Melbourne’s CBD packs a punch, but venture into the Northern Suburbs and you’ll unlock a whole new perspective on Australia’s capital of culture. Whether you want to rub shoulders with hipsters in Fitzroy, eat up a storm in Northcote or sip your way through cafes in Brunswick, venturing into the Northern Suburbs is never dull.

Things to do

A mecca for all things quirky, Fitzroy is the beating heart of Melbourne’s hipster scene. Brunswick Street serves as the main drag and is lined with various organic cafes, vegetarian restaurants, and vintage boutiques.

Famous for its cafe culture, Brunswick is another Northern Suburbs jewel. You can browse indie galleries by day, such as the Brunswick Arts Space, then hit local breweries and cocktail bars by night.

Northcote is Melbourne’s new kid on the block, luring city slickers with its bars, boutiques and live music venues. You’ll find a smorgasbord of brunch spots along the Westgarth strip and make sure you head up Ruckers Hill for sweeping views of Melbourne’s skyline.

It may be famous for its AFL team but Collingwood is also a great place to bar hop. Nearby Thornbury is a hub for artists and musicians, with the Thornbury Theatre hosting everything from folk concerts to comedy shows under an iconic art-deco facade.

Getting around

Melbourne is serviced by an efficient tram network, which makes accessing the Northern Suburbs easy. From the CBD, trams can whisk you to Fitzroy in 20 minutes. Local buses and overland trains also offer great connections to the outer suburbs. The Northern Suburbs connects to Tullamarine Airport, which sits just 20 kilometers west.