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Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park

National Parks and Reserves

Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park

Accessible only by boat, Herring Island, 3.2 hectares in size, is just three kilometres from the city, and the only substantial island in the Yarra River. This informal parkland has provided the inspiration for curator Maudie Palmer to develop a concept in which artists are commissioned to create site-specific sculptures. Internationally renowned British environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy has created two works - a slate Cairn and a Stone House constructed from Dunkeld sandstone. Four Australian artists have also installed works on Herring Island: John Davis - A Hill, a River, Two Rocks and a Presence, Jill Peck - Steerage, Julie Collins - Audience, Robert James - The Ramp and Torres Strait Islander, Ellen Jose - Tanderrum. Melbourne horticulturist Iain Shears has designed a Native Wild Garden using patterns and species which occur naturally in temperate grasslands in Victoria. The wild garden starts flowering in early spring. Conditions can change in parks for many reasons. Before your visit, please check the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website for updated changes of conditions and familiarise yourself with important bushfire safety information to ensure your experience is safe and enjoyable. For information about fires, Fire Danger Ratings and Total Fire Bans visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au

South Yarra VIC

0.2 km away

Como House and Garden

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Como House and Garden

Enjoy the calm of an urban pleasure garden and historic house, and discover the story of Melbourne with a visit to Como House. Known by many Melburnians as ‘the white house on the hill’ Como overlooks the Birrurung (Yarra) river and is surrounded by a pleasure garden and community parkland. Como is an atmospheric town mansion presented as a family home. The interiors reflect the tastes and style of the Armytages, who lived at Como for 95 years. It was the first house museum in Australia acquired with its contents of furniture, domestic technology and decorative arts. Como was a home but also a place of work, and the original servants’ quarters are preserved. Built in 1847, Como House is an unusual mix of Australian Regency and classic Italianate architecture. The garden has retained many elements of its 1850s design. Since colonisation, Como has changed with Melbourne, reflecting the booms and busts of Victoria’s history. This is the story you will hear on your visit. Explore this iconic heritage landmark that stands as a world of its own and enjoy picnic in the magnificent gardens. Guided tours of the house operate Wednesday to Sunday. Visit the National Trust website to see tour times and to book.

South Yarra VIC

0.4 km away

Japanese head spa waterfall rinse treatment in Melbourne. Luxury head spa ritual in South Yarra. — Image credit: Hair Spa Melbourne

Spas and Retreats

Hair Spa Melbourne

Hair Spa Melbourne is an advanced Japanese Head Spa in South Yarra, combining Japanese-inspired rituals with modern scalp and hair science. Treatments use advanced techniques, including Spa Mist, the Yume Headbath waterfall, molecular hair repair, LED and microcurrent technology, microbiome-focused scalp care, and signature massage. For guests seeking a more comprehensive experience, the Japanese Head Spa - Advanced Scalp and Hair Rejuvenation includes an in-depth scalp and hair analysis using professional microscopy, allowing the treatment protocol to be personalised according to the condition of the scalp and hair. One-hour Express Head Spa treatments include hair drying after treatments, with either a dry-off or professional blow wave included depending on the service booked. A distinctive part of the experience is Hair Spa Melbourne's in-house cosmetic laboratory, where freshly prepared, personalised scalp and hair formulations are created. The hair prescription concept takes personalisation further. Selected two-hour treatments include an individually prepared 100 gram take-home hair mask or 30 gram scalp tonic. Located close to Melbourne Central Business District, Hair Spa Melbourne offers a private, science-led approach to Japanese Head Spa, combining advanced scalp and hair care with relaxation.

South Yarra VIC

1.1 km away

Monsterz Ink — Image credit: Rush Escape Game

Amusement and Theme Parks

Rush Escape Game - South Yarra

Rush Escape Game provides adrenaline filled live escape game experiences to thrill seekers from all over the world. Our goal for every player of the game is to feel the rush of escaping - others would refer to this experience as 'being in the zone' while researchers call it 'flow'. At the peak of this state you will feel great and perform at your best, action and awareness merge, time flies and self vanishes. If you have ever been involved in an activity or project where everything else was forgotten, then you will be familiar with this state. Rush Escape Game deliberately focuses on maximising fun, playing this game feels even more exciting and engaging as you realise that no one escapes alone, this means you will need to work together as a team to overcome all of the challenges. Co-operation, critical thinking, pattern recognition and fast decision making will be required, and before you know it, your primal survival and problem solving instincts will surface to help solve unusual puzzles, uncover clues, keys and codes with the ultimate aim of escaping.

