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Tours in Melbourne |
Old Melbourne Gaol
The Old Melbourne Gaol was established in 1841 and expanded rapidly during the gold rush. The jail was the setting for 136 hangings, most famously for that of Ned Kelly in 1880. Exhibits include a collection of death masks, the scaffold where Ned Kelly was hung, his gun, and a suit of armour worn by a member of his gang. The jail closed its gates to inmates in 1929.
Russell Street
Tel: (03) 8663 7228.
Website: www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1700.
Admission charge.
Eureka Skydeck 88
Eureka Tower is the world's highest apartment building with a staggering 92 storeys. Its 88th floor, known as Eureka Skydeck 88, is a stunning observatory deck (open to the public) which boasts breathtaking 360-degree views of the city and its environs.
7 Riverside Quay, Southbank
Tel: (03) 9693 8888.
Website: www.skydeck.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2130.
Admission charge.
Federation Square
Designed as an architectural icon in a city that loves modern architecture, Federation Square is a complete new city block, bringing together social, cultural and commercial activities. Highlights include The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, which showcases works of art by Australian artists (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art), and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). The odd-looking geometric-designed buildings and the extensive rolling-hill paved plaza are attractions in themselves though.
Corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Street (opposite Flinders Street Station)
Tel: (03) 9655 1900.
Website: www.federationsquare.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Free admission.
Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens, located just 2km (1.2 miles) south of the city, off St Kilda Road are among the best gardens in Australia. There are more than 40 hectares (99 acres) of careful plantings, native and foreign trees and shrubs, a delightful herb garden, and plenty of chirping birds. Free guided walks are conducted Tuesday to Sunday at 1100 and 1400, each taking between 60 to 90 minutes.
Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra
Tel: (03) 9252 2300.
Website: www.rbg.vic.gov.au
Opening hours: Daily 0730-1800 (Apr, Sep and Oct); daily 0730-1730 (May-Aug ); daily 0730-2030 (Nov-Mar).
Free admission.
Melbourne Observation Deck
Although no longer offering the highest observation point in Melbourne (that honour now goes to Eureka Tower's Skydeck 88, described above) this is still a top spot to peer over the city. Located on level 55 of one of the tallest office buildings in the southern hemisphere, the Melbourne Observation Deck offers 360-degree panoramic views of Melbourne and the surrounding areas. The facilities also include a licensed cafe-bar. A 20-minute film about the city is included with admission.
525 Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9629 8222.
Website: www.melbournedeck.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2200.
Admission charge.
National Gallery of Victoria International
NGV International showcases Australia's finest collection of international art. Among the paintings usually on display here are offerings by Gainsborough, Constable, Bonnard, Delacroix, Monet and Rembrandt. There are also excellent temporary exhibitions (see website for current details). The building is a work of art in itself.
180 St Kilda Road
Tel: (03) 8620 2222.
Website: www.ngv.vic.gov.au
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 1000-1700, closed Tues.
Free admission.
Melbourne Museum
Australia's largest museum boasts an indoor rainforest, a giant Rubik's-cube-shaped Children's Museum, the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and assorted displays featuring dinosaurs, insects and much, much more. The museum has both permanent and temporary exhibitions (see website for details). The stuffed horse in the glass case is Phar Lap, Australia's most famous racing horse.
11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Tel: (03) 8341 7777 or 1300 130 152, in Australia only.
Website: http://melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, or MCG, is the world-famous venue for numerous national and international cricket matches. It also hosts many Aussie Rules (Australian Football League; AFL) games, including the Grand Final in September. The ground is open for guided tours and contains the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame and National Sports Museum.
Yarra Park, Jolimont
Tel: (03) 9657 8888.
Website: www.mcg.org.au
Opening hours: Guided tours available daily 1000-1500 half-hourly, except on match days.
Admission charge.
Melbourne Zoo
The award-winning Melbourne Zoo, Australia's oldest zoo, houses more than 300 animal species from within and beyond Australia. There is an African rainforest with gorillas, orangutans, hippos and big cats, as well as a particularly impressive butterfly house and a bushland exhibit, which is home to many of Australia's native wildlife species.
Elliot Avenue, Parkville
Tel: (03) 9285 9300.
Website: www.zoo.org.au
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission charge.
Rippon Lea Estate
Designed in 1868, this is the last of Australia's great privately owned 19th-century suburban estates. The mansion boasts opulent interiors, including elaborate embossed wallpaper and beautiful stained glass, and has lovely landscaped gardens, which include a conservatory, lake, orchard, and extensive flowerbeds and shrubbery.
192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick
Tel: (03) 9523 6095.
Website: www.ripponleaestate.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge.
