Southbank is the name given to the southern side of the Yarra River that was redeveloped in the 1990s with modern architecture on a former industrial area. Today it is home to one of the world’s finest entertainment strips, filled with restaurants, cafés, bars, shopping and entertainment complexes.
Starting in the early 1990s, the area has become Melbourne’s playground. With dozens of café’s, restaurants, apartments, hotels, bars and one of the world’s largest casinos.
The Melbourne Arts Centre defines the northern end of the precinct and is home to theatres and the National Art Gallery.
The Eureka Tower, which is Melbourne’s tallest building and one of the world’s highest residential towers, sits behind the Southgate complex which is home to Hotels, shopping, bars and cafés.
Many tourist services operate in this area, including docking for the many river cruises that operate up the Yarra River.
Further south along the precinct is the Crown Entertainment Complex, home to hotels, theatres, restaurants and leisure activities including the Crown Casino, which is one of the world’s largest casinos.
Be sure to visit in the evening to witness the spectacular gas fireball display which light up the sky every half hour.
Walking down the street you hear strains of Greek music and smell the fantastic cuisine, it’s hard to remember you are in Melbourne and not on the Mediterranean.
The Melbourne Exhibition Centre is the southern block of this strip, with one of Australia’s biggest exhibition spaces, which is home to huge events like the Melbourne International Motor Show.
