1. The Great Ocean Road is 243 km stretch of road, in Victoria between Torquay and Warrnambool. 2. The Great Ocean Road concluded decades of isolation between Melbourne and many coastal suburbs. 3. Construction on the Great Ocean Road first took place in 1919, and was completed 13 years later in 1932. 4. The Great Ocean Road Was officially opened by Lieutenant Governor Sir William Irvine on November 26 1932 5. Assembly of Great Ocean Road was built by 3000 returned servicemen as a war memorial for those died while fighting in the First World War. 6. It took 3 years for the first part of the Great Ocean road to be developed between Lorne and Eastern View. 7. Fares were developed; drivers paid two shillings and sixpence (25 cents AUD) and passengers one shilling (10 cents AUD). 8. Convicts and prisoners of war were thought to be more suitable to use for the construction of The Great Ocean Road than former Diggers. 9. Nine pounds, ten shillings was raised for construction after a performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night was played in Lorne 10. Howard Hitchcock often helped fund construction by donating his own money, he was known as the ‘father’ of the Great Ocean Road 11. Workers were paid 10 shillings and sixpence ($1.05AUD) for an eight hour work day. 12. The Great Ocean Road is the only drivable war memorial in the world. 13. Shrapnel Gully, Sausage Gully and Artillery Rocks were all named after places at Gallipoli. 14. Howard Hitchcock died in August 1932, before the official opening of the Great Ocean Road 15. The Great Ocean Road is also known as the Shipwreck Coast, Green Coast and the Surf Coast. 16. The main gateway to the Great Ocean Road, the timber arch has been rebuilt several times. 17. In February 1983, the memorial arch was burnt down due to the Ash Wednesday Fires 18. The first survey peg hammered into the ground was located at the Lorne Grand Hotel, the position the Great Ocean Road was officially opened. 19. Celebrations took place which included concerts, fireworks, bonfires and fishing competitions over the weekend the Great Ocean Road was officially opened. 20. Road tolls ceased along with the Great Ocean Road Trust when the State Government was handed over the road.
About The Great Ocean Road…………….
The Great Ocean Road is recognized as one of Australia’s most scenic drives. A 243 km stretch of road, it runs along Victoria between Torquay and Warrnambool. The road twists along cliff tops offering spectacular views of astonishing coastlines. Construction first took place on the Great Ocean Road in 1919, and was concluded 13 years later in 1932. Geelong Mayor, Alderman Howard Hitchcock created the idea that assembly of the Great Ocean Road was to be done so by returned serviceman as a lasting monument for those soldiers with who died while fighting in the First World War. 3000 workers were employed; they lived in camps set up in the bush near the construction sites. The opportunity for swimming, fishing, shooting and camp life would help restore worn-out war nerves. Completion of the road between Lorne and Apollo Bay was the final section to be built. April 27, 1932 was acknowledged by the Great Ocean Road Trust that production had finished.
Development of the Great Ocean Road was extremely difficult as it consisted of only manual labour, no heavy machinery were used during this period with only the use of horse drawn carts picks and shovels. The complicated and hazardous nature of this work led to a high number of turnovers, and more than a few men lost their lives. The Great Ocean Road was officially opened by Lieutenant Governor Sir William Irvine on Saturday November 26 1932 at Lorne’s Pacific Grand Hotel. After its official opening, toll fares were developed for drivers and passengers. Drivers paid two shillings and sixpence (25 cents AUD) and passengers one shilling and (10 cents AUD). During the first four weeks, 2500 people travelled along the Great Ocean Road netting the trust 250 pounds ($500 AUD). Today there are no toll fares.
The Great Ocean Road Trust was formed at a meeting in Colac in March 1918, where Howard Hitchcock was voted in as President. It was believed the development of the Great Ocean Road would cost approximately 150,000 pounds ($300,000 AUD). Howard Hitchcock considered that the Great Ocean Roads importance as a tourist attraction to be greater than the Riviera in France, the San Francisco Road and Bulli Pass in New South Wales. On October 2nd 1936, the Great Ocean Road Trust gave the road as a gift to the State Government. Travelling along the Great Ocean Road you will enjoy eye-catching landscapes, intense waves, flourishing rainforests, captivating Australian wildlife and the natural wonder that is the 12 Apostles.
