Melbourne

Carlton Gardens

Beautiful European-style gardens featuring a number of towering plane trees and majestic fountains, some of which date from the Victorian era. It's a World Heritage Site along with the Royal Exhibition Building there.

Luna Park

This St Kilda icon's famous mouth entrance continues to grace Melbourne's postcards and for good reason. Built in 1912, the historic amusement park is free to enter, with a number of rides to keep the young and young at heart entertained. The fabled Scenic Railway is the oldest continually operating wooden-framed rollercoaster in the world, and gives panoramic views over the nearby bay. Other rides include all the usual favourites, such as a Ferris wheel, dodgem cars and a ghost train. A great day out for kids and families. In poor weather, some rides may close, including the historic rollercoaster.

Opening hours vary, although generally open 11AM-6PM weekends and 11AM-8PM weekdays during school holidays; closed weekdays during school term · Single ride: adult (13+) $11, child (4-12) $9, infant $5; unlimited ticket: adult $49.50, child $39.50, infant $16.50

Cooks' Cottage and Fitzroy Gardens

Cooks' Cottage is the cottage that belonged to Captain James Cook’s parents and was transported from Yorkshire to Melbourne in 1934.

Cooks' Cottage: Daily 10AM-4PM, closed Christmas Day · Cooks' Cottage: $7.20 adult, $5.50 concession, $3.90 child (5-15yrs)

Government House

The official residence of the Governor of Victoria. The house opened in 1876 as the official residence of the Governor-General of Australia, before the capital moved to Canberra. The house is modelled to some extent on Queen Victoria's Osborne House, in Cowes, England. Combined tours with La Trobe's Cottage must be booked two weeks in advance. Free garden tours on third Thursday of the month, limited to 10 people so book well in advance. Visit on the Open Day on Australia Day (26 January).

Built 1873

Fawkner Park

Soccer, tennis, softball, and cricket in the summer. Local school Aussie Rules Football in winter. Popular dog walking area. Two large children's playgrounds and a BBQ area.

Governor La Trobe's Cottage

A prefabricated cottage imported from England in 1839 for Victoria's first Lt. Governor, Charles Joseph La Trobe. The cottage has been rebuilt and relocated. The cottage and garden is run by the National Trust.

Oct - May on first and third Sundays 11AM - 4PM · $5

St Kilda Beach

One of Melbourne's most famous and popular beaches, it is an enjoyable place to spend an afternoon. Apart from the omnipresent swimming, popular activities include sunbathing, sailing, beach volleyball, sandcastle-building, jetskiing and kitesurfing. The beach is regularly patrolled in the Summer by surf lifesavers.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Recognised as one of the world’s finest botanic gardens, with over 10,000 species and 50,000 individual plants in the 38 hectare gardens.

Daily 7:30AM to sunset · Free

Goje

Popular plant-based DIY frozen yoghurt place in the middle of the lively Yarraville restaurant and shopping strip. If coming by car, park a few streets away.

Sun-Thu 2-9:30PM, Fri Sat 2-10PM · Weigh-and-pay. Around $5 a serving if you don't go crazy - but it is hard not to! · Takeaway · Fully vegan

Madame Brussels

This English Garden party themed bar is on the roof and serves up excellent cocktails by staff in Tennis outfits. Cocktail jugs $30 and $50, 2+ and 4+ serves respectively

We,Th 16:00-23:00, Fr 16:00-01:00, Sa 12:00-01:00, Su 12:00-23:00 · Outdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible

Old Treasury Building and Gold Museum

Built in 1858 by a 19-year-old architect, it was the city’s first Italian Renaissance building and many consider that its elegance has not been surpassed by anything in Melbourne since. Contains displays on the history of Melbourne as well as the history of gold in Victoria, including the original gold vaults. Fun activities for children, including the chance to earn a novelty gold licence. The expansive Treasury Gardens behind the building are also worth a visit.

Sun-Fri 10AM-4PM, closed Good Fri, Christmas and Boxing Day · Free · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Hop Nation Brewing

A hidden brewery worth making a trip for. Easily reached by the bike and pedestrian Maribyrnong River Trail. they also have outstanding pizza.

Thu 3-7PM, Fri 2-9PM, Sat noon-9PM, Sun noon-6PM · Brews its own beer

CERES Community Environment Park

A place for community-based learning and action for environmental benefit, social justice, economic satisfaction, cultural enrichment and spiritual nurturing. Some of its facilities include an organic grocery open 9-5 every day with free live music on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, a permaculture nursery and an organic cafe. There's a visitor centre and regular workshops, a nature play area and an energy park displaying ways of harnessing natural power. There's much more: download CERES' "Chook" app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, or visit their website for much more info.

