MELBOURNE - Tourist Attractions

The City Circle tram

An excellent introduction to Melbourne. Wait at any of the specially marked tram stops in Flinders, Spencer, La Trobe or Spring Streets. Enjoy a free 40 minute ride past most of the city's attractions. Stay on the tram for as many circuits as you like or get off at any stop and enjoy the sights.

The City Circle tram runs seven days a week, except Christmas Day and Good Friday, a ten minute service in either direction from 10am-6pm daily and to 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (during daylight saving).

Chinatown

Little Bourke Street, between Spring and Swanston Streets, with some of the best Asian restaurants in Melbourne. Visit the Museum of Chinese Australian History, see the Chinese dragon, an admission fee applies.

Learn about the early days of gold mining in Victoria. Join a Feng Sui tour.       for more info

Cook's Cottage

Located in the Fitzroy Gardens since 1934, Cook's Cottage was originally built in England in 1755 by the parents of Captain James Cook. It is furnished with both original and reproduction pieces. The garden is planted with fruits and vegetables, and some herbs, that would have been available in the north of England in the 1700s. It was dismantled brick by brick and shipped to Melbourne for Victoria's Centenary Celebrations in 1934. There is an historic display in the souvenir shop outlining Captain Cook's major voyages. Open daily 9am-5pm. Admission fee applies.

Crown Entertainment Complex

8 Whiteman Street, Southbank. Located on the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River with a short stroll to the central business district, one of the largest gaming facilities in the Southern Hemisphere. With 350 gaming tables and 2,500 game machines, as well as a shopping arcade, a variety of restaurants, nightclubs, a cinema complex and two hotel towers. Open 24 hours (closed Christmas Day, Good Friday).       for more info

Federation Square

Cnr Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne. A new city block, built over the rail yards, in the centre of Melbourne. The Square is the new premises for the National Gallery of Victoria, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Australian Racing Museum, the Melbourne Visitor Information Centre and numerous restaurants, cafes and bars, as well as open public areas.       for more info

Fitzroy Gardens

Containing a conservatory and Captain Cook's cottage.

The planning of the garden reflects the strong links that the earlier residents of Melbourne felt towards England.       for more info

Flinders Street Station

Built in 1901, a very busy suburban rail terminus. For nearly a century, the area under the clock has been a popular meeting place.

Government House

A landmark which is rarely open to the public.

Greek Precinct

Russell and Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne. See and experience Greek culture and cuisine. Melbourne has a reputation as the largest Greek-speaking community outside Greece. Home of the annual Antipodes Festival of music, dance, theatre, film, art and culture.

IMAX Theatre Melbourne

Rathdowne Street, Melbourne. The largest film format in the world, ten times larger than normal cinema format, with crystal clear images. Open daily with films screening on the hour every hour from 10am-10pm.       for more info

Immigration Museum

400 Flinders Street, Melbourne, in the Old Customs House, one of Melbourne's finest nineteenth century buildings. Victoria's multicultural history with stories of people from all over the world who migrated to Victoria since the early 1880s. With a 17-metre replica ship, experience the sensation of early sea travel to Australia. Open daily 10am-5pm (closed Good Friday and Christmas Day). Admission free to the ground floor, a fee applies to upper level exhibits.       for more info

Kings Domain

Between St. Kilda Road (opposite the Victorian Arts Centre) and Domain Road, Anderson Street and the Yarra River, Melbourne.

The area includes Queen Victoria Gardens, featuring memorials to Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, with a floral clock built from over 7,000 plants, Alexandra Gardens, the Shrine of Remembrance, Pioneer Women's Garden, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The floral clock tells the time and provides a brief recorded history of the gardens in and around Melbourne.

Melbourne Aquarium

525 Collins Street, Melbourne. Australia's newest and only Southern Ocean Aquarium. See sharks being fed, and stingrays. Features include mangrove swamps, rock pools and billabongs. Open daily 9.30am-6pm, last admission 5pm. Open January 1-26 9.30am-9pm (last admission 8pm). Admission fees apply.       for more info

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Jolimont Terrace, Melbourne. Australia's most famous sporting stadium and home of the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum. See trophies, historical costumes and portraits. Tours available daily, fee applies.       for more info

Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

Multi-dimensional facilty with more than 50 meeting rooms, able to cater for events of all sizes.       for more info

Melbourne Maritime Museum

The last remaining wooden walled dry dock in the world, with the restored nineteenth century Polly Woodside, originally launched in 1885. With indoor and outdoor play areas, films and a souvenir and coffee shop. Open daily 10am-4pm. Admission fee applies.

