened in 1969, Readings has been an institution for Melbourne’s discerning readers, and in August 2016, it was recognised on a global scale and named International Bookstore of the Year at the London Book Fair.
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Wash away the stress of the working week with a mid-week spa session at Onsen Ma. The Japanese-inspired bathhouse sits within a converted warehouse on Melbourne’s Meyers Place, full of natural light and calm tranquility. The bathing formula is simple: wash your body with soap and water, enter the warm bath and soak, nude, for as long as feels comfortable. Guests are then invited to spend some time in the sauna before a rinse and repeat. For the full relaxation package, opt for an additional Japanese dry massage, which uses the fingers, palms, knuckles and elbows on pressure points to relieve tension.
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On your waltz home from work, stop by Flinders Street Station’s Degraves Lane underpass. Here you’ll find The Dirty Dozen, a public art gallery of 12 display windows, each showcasing an ephemeral installation. Artists aren’t only on show, ‘creative practitioners’, as dubbed by Melbourne City Council — meaning tradies, lawyers and everyone in between — can also set up installations reflecting their professions and a theme or issue within it. Slow your mid-week rush, and see what the people of Melbourne have to show, from the meeting point of art and science by the engineers and scientists of Skunk Control, to the morphing, evolving art by Monash University fine art honours students.
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Replace a Friday knock-off at your local, with an evening of live music and 19th century Dutch post-impressionism at the NGV. This week, the Friday night performance is from Melbourne’s own Two Steps on the Water. Tickets also include after-hours entry to this year’s Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Van Gogh and the Seasons, which features some 50 samples of the artist’s paintings and drawings — the biggest collection of Van Gogh works to ever land on Australian shores.
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Learn the secrets to becoming the ultimate modern Melbourne man at the city’s annual celebration of masculinity and style. Hosted by small business association City Precinct, the Festival of Steve is a day-long event featuring designers, outfitters, retailers and more. Whether you’re looking to redo your (or a friend’s) wardrobe, or score a few pool tips from a champ, Steve is here to help you up your game. The fifth annual festival will be held at the Kelvin Club, featuring styling sessions, tastings and a whole slew of exhibitors specialising in everything from skincare to socks. By the time the day is done you (or he) will be a new man from top to toe.
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Sometimes it’s nice to get out of Melbourne. Rippon Lea is a hidden gem, boasting a grand estate, sweeping gardens and a vast lake — only seven kilometres out of the city. This winter, the magnificent heritage-listed Rippon Lea Estate is hosting a couple of exhibitions. One of them is Night Life, which utilises the National Trust of Australia’s fashion collection to display the stunning history of Australian fashion from the 1920s and 1930s. The exhibition features over 50 gowns and accessories — many made locally in Victoria. The event takes place within the historic mansion, but why not arrive early to explore the grounds? It’s an ideal spot for a picnic, and a classy way to round off the weekend.
Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.
By Rebecca O’Malley, Tom Clift and Caterina Hrysomallis.