15 Iconic Destinations in Melbourne: Melbourne is a vibrant city with the most populous state in Australia. It is famous for its cultural diversity you can witness from its amazing street art, cultural center, foods, etc. Therefore, Melbourne is a great destination to visit in Australia. Here are or 15 recommended places to visit in Melbourne.
1. Queen Victoria Market
Ranked number one on our list, is The Queen Victoria Market which becomes an iconic landmark in the Central Business District of Melbourne. Don’t be surprised because the market itself is 140 years old! There are also over 600 small businesses to explore under this historical building. Ranging from fresh produce, hand-made trinkets and antiques, to fresh brew coffee, everything is available here. What caught many people’s eyes is the multicultural atmosphere which you can see from the diverse sellers and shoppers from around the world. Other than that, the market has a lot of different events which you don’t want to miss. If you come on Wednesday night, the market offers live music complete with the festival bars. It is a great way to spend a night out with friends and family.
2. Melbourne Museum
Located in Carlton, Melbourne Museum offers a sightful experience of cultural, environmental, and historical knowledge. This is the place where you can explore various exhibitions showing treasures from Aboriginal culture to Pacific island cultures. There is one thing that makes Melbourne Museum very unique. That is the special area where it stores tall trees completed with the wildlife habitat exhibition. Next, there is a gallery called The Science and Life Gallery which showcases various species of Bugs, Ancient dinosaurs fossils, and many more. Lastly, the admission fee is only AUS 15 for adults. Click here to find more.
3. Eureka Skydeck
Eureka Tower gives an incredible experience of sightseeing from the height of 197 meters. The first construction began in 2002 and finished in the middle of 2006. This building is special, though it is not the tallest building in the world, it becomes the only building in the world with more than 91 stories above the ground. To enjoy the spectacular landscape of Melbourne, you can head up to the Eureka Skydeck on the 88th floor. There is an entrance fee to enter, which is AUD 25 for adults and AUD 15 for children.
4. Shrine of Remembrance
This iconic building now served as a war memorial of Victoria. However, the government \originally built the Shrine to honor those who served in the First World War. Located in Kings Domain road, the building shows a classic interior displaying more than 800 artworks and ancient artifacts.
5. Healesville Sanctuary
When you are visiting Melbourne, you can’t miss visiting this zoo which specializes in Australian animals. Located in a rural part of Victoria, this zoo has selective collections of Australian animals. From Koalas, Kangaroos, Platypus, Dingoes, emus, and wombats. You would be surprised that the zoo is a little different than others because it has a natural bushland environment. You can also listen to amazing stories from the zookeeper every Friday talking about taking care of these animals. However, one of the best thing I found is children under 16 years old is free to enter every weekend and during Victorian Government School Holiday. How cool is that! The zoo is open all day year-round.
6. Peninsula Hot Springs
Though most of the tourists’ destinations in Melbourne are man-made, there is one fun place that involves the natural part of the region. Peninsula Hotspring offers more than 50 bathing experiences for everyone to relax and chill. Some of them include a pool situated inside a cave, a Turkish Hamam and hilltop pool, two saunas, and seven geothermal pools. Not only a bathing center, but this place also owns a blissful Spa center which includes massaging bamboo shower, Hanging tree pods, an Infrared sauna, and a Moroccan Hamam. To enjoy these experiences, the price started from AUD 65 for adults.
7. Fitzroy Gardens
If you don’t feel like spending too much money to relax on your weekend, try going to the Fitzroy Garden which is exactly in the middle of Melbourne’s busy city. Take a stroll around the park to enjoy natural scenery combined with historical sights. One of them being Captain Cook’s 1776 family home with strange-looking fountain statues. While you are strolling around, you can find plenty of ancient trees dating from the 19th century!