South Yarra VIC

1.3 km away

Robin Boyd's iconic Walsh Street house museum — Image credit: Robin Boyd Fopundation

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Robin Boyd's Walsh Street House Museum

The Robin Boyd Foundation is the custodian of the legacy of Australian modernist architect, author, critic, and public educator Robin Boyd and the iconic Walsh Street house he designed, built and inhabited. The Foundation is committed to advocating Boyd's belief that good design can improve people's lives and their world. Their guided tours and events provide public access to the Walsh Street House Museum, an exemplar of modernist residential architecture. The Foundation is also known for its architectural walking tours, speaker series, film screenings, open days, and digital tours that activate awareness, amplify voices and increase architecture and design participation.

South Yarra VIC

1.7 km away

Chapel Off Chapel — Image credit: City of Stonnington

Entertainment Venues

Chapel Off Chapel

Intimate, Live, Iconic. Chapel Off Chapel is one of Melbourne's most popular live performance venues in a heritage listed Church in the Heart of Prahran. Providing an eclectic mix of Live music, cabaret, music theatre, comedy, theatre and dance. With two intimate theatres and a welcoming foyer bar and courtyard, this venue is known for its friendly staff and memorable experiences.

Prahran VIC

1.7 km away

Prahran Market

Shopping and Markets

Prahran Market

Prahran Market is Australia's oldest continuously running food market, proudly being in operation since 1864. Prahran Market is proud to be Australia's premier food market that is famous for outstanding food and hard-to-find speciality items. A Market is nothing without its Traders. And Prahran Market is home to some of the best. Good people and good produce are what nourish a community, and you'll find both here every day. Expert traders not only bring exceptional goods to the table, but all the advice and food-loving chat to serve with it. Visit to see and experience what delicious sorts they have in the mix. A Melbourne food icon, Prahran Market is as fascinating as the community it serves. If you love food, history, and sense of community, go and visit. You will love it.

South Yarra VIC

1.8 km away

Australian Made Knitted Australian Animals — Image credit: House of Handmade

Shopping and Markets

House of Handmade

The House of Handmade offers beautifully curated Australian handmade and designed goods outside of market days. Featuring products by big and small Australian makers, the store offers jewellery, candles, prints, souvenirs, baby gifts, toys, and so much more. With so many unique items, come visit the House of Handmade and experience shopping like a local today! Staying in Melbourne for long? Come join the team for a craft workshop. Get to know the locals and take home a functional piece of artwork that you made!

Richmond VIC

1.8 km away

Heritage trams at the Melbourne Tram Museum — Image credit: Melbourne Tram Museum

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Melbourne Tram Museum

Melbourne's trams are the iconic symbols of the city. Since the 1880s, the tramways have shaped how people have lived, worked and played. The Melbourne Tram Museum celebrates trams, their history and their influence on the development of Melbourne. Located within the heritage-listed Hawthorn Tram Depot, the Museum houses 20 fully-restored trams. The extensive collection includes Melbourne's oldest surviving electric tramcar, the Karachi W11 tram, decorated by Pakistani artisans for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, as well as classic W-class trams. Visitors can explore the trams and exhibits at their own pace, or join guided tours, where volunteer guides provide additional insights on the Museum's exhibits and tramway history. The Museum's latest exhibition, Melbourne's Cable Tramways 1885-1940, celebrates the remarkable cable tram system that shaped the way early Melburnians travelled across the city Open on the second and fourth Saturday each month between 11:00am and 4:00pm, as well as selected Wednesdays, the Museum is easily accessible by tram and train. There is also ample parking nearby.

Hawthorn VIC

1.9 km away

Melbourne Park

Entertainment Venues

Melbourne Park

Melbourne Park is Victoria's live events epicentre. A place where people come together to share experiences, make lifelong memories and enjoy the best in live sports, music and entertainment. Located on the doorstep of Melbourne's Central Business District, Melbourne Park spans 40 hectares, home to six world class venues – Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park, John Cain Arena, Margaret Court Arena, Centrepiece and Kia Arena – and plays host to Australia's most iconic sport and entertainment events, from global sporting spectacles like the Australian Open, to family events, headline entertainment, up-and-coming local artists and domestic and international sporting fixtures across five sporting codes. Melbourne Park hosts over 3.8 million visitors across 500 events each year. For further information, visit the Melbourne Park website.

