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.
Melbourne’s Scienceworks is a family-friendly attraction that offers hands-on science and technology activities and live demonstrations. Highlights include the Melbourne Planetarium and the Lightning Room, capable of generating 2 million volts of electricity.
With sprawling grounds that include a lake, grotto, children’s garden, fernery, and orchard, the Rippon Lea Estate is a beautiful Victorian enclave, mansion, and farm created by the Sargood family. You can tour the elaborate home, stroll the gardens, have lunch in the tea room, and shop the nursery and gift shop.
Completed in 1997, the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) is one of the largest athletic centers in the southern hemisphere. Host of the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships, the center caters to both serious swimmers and recreational users—it’s home to aquatic facilities ranging from indoor and outdoor Olympic swimming pools to a steam room and sauna, and has other sports facilities as well.
Known affectionately as Espy to locals, Hotel Esplanade is a performance venue in the seaside suburb of St. Kilda that’s been promoting live music since the 1800s. Almost all of Australia’s music legends have graced the stage at the Espy at some point in their career; in an average week the pub hosts more than 50 bands and DJs.
Rising from the flat Werribee Plain, the You Yangs are a series of granite hills between Melbourne and Geelong, reaching an elevation of 1047 feet (319 meters) at Flinders Peak. You Yangs Regional Park is a protected area that covers the southern side of the range and falls within the traditional boundaries of Wadawurrung Country.
Station Pier cruise terminal serves as the gateway to Australia’s second-largest city and is located about 30 minutes from the center of Melbourne by car. But before you head straight to Melbourne CBD, spend a few hours on neighboring Melbourne Beach and explore the trendy suburb of St. Kilda.
Located at the Chadstone Shopping Centre, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Melbourne offers the ultimate indoor LEGO® experience. Featuring 13 attractions and activities, including two rides, 11 build-and-play zones, and a 4D cinema, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne offers a fun and educational outing for the whole family.
Pentridge Prison is one of Melbourne’s most significant historical sites, offering a chilling glimpse into Australia’s penal history. Operating for nearly 150 years, this former maximum-security prison once held some of the nation’s most notorious criminals. Today, the site has been transformed into a museum where visitors can walk through the original cell blocks and explore the grim realities of prison life. It’s an immersive experience that provides a unique perspective on a dark chapter of the country’s past.
The South Wharf may be a small area south of downtown Melbourne, but it packs a punch. The area presents as a modern destination, and its roots go back to the time when tall ships filled the harbor. Cargo sheds of yesteryear have new life as hip restaurants and bars, alongside global retailers and the city’s busy convention center.
Monopoly Dreams Melbourne brings the classic board game to life through interactive challenges and themed attractions. Wander through Mr. Monopoly’s mansion, tackle a laser maze, try carnival-style games in Monopoly City, and catch a multi-sensory 4DX cinema adventure featuring Melbourne landmarks—and that’s just for starters. Families will particularly love this unique new attraction in the heart of Melbourne Central.
Melbourne’s Carlton Brewhouse is a working brewery and pub serving food and drink, including some of Australia’s best-known and loved beers. Visitors can take tours to learn more about local brewing or hang out in the beer garden with a plate of pub fare washed down by Carlton Draught, Crown Lager, or Victoria Bitter.
With its mix of Italianate and Australian Regency architecture, manicured gardens, and antique furnishings, Como House offers a glimpse into aristocratic life in 19th- and 20th-century Melbourne. Dating back to 1847, the lavish home once belonged to the Armytage family and was a popular venue for high society events.
From fashion boutiques and vintage shops to art galleries and cozy cafés, plus a vibrant nightlife scene, the Chapel Street Precinct is where locals come to eat, drink, and shop. Stretching through four different Melbourne neighborhoods, the legendary street is full of character and abuzz with activity at all hours.
Part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Sherbrooke Forest is known for its wildlife—its most famous resident is the lyrebird, which can mimic dozens of sounds, including other bird songs, car alarms, and camera shutters. It’s also well known for its abundance of tree ferns and mountain ash, the tallest flowering tree in the world.
Located only 1.5 hours from the teeming streets of modern, fast-paced Melbourne—Phillip Island is known for its wildlife and rural, undeveloped shores. The fact that the island has remained so wild is in large part due to the Phillip Island Nature Parks—a group of five family-friendly attractions, plus conservation areas that preserve and promote the island’s wildlife wealth.
Located on the waterfront, The District Docklands is an indoor/outdoor shopping destination in the Docklands suburb of Melbourne. The urban, modernized mall features a transparent all-weather roof and offers an array of retail, dining, and entertainment options alongside immersive experiences and events. Shop The District Market for fresh food vendors, or stock up on supplies with locals at the country’s first Costco.
From the Sydney Opera House to the Melbourne Arts Centre, the Australian Ballet puts on shows all around the country, performing everything from contemporary ballets to classics such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Founded in 1962, it’s Australia’s leading ballet company, based along Melbourne’s Southbank.
Located in Victoria’s Great Dividing Range, Mount Macedon is one of the highest peaks in the Macedon Ranges at 3,284 feet (1,001 meters). It forms a part of the 5,878-acre (2,379-hectare) Macedon Regional Park, which offers scenic hikes and drives, wonderful views, a range of wildlife, and both natural and cultural points of interest.
The Australian National Aviation Museum (also called the Moorabbin Air Museum) is home to a collection of aircraft, engines, models, uniforms, and other memorabilia from Australia’s aviation heritage. With more than 30 aircraft on display—and many allowing hands-on exploration—aviation and history enthusiasts, school groups and kids, can get to know a diverse collection of all things that take to the sky, from gliders to historical commercial aircraft, and much more.
