Australia might be famous for its kangaroos and koalas, but the Werribee Open Range Zoo offers all the excitement of an African safari on Aussie shores. Lions, rhinoceros, giraffes, and gorillas all roam freely in the park’s 494-acre (200-hectare) grasslands, affording visitors some incredible wildlife-watching opportunities.
Located in the Old Customs House, which dates back to the 19th century, the Immigration Museum reveals the multicultural customs that immigrants have contributed to life in Australia. In addition to learning about the lives of the first settlers in Australia, you can discover your family history by searching the museum’s archive of immigrant details.
Put yourself in the picture at ArtVo, the first immersive art gallery, or “trick art” gallery, in Australia. Spanning 21,528 square feet (2,000 square meters), the Melbourne gallery displays more than 100 interactive, large-scale paintings on walls and floors that allow you to become part of the art through photos.
Covering a significant portion of Melbourne’s Southbank, Crown Melbourne is an entertainment complex with three hotels, spas, a cinema, a casino, and a number of bars and restaurants that overlook the Yarra River. The fun never ends at the casino, which is open 24 hours and welcomes guests with a dazzling water jet and fire show.
Built in 1755, decades before the First Fleet brought colonizers and convicts to Australia, Cooks’ Cottage lays claim as Australia’s oldest building. Surprisingly, it wasn’t even constructed in Melbourne: In the 1930s, an industrialist by the name of Sir Russell Grimwade shipped the brick cottage over from Yorkshire, England, where it was once home to explorer Captain James Cook’s parents.
Lush greenery and rolling vine-clad hills provide a picturesque backdrop for sipping some of Yarra Valley's finest wines at Rochford Wines. Just an hour's drive from Melbourne, this family-owned winery offers wine-tasting and fine-dining experiences with panoramic views of the iconic Great Dividing Ranges.
Melbourne’s Princess Theatre is considered one of the city’s most beautiful buildings. Established in 1854 and rebuilt in 1886, the interior was refurbished in the 1980s but still retains many of its traditional flourishes, including red velvet curtains and crystal chandeliers. It hosts musical theater and other live performances and can seat up to 1,500 patrons.
Head to the Australian Sports Museum inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for all things Aussie sport. Learn about Aussie Rules Football, cricket, tennis, horse racing, and more. Australian sports heroes are brought to life using holograms and displays, which is fun for the entire family, sports enthusiast or not. You might leave inspired to take up a sporting challenge.
Open since 2000, Marvel Stadium—traditionally known as Docklands Stadium—is mainly used for Australian Football League (AFL) games, but also hosts other sporting events such as soccer and rugby under its retractable roof. Non-sports fans can catch a concert by major musical acts; past performers have included AC/DC, Bon Jovi, and Taylor Swift.
A Melbourne icon located in Port Phillip Bay, Brighton Beach boasts golden sand and 82 distinctive bathing boxes. The brightly painted, timber-framed huts date back to the Victorian ages and serve as one of the city’s most photogenic backdrops.
A port town at the mouth of the Yarra River, Williamstown brims with colonial and maritime history. Its heritage landmarks have endured more than 150 years on the salty edge of Hobsons Bay and Port Phillip Bay; the bluestone Old Morgue was built by convicts in 1859, while the 19th-century Timeball Tower at Point Gellibrand continues to keep time today.
Wine lovers can enjoy the combination of Aussie hospitality, French gastronomy, and viniculture at Dominique Portet Winery. Bringing nine generations of French winemaking traditions to Aussie soil, Dominique Portet Winery is the brainchild of Bordeaux-born winemaker Dominique Portet. It produces everything from Provence-style rosés to Bordeaux blend reds, all with a distinctive Aussie twist.
Concerts, theater, weddings, and more grace Melbourne Town Hall, which has welcomed everyone from the late Queen Elizabeth II to The Beatles. Completed in 1870, this grand neoclassical building is at the heart of Melbourne’s city and cultural life. Although a working town hall, it opens to the public for prebooked tours several days a week.
Best known as the home of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which takes place in Melbourne every March, Albert Park is a leafy inner-city retreat that has a lake with swans, as well as sports venues, playgrounds, and a skyline view. Take a stroll along the lakeside boardwalk, or rent a boat to explore the lake.
The City Circle Tram is a free tram service that runs in a circular route around Melbourne’s central business district and passes many of the city’s major attractions. Easily spotted thanks to its burgundy, green, and gold exterior, the tram is one of the few remaining heritage trams in operation in the city.