30Fast Facts about Phillip Island's Little Penguins
1.Phillip Island is home to the world’s smallest penguin called the Little Penguin
2.Little Penguins are also referred to as “Fairy Penguins” because of how small they are
3.The scientific name for the little penguin is the “Eudyptula Minor”
4.The Little Penguin weighs approximately 1kg and is only 30-40cm tall
5.Little Penguins can spend all day out at sea fishing for small fish including krill, squid, pilchards, plankton
6.Little penguins need to consume their body weight in food each day
7.Little Penguins are known to swim between 15 to 50 kilometres, searching for food
8.The Little Penguins is able to stay at sea for weeks on end as the penguins feathers create a waterproof lining which keeps the penguin dry
9.When the Little Penguin is out at sea for a period of time, the penguin is able to sleep as it floats on top of the water
10.Philip Island is the most popular location to view the little penguin parade, with more than 500,000 visitors per year
11.Little Penguins have deep blue feathers on top and white feathers underneath this allows the penguins to be camouflaged which protects them from predators
12.The Little Penguins has a variety of calls which is short, sharp barks. Each different call is used for a variety of reasons such as attracting mates, communicating with their mate, danger and aggression.While at sea you may hear a quacking sound which is used while at sea
13.The average lifespan of a little penguin is approximately 7 years
14.The Little penguins are the only penguins to breed on Australian shores
15.Phillip Island is home to approximately 26,000 little penguins
16.Little penguins are flightless sea birds
17.The nests which are made and used by Little Penguins are usually a rocky borrow or shelter under dense vegetation to protect them from the elements and predators
18.They lay two eggs, which the male and female take turns in incubating the eggs which takes around 36 days.
19.Between June and September is the time when Little Penguins lay their eggs, once hatched they are called chicks.
20.The Male and Female take turns in going fishing and caring for their chicks
21.When chick’s hatch they are covered in black down, they cannot raise their head or open their eyes, it takes them a day to be able to raise their heads, and to fully open their eyes can take up to 7 days. At two weeks of age the chick down has changed from a black down to a brown down, at three weeks the top of the chicks feet turn black. At 7 to 9 weeks old the chick moults the brown down and is old enough to leave his parents
22.Penguins can only be found in the Southern hemisphere
23.Young Penguins are able to leave their nest and venture out to sea between 7 and 9 weeks
24.A trip of 1012km was recorded as the longest trip taken by a Little Penguin
25.Little penguins have only one mate at anyone time but not necessarily for life
26.The maturing age for Little Penguins is dependant upon the sex, as females mature at approximately two years old and males mature at approximately 3 years old
27.The Yearly cycle of a Little penguin begins with building a nest in April, for the first chick to hatch in June; the adults take care of the chicks until August. Both Adults go out to sea prior to their chicks moulting season which is between the periods of December to February. After moulting season it is followed by a feeding period, and then breeding begins again
28.Little Penguins have around 10,000 feathers which is approximately three to four times more than that of flighted birds
29.The burrow/nest of a Little Penguin can be up to 1.6km away from shore for some penguins
30.The little Penguins greatest dangers is from humans, as they can get caught in fishing line, plastic rubbish, and oil spills
30 Fast Facts about Phillip Island
1.Phillip Island is located approximately 140kms South East of Melbourne about a two hour drive.
2.Phillip Island is home of the famous Penguin Parade.
3.Each year the Australian MotoGP event is held in Phillip Island.
4.Phillip Island is home to 7,000 permanent residents each year but increases to 50,000 in summer.
5.Phillip Island covers 10,000 hectares of land.
6.There is over 101km of coastline in which the south and west coast is exposed to the Bass Strait.
7.The island was named after the first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip.
8.Parts of Phillip Island were used as a location in the 1977 Australian film, Summerfield.
9.Phillip Island is home of the Pyramid Rock Festival held on New Year’s Eve.
10.Phillip Island is home to two young Australian actors, Liam and Chris Hemsworth.
11.A 640 metre concrete bridge between San Remo and Newhaven connects the Island to the mainland.
