It's Labour Day on Monday in Melbourne, which means hello long weekend. Check out our suggestions for great ways to spend the weekend whether you're hanging out with friends or entertaining children.
If you're spending the weekend with foodie friends then make sure you book a table at New Quarter. This Vietnamese restaurant serves great cocktails and delicious sharing plates so you can sample a buffet of dishes including smoked lamb curry, turmeric roasted chicken and beef tartare. The eatery also serves set menus including a vegan option.
Entertaining kids this long weekend? A great option is to head to Highpoint Shopping Centre where in the new Atrium The Treehouse will be transformed into a jungle. The indoor playground area is where children will have a chance to meet and greet real-life animal friends. Face painting and colouring in giveaways are also organised for the little ones after which you can treat them to a stack of pancakes at everyone's favourite, The Pancake Parlour.
For a weekend with the arts, a rendezvous at the National Gallery of Victoria should make its way up to your priority list. And if you are an appreciator of the world of fashion then don't miss your chance to take in the Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto exhibition. The show is a retrospective paying homage to the woman who built the house of Chanel, which still stands strong today and continues to set the bar for many contemporaries and which influences today's trends. The exhibition highlights the iconic designer's signature creations, from tweed ensembles to the liquid elixir known as Chanel No.5.
Melbourne weather is unpredictable but if the city's sun decides to shine on us then a dip in the pond[er] installation at the National Gallery of Victoria should be on the cards. Inspired by Victoria's inland salt lakes, the art installation was designed by Melbourne-based architecture firm Taylor Knights and artist James Carey, and brings rosy fun to the city. The pink installation invites visitors to freely splash around and cool off on warm days and nights, with pond[er] also creating a space to explore the gallery's garden.