U3A Melbourne City offers special interest social groups that meet regularly throughout the year, in some cases weekly or monthly. Once you have enrolled in a group, regular attendance is not compulsory: you are free to attend as many or as few of their activities as you wish.
The most up-to-date information on Let’s Do groups is available through the MyU3A Portal. Once you join, the group leader will be in touch regularly to keep you updated on your group’s activities.
You must be a member of U3A Melbourne City to take part in these groups. To join, click here.
LET’S DO CYCLING
These groups are run by experienced, fit cyclists. You can join any of the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday groups. We meet at Federation Square at 9.30/9:45 am and aim to return by 1:00 pm. Medium-level fitness is required for the 30-40 km round trips, with one or two hill climbs to get the heart pumping. Members may also join optional extended overnight rides.
Click here to download a booklet of our favourite rides with maps and directions.
LET’S DO DRAWING
A casual, untutored drawing class, held on the first Wednesday of every month. Location is weather dependent and is advised the preceding Monday. Bring your own drawing equipment if we are indoors or paints for plein air. An unstructured class for you to draw what you observe, led by an experienced drawing teacher.
LET’S DO LAWN BOWLS
This informal group meets each Wednesday at 2pm to learn, practice and play impromptu games. Equipment and coaching are available. No previous experience is required.
The venue is the Fitzroy Victoria Bowls Club, Brunswick St, Fitzroy.
Rink hire is $10 per person per day. The convenor will email the group with further details once enrolled.
LET’S DO LONG WALKS
We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of each month for an all-day excursion to a suburban or near-country area. We walk at a relaxed pace for up to 10 km, using footpaths and walking tracks. We start at 9 am at a suburban station or Southern Cross for a train journey to the start of our walk, returning around 4 pm. We have lunch in a cafe, or BYO lunch in a park.
LET’S DO LUNCH
Once a month, a group of about 20 eat together at an interesting yet affordable and easily accessible restaurant. The coordinator emails the group each month to arrange the next lunch.
LET’S DO MOVIES
This Let’s Do focuses on seeing and discussing movies. The Tuesday group meet weekly at the Como in South Yarra. The Friday afternoon group meets at the Kino in Collins St. The groups are informal and depending on the time, members have coffee/wine and/or a meal afterwards. You attend only when it suits you.
LET’S DO MUSEUMS, GALLERIES AND CULTURAL EVENTS
This group is for those who have an interest in exploring Melbourne’s heritage and contemporary art spaces. It meets monthly on Thursdays and everyone is invited for afternoon tea to discuss what they have seen. There is a rolling three-month program so you can diarise your attendance in advance.
LET’S DO NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE
This group meets on Wednesday mornings about once a month at the Sun Theatre, Yarraville, to watch National Theatre Live, transmissions of performances from London’s National Theatre and other UK theatre companies. After each screening members are invited to a local café for tea/coffee, etc. Members are responsible for organising their own tickets.
LET’S DO OPERA ON SCREEN
This group meets on Wednesday mornings about once a month at the Sun Theatre, Yarraville, to watch transmissions of live performances from New York City’s Metropolitan Opera. After each screening members are invited to a local café for tea/coffee, etc. Members are responsible for organising their own tickets.
LET’S DO THEATRE
This group is for theatre lovers, with a focus on high quality productions. We attend evening performances, where possible followed by Q&A sessions with directors and cast. The frequency is determined by availability of shows, but is expected to be approximately monthly. Members are responsible for organizing their own tickets. The convenor will send out a monthly email with details.
LET’S DO WALKS
These groups meet every Tuesday or Friday morning at Federation Square and head off in any direction. We aim to walk 5 to 7 km. The only prerequisite is comfy walking shoes. We tend to chat while we walk and there is always a coffee stop. Sometimes we will take public transport to or from our destination. Whilst the intrepid Tuesday group walk no matter what the weather throws their way, the Friday group only walk when the Leader deems the weather is suitable.
LET’S DO WEEKENDS
This group meets on the first weekend of every month, on either Saturday or Sunday, including school holidays. Members have a chance to try something interesting and stimulating, such as visiting gardens, going to the races or taking a boat trip. Registered members discuss the program at the beginning of the year. Let the Weekend Begin!
Do you feel inspired to start a Let’s Do Group of your own? We would love to hear from you. Please complete the Let’s Do Group Proposal Form and one of our course coordinators will be in touch with you.
Privacy disclosure: When you enrol in a Let’s Do Group, your group leader will use your email address to notify you about the Group’s activities, such as the film the Let’s Do Movies group will see next week, or the starting point for the walk for Let’s Do Long Walks.