Flinders Street Railway Station – is the oldest train station in Australia and, with over 1,500 trains and 110,000 commuters passing through daily, the busiest suburban railway station in the southern hemisphere.

Federation Square – is a combination of galleries, restaurants, and bars that host more than 2,000 events each year, including the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (March), Melbourne International Comedy Festival (April) and Melbourne Festival (October).

Princes Bridge – The design mimics that of Blackfriars Bridge in London. It includes extensive use of wrought and cast iron in the structure as well as decorative cast-iron lamps that were added in the 1920s. 

Queen Victoria Gardens – consists of ornamental lakes, sweeping lawns, rose gardens, and palm trees. A huge floral clock, which was donated to the city in 1966 by a group of Swiss watchmakers contains over 7,000 plants that are changed twice yearly.

Royal Botanical Gardens – These beautiful Gardens are home to a diverse collection of plants such as camellias, rainforest flora, succulents and cacti, roses, herbs, perennials, and cycads. The Gardens also serve as a sanctuary for native wildlife.

Shrine of Remembrance – is perched at the south end of the Royal Botanical Gardens, offering clear views of Melbourne’s skyline.

National Gallery of Victoria – currently serves as Australia’s oldest and most prominent public art museum. The museum includes treasures from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the pre-Columbian period, as well as an Oceanic gallery dedicated to the indigenous cultures of the Pacific area.

Great Ocean Road – begins 100 miles (160 km) southwest of central Melbourne and continues west for 250 miles (450 km) along the South Australian border. This stretch of coastline covers an incredible array of scenery. You have the opportunity to stop and enjoy beachside villages, cliff-top ocean views, and the tranquil countryside. Great Otway National Park includes both coastal and backwoods walking trails and the Kennet River is well-known for its hundreds of colonies of koalas.

Twelve Apostles – are magnificent limestone rock stacks that rise up from the Southern Ocean, just off the coastline. The stormy Southern Ocean gradually ate away the soft limestone to form caves in the coastline cliffs. The caves eventually became arches extending from the mainland and when they collapsed, rock stacks over 150 feet high were left isolated from the shore. The Apostles can be viewed from observation platforms just off of the Great Ocean Road; however, we recommend climbing down the Gibson Steps to the beach. There are over two hundred documented cases of ships sinking along the coast, earning it the nickname The Shipwreck Coast. The Grotto, where you can see rainbows made from wave spray and sunshine, and London Arch, formerly a natural archway extending from land in which the middle collapsed, are a fifteen minute drive to the north. 

Queen Victoria Market – Queen Victoria Market is the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere. Shoppers will find everything from Australian fruit and vegetables to gourmet foods, clothing, and souvenirs. The friendly competition between stallholders and their sincerity towards customers is what gives the market its old-world charm.

Melbourne Laneways – Melbourne’s best laneways, or alleys filled with al-fresco eateries, street art, and cozy bars, are a short walk from Queen Victoria Market. Each laneway has its own individual character and charm. Centre Lane is notable for its hole-in-the-wall cafes. Hosier Lane and Rutledge Lane are the epicenters of Melbourne’s street art scene.

State Library of Victoria – is a magnificent 19th-century structure with a domed reading room as the focal point. The library’s collection includes over two million books, hundreds of thousands of pictures, newspapers, maps, and manuscripts all reflecting the culture of Victoria over the past 150 years.

Melbourne Museum – includes a complete skeleton of a blue whale, an Aboriginal cultural center, a living rainforest, and an IMAX theatre. Major international exhibitions are presented in the Touring Hall. Nearby Whiskey and Alement is considered to be the best cocktail spot in town.

bottom line

Melbourne can be found atop the list of most livable places on earth each year for good reason. The city is easy to navigate, the people are incredibly friendly, and it has a thriving culinary and art scene. This Melbourne Travel Guide includes a mix of what makes Melbourne pop, including its key historical sites, museums, and parks, and the Great Ocean Road trek to the Twelve Apostles – an absolute must-see.