12.The Phillip Island wildlife park is home to over 100 different species of Australian animals.
13.Phillip Island was discovered in 1788 by a British explorer by the name of George Bass.
14.Phillip Island was inhabited by many Australian aboriginals.
15.Phillip Island has many visitors each year including ships that have run aground in the tricky waters surrounding the island.
16.In 2005 Phillip Island locals reported snowfall on the island for the first time. This was a very unusual event and has never happened since.
17.Average temperatures on the Island range from 35 degrees Celsius in summer to 12 degrees Celsius in the winter months.
18.Amaze N Things is a fun park and maze located on Phillip Island. It takes between 2-3 hours to complete the Giant Maze!
19.Grab some free samples at the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory which creates over 190 different treats per day.
20.In 1990 most of the parks and nature preserves were listed under the Phillip Island Nature Park.
21.Catch a glimpse of Kangaroos, Koalas, Penguins, Cockatoos, Dolphins, Seals, Pelicans, Dingoes, Emus, Lizards, Eagles and Kookaburras. Just some of the many animals found on the Island.
22.There is a daily pelican feeding at 12noon everyday in the town of San Remo, on the pier.
23.The last time Phillip Island was attached to the main land was approximately 40,000 years ago before it was covered in water.
24.George Bass and Matthew Flinders, two historic figures in Australian history landed at Rhyll and named the bay Snapper Island.
25.Before being named Phillip Island, the island was known as Grant Island after Captain James Grant.
26.The first permanent residents of Phillip Island were two Scottish brothers, William and John McHaffie in 1842.
27.The local roads are used for the famous Bathurst 1000 V8 Super Cars event.
28.60% of Phillip Island is used as farmland and grazing for sheep and cattle.
29.72% of the residences in Phillip Island are holiday homes, campsites and holiday parks.
30. Phillip Island is occupied by a variety of cafe’s, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.
About our Tours...
Since 1996 our Melbourne Tours offer the incredible opportunity to explore the best highlights of the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians National Park at incredibly affordable prices. As our Melbourne Tours are available for 1, 2 or 3 days even travellers who are on a tight timeline are given the unique chance to see the amazing 12 Apostles, the famous surfing destination Bells Beach, picturesque seaside towns such as Lorne & Anglesea as well as the ancient Otway's Rainforest, spectecular Australian Wildlife, the impressive Loch Ard Gorge, the fallen but still beautiful London Bridge and much more.
All of our Melbourne Tours start in Melbourne where we pick up from several inner city loctaions. When you are going on a 2 or 3 day Melbourne Tour you have the opportunity to choose between our Melbourne to Melbourne Tours or our Melbourne to Adelaide Tours. So when you don't want to return to Melbourne we can organise a connection with another coach on the last day of our tour that takes you further to Adelaide. These Melbourne to Adelaide Tours are a fantastic possibility to combine your ongoing journey with our exciting Melbourne Day Tours without having to organise an extra transport. All of our other Melbourne Tours return back to Melbourne where you are dropped off at your hostel or hotel again.
With our Melbourne Day Tours we want to give tourists the opportunity to get to know Victoria's highlights in an informative, relaxed, friendly and funny way and with a fantastic value for money which makes them ideal for the budget conscious traveller. While our 1 Day Melbourne Tours to the Great Ocean Road are available for incredible $95 our 2 and 3 day Melbourne Tours to the Great Ocean Road and the Grampians start from $169 respectively and $259.
The Great Ocean Road and the Grampians National Park represent some of Victoria's most popular tourist attractions which are definitely worthy to visit with our Melbourne Tours' tour guides who are experts on the region around Melbourne. On our professional Melbourne Day Tours you can experience 243km of Australia's most scenic and spectecular drives between Torquay and Warrnambool. While we organise frequent stops where you can jump off the bus, take pictures and explore the different locations our Melbourne Day Tours provide enough opportunities to lay back, relax and just enjoy Australia's eye-catching landscapes, intense waves, flourishing rainforests and captivating wildlife. After lionising the Great Ocean Road which was originally built as a war memorial for those soldiers who died in the First World War our 2 and 3 Day Melbourne Tours go on to the Grampians National Park which is with its 167,000 hectares one of Victoria's largest National Parks. This very popular tourist destination offers 600km roads, 200km walking trails, spectacular scenery and a wide range of opportunities for outdoor recreation. It is home to a large number of the State's animals and to nearly one third of Victoria's plant species, including 26 endemic, from which you will doubtless be able to admire several on our Melbourne Tours. Our Melbourne Tours are a great opportunity to marvel at rugged rock formations as the famous "Jaw's of death", amazing lookouts, waterfalls and wildflowers. Wildlife Tours' Melbourne Day Tours provide a unique experience for travellers who want to stroll through stunning natural beauty during all seasons.