Melbourne VIC

2.3 km away

Guilfoyle's Volcano — Image credit: Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne Gardens

Attracting over two million visitors annually, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne is a treasured part of cultural life and a valuable asset to the city. With stunning vistas, tranquil lakes and diverse plant collections, the gardens are a place of continual discovery and delight. Enjoy a First Peoples led Aboriginal Heritage Walk, a ride on The Explorer bus or Punting on The Lake, all set against a beautiful backdrop and just moments from the city. These beautiful gardens are home to amazing and diverse plant collections such as camellias, rainforest flora, succulents and cacti, roses, Californian species, herbs, perennials, cycads and plants from Southern China. Guilfoyle's Volcano offers fabulous city skyline views, a precinct to explore, and a natural sanctuary for native wildlife. The children's garden has everything that children could want to help them discover the natural world, with plant tunnels that they can crawl through, rocks that they can climb and a bamboo forest in which they can hide. Visitors can unwind at the Terrace café, The Observatory all day dining venue or find botanical-inspired souvenirs and gifts at the Gardens Shop. The Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne hold seasonal plant sales twice a year, see their website for further details. During summer, the lawns come alive with outdoor cinema, live music, theatre performances and exhibitions.

Melbourne VIC

2.3 km away

Australian Sports Museum — Image credit: Australian Sports Museum

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Australian Sports Museum

Discover Australia through the lens of sport at the new Australian Sports Museum, located at Gate Three of the MCG. This is no ordinary museum, with interactive experiences for all to enjoy. Here you’ll find touchscreens, instead of do not touch signs and climbable statues for the kids to play. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves through wonders of sporting moments with their largest collection of grassroots to elite sporting memorabilia. While kids kick a football in Game On! at the Australian Sports Museum they invite you to expect the unexpected, just like sport itself.

East Melbourne VIC

2.5 km away

Shrine Kids

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Shrine Kids

Shrine Kids provides a fantastic opportunity for indoor and outdoor play, allowing young imaginations to take flight as they uncover the Shrine's rich history. Shrine Kids is a free self-guided program for families with primary school-aged children. Four different activity cards provide a starting point for fresh perspectives of the Shrine. Children are asked to locate key sites and creatively respond to a range of questions related to different aspects of the Shrine. Borrow an Explorer Kit from the Information Desk as the perfect accessory for fact-finding around the Shrine. Make your next visit to the Shrine a memorable one for the whole family.

Melbourne VIC

2.5 km away

Man and Donkey statue at the Shrine of Remembrance — Image credit: Shrine of Remembrance

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance is Victoria's national war memorial, built in 1934 to honour First World War veterans and now commemorating all Australians who have served. Recognised as Australia's leading cultural tourism destination, the Shrine offers a moving and immersive visitor experience. Step inside to explore the Galleries of Remembrance, home to over 800 artefacts, including an original Gallipoli landing boat and personal stories of Australians in war and peacekeeping. Discover the Sanctuary's classical interior, where Ray of Light demonstrations occur every half hour. From the Balcony, take in breathtaking views of Melbourne and the surrounding memorial gardens. Families can embark on a Shrine scavenger hunt with free Shrine Kids activity cards. Experience the Last Post Service every Sunday at 4.45 pm, featuring buglers, bagpipers, and the Shrine Guard in historic uniform. Free entry. Open daily. Guided tours run hourly (except 1pm). Gold Winner: Cultural Tourism, 2024 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

Melbourne VIC

2.5 km away

La Trobe's Cottage

Galleries, Museums and Collections

La Trobe's Cottage

La Trobe's Cottage was the original home of Victoria's first Lt. Governor, Charles Joseph La Trobe, from 1839 to 1854. Described by a visitor in 1852 as 'small but elegantly furnished and standing in spacious grounds', La Trobe’s Cottage is now a vital part of Victoria’s history. The cottage was made from prefabricated materials brought from England to be the home of La Trobe, his wife Sophie and their children. As Melbourne’s oldest surviving building, the restored cottage replicates the original prefabricated structure and contains items belonging to La Trobe along with artefacts from the earliest time of Victoria’s settlement. Combined Tours of La Trobe's Cottage and Government House are also available on select Mondays. The tours provide a tangible link between the pre-gold rush and the legendary Marvellous Melbourne eras, granting a fascinating insight into the city's origins.

