Melbourne attraksjoner

Victoria's Great Ocean Road is great in every sense of the word. If you're driving, you'll discover one of the most famous and scenic coastal stretches of road in the world. If you're surfing, you'll find point break heaven. And if you're looking for breathtaking seaside vistas at every turn, you've found them. This stretch of Victoria's coast - dubbed the Great Ocean Road - is known for its long empty beaches and crashing surf. It's holiday central for vacationing Melburnites in December and January, when thousands of visitors swell the local population, booking laidback holiday homes for the summer season. Local towns come alive in summer, with bustling cafes, boutiques and bars. Away from the coast, the surrounding mountains hide national parks filled with bushwalks, rainforest, waterfalls and wildlife.

Washed by crashing waves just off the craggy shoreline of western Victoria, the dramatic Twelve Apostles stand sentinel off the Great Ocean Road. Once joined to the surrounding mainland, the limestone outcrops are a Victorian icon and an enduring symbol of nature's mighty power and beauty.Pounded by surf and tide for thousands of years, the limestone crags are gradually being whittled down in number – currently only eight of the Twelve Apostles remain – and the neighbouring rocky arch known as London Bridge has collapsed into the roaring sea.The wild western Victorian coastline is a bewitching and beautiful part of Australia, the site of tragic shipwrecks in days gone by and the perfect place for exhilarating cliff-top walks, wreck diving and other untamed encounters with Mother Nature.

All aboard Puffing Billy – Australia's most popular steam train ride! Running daily from the foothills at Belgrave to the mountain town of Gembrook, Puffing Billy is the most fun way to tour the Dandenong Ranges. Puffing Billy's rattling red carriages run across three historic timber bridges, uphill and down dale through valleys and plains filled with tree ferns, and under the shadow of towering mountain ash. The route runs through the eucalyptus of Sherbrooke Forest, past the steam museum at Menzies Creek and the picnic grounds at Emerald Lake, to the pretty town of Gembrook. The one-way journey is 24 km (15 miles), taking just under two hours.

The Great Ocean Road is one Victoria’s most naturally stunning sights, and Loch Ard Gorge is a dramatic highlight of an already dramatic journey. It was at this spot in 1878 where a ship carrying settlers from England to Melbourne was tragically wrecked on the rocks. Of the 54 passengers aboard the ship only two of the passengers survived—a teenage boy who heroically rescued a fellow teenage girl. After spending the night in a coastal sea cave, the duo found help with local settlers after scaling the rugged cliffs. Today those cliffs have a set of stairs that lead to the golden sands, where a protected beach is tucked beneath the towering, time-sculpted bluffs. Though the weather can be spectacularly stormy in winter, summer days are an invitation for picnicking, swimming, and sunbathing, and the striated cliffs form a natural amphitheater of coastal beauty around you.

The Yarra River flows west for more than 240 km (148 miles) from its source in the Yarra Ranges, through rural and suburban Melbourne to the city center and Docklands, where it empties into Port Phillip Bay. Transport and pedestrian bridges cross the river, and you’ll find some of Melbourne’s most popular golf courses and parklands along its length. Melbourne was established on the banks of the Yarra River in 1835, and it was a vital source of water and transport for the city's settlers. Today the Yarra River flows past the pedestrian Yarra Promenade and Flinders Street Station in the heart of Melbourne. Rowers stroke past from the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens, and pleasure boats cruise up and down the river. Cycling and walking trails also mirror its path, and there are popular picnic grounds on the suburban fringe at Yarra Bend and Warrandyte.

Healesville Sanctuary is the best place in Victoria to see and interact with native Australian wildlife. Set in natural bushland, the Sanctuary offers the unique opportunity to get up close to Australian animals in an environment that mirrors their natural habitat. You can easily spend the best part of a day wandering the shaded paths around the sanctuary that take you past Australia’s iconic and lesser-known wildlife. Meet the dingo packs, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and echidnas and view Australia’s most dangerous reptiles. See an array of colorful and unusual birds such as emus, cassowaries, parrots, owls and eagles, and watch the world’s most elusive water animal, the Platypus, at play. Entry to the sanctuary includes admission to several wildlife shows including the fantastic Spirits of the Sky held in the sanctuary’s flight arena.