On all of our Melbourne Day Tours we spare no effort to make sure that you have the best possible time with us. To create an enjoyable, comfortable and personalised atmosphere on your Melbourne Tour we use smaller heated and air conditioned vehicles so that the groups stay small. In comparison to other tour opertaors our Melbourne Tours are very individual and better matched to each traveller's specific needs. While travelling with us you will get to know other young travellers and always feel being in good hands. Our Melbourne Tours are unforgettable and you'll be left with stunning memories!
20 Facts about the Grampians National Park
1. The Grampians National Park (also Gariwerd) is one of Victoria's largest National Parks, 235 kilometres west to Melbourne. 2. The Grampians were declared a National Park on the 1st of July 1984. It covers 160,000 hectares and measures 95 km from north to south and about 55km west to east. 3. 400 million years ago the Grampians was a great inland sea. Earth movements that caused lifting and folding as well as weathering processes have created today's dramatic formations. 4. Aboriginal people believe Gariwerd was created by Bunjil, the Great Ancestor Spirit and his helpers the Bram-bram-bult brothers. 5. The striking series of sandstone mountain ranges run generally from north to south. The 4 dominating ranges are the Mt. William Range, Serra Range, Victoria Range and Mt Difficult Range. 6. Measuring 1167 metres above sea level, Mount William is the highest peak in the Grampians. 7. In 1836 the Grampians were named by the first European visitor Surveyor General of New South Wales Sir Thomas Mitchell after the Grampian Mountains in his native Scotland. 8. The Grampians are also known as Gariwerd from one of the local Aboriginal languages, either Jardwadjali or Djab Wurrung. 9. SInce the Geogrphic Place Names Act 1998 dual naming (English and Aboriginal names) has been adopted for geographical features such as rock art sites and landscape features. 10. Aboriginal people have been living in the Grampians for more than 5,000 years. 11. 80% of the known Aboriginal rock art sites in Victoria are located in the Grampians. 12. On the 15th of December 2006 the Grampians National Park was listed on the National Heritage List for being one of the richest Indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern Australia. 13. European settlement within the Grampians began with the establishment of Heatherlie in 1887. 14. As the Grampians were seen as a source of water for the drier surrounding areas a tunnel and pipeline were built in the late 19th century to carry the water. This ingenious solution is still in use today. 15. In the early 1900s gold was discovered at Mafeking in the Grampians and the population quickly reached 10,000. 16. When the gold deposits were deplete in the Grampians, the area (especially) Halls Gap, became a centre for farming, tourism and other forms of mining. 17. In 1964 the Grampians became a National Park. Since then the number of tourists have increased significantly. 18. Halls Gap is the largest service town in the Grampians and has many accommodation providers undertaking a Grampians tour. 19. The Brambuk National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap is owned and managed by Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung people from five Aboriginal communities with historic links to the Gariwerd-Grampians ranges and the surrounding plains. 20. In January 2006 about 50 % of the Grampians National Park was burnt down by a major bushfire. But for the most part the area has regenerated back to its beautiful self.
Melbourne Attractions & Information
Federation Square
Federation Square is known as the heart of the city by Melbourne locals. This eye catching attraction is located next to the famous Flinders St Station in the south of the CBD. Fed Square was first designed as a civic centre but has since become a meeting place for all and a must see attraction if in Melbourne. The atmosphere surrounding the square is exhilarating, a place where people come from anywhere and everywhere to meet, watch public events on the giant TV Screen and just have fun.The design of Federation Square was decided in a competition in which over 177 designs were entered into the competition and the winner decided by former premier of Melbourne, Jeff Kennett in 1997.