Melbourne VIC

2.5 km away

A bugler at the Shrine of Remembrance Last Post Service — Image credit: Copyright - Shrine of Remembrance

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Last Post Service

Every Sunday at 4.45pm, the Shrine holds a Last Post Service which commemorates a different moment from Australia’s military history from the First World War through to today. This weekly, family-friendly event is a 15-minute ceremony that takes place outside on the Shrine forecourt and includes bugle calls and bagpipers, Shrine Guard in historic uniform, wreath-laying, a recital of the Ode, and lowering of the flags. The Last Post Service is a meaningful way to end a day at the Shrine or a day out in Melbourne.

Melbourne VIC

2.8 km away

Strangest Thing — Image credit: Rush Escape Game

Amusement and Theme Parks

Rush Escape Game - Hawthorn

Rush Escape Game provides adrenaline filled live escape game experiences to thrill seekers from all over the world. The goal is for every player of the game to feel the rush of escaping - others would refer to this experience as being in the zone while researchers call it flow. At the peak of this state you will feel great and perform at your best, action and awareness merge, time flies and self vanishes. If you have ever been involved in an activity or project where everything else was forgotten, then you will be familiar with this state. Rush Escape Game deliberately focuses on maximising fun, playing this game feels even more exciting and engaging as you realise that no one escapes alone, this means you will need to work together as a team to overcome all of the challenges. Co-operation, critical thinking, pattern recognition and fast decision making will be required, and before you know it, your primal survival and problem solving instincts will surface to help solve unusual puzzles, uncover clues, keys and codes with the ultimate aim of escaping.

Hawthorn VIC

2.9 km away

The Johnston Collection

Galleries, Museums and Collections

The Johnston Collection

Discover a secret, hidden gem in the heart of East Melbourne. The Johnston Collection house museum features an astonishing array of Georgian, Regency, and Louis XV fine and decorative arts and hosts a regular program of exhibitions, lectures and events. Enjoy a tour of the historic townhouse, Fairhall, led by knowledgeable volunteer guides. View beautiful objects arranged in a domestic setting unfettered by ropes. This is an intimate experience, with no more than eight guests per guide. Your ticket includes tea/coffee served on delightful Wedgwood fine bone china. Tours are offered at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm and pre-booking is essential. The house is located in a residential area so the address cannot be published, but that only adds to the mystery! Visitors are welcomed at Pullman on the Park and arrive at the museum via our courtesy bus – only a five-minute journey.

East Melbourne VIC

2.9 km away

Installation view, 'Objective', Town Hall Gallery, 2025. Photo by Christian Capurro. — Image credit: Courtesy City of Boroondara and Christian Capurro.

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Town Hall Gallery

Spanning four gallery spaces, the Town Hall Gallery features a diverse range of contemporary and innovative curated exhibitions, public programs and exhibits drawn from the Town Hall Gallery Collection. Town Hall Gallery's exhibition calendar is carefully selected to explore diverse mediums and themes relevant to Boroondara and the visual arts scene. Exhibitions are also drawn from the Town Hall Gallery Collection of contemporary and historical art. The collection reflects Boroondara's diverse community and features art by significant Australian artists who currently live or have lived or worked in the municipality. In addition to the exhibition program, Town Hall Gallery hosts a range of public programs including hands-on workshops, talks, seminars and documentary screenings.