8. Chinatown Melbourne
Melbourne has something different to offer to international tourists. Don’t forget to visit the iconic Chinatown which is an ethnic enclave in the Central Business District. This is one of the longest and oldest Chinese settlements in the western world. It plays a critical role in establishing the culture of Chinese immigrants in Australia. Moreover, there are many choices of foods to have here. From the city’s best dumplings to flower dum dining. Or, you can visit the Chinese museum to learn the timeline and history of the Chinese population reside in Australia.
9. Enchanted Adventure Garden
Another park alternative if you are looking for a day out with your family and friends. Unlike other ordinary parks, this specific one is designed to bring back your inner childhood self. The park has four hedge mazes, five giant tube slides, 20 themed gardens, and an indoor three-dimensional maze. This will keep your children occupied for the rest of the day! Meanwhile, there are also high ropes adventures with zip lines facilities, swinging rope bridges, and a giant Tarzan swing set. The park opens every day from 9 AM to 5 PM.
10. St Patrick’s Cathedral
Saint Patrick Cathedral is a beautiful space serving as a Catholic church for the community. People can see and admire the building with gleaming mosaics and sophisticated Gothic architecture. It plays an important role in establishing the Catholic community in Melbourne since the beginning of the 19th century. That is why the church also stores meaningful stories about the state’s birth and growth. The first construction of the building started in 1858 and finished in 1940. Though it still fully functions, the Cathedral has a wide range of souvenirs, gifts, CDs, and handcrafter items around the area. You can visit the Cathedral from Monday to Friday from 9.30 AM to 4.30 PM.
11. Organ Pipes National Park
Another picturesque destination you can’t miss in Melbourne is this Organ Pipes National Park. It offers a sight of unique basalt columns formation which overlooks like Organ Pipes. Other than that, you can walk a little bit further to see another basalt columns formation resembling a giant wheel. This rock formation is called the Rosette Rock. If you want to continue the trail, you will find the Tessellated Pavement. Though it can be very hot here, there are many shady areas under tall eucalypt trees where you can have a picnic with your family and friends.
12. Crown Melbourne
Crown Casino Melbourne is a luxury option to visit in Melbourne. The first construction of the building started in 1994 and now becomes one of the most important Features in Melbourne’s central business district. The Crown complex has many other entertainment facilities, such as Nightclubs, restaurants, many luxury brand stores. Some of them including Prada, Louis Vuitton, BVLGARI, even Rolex. For culinary options, there are Rockpool Bar & Grill, Nobu Melbourne, and Silks. Lastly, this entertainment complex also has a gigantic Ballroom with a 1500 seating capacity. Don’t forget to stroll around the complex!
13. Werribee Open Range Zoo
Visiting Melbourne is not going to be complete without visiting the Werribee Zoo. The zoo upholds the theme of African and uses the concept of an open range. There is also a simulation of African villages accommodated with educational features. You can immerse yourself in the adventure of tracking Lions. To get around the zoo, you will have to join a bus tour for 30-45 minutes to see many animals such as Hipptamus, Zebra, Giraffe, Ostrich, and Oryx.
14. ACMI
There are so many places to explore in Melbourne, but this one is a unique place offering an immersive experience of art seeing. ACMI or the Australian Centre for the Moving Image is the national museum that showcases many digital cultures, including video games and film. There are two main galleries here, which include various exhibitions. The first gallery hosted many different exhibitions from many companies such as Dreamworks, Hollywood, and Pixar. Meanwhile, the second gallery is more flexible. ACMI also provides two main cinemas to play the film, video, and digital video format. There are exhibitions which are free to enter so mark your calendar!
15. Royal Exhibition Building
Last but not least is to visit the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. The first construction began in 1879-1915. This is the first building in Australia that receives the UNESCO Wold Heritage Statues being a major building from the 19th century. Nowadays, the building still stands strong as it was a hundred years ago. There are various events and exhibitions held in this museum. There are tours held every day at 2 PM, depending on the availability. For guided tours, the entry ticket is AUD 10 for adults and AUD 7 for children. To reach the Royal Building, you can ride a free city circle tram to Victoria Parade.
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Salsabila Nasution