Joanna James
As the bustling capital of Victoria, Melbourne is home to countless recreational and cultural attractions. Here's a rundown of the top 5 historical highlights in breathtaking Melbourne.
Occupying pride of place in the heart of the city, the Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the oldest horticultural attractions in all of Australia. Built as early as 1846, the venue has been ranked among the best gardens in the world for well over a century. Spread out across two locations including one in Cranbourne, the Melbourne portion of the garden takes up a whopping 38 hectares. Home to 8500 plant varieties some of the main highlights inside the garden include its Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden and the Aboriginal Heritage Walk. Accessible free of charge, spending an afternoon in the garden or enjoying a picnic are among the best free things to do in Melbourne while a pit stop at The Terrace cafe for high tea is also a must.
Having opened its doors to the public back in 2002, the Federation Square was constructed to celebrate a century of the federation. Situated across the street from Flinders Street Station, the structure features a modern design in spite of the Victorian architecture that surrounds it at every turn. Hosting over two thousand events each year, the indoor venues and the outdoor spaces of Federation Square showcase some of the most anticipated entertainment highlights of the year. Encompassing the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, a tour of Federation Square is also a fine opportunity to explore the local art scene and discover some of Australia's best-loved artists.
Declared the most ancient public art gallery in the country, no holiday in Melbourne would be complete without a stopover at the National Gallery of Victoria. With a collection of over 70,000 works of art to its name, the international collection in the gallery is housed in the building on St. Kilda Road. Visitors can lie on the floor to witness the stunning stained glass ceiling on this particular structure while walking through The Great Hall is an otherworldly experience for art lovers and budding creators. Visitors based at the Avani Central Melbourne Residences or any similar serviced apartment in Melbourne city will find that the gallery is within close range of most hospitality hubs.
Located on the shores of the Yarra River, the Southbank and Arts Centre is a cultural Mecca like no other in Melbourne. Lined with outdoor cafes and eateries, the area is also well-known for its live entertainment acts and craft markets. Hosting a number of festivals annually, the Art Centre is home to the Fairfax Theatre, the State Theatre, Hamer Hall and the Playhouse.
As one of the world's most iconic cricketing ground, the MCG is a landmark all visitors must uncover during a trip to Melbourne. Established as early as 1853, the MCG is arguably Australia's best-known sports stadium and one that has seen historic cricket, rugby and football games in its illustrious history.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
