Hailed as the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne is home to several acclaimed tourist attractions that offer diverse experiences in arts, culture, and nature. From streets lined with cafés and shops, theme parks, and towering buildings, this concrete jungle has plenty of destinations at every nook and cranny. And if a nature and wildlife getaway is more up your alley, Melbourne can offer that too!
Whether you’re a born and raised Melburnian or simply stopping by for a visit, there’s definitely a tourist attraction in Melbourne that you should visit. These attractions are also family-friendly and perfect for a day out with the kids!
Need help on where to go? We’ve got you covered with our top picks of the best tourist attractions in Melbourne:
1. Eureka Skydeck
Bring the whole fam or squad to Eureka Skydeck for unobstructed views of Melbourne. Image credits: @eureka_skydeck on Instagram
Eureka Skydeck is one of the best tourist attractions in Melbourne that you can’t miss out on. This 285-meter high viewing platform is the highest in the Southern Hemisphere, giving you an unparalleled 360° view of the city’s iconic landmarks. They also have 30 viewfinders and binoculars if you want a closer look. Make sure to keep an eye out for Port Phillip Bay, Flinders Street Station, and the Immigration Museum!
2. Puffing Billy Railway Steam Train
Traverse the verdant rainforest of the Dandenong Ranges aboard the Puffing Billy Railway Steam Train. This historic steam train has been operational since 1900! It’s been maintained ever since, with its nostalgic vintage train look still intact—looking at it is like going back in time. During the ride, just sit back and enjoy the fresh rainforest air while taking in all the greeneries, streams, and falls you’ll pass by!
3. Melbourne Star Observation Wheel
The whole family will love going on a ride on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel! Image credits: @mumsgottatravel on Instagram
Another great way to see all of the city is by hopping on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, one of the largest observation wheels in the world! To put it simply, this tourist attraction in Melbourne is a giant Ferris wheel with a peak reaching 120 metres, equivalent to a 40-storey building! Each cabin has glass walls on all sides, providing you with an unobstructed view of the city.
4. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Discover what wonders marine life has to offer at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium! Image credits @sealifemelbourneaquarium on Instagram
Delve into a majestic underwater world at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, home to diverse species of marine life housed in several themed zones. You can check out Penguin Passport, where you can see sub-antarctic penguins up close! There’s also the awe-inspiring The Mermaid Garden, a 2.2 million litre Oceanarium with nurse sharks and stingrays swimming around astonishing mermaid statues. There are plenty more aquariums and exhibits in SEA LIFE for you to discover, so make sure to stop by during your Melbourne visit!
5. Arthurs Seat Eagle Gondola
Photo Credit: Shawn Tung
Head over to Mornington Peninsula, an hour’s drive away from Melbourne CBD, and hop on the Arthurs Seat Eagle Gondola for a relaxing scenic ride across the city. At 314 metres high, you’ll have amazing views of the peninsula, as well as the dazzling Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne city skyline. Enjoy the sun and the breeze while you snap pics with your friends and fam as you ride high over the city!
6. Werribee Zoo
Can’t book a flight to Africa? Then get a safari experience right in Werribee Zoo, where animals from the African savannah roam free! Here you can experience the Serval Cat presentation, where you’ll hop on a vehicle that takes you to several wild cats without any barriers! It’s definitely a great experience to have with your family. That’s why kids aged 4-15 can visit for free during weekends, public holidays, and VIC school holidays!
7. Melbourne Zoo
More wildlife awaits you at Melbourne Zoo! Image credits: @jaydakoludrovic on Instagram
Another acclaimed tourist attraction in Melbourne for wildlife lovers is the Melbourne Zoo, located right at the heart of the busy city. Escape the concrete jungle and enter one with Sumatran tigers, orangutans, snow leopards, and more! You can also walk among the zoo’s eight Asian elephants at their award-winning elephant trail! Take note: kids aged 4-15 can visit for free during weekends, VIC school holidays, and public holidays!
