Living forest
Under a glass roof.
-wuppertaler — CC BY 4.0 · Ethmostigmus — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ethmostigmus — CC BY-SA 4.0
The largest museum in the Southern Hemisphere by floor area, in a modern building in the Carlton Gardens beside the Royal Exhibition Building, telling the story of nature and people in Victoria and Australia in an interactive way that suits families. At its heart is a real living forest inside the building, with trees, a stream, birds and reptiles under a soaring glass roof. There is a hall of dinosaurs and skeletons, a gallery of insects and spiders, and science and human-body exhibitions. Its most important section is the Aboriginal cultural centre, which tells the history, art and stories of Victoria's First Peoples in their own voices. The museum also displays the legendary racehorse Phar Lap, one of Australia's best-known icons. Tickets are about A$18 per adult and children enter free, per visitor guides. It opens daily and pairs with the Royal Exhibition Building and gardens in half a day.
Under a glass roof.
In their own voices.
And skeletons.
11 Nicholson Street, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne
Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton GardensA grand nineteenth-century building with a great dome, built in 1879 and 1880 to2 minutes walk4.5
State Library VictoriaAustralia's oldest public library, founded in 1854 and one of the first free lib11 minutes walk4.7
Queen Victoria MarketThe largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, spreading over more than18 minutes walk4.6
Hosier LaneA narrow cobbled lane in central Melbourne whose walls are covered from ground t19 minutes walk4.3
Federation SquareMelbourne's great cultural square, opened in 2002 on a deck above the railway li21 minutes walk4.4Yes, with a living forest, dinosaurs and interactive exhibits, and children enter free per visitor guides.