There are several buildings, cafes, restaurants and bars located within Federation Square but none more important for tourists than the Visitor Centre. The visitor centre is the place to visit before you explore Melbourne as their friendly staffs are more than happy to assist with finding Melbourne attractions, tours and day trips. Federation Square is Melbourne’s second biggest attraction and unlike most Melbourne attractions the Queen was not invited to open the site.
Eureka SkyDeck 88
The Eureka Tower is the tallest residential apartment building in the southern hemisphere, standing at 297.3meters tall. It is located in the Southbank precinct of Melbourne. The Skydeck 88 occupies the entire 88th floor of the Eureka Tower and is the highest viewing point in the southern hemisphere. After being opened in 2007 the Skydeck has been visited by millions of Melbourne locals and tourists. The tower consists of thirty view finders which are strategically placed in the direction of many iconic Melbourne attractions and helps tourists locate them.
The main attraction at this Melbourne icon is the famous glass cube, ‘The Edge’. The Edge is a glass cube that projects itself 3m out of the building at 300m high, to give tourists an amazing viewing experience. The glass in the cube is misted whilst moving out of the building. Once outside the glass becomes clear and visitors can see the ground, amazing panoramic views of Melbourne and the skyline.
Melbourne Cricket Ground & National Sports Museum
The MCG was erected in 1853 and has built itself a very rich history not just in sport but in many aspects of Australian and Victorian life. The MCG is the home of Australian Rules Football, the Boxing Day Test Cricket match and many other spectacular events. Melbournians refer to this beautiful attraction as the ‘G’. It is the largest sporting stadium in Australia and the tenth largest in the world. In 2005 the Melbourne Cricket Ground was put on the Victorian Heritage Register and the Australian Heritage Register lists. The MCG is so monumental to sport and events that in 2009 it was listed as one of the seven wonders of the sporting world.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground has held many sporting events including; The 1956 Olympics, 2006 Commonwealth Games, FIFA matches, Bon Jovi concerts and the Amazing Race Australia. The MCG could hold 130,000 people standing but due to redevelopments the seating has been limited to just over 100,000.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is also home to the National Sports Museum. The NSM presents many sporting artefacts and exhibitions; the museum incorporates the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, the Australian Football exhibition (including Australian Football Hall of Fame), Champions - Thoroughbred Racing Gallery and many other spaces for other exhibitions. This amazing attraction runs tours hourly and is a perfect place to visit if you have a couple of hours to spare., a must see for all sporting enthusiast.
Docklands and the Icehouse
Docklands is an inner city suburb located west of the Melbourne CBD. Since being redeveloped in 1997, Docklands has become a vibrant place for locals and tourists. The Docklands precinct consists of Etihad Stadium, Southern Cross Station, Spencer St Retail Outlet, Harbour Town Shopping Centre and the Southern Star (under construction). Docklands has a rich maritime history and therefore heritage rulings mean that the buildings cannot be touched on the outside. These attractions are the links between the history and modern times of the Docklands. The recently constructed Icehouse is now the home for Australian Winter Olympic Institute of Sport.
The Medibank Icehouse is Melbourne’s newest attraction and has proved a hit with Melbourne locals and tourists from Europe and all around the world. The Icehouse holds ice skating, curling, ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating and free skate sessions for all.Being Melbourne’s newest attraction the Icehouse is a perfect place to do a tour, spend an afternoon or evening cruising on the ice.
Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex
Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is a casino and entertainment precinct located on the Southbank promenade. It was opened in 1997 and is visited by thousands of people every day. Children under 18 are allowed into the complex but not into the gaming area.Crown Entertainment Complex is the largest in the southern hemisphere and takes up two city blocks.This iconic Melbourne attraction is the perfect place to spend a night, day or weekend. With so many things on offer for you to do with things ranging from shopping at Versace and Prada to enjoying the nightlife at the two nightclubs Fusion and Co.With multiple restaurants, fast food outlets, food courts and a Village Cinema’s, Crown is one attraction the children, teenagers and even adults can’t get sick of.