8. Hot Air Balloon Ride in Melbourne CBD
Go to new heights over Melbourne CBD with this hot air balloon ride! Image credits: @libertyballoonflights on Instagram
Watch the sunrise over Melbourne CBD from the best spot in town: on a hot air balloon. Fly over all the tourist attractions in Melbourne, including Eureka Skydeck, Melbourne Cricket Ground or MCG, Port Phillip Bay, and more! Oh, and did you hear? You can get an exclusive 10% discount and free digital photos of your experience when you book using Klook!
9. Mountain Biking at You Yangs Park
With its uneven terrain and extraordinary granite peaks, You Yangs Park is an excellent destination for dirt biking or mountain biking, especially for those looking for a dash of adrenaline. For a laidback experience at You Yangs, you can also opt for a nature trail walk and admire the views of the bushlands.
10. Otway Fly Zipline Experience
Get your blood pumping on the Otway Fly Zipline Experience! This eco-zipline tour will take you 30 metres above the rainforest floor as you zip past its diverse flora and fauna. Talk about a unique way to acquaint yourself with the natural allure of the forest! After the exciting zipline, you can go on the Treetop Walk—a steel walkway nestled on the forest canopy that lets you roam the rainforest atop the trees!
11. Murray River Paddlesteamer Cruise in Echuca
Feel like you’re back in time aboard a paddle steamer cruising through Murray River
Planning a weekend getaway with friends and fam? Then hop in the car and go on a three-hour drive from Melbourne CBD to Murray River in Echuca, where you can cruise aboard the world's only wood-fired paddle steamer. It’s just like the vintage riverboats you see in old movies! Enjoy a three-course lunch as you move along the river and marvel at the immaculate surrounding greenery; the drive will be totally worth it!
12. Sovereign Hill Entry Ticket
Ever wondered what it was like during the gold rush days? Find out when you go on an hour-and-a-half drive from Melbourne to Sovereign Hill! Here you’ll find immersive exhibits so you can experience Ballarat’s gold rush era—no time machine needed. Ride a carriage across the streets that look like they’re from 1854, pan for gold, learn traditional crafts, and feel like you’re a local from that era!
13. Luna Park Melbourne
Photo: rekiwoo on Instagram
This theme park has been a top tourist attraction in Melbourne since 1912, with its nostalgic carnival theme and its plethora of rides enjoyed by generations of park-goers. Feel the thrills on The Great Scenic Railway, one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the world, or go to new heights on the Moon Balloons roller coaster. There are plenty of exciting rides the young and the young at heart will enjoy at Luna Park!
14. Legoland Discovery Centre
Legoland is perfect for your child AND your inner child! Image credits: @melbourneminor on Instagram
Unleash your inner child and visit Legoland Discovery Centre in Melbourne, home to a whopping 2 million Lego bricks! There are 13 epic family play zones where you can check out all the different Lego installations and even build a Lego building of your own! You can even race your Lego racecar on a mini racetrack! And since Legoland is a haven for fun photo-ops, you can get access to all digital photos taken in the theme park with the digital photo pass that comes with your Klook ticket.
15. Virtual Reality Escape Room Experience in Melbourne
Enter a new world on this epic VR escape room experience in Melbourne! Solve mysteries, riddles, and puzzles with your loved ones while you’re immersed in a world of vivid graphics and colours. You can even take photos with your mates while in the game to commemorate the experience!
16. Gumbuya World
Can’t decide between going to a theme park, wildlife park, or water park? At Gumbuya World, you can go to all of them in just one park! Gumbuya World is the only attraction in Victoria which has all three experiences in one. Take note, however, that due to changes in weather throughout the year, one of the three parks may not be operational on certain days.
17. Otway Fly Treetops Walk
You don’t need to be Tarzan to explore treetops. The Otway Fly Treetops Walk will make it easy peasy! This steel platform is elevated 30 metres from the forest floor and spans 600 metres long. Enjoy the lush greens at your own pace and enjoy the fresh forest air. It’s also perfect for bringing the little ones, as it’s suitable for all levels of fitness!
18. Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne
Only three kilometres from Melbourne CBD is Royal Botanic Gardens, a serene parkland with expertly constructed landscapes of colourful and diverse flora. The Gardens have an important role in plant life conservation and research, with an aim to preserve endangered species. Their efforts are evident once you visit the park and see the plethora of plants! It’s definitely one of the best free tourist attractions in Melbourne!
