Attractions

Melbourne's attractions may not have quite the fame as some of Sydney's, but visitors come here to experience the contrasts of old-world architecture and the exciting feel of a truly multicultural city.

Sorting Out Your Sightseeing

Much of Melbourne's appeal comes from soaking up the atmosphere on a walk around the city. If you have time to see only one major attraction, make it the atmospheric Old Melbourne Gaol. Other top-of-the-list sights include Federation Square, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Royal Botanic Gardens. If you can make it there, head to Phillip Island to see the fairy penguins.

The Air Up There

The competition to claim Melbourne's highest and best views has never been hotter. Once Melbourne's highest lookout, the Melbourne Observation Deck now has two rivals. The vertigo-challenging Eureka Skydeck 88, which opened in mid-2007, is the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere. On the 88th floor of the Eureka Tower (Riverside Quay, Southbank; tel. 03/9685 0188; www.eurekatower.com.au), the viewing deck gives a 360-degree view of the city below from 285m (935 ft.) above the ground. But there's more adrenaline-pumping action than just the view. A huge moving glass cube called the Edge is actually 6-ton horizontal elevator, which moves from inside the walls of Skydeck 88 carrying 12 passengers out over the tower's east side. As the opaque glass cube reaches its full extension, the reinforced, 45 millimeter-thick (1 3/4-in.) glass becomes clear, giving passengers uninterrupted -- and incredibly scary -- views below, above, and to three sides. All this accompanied by recorded sounds of creaking chains and breaking glass -- just to scare you more! Ticket prices are A$17 (US$15/£7.65) adults and A$9 (US$8.10/£4.05) children 4 to 16, or A$39 (US$35/£18) for a family of four. An extra A$12 (US$11/£5.40) adults, A$8 (US$7.20/£3.60) children or A$29 (US$26/£13) families takes you on the 4-minute-long ride on the Edge. It's open daily 10am to 10pm (last entry 9:30pm).

The new Southern Star Observation Wheel (tel. 03/8628 6000; www.thesouthernstar.com.au), scheduled to be completed by December 2008, is a A$40 million (US$36 million/£18 million) giant Ferris wheel similar to the London Eye. It is 100m (328 ft.) in diameter, almost 120m high (394 ft., about 38 stories), and has 21 enclosed air-conditioned glass cabins, each with 20 seats and magnificent views. At press time, prices for the 30-minute ride had not been set.

By contrast to these two, the Melbourne Observation Deck on the 55th floor -- that's 253m (830 ft.) above the street -- of the Rialto Building, 525 Collins St. (tel. 03/9629 8222; www.melbournedeck.com.au), now seems a bit tame. Admission is A$15 (US$14/£6.75) adults, A$8 (US$7.20/£3.60) children 5 to 15, and A$40 (US$36/£18) families of six. Daily 10am to 11pm (5 or 6pm on some public holidays).

Parks & Gardens

Birrarung Marr, along the Yarra River east of Federation Square on Batman Avenue (tel. 03/9658 9658; www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/parks), is Melbourne's first new major parkland in more than 100 years. Birrarung means "river of mists" in the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people who originally inhabited the area; marr equates with the side of the river. Wide-open spaces and large, sculptured terraces were designed to host some of Melbourne's best events and festivals throughout the year, and the terraces give way to spectacular views of the city, Southbank, King's Domain, and the Yarra River.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, 2km (1 1/4 miles) south of the city on Birdwood Avenue, off St. Kilda Road (tel. 03/9252 2429), are the best gardens in Australia and well worth a few hours of wandering. More than 40 hectares (99 acres) are lush and blooming with more than 12,000 plant species from all over the world. Don't miss a visit to the oldest part of the garden, the Tennyson Lawn, with its 120-year-old English elm trees. Other special corners include a fern gully, camellia gardens, an herb garden, rainforests packed with fruit bats, and ponds full of ducks and black swans. Bring snacks and your picnic blanket to Shakespeare in the Park, a popular summer event from late December to mid-March. Tickets cost A$20 to A$35 (US$18-US$32/£9-£16). Call tel. 03/8676 7511 for details. The gardens are open November through March daily from 7:30am to 8:30pm; April, September, and October daily from 7:30am to 6pm; and May through August daily from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Admission is free. To get there, catch the no. 8 tram traveling south and get off at stop 21. Allow 2 to 4 hours.

Nearby, in King's Domain, take a look at Victoria's first Government House, Latrobe's Cottage (tel. 03/9656 9800). It was built in England and transported to Australia brick by brick in 1836. The cottage is open from 1 to 4pm on some Sundays (admission by gold coin donation), or you can see inside on a Government House tour (bookings essential: tel. 03/9656 9841) on Mondays and Wednesdays. On the other side of Birdwood Avenue is the Shrine of Remembrance, a memorial to the servicemen lost in Australia's wars. It's designed so that at 11am on Remembrance Day (Nov 11), a beam of sunlight hits the Stone of Remembrance in the Inner Shrine. Note the eternal flame in the forecourt. King's Domain is stop 12 on the no. 15 tram traveling south along St. Kilda Road.

In Fitzroy Gardens, off Wellington Parade, is Cooks' Cottage (tel. 03/9419 4677), which was moved to Melbourne from Great Ayton, in Yorkshire, England, in 1934 to mark Victoria's centenary. The cottage was built by the parents of Captain Cook, and today it provides the opportunity to learn about his voyages of discovery around the world. Inside, it's spartan and cramped, not unlike a ship's cabin. Admission is A$4.50 (US$4.05/£2) for adults, A$2.20 (US$2/£1) for children 5 to 15, and A$12 (US$11/£5.40) for families. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm (except Dec 25). Also east of the central business district are the Treasury Gardens. Look for the memorial to John F. Kennedy near the lake. To reach Treasury Gardens and Fitzroy Gardens, take tram no. 75 traveling east along Flinders Street. Get off at stop 14 for Treasury Gardens, stop 14A for Fitzroy Gardens.