Discover Melbourne's (pop) cultural side

Melbourne is a haven for pop culture aficionados. Spend hours sifting through comic books, discover alternate realities with VR experiences, check out the city's esports scene, and enjoy a drink with a side of pinball or a game of Gotcha.

Don't miss some of the quirkier venues and events happening around town. Have a hit time at the Smash Room, where you and a bunch of mates can smash things like TVs in a safe, clean space, as well as enjoying VR walk-the-plank experiences and arcade gaming.

For a glimpse of famous pop icons of the silver screen, catch Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion at ACMI, and head to Melbourne Museum for wizarding magic at Fantastic Beasts™ – The Wonder of Nature.

Stage a daring escape against the clock at one of the city’s best escape rooms or give the Green Arrow a run for money at Archery Attack Arena. Travel to the moon or navigate a zombie apocalypse with a band of fellow survivors at VR World Melbourne. Explore Melbourne from a VR pod or precarious plank high above the city at Melbourne Skydeck. Traverse two levels of video game fun, including a 200-seat esports arena, at Fortress Melbourne.

Put your collector's hat on and discover the wonderful assortment of comics, graphic novels and merchandise on offer in brick-and-mortar stores. Cult classics like Minotaur keep the city bursting with comic books and pop-culture nostalgia. Keen for a screen culture fix? The ACMI Shop at Federation Square has products to suit all curiosities, or check out one of the city's best bookshops to pick up a classic or discover a new author.

Sink your teeth into a hamburger or hotdog from 8bit and wash it down with a creamy milkshake and a game on your favourite old-skool video game machine. For a feast worthy of a Viking, charge to the dining hall at Mjølner and fill up on carvery meats and cocktails at the themed venue and late-night speakeasy. Get your history fix while enjoying classic pub fare at Natural History on Collins Street, where you can grab a pint and admire museum-style exhibits at the same time.

Drink and play the night away at one of Melbourne's best hybrid bars. Create carnival-style fun at Archie Brothers Cirque Electric in Docklands or get competitive with arcade games at B. Lucky & Sons Melbourne Central. Fancy a cocktail with a side of wonder? Head down a hidden laneway and climb the stairs to StoryVille, Melbourne's very own fairy-tale themed bar.

Meet your heroes and marvels and celebrate pop culture at Oz Comic-Con's Xmas event. Mix magic and reality at Fantastic Beasts™ – The Wonder of Nature, discovering the connections between the wizarding world and our natural world. Check out the latest exhibitions at ACMI in Fed Square or wander along Southbank to THE LUME's latest immersive and illuminating show.

The city isn't the only place for an out-of-the-ordinary experience. Pack your bags and hit the road – it's time to explore Victoria's geekier side. From an interactive pinball machine museum in the Grampians to a world of make-believe at Kryal Castle in Ballarat, there's plenty of games and pop culture fun to find in the regions.