Things to do in Melbourne on January 26

We’ve gathered together a list of some of the charities and organisations supporting Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and PoC voices around Australia and the world. If you aren’t in a position to help financially, there are other ways you can show your support. Read on to learn how to provide financial support, get to know these organisations or get involved in their vital work. 

While Sydney gets all the beachy glory, Melbourne's bay beaches are a terrific place to spend some time outside, whether you're keen on swimming, wading, beachcombing or just relaxing on the sand. Here are our pick of the best beaches in Melbourne.

Plenty of restaurants are still open this public holiday, so eat like a king or queen while barely making a dent in your wallet. While the days of $6 pints and $10 burgers may be well and truly behind us (thanks, cozzie livs crisis), Melbourne still carries the mantle as a city brimming with tasty, cheap and multiculturally diverse eats – from authentic Mexican tacos to world-class Japanese ramen; you just need to know where to look. 

Connect to the country through these four Indigenous-led tours that run in Melbourne and surrounding regions of the Kulin Nation. Visitors can gain a deeper understanding of Melbourne's past and better understand Wurundjeri culture – a culture that dates back hundreds of thousands of years.

Explore more: meet the Deadly Melburnians, retrace history with Aunty Carolyn Briggs and learn the basics of Boon Wurrung language from Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir.

Whether you're after a sing-along musical or an edge-of-your-seat theatrical thriller, make the most of an extra day off to catch a production at one of Melbourne's theatres. From A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Royal Botanic Gardens to  a spectacular, spectacular production of Moulin Rouge! there is plenty to see.

This January 26, getting behind local Indigenous-owned businesses is an accessible means through which we can demonstrate allyship. Ranging from stunning sartorial designs to authentic artistry, here are some Indigenous-owned businesses around Victoria whose goods you can enjoy all the while championing the world’s oldest continuing culture. 

We love this beautiful city of ours, but sometimes it's nice to get out into nature for a stroll – or something more intense. And a public holiday is a great chance to do so. Dust off those hiking boots, pack that scroggin, fill your Camelbak and get ready to explore some of the most gorgeous hikes within an easy drive of Melbourne.

Experience the sights and sounds of Australia’s First Nations artists like never before with Connection, the latest immersive experience at the Lume. Spanning 3,000 square metres of gallery space, Connection features projections four storeys high and an awe-inspiring display of original art including intricate dot paintings and wood carvings.

During the warmer months, Melbourne's long days and balmy nights make for the perfect backdrop for an outdoor cinema. This is exactly why our fair city has so many of them. From 1950s-style drive-ins to outdoor rooftop cinemas scattered across the suburbs, Melbourne has plenty of locations to catch an al fresco film this public holiday – these are just a few of our favourites. 

In a survey commissioned by the First Nations education platform SharingStories Foundation, four in five (80 per cent) Australians want more First Nations culture taught in schools. Sadly, only around 49 per cent of those surveyed said they'd been taught Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history in any significant or authentic way. To help remedy this problem, the foundation has put together five ways you can spend January 26 learning about Australian Indigenous history, and we've rounded them up.

Victoria is a fantastic state to explore by car. From idyllic coastal towns to breathtaking alpine regions, our state has got a bit of everything. Buckle up and get ready to explore Victoria on one of the best road trips from Melbourne. We've done all the research so all you need to do is hop in the car and choose where to go. 

Traversing time and space, Wurrdha Marra is an exhibition celebrating the diversity of First Nations art and design. Open now at the ground floor and foyer of the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia it is a dynamic and ever-changing exhibition space that displays masterpieces and never-before-shown works from the NGV’s First Nations collection.

Melbourne is home to heaps of beautiful beaches, but if you're keen on taking a dip without getting sand where the sun don't shine, a lake might be the answer. We've rounded up ten of our favourite lakes, including gorgeous pink lakes if you're looking for something otherworldly, and lakes that are lesser-known for those not keen on sharing the waters with too many other people. Many of them also feature picnic areas, barbecue pits, fishing spots and areas that are perfect for water sports like paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking. Don't forget to slip-slop-slap!