Destination guides > Australia > Victoria > Melbourne > Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
Melbourne
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
THE CITY CENTRE
The central business district bounded by Flinders, La Trobe, Spencer and Spring Streets
is generally called The City. This 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 www.chinesemuseum.com.au
Admission $7.50
Open 10am-5pm daily
City Museum at 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
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
Tram 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 22, 25, 64, 67, 72, City Circle Train Flinders Street Bus 235,
237, 238, 253, 350, 479, 605
Website www.federationsquare.com.au
Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station 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 migrants and their
contribution to Australia.
Old Customs House, Corner Flinders & William Streets, Melbourne
Tram 48, 55, 70, 75, City Circle
Tel (03) 9927 2700
Website http://museumvictoria.com.au/ImmigrationMuseum/
Admission $6
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, 96, 109, 112, City Circle
Tel (03) 9620 0999
Website www.melbourneaquarium.com.au
Admission $26.50; dive with the sharks $242 (certified divers), $349 (non-divers)
Open 1-26 Jan 9.30am-9pm daily (last entry 8pm); 27 Jan-31 Dec 9.30am-6pm daily (last
entry 5pm)
Melbourne Museum
Situated 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 set from the TV show Neighbours. The complex also houses an IMAX theatre.
Carlton Gardens, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Tram 86, 96 Bus 250, 251, 253, 402
Tel 13 11 02
Website http://museumvictoria.com.au/MelbourneMuseum/
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
Tram 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 22, 25, 64, 67, 72, City Circle Train Flinders Street Bus 235,
237, 238, 253, 350, 479, 605
Tel (03) 9208 0222
Website www.ngv.vic.gov.au
Admission free
Open Mon-Wed 10am-5pm, Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sun 10am-5pm
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
Tram 23, 24, 30, 34, City Circle Train Melbourne Central Bus 200, 201, 203, 207, 479
Tel (03) 9663 7228
Website www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au
Admission $18
Open 9.30am-5pm daily
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 31, 96, 109, 112, 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
Tram 19, 55, 57, 59, 68 Train Melbourne Central Bus 220, 232, 546
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 Southern Cross
Tel (03) 9629 8222
Website www.melbournedeck.com.au
Admission $14.50 ($9.90 students)
Open 10am-10pm daily
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. It is one of the world’s oldest exhibition
pavilions and is Australia’s first non-Aboriginal cultural site to be classified as a
World Heritage Site. The exterior is more impressive than the interior, partially due to
its setting within the Carlton Gardens.
9 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Tram 86, 96 Bus 250, 251, 253, 402
Tel 13 11 02
Website http://museumvictoria.com.au/REB/
Tours depart 2pm most days, call 13 11 02 for bookings
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 (Eureka Tower’s roof is higher than the Q1,
but the Q1 is taller if measured to the top of its spire). The 300m-high (38m taller than
the Trump World Tower in New York), 91-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 – allowing you to see the city through the glass floor.
Riverside Quay, Southbank
Tram 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 25, 55, 64, 67, 72 Train Flinders Street Bus 216, 219, 220, 250,
251, 253
Tel (03) 9693 8888
Website www.eurekaskydeck.com.au
Admission $16.50; the Edge $12
Open 10am-10pm daily
NGV – International
This branch of the National Gallery of Victoria has exhibits of international art. Its
permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt, Rubens and Tintoretto as well as a
collection of Egyptian artefacts. It also hosts a world-class programme of temporary
exhibits.
180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Tram 1, 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 72 Train Flinders Street
Tel (03) 8620 2222
Website www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngvinternational/
Admission permanent collection free, charge for temporary exhibits
Open Mon & Wed-Sun 10am-5pm
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
Tram 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 25, 64, 67, 72 Bus 216, 219, 220
Tel (03) 9654 8415
Website www.shrine.org.au
Admission free
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
Tram 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 25, 64, 67, 72 Train Flinders Street Bus 216, 219, 220
Tel (03) 9281 8000
Website www.theartscentre.com.au
OTHER AREAS
National Sports Museum & MCG Tours
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 100,000 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
Tram 48, 70, 75 Train Jolimont Bus 605
Tel (03) 9657 8879
Website www.nsm.org.au
Admission $15, $7.50 on event days; MCG tour $15; museum entry & MCG tour $22
Open 10am-5pm daily (last entry 4pm); tours 10am-3pm non-event days
Carlton Brewhouse Abbotsford
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 24, 109
Tel (03) 9420 6800
Website www.visitfostersvenues.com/venues/carlton_brewhouse_abbotsford.asp
Admission $18
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
Tram 16, 79, 96 Bus 246, 600, 606, 623, 646
Tel 1300 888 272
Website www.lunapark.com.au
Admission free, rides $7, unlimited ride ticket $35.95
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
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
eastern suburbs.
Pin Oak Court, Vermont South
Tram 75
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 Mon-Fri. On weekends there is a back lot tour that takes you
into Global Television studios to see the exterior sets from the TV show including the
Lassiters complex.
Pick-up from 570 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Tram 48, 70, 96, 109, 112 Train Southern Cross
Tel (03) 9534 4755
Website www.neighbourstour.com
Tours depart Mon-Fri 8.45am, 1.45pm; back lot tour Sat-Sun 8.45am
Tour cost $40; back lot tour $55
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
Tram 16, 96, 112
Tel (03) 9534 4755 for bookings
Website www.backpackerking.com.au
Admission $40
Open Mon 6.30pm, Fri 6pm
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://museumvictoria.com.au/Scienceworks/
Admission $6; $11 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.
Tram 16, 79, 96, 112 Bus 246, 600, 606, 623, 646
