The Melbourne Aquarium
The Melbourne Aquarium is a major tourist destination, featuring aquatic from diverse places like the Great Barrier Reef, Murray River, and the Southern ocean. Some of the exhibits include a fascinating jelly fish display, a huge sting ray and shark glass walkway and a touch pool where visitors can play with some fascinating sea creatures. The Melbourne Aquarium is about to be expanded in the next year to almost triple its size when it will also feature an Antarctic exhibit of penguins and seals.
Crown Casino Complex
More than just a casino the crown casino complex houses a large array of shops, bars, restaurants and even a cinema. Situated on the western end of Southbank its a great place to start or finish a stroll along the Yarra River.
The Melbourne Museum
Opened in 1999 the Melbourne Museum, which also houses Melbourne’s Imax theatre, is a showcase of many of Australia’s historical and cultural treasure’s. Housed in a state of the art glass and concrete structure which encompasses the modern Melbourne architectural design, it is a stark contrast to the world heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building that is situated next door. The Royal Exhibition Building was home to the 1889 Great Exhibition and Australia’s first parliament in 1901. The museums most acclaimed artefact is the Australian horse racing legend Phar lap.
Luna Park
Luna Park was built in 1912 and was named after the famous Coney Island fun park in New York. Melbourne’s Luna Park houses one of the oldest roller coasters in the world, admission is free with rides and carnival attractions priced at reasonable rates.
Federation Square
Taking up an entire city block that was once dominated by railway lines, Federation Square is a focus for Melbourne arts and entertainment in the city. It brings together a creative dynamic mix of attractions, including the Ian Potter Centre of the National gallery of Victoria, the Australian Centre for Moving image as well as restaurants, cafes and bars. Situated next to Melbourne’s newest Park, Birrarung Marr, many festivals and entertainment activities are held here throughout the year. Fed Square is also home to Melbourne Visitor Centre which is a popular spot that all tourists should stop by when visiting Victoria.
The Sidney Myer Music Bowl
The internationally renowned Sidney Myer Music Bowl is Victoria’s iconic outdoor performance venue, with fixed seating for more than 2000 and a landscaped lawn that can cater for a further 11,000 people. The venue plays host to the annual Christmas Eve Carols by Candlelight, as well as many international acts. During the summer months the venue is used for outdoor movie screenings known as moonlight cinema. Some of the acts that have performed at venue include Paul Mc Cartney and Wings, ABBA, Neil Diamond and REM. The music bowl is part of the Victorian Arts Centre.
The City Circle Tram
This is one of the best loved attractions in Melbourne, and to make it even better, its Free!. This classic old rattler tram does a loop of the City, you can get on and off at various stops around the city and explore the different precincts. The loop stretches from Spring Street, which is home to the Parliament Buildings down Flinders Street, past Flinders Street Station, Federation Square, South Bank and the Aquarium and Casino. Then down to Melbourne’s newest playground, Docklands with the Telstra Stadium and Docklands apartments and boardwalk. The Tram then goes uptown along La Trobe Street with stops close to the Queen Victoria Market, Shopping centres of Myer, QV and Melbourne Central before heading past the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Carlton Gardens and Old Melbourne Gaol. it then heads back into Spring Street with stops near the Treasury Building and the world famous Hard Rock Cafe. Trams travel in both clockwise and anti clock wise directions and are usually about 15 minutes apart, usually operating between 10am – 6pm