Melbourne is known for its laid back culture and nightlife so what better place to go than Crown. The complex allows tour companies to run through and show the tourists the amazing atmosphere and experience involved with going into Crown. There are many places to stay at the Casino including the renowned 5 star Crown Towers, Metropol and Promenade. The hotels are so renowned that they have hosted guests such as Tome Cruise, Katie Holmes, and Tiger Woods, all who have stated they love Melbourne.
Queen Victoria Market
The Queen Victoria Market is Victoria’s best open air market with its energetic and joyous atmosphere. There is friendly competition from the owners of the small stalls that line the market and they are always concerned about the customers. This Melbourne attraction takes tourists and locals back into the old Melbourne culture which is one of the reasons why it is visited by millions of people each year.The QVM is dedicated to providing customers with cheap, fresh produce as over 50% of the market is dedicated to providing Melburnians and tourists with this produce.
The Queen Victoria Market is still a massive attraction since opening in the 1850’s, providing a diverse range of items such as clothing, equipment and handmade native arts and crafts. Tourists flock to the market every time they visit to buy and experience a piece of Australian culture that is held so dear by many Melburnians. The Sunday still represents the leisurely family day in which families come and participate in the many activities and stalls open.
Flemington Racecourse
Flemington is a horse racing venue in Melbourne’s western suburbs near the Maribyrnong River. Flemington is the home to the Melbourne Cup carnival, Australia’s greatest racing event and richest horse race. Flemington is the oldest continuing metropolitan racecourse, holding race meetings for over 170 years at the track. With the Spring Carnival held over a number of weeks many international, national and Melburnian trainers have horse stables on or near Flemington.The most amazing thing to be noted about Flemington is that over 100,000 patrons including; tourists and locals pile into this major attraction every day for the spring carnival. Flemington can hold over 120,000 standing patrons making it Melbourne’s largest stadium based on capacity.
Flemington is easy to access as it has its own train line which operates only on race days. Flemington is home to the Heritage Centre which celebrates most of Flemington’s history in pictures, the Melbourne Cup history and famous and influential racehorses. The Heritage Centre has a larger than life statue of Phar Lap, the most famous racehorse in Australian history, at the entrance of the centre. Even though Flemington is located in Melbourne’s west it is definitely an attraction for all tourists to visit.
Melbourne Central
Melbourne Central is the major regional shopping centre, office and public transport hub in the heart of the city. The complex contains the Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, the Melbourne Central railway station and the 211m office building. Visible from the street is the Glass Cone which covers the Coops Shot Tower which since its cessation of use in 1961 is home to R&M Williams and the Shot Tower Museum.Two of the major attractions inside the complex is the Marionette Fob Watch and the Glass Cone.
The watch was given to the people of Melbourne by Seiko and is made up of the watch face and a two tonne gold chain. On every hour two marionettes, galahs, koalas and cockatoos are lowered from within the watch and sing Waltzing Matilda. The Glass Cone is the largest glass cone in the world and is 20 storeys high and weighs 490 tonnes. The cone is made up of 92 different planes of glass and is referred to as the Magic Cone. There are over 390 stores inside the complex which stretches half a city block and is 5 levels high. There is also a walk through into the Melbourne Myers department store. Melbourne Central is a very eye catching attraction for all tourists in the Melbourne CBD.
St Kilda Beach
St Kilda is a bay side suburb just a short drive from Melbourne. It is one of the more picturesque sides of the bay with lovely sandy beaches, cafes and is a clean safe attraction for tourists and locals to visit. Over one hundred years ago St Kilda was quite an attraction with huge mansions, exotic guest houses and fashionistas. In the mid 20th century St Kilda was linked to many crime and drug groups but has since cleaned up its image. St Kilda was given its name by a ship called Lady of St Kilda which docked at the beach for most of 1841. The beach is one of Melbourne’s most famous beaches where locals and tourists spend hours in the summer and winter taking part in many activities such as; swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, sailing, beach volleyball, jet skiing and water skiing.
St Kilda Beach is always flowing with colour, energy and people. On Sundays there is an arts and crafts market along the main Esplanade. St Kilda Beach is also home to a very vibrant nightlife with the two main bars and nightclubs being the Prince and the George. In 1945, famous Australian and Melbourne painter, Sidney Nolan painted St Kilda beach’s attractions such as the beach and the baths.