Hawthorn VIC

3.0 km away

The Lone Phone, one of the immersive experiences at NCM — Image credit: Casey Horsfield

Galleries, Museums and Collections

National Communication Museum (NCM)

Discover the National Communication Museum (NCM), where technology, art and creativity collide. Housed in a 1939 telephone exchange in Hawthorn, NCM explores the past, present and future technologies that connect us. Step back in time with rotary dial phones, meet George, the famous Speaking Clock and a working step-by-step telephone exchange. Log on at the '90s Cyber Café, where you can browse the web and play games from the days of the early internet. Younger visitors can get hands-on in the Kids Hub, while a changing program of exhibitions brings artists and technologists together to unpack how technology shapes your everyday lives, exploring everything from robotics to surveillance technology, artificial intelligence and more. Now showing is Radical Computing, a love letter to the personal computer. Curated by Mel Huang Buntine, the exhibition traces how computers went from being behind closed doors, to something every day people could build, tinker and play with in their own homes. Highlights include a rare CM-2 supercomputer, the only one known to have come to Australia, alongside a wall of iconic personal computers, interwoven with fun, interactive experiences, celebrating Melbourne's coding and underground demoscene. Throughout the year, NCM also runs talks, workshops, school holiday programs and school excursions. Adult, concession and family tickets are available, along with memberships. Come and experience the story of human connection at NCM.

Hawthorn VIC

3.0 km away

Cooks' Cottage — Image credit: City of Melbourne

Historical Sites and Heritage Locations

Cooks' Cottage

Originally located in Yorkshire, England, and built by the parents of Captain James Cook, the cottage was brought to Melbourne by Sir Russell Grimwade in 1934. Astonishingly, each brick was individually numbered, packed into barrels and then shipped to Australia. Navigator and explorer Captain James Cook never lived in the cottage – he’d been away from home for almost 10 years when his father built it – but this connection to the Cook family was enough to prompt Grimwade to transport the cottage to the other side of the world. Combining modern interpretations of Captain Cook's adventures, centuries-old antiques, a delightful English cottage garden, volunteers dressed in 18th century costumes and an interpretive space in the stable, Cooks' Cottage is a fascinating step back in time. Entry to the cottage includes a comprehensive fact sheet for a self-guided tour. Available in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Thai, Indonesian, Japanese, German, French, Vietnamese and Korean. School tours and group tours and visits are also available. Tickets and souvenirs can be purchased from the Fitzroy Gardens Visitor Centre, just 100 metres away.

East Melbourne VIC

3.1 km away

Maniax Axe Throwing - Abbotsford

Entertainment Venues

Maniax Axe Throwing - Abbotsford

Ever wanted to throw an axe? Situated in the heart of edgy Abbotsford, Maniax offers an urban axe throwing experience like no other. Learn how to hurl hatchets with your trained Axe-pert coach before jumping into an epic competition to crown the axe throwing champion. With a selection of craft beers and stone-baked pizzas onsite, Maniax is the perfect place for birthday parties, bucks’ and hens nights, team building, date night - or if you would just really love to throw an axe.

Abbotsford VIC

3.3 km away

Drawing Room, Villa Alba Museum — Image credit: Villa Alba Museum Inc

Galleries, Museums and Collections

Villa Alba Museum, Kew

Villa Alba Museum is a lavishly decorated 1880s Italianate mansion in Kew adjacent to Studley Park. The house is elaborately decorated with painted and stencilled ceilings and walls with trompe l'oeil effects and features two 40 foot panoramic murals of marine views of Sydney and Edinburgh of national significance. The recreated heritage garden has been reinstated in its late Victorian form. Come and explore the house and a relaxing stroll in the garden on the first Sunday of the month Open Day. Group tours also available by appointment.

Kew VIC

3.3 km away

Albert Park

National Parks and Reserves

Albert Park

Just 3 kilometres from Melbourne's centre, Albert Park Lake is perfect for a jog, cycle, or walk with your dog, and for soaking up stunning city skyline views. Albert Park hosts a variety of events year-round, from fun runs and cycling challenges to the iconic Australian Grand Prix. Follow the Albert Park Lake Path and pause at the southern end for spectacular views back towards the city. There are several designated picnic areas within Albert Park for you to stop at on your park visit. Albert Park offers plenty of space for you to walk your dog. The park is mainly an on-lead park but there are some designated off-lead areas where you can give your dog a good run, but please kept out of dog exclusion areas (including the lake and the playgrounds). The Sailability program operates from The Boatshed. This program is an introduction to sailing for people of all abilities. A number of disabled parking bays are available in Aquatic Drive. Additionally, drop offs are available in the gravel area adjacent to The Boatshed. Before traveling, visit Parks Victoria's website to check for changes in park conditions which may impact your visit. Remember to stay bushfire ready using information from Emergency Victoria's website while in nature.

Albert Park VIC

3.3 km away

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