The Old Melbourne Gaol was established in 1841 and expanded rapidly during the gold rush. The jail was the setting for 136 hangings, most famously for that of Ned Kelly in 1880. Exhibits include a collection of death masks, the scaffold where Ned Kelly was hung, his gun, and a suit of armour worn by a member of his gang. The jail closed its gates to inmates in 1929.
Russell Street
Tel: (03) 8663 7228.
Website: www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 0930-1700.
Admission charge.
Eureka Skydeck 88
Eureka Tower is the world's highest apartment building with a staggering 92 storeys. Its 88th floor, known as Eureka Skydeck 88, is a stunning observatory deck (open to the public) which boasts breathtaking 360-degree views of the city and its environs.
7 Riverside Quay, Southbank
Tel: (03) 9693 8888.
Website: www.skydeck.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2130.
Admission charge.
Federation Square
Designed as an architectural icon in a city that loves modern architecture, Federation Square is a complete new city block, bringing together social, cultural and commercial activities. Highlights include The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, which showcases works of art by Australian artists (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art), and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). The odd-looking geometric-designed buildings and the extensive rolling-hill paved plaza are attractions in themselves though.
Corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Street (opposite Flinders Street Station)
Tel: (03) 9655 1900.
Website: www.federationsquare.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Free admission.
Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens, located just 2km (1.2 miles) south of the city, off St Kilda Road are among the best gardens in Australia. There are more than 40 hectares (99 acres) of careful plantings, native and foreign trees and shrubs, a delightful herb garden, and plenty of chirping birds. Free guided walks are conducted Tuesday to Sunday at 1100 and 1400, each taking between 60 to 90 minutes.
Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra
Tel: (03) 9252 2300.
Website: www.rbg.vic.gov.au
Opening hours: Daily 0730-1800 (Apr, Sep and Oct); daily 0730-1730 (May-Aug ); daily 0730-2030 (Nov-Mar).
Free admission.
Melbourne Observation Deck
Although no longer offering the highest observation point in Melbourne (that honour now goes to Eureka Tower's Skydeck 88, described above) this is still a top spot to peer over the city. Located on level 55 of one of the tallest office buildings in the southern hemisphere, the Melbourne Observation Deck offers 360-degree panoramic views of Melbourne and the surrounding areas. The facilities also include a licensed cafe-bar. A 20-minute film about the city is included with admission.
525 Collins Street
Tel: (03) 9629 8222.
Website: www.melbournedeck.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2200.
Admission charge.
National Gallery of Victoria International
NGV International showcases Australia's finest collection of international art. Among the paintings usually on display here are offerings by Gainsborough, Constable, Bonnard, Delacroix, Monet and Rembrandt. There are also excellent temporary exhibitions (see website for current details). The building is a work of art in itself.
180 St Kilda Road
Tel: (03) 8620 2222.
Website: www.ngv.vic.gov.au
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 1000-1700, closed Tues.
Free admission.
Melbourne Museum
Australia's largest museum boasts an indoor rainforest, a giant Rubik's-cube-shaped Children's Museum, the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, and assorted displays featuring dinosaurs, insects and much, much more. The museum has both permanent and temporary exhibitions (see website for details). The stuffed horse in the glass case is Phar Lap, Australia's most famous racing horse.
11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Tel: (03) 8341 7777 or 1300 130 152, in Australia only.
Website: http://melbourne.museum.vic.gov.au
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge.
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground, or MCG, is the world-famous venue for numerous national and international cricket matches. It also hosts many Aussie Rules (Australian Football League; AFL) games, including the Grand Final in September. The ground is open for guided tours and contains the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame and National Sports Museum.
Yarra Park, Jolimont
Tel: (03) 9657 8888.
Website: www.mcg.org.au
Opening hours: Guided tours available daily 1000-1500 half-hourly, except on match days.
Admission charge.
Melbourne Zoo
The award-winning Melbourne Zoo, Australia's oldest zoo, houses more than 300 animal species from within and beyond Australia. There is an African rainforest with gorillas, orangutans, hippos and big cats, as well as a particularly impressive butterfly house and a bushland exhibit, which is home to many of Australia's native wildlife species.
Elliot Avenue, Parkville
Tel: (03) 9285 9300.
Website: www.zoo.org.au
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission charge.
Rippon Lea Estate
Designed in 1868, this is the last of Australia's great privately owned 19th-century suburban estates. The mansion boasts opulent interiors, including elaborate embossed wallpaper and beautiful stained glass, and has lovely landscaped gardens, which include a conservatory, lake, orchard, and extensive flowerbeds and shrubbery.
192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick
Tel: (03) 9523 6095.
Website: www.ripponleaestate.com.au
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1700.
Admission charge.
View Our Airport Guides for Melbourne:
Melbourne Airport