Luna Park
Luna Park is one of only four opened in Australia and one of the remaining two still operating, Melbourne and Sydney. Luna Park opened in 1912 and has operated almost continuously since then. Luna Park is situated on St Kilda foreshore of Port Phillip Bay. The park was founded by J.D Williams who ended up going back to America and helped found First National Films which become Warner Brothers. Luna Park has become a major attraction for all Melburnians and tourists who visit Melbourne. During 1912-1914 Luna Park was drawing crowds of between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors every Saturday night even with the war approaching. Luna Park, Melbourne continued its operation right up until 1916 when it was forced to close for the war.
Luna Park is home to the world’s oldest continuing rollercoaster, the Scenic Railway. There are still many historical attractions still standing at the Melbourne park. The iconic ‘Mr Moon’ entrance and two flanking towers either side. Luna Park Melbourne is one of the great attractions for children and their parents who rekindle fond memories of their past being at this tourist venue.
Rod Laver Arena
Rod Laver Arena is a multi person stadium located within the Melbourne Olympic Parks Complex, the Melbourne sporting precinct. Rod Laver has been the main venue for the famous Australian Open Grand Slam since 1988 when it replaced the old Kooyong venue. The stadium used to be called Flinders Park or Centre Court but was renamed in honour of the mighty Rod Laver.It is a major attraction for Melbourne and attracts over 1.5million people every year. The stadium has a retractable roof which allows players to continue in all conditions. But it is not only a tennis arena. Rod Laver has attracted many events such as super cross bikes, music concerts, conferences, WWE wrestling and ballet events. In 2007 Rod Laver was turned into a swimming pool to host the 12th FINA World Aquatic Championships.
Rod Laver is rated 9th out of the top 50 sports stadiums in the world for ticket sales, making it Australia’s second best stadium of its kind behind Sydney’s Acer Arena. The music artist Pink performed 17 shows at the Melbourne venue in 2009 between May and July, breaking John Farnham’s record of most shows performed at a venue. During the month of January whilst the Australian Open is on Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne is the must see attraction.
AAMI Park
AAMI Park is located on Olympic Boulevard in Melbourne’s inner sporting precinct. The Park was formerly known as the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium before being renamed commercially as AAMI Park. It is home to many sports teams including; Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart. The attraction is Melbourne’s largest rectangular built sports stadium as was built specifically for Rugby and Round Ball codes. The outside of the stadium looks like interspersed bubbles with little LED lights at each intersection of a glass panel. These lights can be programmed into different patterns and shapes when required and adds to the modern design of this attraction.
AAMI Park holds 30,000 people at capacity but can be expanded to 50,000 if needed. If tourists have a day to spare then taking a tour of the Melbourne Sporting precinct including all major attractions and stadiums is a great way to spend a day. Experiencing Melbourne’s culture is easy with a trip down Olympic Boulevard and going on a tour inside the stadiums.
Old Melbourne Gaol
Old Melbourne Gaol is a museum and a former prison located in the Melbourne CBD. This is an iconic attraction where 135 prisoners including the very famous Ned Kelly were hanged.During its operation the Old Melbourne Gaol dominated the Melbourne skyline to ‘show its authority’ between 1842 and 1929. The museum incorporates information and memorabilia on the prisoners that stayed in the prison. The Gaol was opened in 1841 and gives tourists alike a grand insight into the historical past of Melbourne.
The Melbourne Gaol was opened again during the Second World War and used as a prison for Australian soldiers who were absent without leave and later as storage shed for the Victoria Police. The museum used to display the skull of Ned Kelly until it was reported stolen in 1978. One of the many interesting facts about this attraction is that some local Melburnians believe the Old Melbourne Gaol is haunted and have reported ghost appearances near the cells and unexplained voices through the halls.
Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens
The Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens is commonly referred to as the Melbourne Zoo. Melbourne Zoo is the first zoo opened in Melbourne and began operations in 1862. Since that day the zoo has changed dramatically in the past 145 years. The zoo was designed based on the London Zoo with big gardens and long footpaths.The development of the zoo really began when Albert le Souef was elected director in 1970 and started to recruit exotic animals, lions, tigers, black bears and monkeys.
