The White Hat Guide to activities for Seniors in Melbourne

There is much public art to be seen on the streets at any time of day as well as inside many public buildings. More information on public art in Melbourne. In addition, public bodies such as the City of Melbourne often sponsor temporary artworks and installations in laneways and other public spaces.

Garden lovers can enjoy a free tour of the Government House gardens. Tours start at 11am and are free but bookings are essential.

The gardens feature magnificent lawns, specimen trees surrounded by large beds of trees and shrubs, and the Peace and Prosperity Kitchen Garden. The gardens also feature ceremonial trees planted by members of the Royal Family and previous Governors.

The tour goes for about one hour and you will need a general level of fitness. There are some steps, small hills and uneven surfaces.

While each tour caters for up to 30 people, there are no group bookings available.
Bookings close at 12 noon the day before the tour, or when the tour is full. Bookings can be made online through the official website

Wear casual clothes with sensible footwear. Bring photo ID (passport, drivers licence, student ID etc.,). Check in at the Government House Gatehouse 15 minutes before the tour starts.
Entry will involve passing through a security checkpoint and bag inspection.

You are encouraged to take public transport: Flinders Street Station is a 15 to 20-minute walk to Government House Take the St Kilda Rd/Coventry St tram - routes 3/3a, 5, 6,16, 64, 67 and 72 - and get off at the Grant Street - Police Memorial stop.

Parking is not available at the House. If you drive, there is metered parking on Linlithgow and Birdwood avenues.

Tours can be cancelled in extreme weather or for operational reasons.

The Ballarat Antique Fair claims to be the largest and longest running fair in Australia and White Hat has no reason to doubt them.

To the best of White Hat’s knowledge, this event or location is currently cancelled, postponed or suspended due to COVID-19 precautions. If in doubt check with the organiser or institutioninvolved. White Hat will constantly monitor events and venues in an attempt to update listings when conditions change.

The National Trust’s annual Heritage Apple Sale is an opportunity to savour the wonderful tastes of heritage apples from your own backyard. The Trusts’ gardening team has selected around 40 different apple varieties from the National Trust collection, providing an amazing variety of shapes, colours and flavours that you won’t find at the supermarket. From the buttery richness of ‘Ribston Pippin’, to the tang of ‘Pine Golden Pippin’ and the highly sought after ‘Cox’s Orange’ and ‘Bramley Seedling’, there is something for all tastes.

All trees have been grafted on-site by our gardening team onto rootstocks well suited to home gardens. Our gardening team will also be on hand to offer advice on growing a great crop.

Entry to the sale is free. If you a buy a tree at the sale, entry to the Gardens is included. All apple varieties are $30.

Piers Festival celebrates and reflects on the collective historical and contemporary migration stories at its site, Princes Pier, the significant entry point where almost half of Australia’s post World War II refugees arrived. The Festival brings to life the pivotal role Princes Pier played from 1915 to 1969 in Victoria’s growth and as a gateway to the diversity of cultures that enrich our community. With 12,000 attendees in 2015, Piers Festival has grown to become an annual fixture in Victoria’s cultural calendar and a significant occasion to acknowledge and bring to light our Indigenous and multicultural talent.

White Hat often has to remind visitors that Victoria is a state with four seasons - unlike some of those boring northern states - and we recommend that one of the best ways to experience spring in the Victorian countryside is to visit the Bright Spring Festival.

Bright has a natural beauty complemented by fine cafés and restaurants, marvellous local wineries, accommodation to suit all budgets, adventure sports, walking tracks and bike trails and shopping. The festival offers street and river markets, theatre events, art exhibitions, fireworks, plenty of entertainment and open gardens. For a full list off the open gardens see the White Hat Open Gardens page.

For the full itinerary, visit the Bright Spring Festival website at www.brightspringfestival.com.au

Open House Bendigo Weekend program opens a number buildings including outstanding private homes, significant heritage redevelopments, with tours of selected venues.

Bendigo is only 90 minutes by train from Melbourne, or a pleasant drive through the Macedon Ranges. Check out places to stay in Bendigo.

Full details on the Open House Bendigo website.

Our rating - 5 Hats

Special Attractions at the 158th Annual Spring Show include:

• Cobb & Co Coach Rides
• Food & Wine Pavillion
• Clunes Show Vasa Dog Jump 2pm
• Jamie & Kim’s Mobile Zoo
• Parker’s Mini Circus
• Roving Entertainment – Mad Hatter & Mad Hattie
• Face Painting & Caricature Drawing
• Trike Tours and Joyrides
• Showday Live Music Maryborough Big Band & The Wesley Bands
• Clunes Pet Show
• Scarecrow Competition
• Ferret Racing - Bring your Ferrets to Compete
• Society Memorabilia Display 
• Professor Wallace’s Puppet Show
• Bute Ute Competition
• Vintage Engine Display
• Rural Ambassador & Junior Show Ambassador
• Show Girl & Show Boy Competitions 
• Keg Throwing, Tug Of War & Gum Boot Throw Competitions
• Ladies Woodsplitting Competition
• Grand Parade 3pm
• Show Night Entertainment – Bar, BBQ & Live Band Highway 8
  

Grand Parade - 3 PM

All judging will cease at 2.55 pm for the Grand Parade at 3pm.
All Exhibitors / Exhibits are encouraged to parade
Grand Parade Lucky Ticket Prizes
1st prize $100 - 2nd prize $50

It’s a Saturday evening in summer. You’re sitting in a park with family and friends, and a fabulous picnic dinner. The picture is complete when the glorious live music from Opera Australia begins.

Hear our brightest stars, under the stars, sing opera's most famous arias with the magnificent backing of Orchestra Victoria.

Dress up — or not — it's your night to enjoy the power of the human voice in the kind of communal, cultural celebration Melbourne loves best.

For White Hat, the Twilight Jazz at Cruden Farm is one of the special events of the year. We strongly recommend you gather the family together and get down to one of the most special gardens in Australia as there is only one chance a year for the general public to experience it at the special time of twilight.

Our rating - 5 Hats