Explore Melbourne
Four ways to see Melbourne
Melbourne is a city best explored on foot, with a little time to spare. We’ve gathered our favourite places into four areas: the city’s landmarks and laneways, its gardens and green spaces, the bay and beaches, and the places worth the drive beyond Melbourne.
Each area has our photographs and a few notes to get you started. For opening times, how to get there and our pick of the best places, see Melbourne’s Best.
01 · Explore
City landmarks and laneways
Start with a place you recognise, then see where the walk takes you. From Flinders Street Station, you can head towards the river or turn into the laneways and arcades. Look above the shopfronts, pause beside a mural and leave time for the State Library Victoria or the Royal Exhibition Building. There is plenty to notice along the way.
See more in the gallery
Under the clocks, Flinders Street StationA heritage tram on the City Circle, Melbourne city centreThe Exhibition Building in autumn, Carlton Gardens
02 · Explore
Gardens and green spaces
A garden gives you a reason to take your time. Follow the paths around the lakes at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, or find some shade in the Fern Gully. Fitzroy Gardens, Carlton Gardens and the gardens around the Domain offer different places to wander. Bring a picnic, choose a bench or simply enjoy an hour among the trees.
See more in the gallery
Punting among the lotus, Royal Botanic Gardens MelbourneA palm above the lake, Royal Botanic Gardens MelbourneA bed of tulips and primulas
03 · Explore
The bay and beaches
Sometimes a walk by the water is all you need. Explore the foreshore from Port Melbourne to St Kilda, visit Brighton’s bathing boxes or look back towards the city from Williamstown. If you have more time, head along the Mornington Peninsula and stop in a seaside town for a walk and lunch.
See more in the gallery
HMAS Castlemaine at Gem Pier, WilliamstownA jetty through the marina, WilliamstownThe city skyline at sunset, Port Phillip Bay
04 · Explore
Beyond Melbourne
There is plenty to explore beyond the city too. Walk among tree ferns in the Dandenong Ranges or spend a day visiting towns in the Yarra Valley. For a longer trip, follow the Great Ocean Road or make time for Wilsons Promontory. Give yourself room to stop, stretch your legs and enjoy the places you came to see.
See more in the gallery
Benches beneath the autumn trees, Mount MacedonWaves below the clifftop, The Nobbies, Phillip IslandA road through the tall forest, Dandenong Ranges
Good to know
Exploring at your own pace
- Getting around
- Combine a walk through the city centre with a tram ride when you want to go further. The central grid helps you find your way. Tram trips are free when they begin and end within the Free Tram Zone; check the official journey planner and current ticketing information for travel beyond it.
- Transport Victoria
- Light and photography
- You don’t need to plan every photograph. Try an early walk beside the Yarra or an evening by the bay, and see what the light brings. A passing cloud or a reflection on the water can be enough to make you stop.
- Weather
- Bring a layer and check the forecast before you leave. A shower might send you into a café or gallery for a while. When it clears, wet streets and changing skies can give familiar places a different look.
- Coffee and food
- Leave a little time between the places on your list. Stop for coffee, try a neighbourhood bakery or browse Queen Victoria Market or South Melbourne Market. A good lunch and somewhere comfortable to sit can make a day out feel complete.