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Melbourne

Sights

THE CITY CENTRE

The central business district bounded by Flinders, La Trobe, Spencer and Spring Streets is generally called The City and is where you'll find most of Melbourne's attractions.

Australian/Chinese Museum

This great little museum is in the heart of Chinatown and traces the history of Melbourne's Chinese community, from the gold rushes of the 1850s to the present day. The museum is also home to Dai Loong, one of the world's largest Chinese dragons.

22 Cohen Place, Melbourne

Tram 23, 24, 30, 34, 86, 96, City Circle Train Parliament

Tel (03) 9662 2888

Website http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mcah/welcome.htm

Admission $6.50

Open 10am-5pm daily

Federation Square

The Federation Square complex includes part of the National Gallery of Victoria as well as restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops. One of the main features of the buildings in Federation Square is the striking design that utilises sandstone, zinc and glass. The square also features open areas including courtyards and a large central plaza.

Corner Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne

Bus 235, 237, 238, 253, 350, 479, 605 Tram 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 22, 25, 64, 67, 72, City Circle Train Flinders Street

Website www.federationsquare.com.au

Flinders Street Station

This is the hub of Melbourne's suburban rail network and for many years has been Melbourne's major landmark. The clocks on the corner of this ornate station have been the favourite meeting place for generations of Melburnians.

Corner Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne

Tram 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 22, 25, 64, 67, 72, City Circle Train Flinders Street

Immigration Museum

This fascinating museum recalls the journeys of thousands of immigrants and their contribution to Australia.

Old Customs House, Corner Flinders & William Streets, Melbourne

Tram 48, 55, 70, 75, City Circle Train Flinders Street, Spencer Street

Tel (03) 9927 2700

Website http://immigration.museum.vic.gov.au

Admission $6, ground floor free

Open 10am-5pm daily

Melbourne Aquarium

Melbourne's impressive new aquarium is home to a variety of Marine Life and features transparent tunnels allowing you to be surrounded by fish in the 2.2 million-litre Oceanarium.

Corner Flinders & King Streets, Melbourne

Tram 48, 70, 75, City Circle

Tel (03) 9620 0999

Website www.melbourneaquarium.com.au

Admission $22; glass bottom boat tour $12.50; dive with the sharks $184 (certified divers), $264 (non-divers)

Open 1-26 Jan 9.30am-9pm daily (last entry 8pm); 27 Jan-31 Dec 9.30am-6pm daily (last entry 5pm)

Museum of Melbourne

Recently relocated to a spot behind the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Australia's largest museum contains some excellent exhibits with a good selection on local and natural history. The museum contains a lot of new exhibits and is divided along different themes with Australian history, Aboriginal and Pacific Island culture, science and natural history. The exhibits include a walk-on set from the TV show Neighbours. The complex also houses an IMAX theatre.

Carlton Gardens, Nicholson Street, Carlton

Bus 250, 251, 253, 402 Tram 86, 96

Tel 13 11 02

Website http://melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au

Admission $6

Open 10am-5pm daily

NGV – Ian Potter Centre

The National Gallery of Victoria's Ian Potter Centre houses an excellent collection of Australian art ranging from Aboriginal art through to colonial and contemporary art.

Federation Square, Corner Flinders & Swanston Streets, Melbourne

Bus 235, 237, 238, 253, 350, 479, 605 Tram 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 22, 25, 64, 67, 72, City Circle Train Flinders Street

Tel (03) 9208 0222

Website www.ngv.vic.gov.au

Admission free

Open Mon-Thu 10am-5pm, Fri 10am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm

Old Melbourne Gaol

Built in 1841, this prison has a history of 104 hangings including that of the infamous Ned Kelly in 1880. Displays include Kelly's armour, his guns and his death mask.

Russell Street, Melbourne

Bus 200, 201, 203, 207, 479 Tram 23, 24, 30, 34, City Circle Train Melbourne Central

Tel (03) 9663 7228

Website www.nattrust.com.au

Admission $12.50

Open 9.30am-5pm daily

Old Treasury

The former state treasury building has been converted into a museum focusing on the story of gold and its role in the development of Victoria.

Spring Street, Melbourne

Tram 11, 12, 31, 42, 109, City Circle Train Parliament

Tel (03) 9561 2233

Website www.oldtreasurymuseum.org.au

Admission $8.50

Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm

Parliament House

This imposing building served as the home of Australia's parliament from 1901 till 1927 after which time it has been home to the Victorian state parliament. There are guided tours when parliament is not sitting, and you may sit in on parliament when it is in session.

