6 Great Accessible Melbourne Activities

After more than half a year in lockdown we are finally starting to see the results of our sacrifices in Victoria with the gradual easing of restrictions. At last Victorian residents will be able to venture out into their state again and enjoy some of the wonderful experiences on offer.

With that in mind, I present to you a list of great, fun and accessible activities for you to do now that you are almost allowed full freedom again!

Eureka Skydeck

Anyone who lives in Melbourne knows the Eureka Skyscraper; it is only one of the tallest buildings in the entire southern hemisphere after all! Luckily for visitors, the Eureka Skydeck offers an experience like no other, featuring a viewing platform an astonishing 88 floors high! There’s no better place in the city of Melbourne to get the lay of the land.

If you are feeling especially brave there is even an extra experience called ‘The Edge’ – a “glass cube that projects from the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower and suspends visitors almost 300 meters high above Melbourne.”

Due to the height of the tower the elevators do move quite quickly. Make sure that you/the person you are visiting the Eureka with is comfortable with both heights and fast moving elevators.

At the time of writing they are not yet operating post COVID-19, but are planning on being up and running by 18 December. You can find more information on the Eureka Skydeck website here.

Hot Air Balloon Ride

There is little that is more beautiful than the sunrise views from a hot air balloon above Melbourne. For those that have never experienced this before, you simply must. For those that have, well why not do it again?

Global Ballooning Australia (GBA) offers a completely accessible hot air balloon experience, utilising Australia’s first EAB (easy access basket), which includes special seats, seatbelts and a door into the basket.

GBA has also now resumed operation with a COVID-safe plan in action, so are ready to take you for a flight now! Make sure to give them a call for your booking as the EAB must be booked in advance.

You can find more information about Global Ballooning Australia on their website here.

Go to the Australian Open

That’s right, it’s coming up to that time of year that the titans of the tennis world will be returning to Australian courts. Those people with access needs living in Melbourne can be treated to some of the world’s best accessible spectator sporting facilities.

Rod Laver Arena has great accessible seating options that provide an even better view than some of the general access seats do! These need to be booked in advance  so make sure you give them a call or request a call back to secure your ticket to the show!

No matter your access needs they will have you covered amenities including disability parking, site-wide ramps, court side lifts, accessible toilets, etc.

At time of writing there has been no announcement on attendance levels allowed at this years Australian Open with respect to COVID-19. With this in mind, make sure you book as soon as tickets go on sale to ensure you don’t miss out.

You can find more information on Rod Laver Arena’s accessibility on their website here.

Visit the SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

The SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is situated right in the heart of Melbourne, less than 1km from Flinders Street Station. This provides exceptionally easy access for anyone who can take advantage of the city’s public transport system.

You may not have realised but every exhibit on site is also completely accessible!

The aquarium has also reopened their doors since COVID and are ready to see you for a visit! Tickets can be purchased on site or online. With crowd density restrictions still in place across Melbourne, it is best to call ahead and ensure you reserve a spot.

You can find more information on the SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and their accessibility on their website here.

Experience the Australian Sports Museum

For anyone who considers themselves a sports fan, the Australian Sports Museum is a must see.

Situated at the shining beacon of Australian sport, the MCG, is easy to access via public transport of any kind. There is some limited disability parking around the MCG so parking will not be an issue as long as you get there with enough time to source a spot.

Every entrance to the MCG caters for wheelchair access and the exhibits themselves are all accessible too. Guide dogs, carers and companions are also more than welcome in the Australian Sports museum at no extra cost (with a valid companion card).

The museum features an interactive section that has heaps of mini games included in the price of entry that is sure to keep kids entertained as well!

You can learn more about the Australian Sports Museum and its accessibility here.

Visit Melbourne’s Iconic Laneways

Melbourne has the true privilege of being host to some of the worlds most iconic laneways featuring boutique shops, funky cafes and downright inspiring street art.

What better way to see these laneways than by being shown around by an expert?

The superstars over at MELTours can offer an experience specifically catered to those with accessible needs, all you need to do is call ahead!

These guys are experts in their field and you can trust that by exploring with them, you are getting to see all the best spots that the Melbourne Laneways have to offer.

You can find out more about the MELTours Laneway Experience here.

As you can see here, there’s so much the beautiful city of Melbourne has to offer and this is only scratching the surface! We at Access Advisor are super excited to get back out and about now that COVID restrictions have eased.

Hope to see you out there!

– Tyler