Melbourne Attractions

If you are staying in St Kilda, there’s plenty to do and see at your doorstep – there’s Albert Park, St Kilda Botanical Gardens, Catani Gardens, St Kilda Beach, St Kilda Pier and Pavilion, the Esplanade, the Sea Baths, the Palais Theatre, the Jewish Museum of Australia, Luna Park, Fitzroy Street, Acland Street and more but it’s only a short distance to the Melbourne CBD and the myriad other attractions the city has to offer. Having St Kilda as a base gives a laid back relaxed location, while still being close to the CBD for shopping, dining out, theatres and sightseeing.

Just before you get to cross the Yarra into the city you have the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Shrine of Remembrance on your right and the National Gallery of Victoria (International) on your left. There is the Arts Centre Melbourne and the Southbank precinct with the Eureka Skydeck. Across Princes Bridge you have Flinders Street Station, the SEALIFE Melbourne Aquarium and Federation Square with its visitor’s centre, galleries and contemporary open spaces.

On the corner of Swanston and Flinders is the Gothic St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral with its towering spire and, to the east of the city, there is the imposing Parliament House (Spring Street). Tours run several times a day on weekdays and the public galleries open when parliament is in session. Behind Parliament House is St Patrick’s Cathedral, another fine example of Gothic architecture and the largest church in Australia. From here you can visit the Fitzroy Gardens and Captain Cook’s Cottage and it’s not far to the MCG, the National Sports Museum and Rod Laver Arena.

In the CBD there is a lot of atmosphere in exploring the streets and laneways. Little Lonsdale Street is home to Melbourne Central, a spectacular blend of ultra-modern architecture with a huge glass cone, the largest freestanding glass structure in the world, enveloping the historic shot tower. The city shopping is excellent and a great place to start is Collins Street for the Block Arcade and some stylish shopping in the country’s oldest arcade.

Little Bourke Street is home to Chinatown where you can enjoy some of the best Chinese cuisine in the country. The Chinese Museum in Cohen Place (just behind Her Majesty’s Theatre), traces the history of the Chinese who arrived in the wake of the 1850s gold rush to set up Chinatown.

Towards the city’s north is the Old Melbourne Gaol (where Russell turns into Lygon Street) and it is well worth a visit. The building once dominated the Melbourne skyline and between 1842 and its closure in 1929 it was the scene of 133 hangings, including bushranger Ned Kelly. This is the main reason ghost tours of the gaol are popular.  Displays include death masks and histories of famous bushrangers and convicts.

Attractions in the northern part of the city include the wonderful Melbourne Zoo, the iconic Queen Victoria Market, the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens with the adjacent Melbourne Museum and the culinary delights of Lygon Street.

To book your stay at Rydges St Kilda, click here…