Melbourne is known as Australia’s second city, and is a major centre for tourism. The proximity to Sydney (in relation to most other Australian cities) also makes it an ideal second stop-off, even for visitors that only have a couple of weeks Down Under. Melbourne grew up as the main service port during the Australian gold rush during the 1800s, and has since truly boomed. Placed 3rd in The Economist World’s Most Liveable Cities 2009, it is easy to come to Melbourne intending to stay for a week and stay much longer.

There is a strong arts culture in Melbourne, both in terms of performing and visual arts. There are many galleries in the city, but ‘the Big Five’ are considered to be the NGV International, the Ian Potter Centre, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, the Heide Museum of Modern Art and the Australian Centre of the Moving Image. There are also many theatres around the city, featuring everything from Shakespeare to musicals, from ballet to opera. The live music scene is also something special, with bands playing in many city venues and several major annual festivals.

Melbourne also has many museums, covering such diverse themes as horse racing, gold, immigration, opals, aviation and sports. The Old Melbourne Gaol is also worth a visit, with its most famous former resident being the outlaw Ned Kelly. There are also plenty of Melbourne attractions to keep families entertained, including Melbourne Zoo and Aquarium, the Eureka Skydeck 88 and the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Centre.

Attractions Australia brings you impartial, up-to-date information on all of the attractions in Melbourne you may be interested in visiting. The latest Melbourne attractions added to Attractions Australia are featured further down this page, all Melbourne attractions are listed in the right-hand menu, or you can simply use our easy search facility to find the attractions in Victoria you are most interested in.