The Zoo became a popular meeting place for Melburnians and so picnic grounds with tables, benches and shade were developed for them as well as tourists. In 1934 the zoo opened up a specific exhibition for Australian animals only and it became a big success. There are more big success exhibitions to be seen such as the Lion Park, the Butterfly house, the Great Flight Aviary and the award winning Trail of the Elephants. The zoo is a major attraction for tourists and locals alike and is located only 4km from the Melbourne CBD.
Melbourne Aquarium
Melbourne Aquarium is a southern ocean and Antarctic aquarium located in the Melbourne CBD on the corner of Flinders and King Streets.The Aquarium was designed not to impose on the street with its height so was built 7m underground.At the centre of the attraction is a world first Oceanarium in which the visitors become engulfed in a fish bowl type glass room and the aqua life and animals swim around, over the top and through while you watch. The Oceanarium holds 2.2million litres of water and incorporates species of shark, ray fish, and many fish.Recent expansions have allowed the Aquarium to stage an Australian first exhibition for Antarctic penguins.
There are many attractions inside the Aquarium which will help all tourists have a trip to remember. Dive in with the sharks and go for a swim, Walk along the bottom of the Oceanarium and let the fish, stingrays and sharks swim right past your face or play with the penguins. A brilliant way to spend your day at such a different Melbourne attraction.
Melbourne Museum & IMAX Theatre
The Melbourne Museum is located in the Carlton Gardens in Fitzroy opposite the Royal Exhibition Building. It is the largest museum in the southern hemisphere and a part of Museums Victoria.The museum explores life in Melbourne and Victoria and portrays the art, culture and history of this great city. There are many great features located within the museum such as a complete skeleton of a Blue Whale, a rainforest with living creatures and the body of Phar Lap. Past exhibitions that have occurred in the museum have included mummies from Egypt, Dinosaurs from China, Aboriginal Heritage and the Human Body.The museum featured in the Nicolas Cage movie ‘The Knowing’ in 2009 along with some other Melbourne attractions.
IMAX Theatre Melbourne is the third largest screen in the world and the only attraction of its kind in Melbourne. The screen measures a whopping 32m by 23m and projects Australia’s largest 3D image. Since opening in 1998 IMAX has had 4.5million people flock through the doors to experience 3D documentaries and most recently new release Hollywood blockbusters.
Cooks Cottage
Cooks Cottage is located in the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne. The cottage was constructed in 1755 by Captain James Cook’s parents, James and Grace Cook.In 1933 the owner decided to sell the house to an offer from Melbourne. The house was deconstructed brick by brick and shipped to Melbourne, Australia where the house was rebuilt exactly the same. Some threads of ivy surrounding the house in England were also taken and planted in Melbourne. The house was donated to the people of Melbourne upon the centenary anniversary of settlement in 1934. The cottage was instantly a major tourist attraction after the anniversary ceremony.The cottage has undergone two restorations with the most recent in 1978 seeing the most change. It was decided to restore the cottage with original furniture and furnishings from that era along with an English Garden designed to complement the Cottage.
Cooks Cottage is the only 18th century building located in Melbourne, even though it was built in England. The Cottage is the only known link between Captain James Cook, the founder of Australia, and his origins. Inside the cottage there is a table in the kitchen which is set up in the style of the 18th Century.
Shrine Of Remembrance
The Shrine of Remembrance is located on St Kilda Road and was built to honour all Victorians who have served in the World Wars, and all other wars, missions and deployments. The shrine took 6 years to construct and is now a very sacred tourist destination and Melbourne icon.The design of the Shrine was decided in a competition in which 83 entries were considered. The winning design went to two architect soldiers from Melbourne, Phillip Hudson and James Wardrop.The design of the Shrine was inspired by the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Prince Henry, son of King George V opened the Shrine in front of over 300,000 Melburnians, tourists and officials in 1934. Many features have been added to the Shrine including the WWII forecourt including the eternal flame and the Remembrance Garden after 1945.
The central sanctuary has a marble stone in the middle of the room with the words; ