11 Great Things To Do In St Kilda Australia

If you’re looking for the best things to do in St Kilda, I have you covered! This post highlights everything you'll want to see, from the iconic Luna Park and stunning botanical gardens to the beautiful stretch of beach and the famous St Kilda penguins.

St Kilda is a vibrant Melbourne beach suburb and the perfect place to spend a day away from the city or for a long weekend, chilling with friends and enjoying the St Kilda attractions.

During my 6-week road trip around Australia, we stayed for two nights in St Kilda after arriving in Melbourne following our 3-night road trip from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. We wanted to be by the ocean rather than in the centre of Melbourne, so St Kilda was a perfect choice.

So after returning our hired car and sightseeing in Melbourne, we hopped on a tram and arrived in St Kilda in under 30 minutes.

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Experience The Best St Kilda Attractions

Find your inner child at Luna Park

If Luna Park looks familiar, it's because its twin is located in Sydney Harbour; however, Luna Park in St Kilda is Australia’s oldest theme park, having opened in 1912.

Mr Moon's iconic open mouth welcomes adults and children to his amusement park to have fun on the carousel, Ferris wheel, and try-your-luck stalls.

Luna Park is a must-visit in St Kilda, and you can buy a ticket for unlimited rides or a ticket that will allow entry to look around this iconic Melbourne landmark, with one ride included.

Visit Palais Theatre

Next to Luna Park is another iconic St Kilda landmark, the Art Deco Palais Theatre. Constructed in the early 1920s, it has hosted many notable stars, including Ed Sheeran, Shirley Bassey, and Bob Dylan.

If you want to visit the theatre in St Kilda, please check the official Palais Theatre website for details of what's on during your visit.

Stroll around the Botanical Gardens

I love exploring botanical gardens around the world, so I had to visit this one.

Created in the 1800s, this little oasis in the heart of St Kilda has beautiful planting, from palm trees to colourful flowers.

At its centre is an ornamental lake, home to a figure called The Rain Man. It is solar-powered, and raindrops continuously fall from his umbrella. It is rather lovely to see.

St Kilda's botanical garden is the perfect place to bring a picnic and relax under the shade of the tree because it can get hot in St Kilda, even on a windy day!

Buy a mouthwatering cake from the Ackland Street Cake Shop

No trip to St Kilda would be complete without a trip to the famous Acland Cake Shop.

It opened 90 years ago and is still popular in St Kilda. Its baked pastries include Crostoli and French Vanilla Slices.

When faced with so many mouth-watering cakes, it's hard to decide what to buy. We ended up buying two meringues and a cream slice, which were delicious.

Grab a bite to eat at Fitzroy Street

St Kilda's hub is Fitzroy Street, where you'll find shops, restaurants, bars, entertainment hubs, and tons of visitors all out for a good time.

During the day, the pavement becomes a space for outdoor dining with tables and chairs to accommodate hungry diners. At night, the area comes alive with music and funky bars that serve craft beers and cocktails.

If you want nightlife in St Kilda, Fitzroy Street is where you need to head to.

Wander along St Kilda Beach, the best in Melbourne

Walking along the beach is one of the best free things to do in St Kilda.

It stretches approximately 700 metres between the harbour and the marina, featuring a lovely parkland foreshore known as South Beach Reserve. Here you will find many delightful restaurants and cafes.

The iconic Beachcomber Cafe is a local favourite, whether you need breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

On my second morning, I woke up early and walked the length of St Kilda beach. At the end of my walk, I treated myself to an iced coffee in the marina, which was lovely. From the beach, you get great views of the Melbourne city skyline.

Watch kite surfers take to the sky

St Kilda's coastal positioning means it gets a lot of westerlies (winds), which play havoc with your hairdo but are perfect for kite surfers.

If you want to try this popular St Kilda watersport, Kite Republic offers introductory lessons.

Stroll along the iconic St Kilda Pier

St Kilda Pier is an excellent vantage point to watch the comings and goings in Port Philip Bay, especially the amazing kite surfers as they rise out of the water and into the air.

Spot the adorable St Kilda Penguins

St Kilda is an enchanting little haven, home to a thriving colony of over 1400 Little Penguins. This species is only found on the Southern Australian coast and parts of New Zealand.

I had read about these adorable creatures before I arrived, but I didn't think I would stand a chance of seeing one, and yet I did! A Little Penguin nestled between the breakwater rocks at the end of the pier.

St Kilda's Little Penguins (or Fairy Penguins) spend 80% of their day in the ocean, but in the evening, at dusk, the colony comes ashore. You can view them from the breakwater promenade.

There is another form of wildlife called rakali (native water rats) living close to the penguins, but I am glad to say I didn't see any myself.

Visit the Sunday Esplanade Market

Esplanade Market, an institution since the 1970s, is packed with artisan traders and a must-do activity in St Kilda on a Sunday.

Each stall is run by the artist or craftsperson who has produced the items on display. They are happy to discuss their crafts further and help you select the perfect gift to take home.

The Sunday craft market is open every Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (October to April) and from 10 am to 4 pm (May to September) along the esplanade.

Take to the water aboard the St Kilda Ferry

The St Kilda ferry runs on weekends, allowing tourists and locals to enjoy boat rides around Port Philip Bay. There are three places to embark, one of which is St Kilda Pier.

Sunset penguin cruises are also available to take you out to watch the antics of Little Blue Penguins of St Kilda.

My thoughts on visiting St Kilda in Australia (not the one in Scotland!)

During my two days in St Kilda, I found this seaside suburb to have a quirky vibe but, sadly, also many unsavoury characters hanging about cafes and bars, which I didn't like. That said, it is still a destination in southeast Australia worth visiting. Just be vigilant, especially at night.

St Kilda is one of the best beaches in Victoria and a great starting point for reaching Tasmania by sea, which was my next destination.

The overnight Spirit of Tasmania Ferry departs from the Spirit of Tasmania Quay in Geelong, a 50-minute taxi ride from St Kilda.

If you are considering whether to visit Tasmania, I highly recommend it. It ended up being my favourite place to visit in Australia.

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