Just Moved To Melbourne? Here’s Where To Meet New Friends
Whether you’ve just moved to Melbourne or you’re coming back after a long stint away and finding your social circle smaller than what you’d like - making new friends in a big city can be tricky. Many people have pre-established friendships and it can be intimidating approaching people.
Fortunately, Melbourne has an increadible social scene with plenty of opportunities to make friends - in fact, some of these events are purposely made for people to come solo and make new friends. These events are great - you already know everyone’s intension so the first barrier is already broken!
Here’s a list of places you could meet people and make new friends :
1. Join Sports Clubs and Social Sports Groups
Melbourne is widely considered a sporting capital in the world, hosting sports like the Australian Open, F1, Boxing Day Test (Cricket) Sports, Melbourne Cup and of course, AFL. If you love sports, you are sure to find friends with shared interests in Melbourne. One of the easiest ways to meet people is joining a sports club or team. Some great options include:
Social Sports - Melbourne’s #1 social sports offering Futsal, Pickleball, Netball, Basketball, Footy 7s and Volleyball
Just Play - 150+ Venues across Australia offering Netball, Basketball, Futsal +More
Pickleball and Tennis lessons - join a club that offer adult lessons and social play
2. Join a Run Club
Run clubs have become incredibly popular because they combine fitness with community. You meet people who care about similar goals, whether that is improving fitness, staying healthy or enjoying fresh air after work.
Many run clubs offer different paces, so you can jog or walk with others who match your speed. Group coffee or brunch after the run makes socialising feel natural and easy.
Try:
Every Run Club - one of the largest run clubs in Melbourne, primarily Irish Expats but lots of locals join too. They run twice a week and change locations across Melbourne so there are plenty of options.
Alive Minds - more than just a run club, Alive Minds has created a community of active Melbournians, offering pilates, cycle, hyrox and more.
3. Take Up New Hobbies and Classes
Learning something new is one of the best ways to meet people based on common interests.
Try:
Salsa classes at the Night Cat - one of the larger social salsa classes, it’s super casual so you don’t need to lock yourself into a term, plus there’s new joining people every week.
Pasta Making and Baking sweets - Conscious Connection host popular cooking classes that also encourages making new friends. It’s a great way to meet fellow foodies who also have an interest in cooking and hosting.
Wine tasting - if your hobby is going beyond enjoying a drop of wine and learning more about where your wine comes from, wine tasting is an excellent way to meet new people. Conscious Connection hosts a wine tasting that’s so popular it often sells out.
4. Join a Social Gym or Group Fitness Community
Some gyms have strong social cultures built around group classes, events and community activities. These spaces make it easy to connect with people through regular routines.
Try:
BFT is one of the most popular ‘social’ gyms in Melbourne. They offer personal training style classes and often run social events like end of challenge celebrations and Christmas parties.
Wellness Clubs like The Commons and Saint Haven are a great way to meet people. They’ve created a lifestyle gym that is a perfect third space for their members. The downside is that it is a pricy membership that requires a 12 month minimum commitment.
However, if you don’t want to lock yourself into a membership and you want to guarantee making new friends who are interested in health and fitness:
Conscious Connection host Social Fitness groups like Pilates and Yoga where after the workout everyone goes out for brunch or lunch. This is a guaranteed way to make new friends without locking yourself into a repetitive membership.
6. Join Dinner Clubs or Matched Dining Events
Dinner clubs and matched dining events are becoming one of the most popular ways for adults to expand their social circle. No surprise that in Melbourne, a city full of foodies, that more and more people are open to attending communal dinners and brunches solo to meet new people.
A Conscious Connection matched dinner/ brunch will curate each table based on shared interests with the aim that you’ll have several people you’ll vibe with instantly. You’ll also have the opportunity to mix tables and meet other people based on shared interests or based on location. Everyone at the table is there for the same reason which creates a comfortable, friendly atmosphere.
Conscious Connection is always finding new venues to partner with to keep our dining options fresh. Some favourite restaurants we’ve partnered with are Pincho Disco, Flour Child and Old Palm Liquor.
7. Attend Games Nights and Community Social Events
Games nights are one of the easiest ways to break the ice because the focus is on play instead of conversation. You laugh, collaborate and compete which naturally builds connection. These events are low pressure and perfect for meeting people in a fun, relaxed way.
Among our games rotation are:
Jenga
What do you Meme
Cards Against Humanity
Spot it
Uno
Making friends in Melbourne can feel daunting at first, especially in a city buzzing with activity and spread across so many neighbourhoods. But that’s also what makes it such a great place to build your social circle — there’s a community for every interest. From fitness groups along the Tan to trivia nights in cosy pubs, creative workshops, niche hobby clubs and social meetups, the city is full of opportunities to meet people who are also looking to connect. If you want some help navigating established friendship groups and want to meet people who are also looking for new friends, Conscious Connection hosts relaxed, friend-making events designed to make meeting new people feel natural. With the right spaces and a willingness to say yes, making friends in Melbourne becomes much easier than you think.