On a clear day you can see Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges draping the horizon from most places in central Melbourne. Forming the south-eastern border to Melbourne’s famously far-flung suburbs, the Dandenongs are a beautiful mountain retreat just on the city’s doorstep. The ranges aren’t tall, less than 800 metres (2,620 feet) above sea level, but they’re crowned with breathtaking forests of towering mountain ash and woven with valleys of tree ferns and bushwalking paths. Cute mountain villages offer afternoon tea stops, guesthouses and craft shops, while the Mount Dandenong Lookout has panoramic views over the suburbs to Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay.

The largest section of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Sherbrooke Forest is known for its fauna and wildlife — including wallabies and the famous lyrebird which can mimic dozens of other birds, and even car alarms and camera shutters. Near the suburb of Belgrave, 40 kilometers east of Melbourne, Sherbrooke Forest is dominated by Mountain Ash — the tallest flowering plant in the world, and tree ferns. Once prime logging land, by 1958 Sherbrooke Forest was officially protected parkland. On a visit, you’ll start at the picnic grounds from which a series of trails leads into the wet sclerophyll forest. One of the most popular trails is the 2.4-km round trip to Sherbrooke Falls through avenues of Mountain Ash. Or if you’d rather just relax, head to the tea room next to the picnic grounds where there are lots of birds to feed for a small fee, including parrots, rosellas, and around fifty cockatoos.

If you didn't know that Melbourne is a sport-loving city, learn all about it at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). A Melbourne landmark, and one of the seven wonders of the sporting world, no visit to Melbourne is complete without witnessing a summertime cricket match or winter game of Australian Rules football at the MCG. Backstage tours on non-event days take visitors onto the hallowed turf and into the changing rooms of Australia’s largest stadium. A visit to the National Sporting Museum here reveals the MCG’s history as an Olympic Games venue, and particular sports are highlighted in several exhibits, including the alarmingly realistic Shane Warne Hologram. Exhibition spaces display the MCG’s historic collection of sports memorabilia. The cricket season launches at the MCG with the famous Boxing Day Test match. The most important fixture on the football calendar is held here on the last Saturday in September – the AFL Grand Final.

Grampians National Park is listed as an Australian National Heritage List for a reason. The outstanding natural beauty and plethora of indigenous rock sites makes Grampians an outstanding visit from near or afar. Long an Australina national treasure, Grampians is known as an all season destination, and that means that any time of year is a great time to visit. Boasting over 600km of roads and 160km of walking trails, visitors here can spend their time among hundreds of waterfalls, ancient fern gullies, and do their best to nab a quick peek (or coveted photograph) of some of Australia’s unique flora and fauna. See wild emus and kangaroos foraging amongst trees and ravines that are multiple millennia old. And while engaging with the rugged wilderness here, also realize that Grampians (and particularly the Wartook Valley) is also home to some of Australia’s best wineries, and many visitors enjoy watching the abundant wildlife while sipping their glass of locally grown Chardonnay.

Federation Square is Melbourne's focal point and favorite meeting place. Outdoor cafes surround the square, which is dominated by a huge outdoor screen. People flock here to people-watch or catch don't-miss sport or activities on the screen, and it’s the location for Melbourne's most important public events and ceremonies. Back from the cafes you'll find the Australian art section of the National Gallery of Victoria, known as the Ian Potter Centre – the perfect place to get a sense of Australia’s art history from colonial days to the present day. Other cultural icons at Federation Square include cinema history at ACMI, art galleries and creative outdoor play spaces for kids.

If early explorers could have had this view it would have made their jobs a lot easier. Situated high above Melbourne’s bustling streets, the Eureka Skydeck 88 is a 360-degree viewing platform towards the top of the Eureka Tower. From this elevated vantage point on the 88th floor, the Victorian countryside literally stretches from the mountains down towards the sea. Gaze east toward the 2,000-foot Mount Dandenong which can be coated with snow in winter, and south to the waters of Port Phillip and beachgoers lounging at St. Kilda. More than simply the view, however, it’s the Eureka Skydeck’s remarkable height that will leave you weak in the knees. Even the elevators to reach the platform are an adventure unto themselves, and the 40 seconds to cover 88 stories make them the fastest in the Southern Hemisphere. Once you’ve taken a lap of the 88th floor, step outside onto the open-air terrace to feel the wind rushing through your hair from nearly 1,000 feet off the ground.

The lovely landscaped grounds of Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens spread for almost 100 acres south of the city center, providing Melbourne with the much-appreciated foliage of more than 50,000 plants. The gardens were established in 1846, and over the years they've become recognised as one of the finest examples of Victorian-era landscaping in the world. The mix of native and introduced species provides inspiration for would-be gardeners, and the manicured lawns are a popular spot for picnics and parties. You'll find tranquil ornamental lakes dotted with waterbirds, a herbarium and an observatory, plus conservatories and glasshouses filled with exotic blooms. Follow winding pathways past fern gullies and eucalyptus, or join Melbourne's joggers running rings around The Tan, the gardens' running track.

Enjoy a quintessential Australian wildlife experience – in the dark – by taking a nocturnal tour at Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park. Revealing mysterious nocturnal creatures that visitors seldom see, the eco-conscious crew at the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park offer both day and night viewing sessions. Your wildlife encounter may include patting koalas, feeding wallabies and watching for dingos and snakes by day, before searching for quolls, owls and sugar gliders in the moonlight. Sprawled across 10 hectares of bushland at the top of the picturesque Mornington Peninsula, the Moonlit Sanctuary Conservation Park is just outside of Melbourne and makes an easy daytrip for groups, tourists and locals alike. Best of all, you can leave feeling like you’ve not only encountered Australian wildlife in natural environments, but also helped to support the conservation and education programs run by Moonlit Sanctuary.

The Churchill Island Heritage Farm is one of Melbourne’s most unique attractions. A tiny island off the coast of Phillip Island, Churchill Island is occupied entirely by the Churchill Island Heritage Farm. Churchill Island was one of the first places in Victoria to be used for agriculture. Farmed since 1798, the island retains its heritage by showcasing pioneer farming techniques to visitors in its current incarnation as an historic working farm. The Churchill Island Heritage Farm Visitor Centre contains an exhibition on the history of the island, as well as a giftshop and café. The real attraction of the island however is the farm life. Daily farming activities include cow milking, sheep shearing and more. Visitors can also circumnavigate the island on a walking track with fantastic views. The farm hosts a farmers market on the fourth Saturday of each month with lots of local produce.

Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula lies only and hour’s drive from Melbourne, but seems miles away in actuality. Closely akin to the climate of the Mediterranean, the Mornington Peninsula is widely loved for its cool breeze, hill-side vineyards, olive groves, and country estate retreats. People that come here often wish they could stay for a lifetime, and some do. A leisurely place, the peninsula garners its fame from its beautiful rustic scenery. Boot-shaped like Italy, many prefer to explore the little seaside villages that dot the coastline. Here, craftsmen and women have carved out an old way of life by the sea which many appreciate by simply strolling through. But that is not to say that the Mornington Peninsula is outdated by any means. Spas and estate retreats offer all the finest amenities from mud-wraps to Arabic steam rooms. Other visitors prefer meandering through the many wine groves and taste some of the best wine Australia has to offer. Boasting 50 cellar doors, it’s true

Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm is in Melbourne’s beautiful Mornington Peninsula, about 75 minutes from the city by car. The farm is one of Victoria’s premium berry producers and visitors can pick strawberries on the farm for a small fee. Known as ‘U-Pick’, the strawberry-picking season starts in late spring (November) and runs until early fall (April). In addition to picking strawberries at the farm, you can enjoy one of several decadent strawberry desserts at the Dessert Café. Depending on the season, fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cherries are available from the Sunny Ridge Farmgate onsite. You can also purchase Sunny Ridge jams, ice creams, sorbets and freeze-dried fruits. Combine your trip to Sunny Ridge with a visit to one of the Mornington Peninsula’s award-winning wineries.

St Kilda is Melbourne’s iconic seaside suburb and is just a short tram ride (6km) away from the CBD. Featuring several attractions including the Victorian-styled fairground, Luna Park, St Kilda Sea Baths and the shopping and restaurant strips of Acland and Fitzroy Streets. Once a desirable suburb for Melbourne’s elite in Victorian and Edwardian times, St Kilda has a fascinating history and still features many of its original mansions and iconic attractions today. Fitzroy Street runs from the southern side of Albert Park all the way down to St Kilda Beach. Packed with notable restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops, as well as budget and top end accommodation, it's a lively street that is great for people watching and hanging out in pavement cafés. Acland Street runs parallel to the beach and offers more of the same attractions with the addition of the popular Sunday art-and-craft market (on the Esplanade) and some fabulously drool-worthy cake shops.

