See and Do in Melbourne

For expats who relocate to Melbourne, a wonderful city of attractions and enriching activities await. Melbourne is Australia’s second largest city and with plenty to see and do here, expats will have a great time even just getting their bearings.

It might be worth purchasing a Melbourne and Beyond Smartvisit card, which grants the bearer access to 60 of Melbourne's top attractions; free public transport for the duration of the pass; and even a colourful and handy travel guide.

Take a trip to the Eureka Tower for breathtaking views across the city, sail down the Yarra River, take a stroll in the Royal Botanic Gardens, pick up some bargains at the Queen Victoria Market, meet Australia’s indigenous animals at the Melbourne Zoo, or soak up some Australian history on a tour of the Old Melbourne Gaol.
 

Yarra River
Expats will certainly enjoy a leisurely stroll along the banks of this muddy river. Stop and take in the view from Princes Bridge, St Kilda Road, or for a really good look, take a cruise along the river from Princes Walk.
www.yarrariver.info

Old Melbourne Gaol
Take a tour through Victoria’s oldest surviving prison where the infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly was hanged. Visitors can view the Hangman’s Box, the execution book and even watch a performance on The Real Ned Kelly Story - Such is Life, where the real-life stories are eerily recounted by candlelight.
www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au
Tel: (0)3 8663 7228

Eureka Tower
Standing at an impressive 984ft (300m) above the ground, Eureka Tower is the tallest building in Melbourne. Step into the frosted glass cube (The Edge) that independently slides out of the building for a breathtaking view of the city’s skyline. When the cube is fully extended the sound of shattering glass can be heard and the frosted glass turns clear, leaving its occupants looking straight down towards the ground.
www.eurekaskydeck.com.au
Tel: (0)3 9693 8888

Federation Square
One of Melbourne’s major attractions, Federation Square host over 2,000 events every year in its open spaces. Expats should explore the many galleries, cinemas, museums, restaurants and shops that surround the square, especially the Ian Potter Centre and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.
www.federationsquare.com.au
Tel: (0)3 9655 1900

Queen Victoria Market
One of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest open-air markets, the Queen Victoria Market is a great place to pick up fresh local produce and is a popular meeting place for locals and expats alike. On Sundays the market is simply buzzing with energy and Queen Street is closed down and converted into a sidewalk café area, where buskers entertain passers-by and children's rides are available for the day.
www.qvm.com.au
Tel: (03) 9320 5822

Melbourne Zoo
Home to more than 350 species of animals, expats should come to the Melbourne Zoo to pay a visit to some of Australia’s most interesting animals, like the kangaroo, wallaby, koala and wombat.
www.zoo.org.au
Tel: (03) 9285 9300

Melbourne Museum
As Australia’s largest museum, the Melbourne Museum features more than 30 different exhibits that cover everything from history and culture to science and animals. The museum it most well-known for the Bunjilaka gallery, which explores the history of Aboriginal culture in Victoria, as well as the Children’s Museum, which is housed in a tilted cube.
www.museumvictoria.com.au
Tel: 131102 (Victoria only) 1300 130 152 (Australia-wide)
 
Royal Botanic Gardens
Considered to be one of the world’s finest, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne is home to native wild life including black swans, bell birds, cockatoos and kookaburras. The lush foliage includes more than 51,000 individual plants. Pack a picnic and spend the day walking through the beautifully manicured gardens and enjoy a bit of peaceful calm amidst the busy city.
www.rbg.vic.gov.au
Tel: (03) 9252 2300

Government House
Government House is not only credited as being one of the grandest houses in Victoria, it’s one of Australia’s finest examples of this type of architecture. Built in the Italianate style during the gold rush, the house is the official residence of the Governor of Victoria and is located within the Botanical Gardens.
www.governor.vic.gov.au/govhs.htm
Tel: (0)3 9656 4211

Cooks Cottage
Originally built by the parents of Captain James Cook in 1755 in the village of Great Ayton in Yorkshire, England, a wealthy businessman bought the cottage in 1933 and arranged for the residence to be taken apart brick by brick and rebuilt in Melbourne in Fitzroy Gardens. It allows visitors a glimpse into 18th century England.
www.cookscottage.com.au
Tel: (0)3 9419 4677