Spring Street, Melbourne

Tram 86, 96, City Circle Train Parliament

Tel (03) 9651 8568

Website www.parliament.vic.gov.au

Admission free

Tours 10am, 11am, 12noon, 2pm, 3pm & 3.45pm when parliament is in recess

Queen Victoria Market

With more than 1100 stalls, the Victoria Market is one of the world's largest. It is a great place to stock up on fresh food at bargain prices, and there is a huge flea market on weekends.

513 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

Bus 220, 232, 546 Tram 19, 55, 57, 59, 68 Train Melbourne Central

Tel (03) 9320 5822

Website www.qvm.com.au

Admission free

Open Tue & Thu 6am-2pm, Fri 6am-6pm, Sat 6am-3pm, Sun 9am-4pm

Rialto Towers

The taller of the two Rialto Towers is Melbourne's tallest office building. There are great views from the observation deck at the top. The best time to visit is just before sunset so you can see the city during the day and night.

525 Collins Street, Melbourne

Tram 11, 12, 31, 42, 48, 55, 70, 75, 109, City Circle Train Spencer Street

Tel (03) 9629 8222

Website www.rialtoobservationdeck.com.au

Admission $11.80 ($9 students)

Open Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm

Royal Exhibition Buildings

Built in 1879 for the International Exhibition of 1880, this exhibition centre is an architectural masterpiece; the concrete dome over the main hall was modelled on Brunelleschi's cathedral in Florence. The exterior is much more impressive than the interior, partially because of its setting within the Carlton Gardens.

Rathdowne, Victoria & Nicholson Streets, Carlton

Bus 250, 251, 253, 402 Tram 86, 96

SOUTHBANK & SOUTH MELBOURNE

Central Melbourne is expanding across the river into South Melbourne and the heart of all this development is known as Southbank. This new development is growing into a neighbourhood of new inner city apartments, theatres, cafés, restaurants and a casino.

Southbank is home to the Victorian Arts Centre, the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, the huge Crown Casino complex and Southbank Promenade – a pedestrian mall along the river bank which has many sidewalk cafés spilling out from the new shopping complex. It can get quite busy here on weekends and during lunchtime on weekdays when the place is full of office workers.

Eureka Tower

Melbourne's tallest building claims to be the world's tallest residential building (the Q1 in Surfers Paradise also claims this title and even though the Eureka Tower's roof is higher than the Q1's, the Q1 wins because of its spire). The 300m-high (38m taller than the Trump World Tower in New York), 92-storey Eureka Tower has an observation deck on the 88th floor with stunning views of Melbourne, which is the highest public observation point in the southern hemisphere. The Edge is a unique feature of the tower (with an additional $12 admission charge); this is a glass cube that projects three metres outside the building - with you in it - that lets you see the city through the glass floor.

Riverside Quay, Southbank VIC 3006
Bus 216, 219, 220, 250, 251, 253 Tram 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 25, 55, 64, 67, 72 Train Flinders Street
Tel (03) 9693 8888

Website www.eurekaskydeck.com.au
Admission $16.50; the Edge $12
Open 10am-10pm daily

Performing Arts Museum

Situated in the Melbourne Concert Hall, the Performing Arts Museum hosts a variety of exhibitions involving everything from rock music to circus and opera.

100 St Kilda Road, Southbank

Bus 216, 219, 220 Tram 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 25, 64, 67, 72 Train Flinders Street

Tel (03) 9681 8000

Admission free

Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-5pm

Polly Woodside Maritime Museum

The Polly Woodside was built in Belfast in 1885, and has now been totally restored. This old iron hulled sailing ship is the focal point of this maritime museum located opposite the World Trade Centre.

Lorimer Street East, Southbank

Bus 236 Tram 96, 110, 112 Train Spencer Street

Tel (03) 9699 9760

Website www.nattrust.com.au

Admission $10

Open 10am-4pm daily

Shrine of Remembrance

If you look south down the middle of Swanston Street, you'll be looking directly at the Shrine of Remembrance, which was built as a memorial for those who died in the First World War and now stands as a memorial for all the wars in which Australia has played a part. There's a great view of the city from the top.

Kings Domain (off St Kilda Road), Melbourne

Bus 216, 219, 220 Tram 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 25, 64, 67, 72

Tel (03) 9654 8415

Admission by donation

Open 10am-5pm daily

Victorian Arts Centre

The Victorian Arts Centre encompasses: the Melbourne Concert Hall, State Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, Studio Theatre, Westpac Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria, Performing Arts Museum, the Australian Ballet Centre and the Victorian College of the Arts. This extensive collection of facilities for both the visual and performing arts makes it one of the best arts centres in the world. While not as visually stimulating, the Arts Centre's theatres have a greater capacity than the Sydney Opera House. The 115-metre spire on the main theatre building is illuminated at night.