The striking Edwardian facade of Flinders Street Station is one of Melbourne's two transport hubs; the other is the far more modern Southern Cross Station at the other end of the city. Australia's oldest station, the current building with its copper dome, red and yellow tower, arched windows and famous clocks opened back in 1910, though there's been a station here since 1854. The busiest station in the Southern Hemisphere, the station is packed at peak hours, but quieter for a wander through at other times. Stained glass features in the atrium, and all manner of takeaway stalls offer quick snacks for passers-by and travelers alike. For an interesting art and shopping stroll, follow the historic underpass that takes you under Flinders Street to Melbourne's funkiest cafe enclave at Degraves Street. Along the way you'll pass local boutiques and a changing parade of street art in one of the city's most unusual gallery art spaces.

All things fishy swim inside the Melbourne Aquarium, right beside the Yarra River in central Melbourne. The focus is on creatures from the Southern Ocean. Penguins are a particular highlight, along with other Antarctic creatures. Those who dare swim with the sharks, while more gentle creatures swim in the coral atoll, rock pools, mangroves and billabongs. Creatures from around Australia swim in the River to the Reef exhibit, while Weird and Wonderful highlights nature’s variety – from Nemo clownfish to scuttling crabs and UV-lit transparent sea jellies. Another star attraction is the creepy Oceanarium, with its viewing fishbowl filled with gray nurse sharks, stingrays and turtles.

Part of the draw of any visit to Australia is to see some of its much-heralded rustic beauty. Ayers Rock has its fan-base, as does Byron Bay, but to many a Aussie, there’s nothing more beautiful than watching the sun set over the pristine beaches of Wilson’s Promontory. Lovingly referred to as “The Prom” by locals, this coastal outcropping is the furthest south one can go on Mainland Australia and features 50,000 hectares of untouched granite peaks backed by white sand beaches . Miles of walking tracks meander all through the pristine coastline, and hikers get to see the Australian wilderness as nature intended it. Teams of kangaroos, koalas, emus and wallabies scurry about the brush and grasslands, while penguins come to roost along the beaches at nightfall. Though Wilsons Promontory is a widely beloved spot, it is famous for its short-yet-seemingly long distance from civilization.

Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne is also its cultural capital, with a plethora of museums, galleries and theaters, as well as expansive parklands and attractive Victorian-era buildings. Home to the Australian Open tennis tournament and the Melbourne Cup horse race, the city is also a jumping off point to visit the Great Ocean Road or the penguin colonies on Phillip Island.

Everyone wants a gift from vacation, and the Harbour Town Outlets are a practical place for finding a really good deal. Here on the city’s bustling Docklands just outside of West Melbourne, visitors might find that special gift at one of the 90 outlets. Start the adventure with coffee or tea from one of the cafés on site, and peruse the sprawling retail maze in search of the perfect fit. If visiting Melbourne from overseas, swing by the center’s Tourism Lounge for a second round of deals, since tourists often receive bonus discounts not available to other shoppers. Additional features include a Ferris wheel and occasional outdoor ice rink, and Harbour Town can be a family outing—not just another shop.

While the area itself is relatively small, Melbourne’s South Wharf Promenade has a large city presence. Set on the scenic southern bank of Melbourne’s Yarra River, the shop-lined promenade faces north to Melbourne’s bustling downtown. While shopping here is the major draw, it’s the restaurants, cafés, and dining options that surprise its visitors the most. It is home to the Melbourne Convention Center and Direct Factory Outlets, and the South Wharf holds a piece of history in the Polly Woodside tall ship. Originally launched in Northern Ireland in 1885, the ship made 17 trips around the world in its 90-year career. Long retired from regular use after years of scouring the globe, the ship is now a floating museum that welcomes visitors and groups. Even here on the fresh water banks of Melbourne’s modern South Wharf, it’s possible to feel like a salty pirate sailing the Southern Sea.