Guest Author - Tania Nadarajan

St Kilda in Melbourne Australia is crowned Melbourne’s favourite playground, and befittingly so as it offers heaps of outdoor fun, laughter and entertainment for young and old. There are so many ways to enjoy St Kilda, here are just a few highlights of the place.

St Kilda Beach is a convenient 20 minutes tram ride from the city. Running parallel to the beach is a beautiful palm tree lined esplanade, where you can roller blade, bike or jog along. Commonly called the Bay Trail, the esplanade runs for 6km, presenting a scenic stretch for anyone after some beach exercise. Being an inner city beach, it is also a very popular place to lay sun baking in the sand or have a picnic and people watch. For a serene moment, stroll out to the pier and take in the sea breeze and borderless view.

To live like a child again, pay a visit to Luna Park, Australia’s oldest amusement park. First opened in 1912, it has over 90 years experience entertaining and exhilarating visitors. With 16 rides and attractions, there is bound to be one that gets your heart racing.

Because Luna Park is situated on the most scenic strip of the Port Philip Bay, there are some rides that should not be missed. Take the Scenic Railway ride, which travels at 50km/hour, and watch the stunning bay views unfold. Get on the Ferris Wheel for sweeping bay and city views, and don’t miss Pharaoh’s Curse, the only place in the world where you can see Port Philip Bay upside down.

If you’re feeling like an adventurous dare devil, get on Enterprise, Metropolis, G Force and Spider where you will be hurtled and spun till your adrenalin flows overtime. For gentler family rides, take the Silly Serpent, Ghost Train and Twin Dragon. And if you are taking little kids, they will love Arabian Merry, Red Baron and the Carousel, with its 70 individually hand painted horses.

An afternoon of rides can set you back quite a bit as single rides can cost as much as A$7 a ride. You can purchase an unlimited ride ticket for A$35.95 and this is especially worth it if you intend to take more than 5 rides. Admission is free so even if you are on a tight budget, go in anyway as you can still make a good afternoon out of watching the upside down screaming faces and soaking in the atmosphere of gay banter and childish giggles.

If shopping is your passion, do not overlook the Esplanade Market, situated on the walkway above St Kilda Beach. Every Sunday from 10am – 5pm, local artists set up stalls and display their handiwork to the public. With around 200 stalls selling handmade and original artwork, toys, jewellery, paintings, decorative items and even cosmetics, it is definitely a place to pick up some of the best gift ideas.

Even if buying isn’t on your mind, it is an enjoyable experience to browse the stalls, appreciating the diverse and creative displays. Being a maker’s market, it is also a great opportunity to interact and chat with the maker’s of the products. You may pick up some handy hints and also discover the hidden ingredients to make the best body lotions.

All that walking, browsing and fun activities will surely create a good appetite and where better to fuel yourself than along Acland and Fitzroy streets – reputable for its countless restaurants and cafes.

Sit by a café, enjoy a cuppa, watch the world go by and be fascinated by the many interesting people that pass you by. St Kilda is definitely a place where you can quite happily spend an afternoon sipping coffee and just watching the world go by.

For more on the best eating places, watch out for the upcoming article on St Kilda’s food galore.