Melbourne Attractions
- Overview
- Attractions
- Events
- Facts
- Kids
Note:
See Melbourne and Beyond The SmartVisit Card
For an
all-inclusive price, card-holders get cashless entry to almost 60 leading
attractions, including Melbourne Museum, Melbourne Aquarium, Victoria's Open
Range Zoo, Penguin Parade and Puffing Billy Steam Railway.
Crown
Entertainment Complex
8 Whiteman
Street
Southbank
tel: 03
9292 8888
A
relatively new addition to Melbourne’s nightlife, Crown has become synonymous
with entertainment and glamour. There are more than 40 restaurants, bars and
cafés to choose from. In addition, there are the casino, cinemas, game arcades,
international designer stores, nightclubs and live performance venues. Crown
hosts film premieres, international conferences and awards ceremonies. Located
downstream from Southgate on the banks of the Yarra River,
Melbourne
Museum
11
Nicholson Street
Carlton
Gardens
tel: 131
102
Open daily
from 10am to 5pm
Walk
through a living forest gallery, discover the tumultuous history of Melbourne
and experience Aboriginal cultural performances in this ultra-modern, hands-on
museum. Performances, activities and interactive displays make a visit to the
Melbourne Museum a truly memorable experience.
National Gallery of Victoria
180 St
Kilda Road
Melbourne
Open daily
from 10am to 5pm
tel: 03
8620 2222
The
National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has an impressive range of international and
Australian art housed within its recently renovated walls. Most of the
Australian art is now located at the NGV’s Ian Potter Centre located at
Federation Square. This new building and the renovation of the original gallery
on St Kilda Road provides exhibition space for literally thousands of previously
unseen treasures.
Melbourne
Symphony Orchestra
ABC
Southbank Centre
120-130
Southbank Boulevard
Southbank
3006 VIC
Tel: 03
9626 1111
Fax: 03
9626 1101
With a
reputation for excellence, versatility and innovation developed over almost 100
years the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is renowned for its performances of the
great symphonic masterworks with leading international soloists and for its
appearances with The Three Tenors, Frank Sinatra, Kiri Te Kanawa, Elton John,
John Farnham, supergroup KISS, Dionne Warwick, Meat Loaf, tenor Andrea Bocelli,
Harry Connick Jr and kd lang.
Victorian Arts Centre
100 St
Kilda Road
Melbourne
Tours
depart Monday to Saturday at midday and 2.30pm.
tel: 03
9281 8000
Crowned by
a magnificent spire, one of Melbourne’s most distinctive landmarks, the Arts
Centre is the city’s hub of visual and performing arts. Explore the centre’s
many theatres and discover the history of the site on a guided tour. Tickets are
available from the concierge located near the entrance.
Surfing Museum
Beach
Road, Torquay
(03) 5261
4606
10am to
4pm
This is a
museum that most families will enjoy, where parents don't have to worry about
their children breaking something. The museum features a large number of
interactive activities for children and adults alike. There are displays that
will interest those that are not surfers, as well as surf fanatics. For surfing
enthusiasts, the museum offers tips on some of the best surf locations in
Victoria.
Australian Toy
Museum
174-180
Smith Street
Collingwood
Tram 86
Daily 10-5
Children under 18 months free.
Historic
building houses toys from the 1880's to the present. A special feature is a
permanent display of dolls and doll houses. There is also a garden with a
miniature steam train and the Magic Pudding Café which caters to the tastes of
children.
Fun
Factory
257 Toorak
Road
South Yarra
03-9826-8276
Daily 10-1
No
admission charge.
One of the
largest indoor amusement centers in Melbourne, Fun Factory is equipped with
Daytona racing machines, pinball, shooting and skill test games, pool tables, a
rollerblade rink and "dodge-em" cars.
Melbourne
Sports and Aquatic Centre
Aughtie
Drive, Albert Park
03-9926-1555
Tram # 96
This
combination sporting facility and playground has a wave and toddlers' pool, a
water slide, pool garden, and a diving complex. Childcare is available Mon.-Fri.
9-Noon. A school holiday program and one on Saturday mornings for children ages
5-12 are low in cost, and high in educational and entertainment value.
Puffing
Billy
Admission
charged.
Old
Monbulk Road, Belgrave 3160
(03)
9754-6800
This
historic steam train still runs regularly in the mountain district it was built
to serve at the turn of the century. Puffing Billy, Victoria's best known steam
train. travels through the beautiful bush land of the Dandenong ranges. The
Railway is the sole survivor of four experimental lines used to develop rural
areas in the early 1900's. Puffing Billy is now a major tourist attraction, its
operation depending on hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
All
Puffing Billy trips depart and return from Belgrave, 40 km east of Melbourne,
Catch
Puffing Billy to Emerald, have a picnic lunch, then travel back to Belgrave.
Puffing Billy runs every day of the year, except Christmas day, and is a 24.5
km operating museum. Enjoy the mountain scenery and panoramic views which pass
by your carriage window. Lakeside, the intermediate terminus of the railway, is
inside beautiful Emerald Lake Park. You may stop over for a few pleasant hours
bushwalking, swimming or just relaxing in the peaceful country setting. The
terminus of the line at Gembrook is a delightful country town with much to offer
the visitor.