See thousands of marine animals without leaving the city at the SEA LIFE Melbourne aquarium. Boasting more than 10 themed zones, the aquarium features penguins, sharks, rays, crocodiles, starfish, and much more. The ocean’s diversity and marine conservation efforts are the focus at this popular family attraction.
Aromatic eucalyptus, ferns, and mountain ash surround the pool into which the 275-foot-tall Steavenson Falls plunge, with white water turbulence giving way to stillness. The lush area is marked by the black scars of the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009, but the region’s regeneration is proof of Australia’s fighting spirit.
Get a glimpse into the lives of early Australian settlers and pioneer farming practices at Churchill Island. Located just off the coast of Phillip Island, Churchill Island was the first European agricultural site in Victoria. Today, it’s home to a historic working farm, the Churchill Island Heritage Farm.
On the western tip of the Mornington Peninsula, travelers come to the beautiful Point Nepean National Park to bike or hike along the coastal landscape and to learn more about the park’s history at the 50 heritage-listed buildings. The ocean views along one of Victoria’s most treacherous coastlines are also impressive.
Dating back to 1859 and nicknamed "The Heath" after its original bushland race track, Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne’s most legendary horse racing venues. Hosting prestigious events such as the Caulfield Cup—the precursor to the world-famous Melbourne Cup—it’s a top destination for a festive day at the races or a fun family outing.
See what it was like to sail aboard the tall ship, Polly Woodside, whose historical mission was to haul coal and wheat/nitrate from South America to England. This wooden ship made that voyage an impressive 16 times and now rests in Melbourne. Visitors can climb aboard, steer the ship, and pretend to sail the seven seas.
Regent Theatre has been one of Melbourne’s most important performance venues since 1929. The lavishly designed 2,145-seat auditorium has hosted some of the city’s most popular plays and musicals over the years, including The Lion King, Wicked, We Will Rock You, and the world premiere of King Kong.
Phillip Island isn’t only famous for its wildlife sightings, coastal hikes, and the nightly Penguin Parade—the Victorian island is also home to a legendary Grand Prix racing circuit. With a history dating back to 1928 and formerly the site of the Australian Grand Prix, the Phillip Island Circuit is known for its technical twists and turns and spectacular ocean views.
Located amid the lush countryside of Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula, Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens are home to Australia’s oldest traditional hedge maze. As well as encompassing 25 acres (10 hectares) of gardens, the complex features a Lavender Labyrinth that flowers year-round and a Circular Rose maze made up of 1,200 roses.
With its spas, natural springs, walking trails, and fresh air, the tranquil town of Daylesford provides the ultimate escape from city life. Within easy reach of central Melbourne, Daylesford offers a plethora of activities; swim or go kayaking around Daylesford Lake, climb to the top of Wombat Hill, or wander the gardens surrounding Convent Gallery.
Named after the hilltop flagstaff that signaled ships into Melbourne port, Flagstaff Gardens is the city’s oldest park, having been established in 1862. Since it’s just north of the Central Business District (CBD), on a nice day you’ll see plenty of office workers lounging on the lawns during their lunch breaks. And given the park’s prime location next to Queen Victoria Market, it’s easy to have a picnic in one of the city’s favorite green spaces.
Referred to by locals as Little Italy, Lygon Street was once the epicenter of Melbourne’s cafe culture. The street is characterized by Victorian terraces, Italian restaurants with al fresco seating, and cafes serving cakes and gelato. Come for a coffee and to browse boutiques, and stay for a film at Melbourne’s largest arthouse cinema.
From Ozzy Osbourne to Madonna, Katy Perry to Oasis—the Forum has hosted bands and artists from all around the world. Dating back to 1929 and completely renovated in 2016, it remains one of Melbourne’s most legendary live music and festival venues, famous for its amphitheater-inspired architecture and atmospheric interiors.
From music legends such as Paul McCartney, AC/DC, and Metallica to open-air concerts by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, to candlelit Christmas carols—the Sidney Myer Music Bowl offers something for audiences of all tastes. Set amid the grassy lawns of the Kings Domain Gardens, it’s Melbourne’s largest and most popular outdoor music venue.
Stretching along the south bank of the Yarra River and encompassing more than 89 acres (36 hectares) of parklands, Kings Domain is one of Melbourne’s most popular green spaces. The tree-lined walkways, lengthy manicured lawns, and shady picnic areas offer plenty of scope to escape the city, dotted with monuments and memorials.
