
Melbourne tourist destinations range from captivating laneways and street art, grand galleries, museums and lush parks, plus an exciting nightlife, delicious food and wine as well as an active arts scene. Fly into Melbourne with Cathay Pacific and you are good to go.
The National Gallery of Victoria boasts masterpieces by Rembrandt and Tiepolo among other artists, while its entrance features an eye-catching water wall.
1. National Gallery of Victoria
Established in 1861, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is Australia’s oldest public art museum and one of the world’s premier collections of artworks. Additionally, the NGV draws over 2.668,000 visitors annually making it Australia’s most-visited gallery.
The NGV’s vast collection is spread over two locations: NGV International on St Kilda Road and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square. At these venues, visitors can view international art works while at NGV Australia can see comprehensive Australian works including works by Indigenous artists.
The National Gallery of Victoria is an inviting museum designed for families. Offering programs that engage children in art, history, culture and science; exciting exhibitions and events including David Hockney: Current: over 700 works by this famed artist is featured. Entrance fees do apply when parking; however there is also the Shaw Research Library with its extensive collection of books, journals, artist biographies and exhibition ephemera available here.
2. Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium houses thousands of marine creatures across 12 zones. Visit penguins, sharks, stingrays and seahorses as you discover Australia’s Antarctic and tropical marine ecosystems. With your ticket at hand, bypass any lines to explore an impressive collection of aquatic creatures!
Submerged is one of the new additions, offering an immersive digital journey through living light inspired by bioluminescence in the underwater environment. Explore various settings like glittering shorelines during spawning season or moonlit deep dives as you encounter mysterious firefly squid and other majestic ocean life – not forgetting a mysterious firefly squid or two!
Rainforest Adventure offers visitors a look into Australia’s tropical north with Lungfish, freshwater turtles and frogs found here. At Discovery Rockpools you can touch Hermit Crabs and Blue Tongue Lizards; while children can escape an invasion of jellyfish in Jelly Lab or create their own design using Ocean Invaders on a giant wall projection projection screen. In addition, this attraction actively works towards grey nurse shark breeding programs as well as rehabilitation of sea turtles that have been washed south where they cannot survive; grey nurse shark breeding programs as well as rehabilitation of sea turtles from colder Victorian waters where they cannot survive.
3. Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens serve as Melbourne’s green lungs, housing botanical treasures from all around the world and an impressive display of Australian flora. Wander through mini ecosystems and discover unique attractions, like Guilfoyle’s Volcano (with its succulent wonderland surrounding a historic water reservoir and boasting amazing city skyline views), or Fern Gully (a lush microclimate tropical forest that’s popular with strollers).
Or explore the gardens’ various living collections such as palms, rhododendrons, camellias, oaks, ferns and native Australian trees – among which are palms, rhododendrons, camellias, oaks, ferns and native Australian trees. Also of note is the charming Fairies Tree which has been intricately carved from red gum stump and Fitzroy Gardens’ Cottage Garden for medicinal herbs and remedies.
Experience Melbourne like never before when you book a morning hot air balloon flight over Melbourne and soar over modern skyscrapers, urban parks, sporting arenas, the Yarra River and cityscape with a balloon flight! Learn about its natural wonders from an expert guide before finishing with an exquisite champagne breakfast!
4. Eureka Tower
The 297m Eureka Tower stands as an unmissable landmark and one of Melbourne’s premier tourist destinations, located in Southbank precinct and opened to the public in 2006. Completed in 2002 and opened to public viewing in 2006, its uppermost floors are plated in 24-carat gold for optimal panoramic viewing from Eureka Skydeck 88 while Eureka 89 features both restaurants and galleries displaying exhibitions about society and culture in Melbourne’s past.
Reaching the viewing deck requires an exciting elevator ride with thirty view-finders for optimal vantage. Or step into ‘The Edge’ – an eye-catching glass cube which protrudes from the building and allows an unparalleled perspective of city life.
Make sure to set aside enough time and book tickets ahead to avoid waiting at Skydeck 88. Many tour operators include tickets in their Melbourne tours; admission to this attraction can also be purchased with a Eureka Attraction pass. Visitors can enjoy drinks at Bar 88, located near window-ledge seating around the viewing deck – offering champagnes, wines, spirits as well as bar snacks!
5. Melbourne Museum
Melbourne is an epicenter of culture. The museums there showcase musical heritage, medical breakthroughs, sporting achievements and digital culture. Additionally, they explore local environment issues as well as our multicultural identity and explore natural environments such as our natural environment, local history and multi-cultural identity.
The Melbourne Museum offers an incredible experience. Its permanent collections comprise traditional objects pinned to walls as well as interactive, engaging exhibits – you’ll get to experience ancient Australian rainforest, learn boat history or find out where dinosaur bones were discovered in Victoria!
The Museum also hosts numerous temporary exhibits and is home to Australia’s only national museum dedicated to film, video games and digital culture – the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. With cinemas, exhibition spaces and permanent and ever-evolving Screen Worlds exhibit featuring props from Baz Lurhmann’s Moulin Rouge movie as well as costumes worn by Kylie Minogue and Heath Ledger costumes this is a fun place for kids and teens alike to visit easily accessible via tram and multiple bus routes in its immediate vicinity.
6. Royal Exhibition Building
The Royal Exhibition Building stands as a landmark in Melbourne and remains as an icon from international exhibitions of the 19th century. Now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its Great Hall with soaring dome is used for trade fairs and other cultural and community events while its gallery rooms display murals from 1901.
Visitors can tour the building on guided tours when there are no exhibitions on display, as well as take advantage of free talks and events held here.
Wildlife enthusiasts should head to Melbourne Zoo, located just five minutes from Melbourne CBD. Here you will find an abundance of animals from around the globe including Sumatran Tigers and Orangutans; in addition, their award-winning Elephant Trail allows visitors to walk among Asian Elephants.
Other top sights include the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), which houses an incredible collection of provocative fashion, paintings from acclaimed Australian artists and lesser-explored subjects. You can take a river boat cruise for an overview of Melbourne landmarks or wander its lanes for delicious cuisine and vibrant street art.