Melbourne
Cricket Ground
(03) 9657
8879
Open 7
days a week (excluding event days)
Go behind
the scenes...see prints and paintings, ornate silverware and porcelain trophies,
in portrait-lined hallways.
Scienceworks
Booker
Street Spotswood
Williamstown and Werribee Lines from Flinders Street station to Spotswood
Station
Daily
10-4:30
Admission
charged.
A series
of interactive exhibits teach participants about science and technology. The
subjects range from sports, to insects, to the human mind and body. There is
also a digital planetarium.
Kryal Castle
8
kilometres East of Ballarat on the Western Highway
(03) 5334
7388
Weekdays/Weekends
Admission
charged.
10am - 5pm
7 days a week
Visit a
medieval castle just a short trip from Melbourne. Hidden on the hills of
Warrenheip, just out of Ballarat Kryal Castle lurks, waiting to amuse the whole
family with medieval re-enactments, games and shows. A truly magnificent day for
the whole family
Collingwood Children's Farm
St.
Heliers Street
Abbottsford
03-9205-5469
Epping
Line from Flinders St. station to Victoria Park station.
Daily 9-5
Small
admission charge.
Children
can pet and feed a variety of farm animals (call for exact feeding times). They
are also shown how to do simple farm chores and can milk a cow, etc. Farm tours
instruct at a child's level about plants and animals along the way. The first
day of each month is Family Day. Horse rides and a home made farm lunch are part
of the fun on these special days.
Ashcomb
Maze
Admission
charged.
10 - 5
everyday except Christmas Day, Good Friday & during August.
Red Hill -
Shoreham Road, Shoreham 3916
(03)
9989-8387
This
traditional hedge maze offers a great afternoon of fun for the whole family,
with the main maze and other activities. My Recommendations: A fun afternoon, It
could be on the way to
Healesville Sanctuary
Admission
charged.
9am to 5pm
Daily (including Christmas day and public holidays)
Badger
Creek Road, Healesville. (follow signs)
(03) 1902
240 592
For
overseas visitors and Australian visitors alike Healesville sanctuary offers a
complete relaxing day out. Explore the Sanctuary, set in the lush bush land of
Healesville on the Badger creek, home to one of Australia's most loved, and most
secretive animals, the platypus. See a wide variety of Australian Fauna and
flora. See emus, kangaroos, echidna's, koala's, possums and many other
Australian natives, in natural and peaceful settings.
Royal
Melbourne Zoo
Elliot
Avenue Parkville
03-9285-9300
Tram
55,56,or 68. Admission charged.
Melbourne
Zoo is open every day of the year (including Christmas Day and all public
holidays) 9.00am - 5.00pm
You can
not visit Melbourne without visiting the Royal Melbourne Zoo! The Royal
Melbourne Zoo offers a large range of exotic animals, beautiful gardens and an
educational experience to all its visitors young and old. Popular Meet the
Keeper sessions (wombats, seals, pelicans, penguins) teach children about the
animals in a most engaging manner. There are also twilight tours for better
views of nocturnal animals. A whole day is needed to explore and enjoy the Zoo
to its full extent.
Victoria's Open Range Zoo At Werribee
K Road,
Werribee 3030
Werribee
Line from Flinders Station to Werribee station.
(03)
9742-7933
Admission
charged.
Daily: 10-
5
You travel
around the zoo which has only African animals in a bus, in order to have a
better idea of how animals interact with each other in the wild. In addition
there is a 30 minute Volcanic Plains walking Trail.
Sovereign Hill
Sovereign
Hill, Ballarat
(03)
5331-1944
Admission
charged.Daily 10am - 5pm (except Christmas day)
A whole
day is needed for Sovereign Hill, it is an educational theme park and is
suitable for people of all ages and all interests.
The gold
rush themed park offers many old styled shops selling everything from hot bread
and scones to metal goods . Children have great fun panning for gold in the
creek, many usually finding some real gold dust! Visitors can go through a tour
of a gold mine, and see exhibits and souvenirs of real gold.
Geelong Naval &
Maritime Museum
Located
near the stables at the rear of Osborn House
Swinburne
Street, North Geelong
(03)
5277-2260
Admission
charged.
Monday,
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am - 4pm
The museum
is set in the first Australian Naval College (from 1913-1919). The museum has a
wealth of information and a large and interesting range of exhibits. The museum
includes model ships and submarines, and the museum is said to be haunted by a
ghost! an interesting day for all those interested in history and ships. you
will need about 1 - 2 hours to visit the museum.
Seal Rocks Sea Life Centre
Seal
Rocks, The Nobbys, Phillip Island. (follow signs)
1300 367
325
Admission
charged. Children: Free
10 am -
dusk (see Sea Life Centre web site for approximate dusk time during your visit)
One of the
most popular attractions at Phillip Island, along with the Penguin Parade and
Koala Conservation Center is Seal Rocks, the sea life center offers educational
and enjoyable insights into the life of the Australian Fur Seal. The Center
displays views of Seal Rocks and the Nobbies, which is home to Australia's
largest fur seal colony. There is also a sea gull rockery and a few penguins.
Luna Park
18 Lower
Esplanade, St Kilda
03 9625
5033
Admission
to Luna Park is free.
(Weather
permitting):Friday:7p.m.-11p.m; Saturday: 1-11pm.;
Sunday:1pm
until dusk. Closed Christmas Day.
School
holidays and public holidays 11 - 5
A day of
family fun is Luna Park, offering a large selection of rides including a roller
coaster, ferris wheel and ghost train.. Luna Park is Melbourne's own "mini theme
park".
Serendip Sanctuary
100
Windermere Road, Lara
(03) 13 19
63
10am - 4pm
daily
Take a
walk with Australian wildlife and have a close encounter with Brolga, Kangaroos,
Emus, and waterfowl. Delightful picnic areas are available with barbeques in
this wetland setting. Discover the serenity of Serendip Sanctuary. A delightful
visit for the whole family, particularly animal lovers. spring time (September -
November) is the best time to visit, as there are a lot of cute baby birds.
AFL
Football - The Great Australian Game
(03) 9643
1999
Check for
locations and game times.
AFL,
Aussie Rules, football is the favorite sport, followed by millions. For sheer
atmosphere and excitement it's an experience not to be missed.
Melbourne
Aquarium
Daily 9am
- 6pm
Corner of
Queenswharf Road & King Street, Melbourne
(03)
9620-0994
Situated
at Southbank, opposite the Crown Casino on the tranquil Yarra river, it has a
large collection of fish and sharks enjoying life in its aquariums and
oceanarium. The aquarium towers 2 stories high and goes one story underground,
and is even under the Yarra itself! Some of the aquarium attractions include a
coral atoll, oceanarium, and billabong display.
Royal
Botanic Gardens
Birdwood
Avenue, South Yarra, 3141
(03)
9650~9424
7:30am -
Sunset
Admission:
Free
The Royal
Botanic Gardens are situated on the edge of Melbourne next to the Yarra River .
Surrounding them is a beautiful lake with ducks, eels and swans. The gardens
contain a variety of plants from all over the world. There are many beautiful
spots for a picnic lunch by the lake on the lush green lawns. This is a country
garden right in the heart of Melbourne! Remember to take a little extra bread as
the children enjoy feeding the swans, ducks and eels. Visitors usually bring
their own food but there is a snack kiosk on premises.
Area
Attractions
Anakie Fairy
Park
2388
Ballan Road Anakie 3221
(03)
5284-1262
Daily -
10am to 4pm
This is a
fascinating place for a family day trip, set in the mountains of the Brisbane
ranges, southwest of Melbourne. The Fairy park offers playgrounds, walks and
attractions for the whole family. An entire day could easily be spent exploring.
The park has a medieval castle theme and is truly magical. There is quite a bit
of walking involved, and the park is on a hill.
Penguin
Parade
Summerland Beach, Phillip Island
Hours
change depending on the time of year. the world’s smallest penguins come in just
after sunset.
Visitors
to Phillip Island look forward to the Penguin Parade. The penguins put on an
impromptu show just by performing their ordinary daily routines. You do need to
wear something very warm in the evening as the cool sea breeze is part of the
fun. Large cafeteria style restaurant, snack bars, and extensive gift shop and
theater are located in the Visitor Center.
Shopping
Melbourne
Markets
Some of the
best of Melbourne culture may be experienced by a visit to some of the many
markets that the city has to offer.
Queen
Victoria Market
Tele(03)
9320 5822
Market
Days: Tue & Thurs 6am-2pm, Fri 6am-6pm,Sat 6am-3pm, Sun 9am-4pm.
From
Elizabeth Street take any tram. Corner of Victoria and Elizabeth Streets
Everything from fruit and vegetables, fresh produce and delicatessen goods to
clothing, plants and pets are sold at this market which covers seven hectares
(around 1000 traders) and is renowned as a gourmet paradise. Its origins date
back to 1857 and many of its buildings have been classified by the National
Trust. The Magical History Tour of the market explores 125 years of history and
allows participants to meet vendors.
St
Kilda Esplanade Art & Craft Market
Upper
Esplanade, St Kilda
Open every
Sunday 10am-5pm.
From
Swanston Street take #15 or #16, from Bourke Street #96.
Unique
handcrafted gifts are made and sold by stall holders along this beachfront
esplanade. There are over 200 stalls.
The
Sunday Market Victorian Arts Centre
100 St
Kilda Road
Open every
Sunday 10am-4pm.
Walk from
Flinders Street Station across Princes Bridge.
Located in
the heart of Melbourne's arts and culture precinct, this market features local
artists and craftsmen who sell their own work.
Prahran
Market
163-185
Commercial Road, South Yarra
Open
Tuesday and Thursday 10am-5pm,
Friday
6am-6pm, Saturday 6am-1pm.
Take tram
#8 or #72 to Chapel Street, or a train to South Yarra Station.With its fresh
produce and wide range of delicatessen goods, this lively market is frequented
by locals and visitors alike and is just a short walk from fashionable Chapel
Street.