100 St Kilda Road, Southbank

Bus 216, 219, 220 Tram 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 25, 64, 67, 72 Train Flinders Street

Tel (03) 9281 8000

Admission $10

Tours Mon-Sat noon & 2.30pm

OTHER AREAS

Australian Gallery of Sport & Olympic Museum at the MCG

This museum covers Australia's involvement in a wide range of sporting events, with emphasis on Australian Rules Football, cricket and the Olympic Games. The museum is housed in the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which frequently holds capacity crowds of around 110,000 while hosting cricket matches during the summer and Australian Rules Football in the winter. The MCG was the main venue for the 1956 Olympic Games. A must for sports enthusiasts.

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Jolimont Street, East Melbourne

Bus 605 Tram 48, 70, 75 Train Jolimont

Tel (03) 9657 8879

Website www.mcg.org.au/Redesign/tours.htm

Admission $11-17.50

Open 9.30am-4.30pm daily; tours 10am & 3pm non-event days

Carlton Brewhouse

This is one of the world's busiest breweries producing over 1½ million bottles of beer daily and is the home of Fosters Lager and Victoria Bitter. The brewery offers tours that conclude with a free tasting.

Corner Nelson & South Audley Streets, Abbotsford

Tram 42, 109

Tel (03) 9420 6800

Admission $15

Tours Mon-Fri 10am & 2pm, bookings essential

Luna Park

A huge laughing face greets visitors to this small amusement park at St Kilda Beach. Rides include the Scenic Railway (the world's oldest continuously operating roller coaster) as well as a Ferris wheel and several newer "jaw dropping, eye ball popping, lose your lunch super thrill rides" like the Enterprise, Metropolis and the Pharaoh's Curse.

Lower Esplanade, St Kilda

Bus 246, 600, 606, 623, 646 Tram 16, 69, 79, 96

Tel 1300 888 272

Website www.lunapark.com.au

Admission free, rides $7, unlimited ride ticket $33.95

Open 1 Jan-27 Apr Fri 7pm-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-6pm; 28 Apr-19 Sep Sat-Sun 11am-6pm; 20 Sep-31 Dec Fri 7pm-11pm, Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-6pm

RAAF Museum

This museum features more than 20 aircraft and exhibits about the Royal Australian Air Force. It is in Point Cook, about 25km southwest of the city centre on the road towards Geelong.

RAAF Base Williams, Point Cook Road, Point Cook

Train Aircraft, then 7km by taxi

Tel (03) 9256 1300

Website www.raafmuseum.com.au

Admission free

Open Tue-Fri 10am-3pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm

Ramsay Street

Neighbours fans may want to visit the street where the TV show is filmed. Ramsay Street is actually Pin Oak Court in Vermont South, about a 30 to 40-minute drive into the suburbs.

Pin Oak Court, Vermont South

Train Glen Waverley or Nunawading, then Bus 888 or 889

If you don't have a car you may want to take one of the tours run by the Backpacker King that includes gossip about the show. The tours are highly recommended, take around three hours and run twice daily.

Pick-up from 58 Franklin Street, Melbourne; Flinders Street, Melbourne & corner Jackson & Grey Streets, St Kilda

Tel (03) 9534 4755 for bookings

Website www.neighbourstour.com

Cost $30

The Backpacker King also organises Neighbours trivia nights where you get to meet the stars of the show.

Elephant & Wheelbarrow, 169 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

Bus 246, 600, 606, 623, 646 Tram 16, 69, 79, 96

Tel (03) 9534 4755 for bookings

Website www.backpackerking.com.au

Admission $35

Every Monday night

Scienceworks

This museum of science and technology is full of hands-on interactive exhibits. Although it was designed for children, it's a lot of fun for everyone.

2 Booker Street, Spotswood

Train Spotswood Ferry Scienceworks

Tel (03) 9392 4800

Website http://scienceworks.museum.vic.gov.au

Admission $6; $12.30 including Planetarium

Open 10am-4.30pm daily

St Kilda Beach

This is a great place to catch some rays, or if you're feeling more energetic, go for a swim or rent a bike or a pair of inline skates to cruise the bike path which runs along the beachfront. On Sundays, check out the street market on the Esplanade.

Bus 246, 600, 606, 623, 646 Tram 16, 69, 79, 96