Ornamental lake
Islands and birds.
John Torcasio — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wpcpey — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gary Houston — CC0
One of the world's finest botanical gardens, on the bank of the Yarra south of central Melbourne, founded in 1846 and spreading over rolling lawns, lakes and giant trees, with tens of thousands of plants from Australia and the world. The garden was laid out in the English landscape style, with winding paths that reveal a new scene at every turn: the ornamental lake with its islands and birds, the cactus and arid garden, the rose garden and a shaded fern gully. Children have their own garden of water, tunnels and plants to play in freely, colourful Australian birds are everywhere, and fruit bats sometimes roost here. In summer there are outdoor cinema screenings and concerts. Entry is free and the gardens open daily. They adjoin the Shrine of Remembrance and can be reached on foot from the city centre along the river.
Islands and birds.
Shade and calm.
Water and tunnels.
Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, south of central Melbourne
Shrine of RemembranceA massive granite memorial on a rise in Kings Domain south of central Melbourne,7 minutes walk4.7
National Gallery of VictoriaAustralia's oldest and most visited art museum, founded in 1861 with more than s16 minutes walk4.6
Federation SquareMelbourne's great cultural square, opened in 2002 on a deck above the railway li21 minutes walk4.4
Eureka SkydeckAn observation deck on the 88th floor of Eureka Tower, a skyscraper about 297 me21 minutes walk4.6
Flinders Street StationMelbourne's most famous and most photographed building, a railway station with a22 minutes walk4.3Yes, entry is free and they open daily.