Things to do in Melbourne in March

Need a new fun family photo? We’ve got you. One of the world’s biggest immersive experiences is landing in Melbourne – serving up a fun, surreal backdrop for your Instagram grid glow-up. Bubble Planet: An Immersive Experience is opening in April at Fever Exhibition and Experience Centre, offering Melbournians a transporting, ultra-Instagrammable day out. Already experienced by more than two million visitors around the world, with sell-out runs in Milan, Los Angeles, London and Brussels, and a recent stint in Sydney, Bubble Planet is a fantastical world of optical illusions, cutting-edge virtual reality experiences, giant bubbles, and next-level immersive projections. Visitors to the Melbourne site can expect to embark on a dreamlike journey through 11 otherworldly rooms, home to giant bubble domes, LED underwater-style wonderlands, selfie hubs and VR dreamscapes. Sessions at this bizarre immersive world run for between 60-90 minutes, and the experience is suitable for people of all ages – with kids under four welcomed in for free. Keen? Bubble Planet Melbourne launches on April 1. You can learn more and snap up tickets over here.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Want fun now? These are the best things to do in Melbourne this weekend.These are the best things to do in Melbourne this week.And these are the must-do activities to add to your Melbourne bucket list.

There’s something special about sitting your kids down to watch the same show that you and and your parents did, decades ago. Believe it or not, Play School has been captivating little eyes since 1966 and ACMI is giving you the chance to come and explore the set brought to life, for free.  You can explore the Play School: Come and Play! exhibition at ACMI in Federation Square now until July 12. The perfect outing for two- to five-year-olds, little ones have the chance to check out the Rocket Clock, meet Big Ted, Jemima and Humpty Dumpty, sing songs and learn.  Kids can play presenter, camera operator or director – whatever tickles their fancy. The exhibition also includes Auslan translations throughout, with sensory-friendly, Auslan and audio-described sessions available. Plus, a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes and even hear from hosts like Leah Vandenberg and childhood experts in the Play School Talks series throughout April, June and September. Ready to come inside? Tickets to Play School: Come and Play! are free but make sure you book your spot here. Catch the exhibition at ACMI from 10am to 5pm until July 12.

Always longed to see the russet reds, burnt oranges and golden ochres of autumn foliage? Get to the Macedon Ranges this April for the month-long Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival. From April 1-30, nine charming villages across this picture-postcard region will transform into a playground for foodies, wine lovers and weekend wanderers with more than 50 events on the line-up. Come hungry, because the Autumn Pie and Tart Trail is reason enough to make the trip. Think flaky, buttery perfection in every bite – from rich beef and dark ale or lamb shank if you like your pies savoury, to sweet apple or fig and pistachio creations. Map out your own delicious road trip between country bakeries and don’t forget a picnic rug to sit among the fallen leaves. Plant-based eaters are also in for a treat with the Edgy Veg Trail, where 31 local pubs, cafés and restaurants are serving up creative plant-based dishes that go well beyond the usual fare. And, yes, there’s plenty to drink. The Tipple Trail brings together 37 venues pouring exclusive festival creations – from craft beer and cider to cool-climate wines and small-batch gin. So make sure to have a designated driver. Better yet, stay a few nights – accommodation ranges from affordable caravan parks to lux country cottages. For a taste of nature at her resplendent best, the Mount Macedon Autumn Garden Trail opens the gates to three gorgeous gardens: Duneira Estate, Forest Glade Gardens and Viewfield – all ablaze with autumn colour and...