Melbourne Museum

Carlton Gardens, Carlton. A hands-on, virtual display. Featuring exhibitions of a rain forest, walk onto the set of the TV show, Neighbours. Displays of Aboriginal culture. See the preserved body of the legendary race horse, Phar Lap. Take a journey with the latest in 3D technology. Open daily 10am-6pm. Admission fee applies.       for more info

Melbourne Park

Home to the Australian Open Tennis Championship in January each year, with indoor and outdoor tennis courts, show courts, available for hire seven days a week. Australian Open merchandise. Souvenirs are available from the Pro Shop.       for more info

Melbourne's Golden Mile Heritage Trail and Guided Tours

A two-hour tour every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Beginning at the Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne. Learn about Melbourne's early development. Guide booklets available from Visitor Information Centres, Fees apply.       for more info

Melbourne Town Hall

Cnr Collins and Swanston Streets, Melbourne. Built in 1870. Visit the gallery of Victorian Art and Memorabilia. See the wood-panelled Council Chambers, go behind the Grand Organ with its 10,000 pipes. Free guided tours, bookings essential.

Melbourne Zoo

Elliott Avenue, Parkville. Over 350 species in natural settings of an African rainforest, with gorillas, rural Asia, the Australian Bush and the world of Bugs and Butterflies up close. Addmission fee applies. Open daily 9am-5pm, and to 9.30pm for the Zoo Twilights Festival on selected evenings in summer. Visit the Zoo Shop. Take-away snacks are available, as well as a licensed bistro serving lunch and afternoon tea. Free guided tours available, bookings essential.       for more info

National Gallery of Victoria

Now housed in the Ian Potter Centre, Federation Square, Flinders Street, Victoria. It exhibits only Australian art. With 20 galleries over three levels presenting the history of Australian art, including Aboriginal Art, photography and decorative arts. Facilities include the Gallery cafe, restaurant and Bookshop. Open daily 10am-5pm. Admission free.       for more info

Old Melbourne Gaol

In Russell Street, between La Trobe and Victoria Streets. Built between 1841 and 1864, Victoria's oldest surviving penal establishment showing gaol life in the 19th century. There have been 136 hangings, including that of infamous bushranger Ned Kelly in 1880. The gallows are still there, as well as the cell in which Kelly spent his last days. See one of the original suits of armour worn by the Kelly Gang, weighing 47 kilograms, together with the last gun used by Ned Kelly. See authentic death masks and memorabilia of some of Melbourne's most notorious criminals. Open daily 9am-5pm, closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. Admission fee applies.       for more info

Old Treasury Museum

Spring Street, Melbourne, housed in the old Treasury Building, an Italian Renaissance building, reflecting the wealth from the Gold Rush. Highlights include the gold vaults which once stored the young colony's gold. Guided tours are available. Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat-Sun (closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day). Admission fee applies.       for more info

Parliament House

157 Spring Street, Melbourne. Built in 1854, at the height of the gold rush. Free guided tours are conducted when Parliament is not sitting.       for more info

Princess Theatre

One of Melbourne's main theatres for musicals, dates from 1886.       for more info

Queen Victoria Market

513 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Melbourne's oldest and largest markets with around 1,000 traders selling quality merchandise such as gifts, souvenirs, arts and craft and fresh produce.

Rialto Towers Observation Deck

476 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. 360 degree views and located in the tallest office building in Australia. Consisting of two towers, it provides 360 degree panoramic views of Melbourne, telescopes are available. Included in the admission is a 20 minute sight and sound show in the Rialto Vision Theatre. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, kiosk and souvenir shop. Open every day 10am to 10pm. Admission fee applies.       for more info

Royal Botanic Gardens

Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne. Renowned for its landscape gardens extending over 36 hectares and displaying more then 52,000 plants from around the world. Free guided walks are held Sunday to Friday. Open daily from 7.30am to sunset. Admission free. During summer there are outdoor performances of classic plays, and the highly popular Moonlight Cinema series. Opens every day November to March from 7.30am-8.30 pm, April to October from 7.30am-5.30pm. Admission is free.

Royal Exhibition Building

Nineteenth century World Fair venue hosted the opening of Federal Parliament in 1901. With its restored interior and domed area it is home to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden show.       for more info

Shrine of Remembrance

A tribute to the men and women who served in armed conflict throughout Australia's history. Construction was completed in 1934 to honour the sacrifices of World War 1. Various monuments including the Eternal Flame and Cenotaph, have been added to commemorate the service of Victorians in World War 2, as well as conflict in Korea, Malaya, Vietnam. A uniformed guard keeps watch 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Open daily (closed Good Friday and Christmas Day). Tours are available.       for more info

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Built in 1959, in summer it is used for concerts.

State Library

328 Swanston Street, Melbourne. Victoria's largest reference and research library. The collections date back to the 1850s. Construction began in 1853. The Library opened in 1856 with a collection of 3,800 books Open daily (closed public holidays).       for more info

St Patrick's Cathedral

Cnr Gisborne and Cathedral Place, Melbourne. Gothic revival architecture, begun in 1858, it took 82 years to complete. Melbourne's main Roman Catholic Church, closely associated with Irish Catholicism in Australia. A statue of the Irish patriot Daniel O'Connell stands in the courtyard.       for more info

St Paul's Cathedral

Cnr Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne. Anglican Cathedral opened in 1852. Daily services. Free tours are available.       for more info

Windsor Hotel

Features a magnificent Grand Ballroom.