Park open during daylight hours, check website for hours of different sections · No entry fee, donations accepted · Free entry

Donovans

Opposite the beach and evening sunsets. An Age 2-Hat restaurant. Superb food at a pricey cost.

Midday-3PM, 6-9PM

The Brunswick Green

The best beer garden in Brunswick (and possibly Melbourne), with live music outside on Sunday afternoon. The best place to spend a summers afternoon.

Tue-Thu 4PM-midnight, Fri 3PM-1AM, Sat 2PM-1AM, Sun 2PM-11PM · Most wine $8.50 a glass, chips $8 a bowl

Arts Centre's Sunday Market

Every Sunday, the small park between Hamer Hall and Arts Centre Melbourne is filled with stalls that sell arts and crafts locally made by the sellers. The place is animated with live performance at noon.

Sun 10AM-4PM · Free

Como House

House built in 1847 and gardens, run by the National Trust.

Gardens: Mon-Sat, Sun; House only on pre-booked tours on Sat Sun · House tour $15 · Free entry · Built 1847

Section 8

A bar in a car park made from shipping containers. 'Nuff said?

Outdoor seating

Royal Park

An expansive park just north of the city centre, containing grasslands, native gardens and many sporting facilities, and home to the city's zoo.

All Nations Hotel

Can be a bit hard to find, (head south off Victoria Street or north from Bridge Road), but well worth the effort. Fabulous bar menu, friendly staff, cosy snug bar and airy beer garden. The sort of pub where everyone knows your name. Open til 11pm every night.

Bacash

Serves excellent seafood. It is located next to the Botanical Gardens and offers excellent service and a fine wine list.

Yarra Bend Park

3 km from the CBD, Yarra Bend Park is a vast expanse of bushland and parkland along the Yarra River. Visitors can enjoy walking and cycling trails, boathouses, and picnic areas amidst natural beauty.

Free

Alexandra Gardens

Ornamental gardens laid out in 1904, on south bank of the Yarra River. There is a row of historic rowing boathouses on the river bank.

Melbourne Zoo

One of Melbourne's most popular attractions. It is the oldest zoo in Australia and third-oldest in the world, having opened in 1861 from the proceeds of the Gold Rush. There are over 320 species of native Australian and exotic animals, birds and butterflies. The enclosures are spacious and engaging for the animals, as well as visitors. Particularly good are the lion exhibit, trail of the elephants, butterfly house, aviary and seal enclosure. Feeding and entertainment shows also run regularly throughout the day, but find out the time and plan in advance.

9AM-5PM daily · $30 adult, $13.20 children (4-15yrs; free on weekends/holidays), number of concession and family discounts available

Queens Park

A place to spend a relaxing day. There's a rose garden, a sunken garden, a lake, a cafe, and a 50-m pool open from November to March ($5.70 pool entry). Monuments include a cenotaph remembering Australia's dead in World War One, and a cairn marking the spot where the doomed Burke and Wills expedition camped on its first night heading out of Melbourne in 1860. There's a children's playground and an island rotunda, and if you follow the website link there's a brochure for a free self-guided local heritage walk starting and ending at the park.

St Kilda Botanical Gardens

St Kilda's own botanical gardens were established in the 1800s and are an oasis of tranquility amongst the area's bustling surrounds. A short five minute walk down a side street from St Kilda's main hub, its features include a large conservatory, glasshouses, a gazebo, playground, a giant chess board and an ornamental lake. Detailed information about the plants and wildlife are available on the council's website.

Gardens: sunrise–sunset, conservatory: Mon–Fri 10:30AM–3:30PM, Sat Sun sunrise–sunset

Rippon Lea Estate

A heritage-listed historic house and gardens.

Melbourne Aquarium

Home to over 10,000 aquatic creatures, there are four distinct areas of the aquarium dedicated to Antarctica, seahorses, the rainforest and the ocean, the latter of which includes a glass walk-through experience. Shark diving and animal feeding available.

Daily 9:30AM-6PM, last admission at 5PM · $35 adult, $21.50 child (4-15 yr), $29 concession, $92 family (2 adult+2 children); discounts online

Queen Victoria Gardens

Features memorials to Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, sculptures and a floral clock of 7000 plants.

Queens Park

A place to spend a relaxing day. There's a rose garden, a sunken garden, a lake, a cafe, and a 50-m pool open from November to March ($5.70 pool entry). Monuments include a cenotaph remembering Australia's dead in World War One, and a cairn marking the spot where the doomed Burke and Wills expedition camped on its first night heading out of Melbourne in 1860. There's a children's playground and an island rotunda, and if you follow the website link there's a brochure for a free self-guided local heritage walk starting and ending at the park.