Hey Melbourne, the Mormons are back! After wowing audiences in Sydney with plenty of "did they really just say that?” humour, The Book of Mormon is heading to the Princess Theatre from February 6. This somewhat unconventional musical comedy cleaned up at the Tony Awards after it debuted on Broadway in 2011, going on to break box office records and garner near-unanimous critical acclaim when it opened on London’s West End. When tickets for the show’s Australian debut in Melbourne were released in 2015 – nearly a year in advance of opening night – the Princess Theatre recorded its highest pre-sale period of any production in its 159-year history, also going on to win the Helpmann Award for Best Musical. For the uninitiated, The Book of Mormon follows two inept Mormon missionaries from Salt Lake City on their journey to save mortal souls in a corner of Uganda ruled by a one-eyed warlord. It’s the brainchild of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone – hence, you can expect a lot of explicit language – along with Avenue Q and Frozen co-creator Robert Lopez.  So what’s the secret of the show’s success? As Time Out London’s Theatre and Dance Editor Andrzej Lukowski wrote, Mormon was always going to be a hit, but what made it into the Mormania phenomenon is the fact that non-South Park fans love it too. The songs are excellent. Filthy, witty and outrageous, but also sumptuous and note-perfect, they nod to the golden age of the American musical.  As for how the show has...

For keen fashion thrifters looking for their next 'fit, the search ends here. The beloved vintage Revamp Market is popping back up in a cool new residency at Prahran Market this autumn, and you're invited.  Over three weekends in March, April and May, the Prahran Market mezzanine will become home to an epic collection of stalls selling vintage and pre-loved treasures, with unisex and multi-size clothes available. In addition to the plethora of shopping, there'll be DJs, food trucks and a bar, so the event truly is a one-stop shop.  Starting out as a Melbourne-born small business, this eco-friendly market is all about embracing your individuality by finding unique pieces that won't break the bank. Plus, if you love the thrill of digging for a find that's an absolute steal, there'll be some second-hand pieces from big designer labels, too.  Revamp Market will be held on: Friday, March 27 and Sunday, March 29; Friday April 24 and Sunday April 26; and Friday May 29 and Sunday May 31. The markets will be open for your thrifting business from 5.30pm to 9pm on Fridays, and 10am to 3pm on Sundays.  Entry is totally free, but if you want to put on a stall of your own, you can book it in over here for $85.  Love the thrill of bagging a pre-loved fashion find? Check out our list of the best op shops in Melbourne.  

From Cleopatra and Mark Antony's empire-toppling romance to Romeo and Juliet's family-defying affair, love has often been an act of rebellion. Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations takes matters of the heart seriously in this sweeping, immersive new exhibition at the State Library, drawing on its extraordinary archives to trace how people have dared to love across centuries of Australian history. The exhibition runs for almost a year and brings together handwritten letters, private diaries, rare manuscripts and deeply personal objects to weave a tapestry of passion, heartbreak and devotion. You’ll encounter Victorian-era same-sex couples living together against the odds, a mid-century interracial marriage that challenged the White Australia policy, and the prison romance between bushrangers Captain Moonlight and James Nesbitt. Fragile keepsakes are also featured in the show, including a haunting 1853 mourning brooch woven from lovers’ hair, alongside letters that read like a late-night confessional. What makes Rebel Heart especially distinctive is how it bridges the past with the present. Historical stories are amplified by newly commissioned music from Australian artists Angie McMahon, Mindy Meng Wang, Mo’Ju and Amos Roach, each responding to real love stories held in the library’s collection.  The exhibition also explores how rebellion and romance play out today – from DMs and fandoms to fan fiction and even AI relationships. It’s set to be a smart,...

One of the world’s oldest garments is getting the spotlight treatment in The Offbeat Sari, a major international exhibition making its Australian debut at Bunjil Place this autumn. Travelling from London’s Design Museum, the exhibition curated by Priya Khanchandani reimagines the sari as an adaptable and politically charged garment in contemporary India. Bringing together 54 trailblazing saris by leading designers and emerging studios, the The Offbeat Sari argues that the garment is undergoing one of the most rapid periods of reinvention in its 5,000-year-old history. Running from 21 March until the end of August, the exhibition unfolds across three thematic sections. 'Transformations' will highlight experimental approaches to drape and silhouette, from distressed denim saris to sequins cut from hospital X-ray film, alongside videos documenting regional draping styles across India. 'Identity' and 'Resistance' will examine how the sari has been used to express gender, class and activism, featuring garments worn in protest movements and by artists challenging social norms. While 'New Materialities' will dive into textile innovation, from ultra-fine stainless-steel saris to sculptural couture made from high-impact foiled jersey. The show will feature everyday street style – think saris worn with sneakers – to high-end fashion by designers including Abraham and Thakore, Raw Mango and NorBlackNorWhite, alongside red-carpet creations by Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani and Anamika...

