Central

Central Melbourne the Central Business District (CBD and nearby) attractions are arranged here on a route starting in the south-west, proceeding east along Collins St, covering Swanston St from the Yarra River to Victoria St in the north, then going through Chinatown to Spring St and finishing at the south-east corner of the CBD.

The Docklands precinct is the lynchpin of Melbourne's urban planning vision for the next fifty years. The old shipping yards and industrial neigbourhood just west of the CBD, is being developed into a lively residential, commercial and entertainment district that hopes to refocus Melbourne's attention to the waterfront.

federation square

Federation Square, cnr Flinders St and Swanston St / St Kilda Rd, opposite Flinders Street Station. Recently built over the rail yards, it includes an open space, an atrium with restaurants and cafes, an amphitheater and somewhat controversial asymmetrical architecture. (http://www.federationsqua...) It includes the following centers:

Melbourne Visitor Centre

cnr Flinders St and Swanston St / St Kilda Rd. Every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day, 9AM-6PM. Most of the centre is below ground level. Free.

Australian Racing Museum

Federation Square, Melbourne. Opening Hours: 10am to 6pm everyday Excluding Good Friday and Christmas Day. Museum Admission: Adults: $9; Concession: $5; Children Under 12: FREE. The resource Centre includes an extensive library. Admission includes guided tour and entry into temporary exhibitions.Phone: 1300 139 407.

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

cnr Flinders St and Russell St extension. Open daily 10AM-5PM, F 10AM-9PM, closed Monday, ANZAC Day opens 1PM, closed Good Friday and Christmas Day. Houses the National Gallery of Victoria’s collection of Australian art. Free. Note- The NGV’s international art collection is housed in the original NGV building south of the Yarra. (http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au...)

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)

Screen gallery is open daily 10AM-6PM. A museum of television, film and digital media. Entry is free for much of the Centre, although charges apply for cinema screenings and certain programs and exhibitions. (http://www.acmi.net.au/)

arts precinct

The arts precinct on St Kilda Rd immediately south of Princes Bridge and adjoining Southgate contains:

Victorian Arts Centre

100 St Kilda Rd, nearest the Yarra. M-F 7AM-late, Sa 9AM-late, Su 10AM-5PM. The Centre consists of:

Melbourne Concert Hall

Theatres Building

including the State Theatre..

National Gallery of Victoria

The original gallery, it now houses the gallery’s international collection. The Australian collection is at the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square.

Victorian College Of The Arts (VCA)

On Sturt Street west of St Kilda Road is:

ACCA

Australian Centre of Contemporary Art.

Malthouse Theatre

On Franklin Street north of the city is:

The Blender Studios

(http://www.theblenderstud...) Melbourne's independent artist-run arts complex and home to research art space Dark Horse Experiment (http://www.darkhorseexper...) and nocturnal public video art space Propaganda Window (http://www.propagandawind...).

gardens and parks

Between the east side of St Kilda Rd and the Yarra River is a series of gardens and parks.

Alexandra Gardens

Queen Victoria Gardens

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

Kings Domain

Contains:

Shrine of Remembrance

war memorial.

Governor La Trobe’s Cottage

Every Sun 2PM-4PM Oct to May; last Sun June to Sept. Charles La Trobe brought this prefabricated house when he came to Australia in 1839.

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

Built in 1959, it is used for concerts and in winter as an ice-skating rink.

Government House

A landmark, open to the public on Australia Day, 26 January. Booked guided tours Mon & Wed via the National Trust.

Royal Botanic Gardens

Birdwood Ave, 15 min walk from CBD. Every day Nov-Mar 7:30AM-8:30PM, Apr-Oct 7:30AM-5:30PM. 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.

Others: Fitzroy Gardens (http://www.fitzroygardens.com/).

yarra river

Melbourne River Cruises

leave from Princes Walk, just east of Princes Bridge Swanston St, and from Southbank Lower Promenade. The timetable is subject to tidal conditions and river closures. $16.50 adult, $8.80 child. (http://www.melbourneriver...)

A popular walk is from the corner of Batman Ave and St Kilda Rd near the Princes Bridge and Federation Square eastward along the riverbank then crossing the Morell footbridge and returning to Princes Bridge either along the riverbank or through the Botanic Gardens and Alexandra Gardens.