19. Melbourne Cricket Ground
This one is for sports fans, particularly cricket enthusiasts. The Melbourne Cricket Ground, a.k.a. MCG or The ‘G to locals, is a massive sports stadium that can hold 100,000 people in one event! It has hosted the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the annual Australian Football League Final. You can go on a 75-minute tour of the complex to explore one of the most important venues in Australia for sports.
20. National Gallery of Victoria
There are over 70,000 pieces of art for you to enjoy! Image credits: @ngvmelbourne on Instagram
One of the best tourist attractions in Melbourne for artists and art enthusiasts is the National Gallery of Victoria, one of the oldest public galleries in the country! With up to 70,000 works of art, it covers various genres and disciplines, from French Impressionism to modern art installations. Heck, even the museum’s Great Hall is a piece of art—when you look up, you’ll see an intricate stained glass ceiling!
21. Federation Square
This quirky piece of architecture in Melbourne will definitely make your head turn when you pass by. So, why not stop by and explore its collection of art galleries and dining experiences? Federation Square is a community hub that has hosted several cultural events, talks, presentations, exhibits, and more, so there’s bound to be something for you to enjoy!
22. Captain Cook’s Cottage
This iconic house was built by the parents of prolific British explorer Captain James Cook, who you might know through your Australian history lessons. Captain Cook’s Cottage was constructed as early as 1775, making it one of the oldest buildings in Australia! Here you can reconnect with history and discover what it was like during the time of Captain Cook.
23. Scienceworks
At Scienceworks, science is anything but boring! Image credits: @scienceworks_melb on Instagram
Who says learning about science can’t be fun? Head over to Scienceworks, an interactive learning gallery filled with multiple exhibits and installations that will pique the interest of curious minds of all ages! Lovers of space exploration will enjoy the Melbourne Planetarium, while robotics enthusiasts will love sharpening their skills with the many workshops.
24. Flinders Street Station
Flinders Street Station is a true Melbournian icon that you can’t miss during your visit. Established in 1854, it’s Australia’s first train station and has seen millions of commuters with its daily operations. Stand beneath its iconic clocks and snap some pics, as many locals and tourists have through the years.
25. Block Arcade
Explore every nook and cranny of the stunning Block Arcade. Image credits: @sonder_seeker on Instagram
Located at the heart of Melbourne CBD is Block Arcade, a heritage-listed landmark that offers a popular boutique shopping experience. This picturesque structure is not just a place to shop (although it is an excellent place to shop!), it’s also a site to admire the architecture, with its intricate decorative arches and mosaic floors. You definitely have to take pics for the ‘Gram while you’re in Melbourne!
26. Southbank
Southbank is a waterfront strip in Melbourne laden with several hip restaurants, shopping centres, and walkways for you to stroll through the length of the lovely Yarra River. Here you can dine while enjoying the view of the river and the city skyline, or simply take it slow with a laidback afternoon walk.
27. Shrine of Remembrance
This tourist attraction in Melbourne is one for the history buffs. The Shrine of Remembrance is a landmark that serves as a memorial to the heroes of World War I. It also has several galleries and exhibits to educate visitors about several aspects of wartime, including the Galleries of Remembrance, which displays uniforms of Aussie soldiers and photos during the war.
28. State Library of Victoria
Enjoy a good book at the State Library of Victoria. Image credits: @andympics on Facebook
Bookworms, we didn’t forget about you—you’ll be giddy at the vast collection of over 2 million books at the State Library of Victoria! Aside from being the oldest public library in the country, it’s also known to be one of the most photogenic. It’s a great place to sit back, crack open a good book, and admire the classic architecture.
29. Royal Exhibition Building
The Royal Exhibition Building, also known as REB, is one of the most marvellous structures in the country—it’s UNESCO heritage-listed if you need further proof. While this historic building was built in the 1800s during the Great Exhibition era, it still hosts several fairs, expos, and cultural events. Despite being a venue for displaying art and goods, this building is known to be a work of art on its own.
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