Ever wanted to soar above a rainforest canopy or wander beneath the frozen surface of the polar seas? Melbourne Museum invites you to do just that with Our Wondrous Planet, a breathtaking, immersive exhibition celebrating the interconnected magic of life on Earth. Spanning reef, rainforest, ice and soil, this multisensory experience drops visitors into the planet’s most vital ecosystems. Room-sized projections, interactive moments and storytelling bring the natural world to life. More than 800 remarkable animals from across the globe take centre stage, appearing in environments that pulse, swirl and shimmer. Witness the beginnings of a coral reef, come face-to-face with rainforest icons, glide through icy waters and explore hidden root networks and organisms working quietly beneath our feet. The exhibition is anchored by distinct spaces: Our Family, showcasing animals from the much-loved Wild gallery and exploring the human place in the tree of life; Our Roots, a reflective First Peoples-led space centred on care, reciprocity and connection to Country; and Our Moment, an interactive zone encouraging visitors to work together on the planet’s biggest challenges. What sets Our Wondrous Planet apart is its blend of First Peoples and scientific knowledge, showing how everything on Earth is connected and how small human actions can make a difference. Family-friendly, visually spectacular and thought-provoking, this exhibition entertains while leaving plenty to reflect on. Our...

From Raphael’s 'Madonna and Child' to Louise Bourgeois’ 'Maman', the maternal bond has long been one of art’s most enduring subjects. And now, a new exhibition at the NGV, Mother: Stories from the NGV Collection, puts motherhood firmly in the frame, bringing together more than 200 historical and contemporary works to examine how the experience of being, becoming and relating to motherhood has been imagined across cultures, generations and media. Running from March 27 to July 12, 2026, at the NGV's Ian Potter Centre, Mother will span painting, sculpture, photography, weaving, decorative arts and moving image, moving beyond sentimental tropes to grapple with the realities and contradictions of motherhood – warts and all. Themes range from societal expectations and invisible labour to mythology, religion and the deep connections between motherhood, nature and Country for First Nations communities. A standout from the exhibit is Ruth O’Leary’s 'Flinders Street, 2017', created after the birth of her first child, in which a public photobooth becomes a makeshift studio: a poignant meditation on care and the blurred boundaries between public and private life. Other highlights include two new acquisitions by David Hockney, a moving image work by Hayley Millar Baker and a towering sculpture from 1893 by Betram Mackennal. The exhibition features works by an expansive roster of artists, including Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin, Camille Henrot, David Hockney, Tracey Moffatt, Iluwanti...

Step into a garden of ideas at the Potter Museum of Art, where three familiar figures from nature – a velvet ant, a flower and a bird – will encourage you to rethink what intelligence really means.  A velvet ant, a flower, and a bird is a new exhibition curated by the internationally renowned curator Chus Martínez that draws on works from the University of Melbourne's art, biology and classics collections, alongside contemporary commissions and performances, to propose a radical rethinking of how knowledge is made and distributed across species and materials.  Structured around the velvet ant, the flower and the bird, each 'being' carries a symbolism: the velvet ant, inspired by recent scientific research into its light-absorbing body, represents radical adaptation and material intelligence; the flower is there to embody renewal and creative transformation; and the bird, drawing on studies of flocking behaviour, points to the power of collective intelligence. Historic artefacts and contemporary artworks sit side by side, forgoing the usual exhibition hierarchies between disciplines, objects and media. Visitors to the exhibit will move through an environment and let their imagination take the lead. Rather than presenting knowledge as fixed or linear, Martínez invites audiences to think relationally – to consider intelligence as something shared across living systems, environments and technologies. The exhibition features work by a wide-ranging group of Australian and...