Our Mystery Picnic in Melbourne’s Laneways: A Day of Fun & Feasts
Have you ever spent a day solving riddles and exploring hidden corners of Melbourne’s iconic laneways, only to be rewarded with a magnificent surprise picnic?
That’s exactly what we did on our recent AmazingCo Mystery Picnic adventure, and it was a day we won’t soon forget!
>> Head straight to our personal tidbits including accessibility advice for AmazingCo Mystery Picnics
Setting Off on Our Mystery Picnic Melbourne
I set out with my parents, ready for a leisurely afternoon, not knowing where the clues would take us or what local treasures we’d uncover.
The whole experience takes about three hours. However, we go at our own pace, stopping for breaks whenever we feel like it. Each solved clue directs us to a new artisan shop or café, where we collect mouth-watering local products for the final feast.
Personal Review
Receiving a Mystery Picnic Gift Voucher for a birthday present was a delightful surprise. My husband and I met our daughter at Southern Cross Station and had fun deciphering our first clue to get us to our first “Pick Up Food” outlet. This was done via an app on the mobile phone.
The clues were a fun challenge and I loved the mystery of not knowing what food we were getting ‘till we got to the appropriate place.
I also loved being taken a bit out of the usual main city streets to places I hadn’t been to before, discovering interesting shops, cafes, and lanes. There was quite a lot of walking, but trams were available to hop on and off if needed. I personally had to have a break about 1.5 hours in. So we found a bench and had a drink and something absolutely delicious from one of the pick-up spots. I don’t want to spoil the surprise so I am not mentioning any of the delicious food!
The whole tour takes approx. 2.5 – 3 hours. Our last stop was the gardens to eat our wonderful picnic. A slight disappointment was that there were no tables and chairs, but some bench seats were available. Another tip is to be able to google for the nearest public toilets. As we entered some areas of the city I was unfamiliar with, it is something as a senior I am always aware of.
A fun experience to have with 2 or more people. Lots of laughs and lots of yummy food.
– Terrie
Cracking Clues and Exploring Hidden Corners
The clues themselves are a brilliant mix – from clever riddles to cryptic ciphers, number puzzles, anagrams, and even rebus clues. Some are trickier than others, and we find ourselves scribbling on paper more than once!
While most of the clues are solvable after a bit of thought, we need a hint at one point (thankfully, there’s an option for that!). The feeling of cracking a tough clue and discovering our next stop is all part of the fun.
Personal Review
When I was a kid, treasure hunts were a thing. Mum would hand out a cryptic clue to lead me and my siblings to a spot in the garden where the next clue was hidden… lots of fun looking around and finally finding “the treasure”, usually a lolly of some sort which, if you’d been quick, you reached before the ants.
Well, the Mystery Picnic experience re-kindled those 60-year-old memories.
Some differences… for the Mystery Picnic we weren’t in our home garden but walking the lanes of the Melbourne CBD. The cryptic clues were on our mobiles and each clue led to either a food outlet, where we picked up gourmet ingredients, or the clue introduced a unique feature of Melbourne’s streetscape.
The final clue, and perhaps the most enjoyable piece of the adventure, was the picnic on the lawns of the Treasury Gardens. Here, seated on a rug in the shade of a huge elm tree, we enjoyed the banquet that we had collected as we followed the trail of hidden messages.
If you haven’t explored the streets of Melbourne for some time, this is a memorable way to renew your acquaintance with the pulse of our State’s Capitol and at the same time, remind you of childhood fun.
– Chris
Discovering Melbourne’s Best-Kept Secrets
What really makes the Melbourne Laneways Mystery Picnic experience special is the path it leads us down. As locals, we thought we knew Melbourne pretty well, but this adventure picnic takes us into streets, alleyways, and hidden nooks we’ve never come across before.
The organisers do a great job of connecting each clue to the surrounding area, offering points of interest, and suggesting spots to check out along the way. It makes the whole experience feel like a deeper dive into the city, with history and culture woven into our treasure hunt.
Warm Welcomes and Delicious Treats
At each stop, we are greeted by lovely artisans who not only hand over our picnic goodies but often share a bit about their products.
By the time we reach the end of our journey, our picnic basket (insulated backpack) iss filled to the brim with an incredibly generous spread of fresh, locally sourced treats. The variety is impressive, and everything is oh-so tasty!
The Perfect Picnic Reward
After piecing together our clues and collecting all the components, we find a quiet spot to enjoy the final reward – a delicious feast that felt even more satisfying knowing how much effort we put into earning it.
Final Thoughts: A Unique Melbourne Experience
Whether you’re a local or just visiting, I’d highly recommend the Amazingco Mystery Picnic Melbourne Laneways as a unique way to explore Melbourne. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys a good puzzle, loves discovering hidden gems, or just wants a fun day out with great food to cap it off.
We had such a wonderful time, and it’s a fantastic way to experience the city from a whole new perspective!
Tidbits for Your AmazingCo Mystery Picnic
- Have your smartphone charged and ready with data available to use for reading and solving the clues;
- You don’t need to download an app, but just click on a link from the confirmation email the night before, and access that in a browser on your phone throughout;
- You will receive the first clue the night before your booked Mystery Picnic, it’s advisable to complete this clue from home so you know your first stop and get a feel for how it will work on the day;
- Bring your own insulated backpack and pack a picnic blanket (they provide you with advice on this and what else to bring, but I still forgot the blanket!);
- Useful, detailed instructions are provided in the confirmation email;
- Have a look at this public toilet map, or have this accessible on your phone;
- The trip lasts for around 3 hours before you are finished and able to start eating (we had a midway break and snack to keep us going!);
- The first stop is easily accessible from Southern Cross Station and using the free city tram zone;
- Book your Melbourne Laneway Mystery Picnic online or purchase as a great gift;
- Browse the various other Mystery Picnics and experiences all across Victoria.
I hope this post has inspired you to get out and explore Melbourne! Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to find out more ways to discover (or rediscover) the joy of exploring Melbourne.
The Seniors in Melbourne team were gifted this Mystery Picnic experience. All opinions expressed in the article are our own.
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