Planning A Trip Down To Melbourne?
Hailed as the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne is home to acclaimed tourist attractions that offer diverse experiences in arts, culture, and nature. From streets lined with cafés and skyscrapers, to theme parks and wildlife encounters, this concrete jungle is filled with plenty of things to do in every nook and cranny.
If you're planning a trip to this vibrant city soon, there are definitely multiple tourist attractions in the city that you need to stop by, including must-visit places and top things to do in Melbourne. These attractions are also family-friendly and are perfect for a day out with your loved ones!
Top 22 Best Things To Do In Melbourne 2022
1. Melbourne Skydeck
At the top of our list is none other than the Melbourne Skydeck, a unique sky-high experience. This 285-meter high viewing platform is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere, giving you an unparalleled 360° view of the city’s iconic landmarks. They also have 30 viewfinders and binoculars if you want a closer look. Once known as the Eureka Skydeck, it actually just underwent a multi-million dollar upgrade recently, transforming into the first ever virtual reality theatre in Australia!
- Address: 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank VIC 3006, Australia
- Opening hours: 12pm - 9pm (Sun, Wed, Thurs), 12pm - 10pm (Fri, Sat), closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
2. State Library of Victoria
A personal favourite of ours, the State Library of Victoria is located at the heart of the city and this grand building demands to be seen. Aside from being the oldest public library in the country, it’s also known to be one of the most photogenic.
It's got multiple reading rooms and workspaces, but the La Trobe Reading Room is undoubtedly the highlight of it all, a magnificent 6-storey octagonal space that's great for you to sit back and admire the classic architecture. If you're a bookworm, you’ll surely be giddy at the vast collection of over 2 million books here!
- Address: 328 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Opening hours: 10am - 6pm daily
3. Werribee Open Range Zoo
Get a safari experience right here in Werribee Zoo, where animals from the African savannah roam free! Though it's situated a little further out from the city, a visit to this open range zoo is definitely worth the opportunity to marvel at the Serval Cat presentation, where you’ll hop on a vehicle that takes you to several wild cats without any barriers. It’s definitely a great experience to have with your family and friends - kids aged 4-15 can even visit for free during weekends!
- Address: K Rd, Werribee South VIC 3030, Australia
- Opening hours: 9am - 5pm daily
4. Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne
Go on a relaxing stroll in the Royal Botanic Gardens, a serene parkland with expertly constructed landscapes of colourful and diverse flora. The Gardens have an important role in plant life conservation and research, with an aim to preserve endangered species. Their efforts are evident once you visit the park and see the plethora of plants! Spanning over 38 hectares and housing over 8,500 plant species from all around the world, it’s definitely one of the best free tourist attractions in Melbourne and a must-visit for nature lovers.
Book a free guided walking tour on Klook or opt for a guided tour on a minibus which will bring you on a fun open-air ride (trust us, the park is larger than you may think it is).
- Address: Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
- Opening hours: 7.30am - 5.30pm daily
5. Puffing Billy Railway Steam Train
Traverse the verdant rainforest of the Dandenong Ranges aboard the Puffing Billy Railway Steam Train. This historic steam train has been operational since 1900! It’s been maintained ever since, with its nostalgic vintage train look still intact—looking at it is like going back in time. During the ride, just sit back and enjoy the fresh rainforest air while taking in all the greeneries, streams, and falls you’ll pass by!
Plan your trip beforehand as there are two stations you can choose to depart from - the Belgrave station or Lakeside station - and they are at least a 45-minute drive away from Melbourne CBD.
6. Flinders Street Station
Speaking of trains, Flinders Street Station is another true Melbournian icon that you can’t miss during your visit. Established in 1854, it is Australia’s first train station and has seen millions of commuters with its daily operations. Stand beneath its iconic clocks and snap some pics, as many locals and tourists have through the years - we personally love going at night as the structure gets lit up beautifully.
- Address: Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Opening hours: open 24 hours daily
7. Luna Park
Imagine a fun pierside fun fair that we always see in the movies - the vibrant Luna Park is all of that and more! Operating since 1912, the theme park retains its nostalgic carnival theme and its plethora of rides enjoyed by generations of park-goers. Feel the thrills on The Great Scenic Railway, one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world, or swing from great heights atop the Supernova. There are plenty of exciting rides that both young and the young at heart will enjoy here!
- Address: 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia
- Opening hours: 11am - 6pm (Sat, Sun), closed on weekdays
8. St Kilda Pier
Offering stunning vistas of the Melbourne city skyline and Port Phillip Bay, St Kilda Pier is one of our personal favourite spots, especially in the evenings. Aside from boating activities and stunning sunset views by the harbour, the breakwater here is also home to a colony of little penguins! At sundown, watch as these little creatures waddle onshore and head home. The vibrant pier is also a shared water sports zone for kiteboarding, paddle boarding and windsurfing, so do check these out if you are up for some thrills!
- Address: Pier Rd, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia
- Opening hours: open 24 hours daily
9. Melbourne Zoo
Another acclaimed tourist attraction in Melbourne for wildlife lovers is the Melbourne Zoo, located right at the heart of the busy city. Escape the concrete jungle and enter one with Sumatran tigers, orang utans, snow leopards, and more! You can also walk among the zoo’s eight Asian elephants at their award-winning elephant trail. The best part is that kids aged 4-15 can visit for free during the weekends!
- Address: Elliott Ave, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
- Opening hours: 9am - 5pm, open daily
10. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Delve into a majestic underwater world at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, home to diverse species of marine life housed in several themed zones. A highlight here is the awe-inspiring Mermaid Garden, a 2.2 million litre Oceanarium with nurse sharks and stingrays swimming around astonishing mermaid statues. There are plenty more aquariums and exhibits in SEA LIFE for you to discover, so make sure to stop by during your Melbourne visit!
Kick your experience up a notch by getting the Penguin Passport, where you can see sub-antarctic penguins up close, or swim with sharks through the Shark Dive Xtreme Experience!
- Address: King St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
- Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (Mon - Fri), 9.30am - 5pm (Sat & Sun)
11. National Gallery of Victoria
A must-visit spot in Melbourne for artists and art enthusiasts is the National Gallery of Victoria, one of the oldest public galleries in the country! With up to 70,000 works of art, it covers various genres and disciplines, from French Impressionism to modern art installations. Even the museum’s Great Hall is a piece of art - when you look up, you’ll see an intricate stained glass ceiling!
- Address: 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia
- Opening hours: 10am - 5pm, open daily
12. Shrine of Remembrance
This attraction in Melbourne is one for the history buffs. The Shrine of Remembrance is a truly impressive structure and is a landmark that serves as a memorial to the heroes of World War I. It also has several galleries and exhibits to educate visitors about several aspects of wartime, including the Galleries of Remembrance, which displays uniforms of Aussie soldiers and photos during the war.
- Address: Birdwood Ave, Melbourne VIC 3001, Australia
- Opening hours: 10am - 5pm, open daily
13. Yarra River
Historically known as the Yarra Yarra River, the Yarra River is one of Melbourne (and Victoria's) iconic waterways. The lower reaches of the Yarra are where Melbourne was established in 1835, around Port Phillip Bay where the river ends. It also holds cultural significance for the Aboriginal communities, and now hosts a myriad of events year-round, such as the annual Dragon Boat races.
We recommend boarding one of the river cruises that depart from Southbank to explore the lower reaches of the Yarra and see the various sights of Melbourne from the waters. Alternatively, go kayaking down the river for a more exciting experience!
14. Arthurs Seat Eagle
Take a day trip down to Mornington Peninsula, an hour’s drive away from Melbourne CBD, and hop on the Arthurs Seat Eagle Gondola for a relaxing scenic ride across the city. At 314 metres high, you’ll have amazing views of the peninsula, as well as the dazzling Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne city skyline. Enjoy the sun and the breeze while you snap pics with your friends and fam as you ride high over the city!
- Address: 1085 Arthurs Seat Rd, Arthurs Seat VIC 3936, Australia
- Opening hours: 10am - 4pm, open daily
15. Peninsula Hot Springs
Another must-visit spot in Mornington Peninsula is none other than the Peninsula Hot Springs, Victoria's first natural geothermal mineral hot spring and day spa. Perfect for any season all-year round, take a dip into the hot spring pools for a rejuvenating session, then pamper yourself to a massage treatment afterwards! Asides from their thermal pools, the Bath House also offers over 70 global bathing experiences including Turkish steam baths, an underground sauna, a sub-zero ice cave and more!
- Address: 140 Springs Ln, Fingal VIC 3939, Australia
- Opening hours: open 24 hours daily
16. Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
A must-visit for animal lovers, the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park is an award-winning biopark that spans across 25 acres and is home to over 70 Australian species. We're a little biased, but this may be our favourite wildlife park because it's the only place close to Melbourne where you can take photos with a koala and pet them! You can also feed kangaroos and wallabies, bring a dingo on a walk, and meet many other colourful birds and animals up-close.
- Address: 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale VIC 3912, Australia
- Opening hours: 9.30am - 4pm, open daily
17. Legoland Discovery Centre
Unleash your inner child and visit Legoland Discovery Centre in Melbourne, a literal Lego playground that is home to a whopping 2 million Lego bricks! There are 13 epic family play zones where you can check out all the different Lego installations, build a Lego structure of your own and even race your Lego race car on a mini racetrack.
- Address: Level 2/1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148, Australia
- Opening hours: 9.30am - 5.30pm (Thurs - Mon), closed on Tuesdays & Wednesdays
18. Fitzroy
A vibrant suburb located northeast of Melbourne CBD, we think Fitzroy is the hipster hub of the city. A hot spot for the locals, its streets are buzzing throughout the week, lined with eclectic bars, lively eateries, art galleries, trendy retail stores, thrift stores, street art and more. On the weekends, we highly recommend visiting The Rose Street Artists' Market that features vendors selling handmade goods and unique knick knacks!
19. Sovereign Hill
Ever wondered what it was like during the gold rush days? Find out when you go on an hour and a half drive from Melbourne CBD to Sovereign Hill! Here you’ll find immersive exhibits so you can experience Ballarat’s gold rush era—no time machine needed. Ride a carriage across the streets that look like they’re from 1854, pan for gold, learn traditional crafts, and feel like you’re a local from that era!
20. Gumbuya World
Can’t decide between going to a theme park, wildlife park, or water park? At Gumbuya World, you can enjoy all three experiences in just one park! Located just 50 minutes away from Melbourne CBD, the theme park is an exciting place to be with its 4 different zones, home to epic water slides, up-close encounters with furry friends, thrilling 360-degree rides, and fun kids' play areas.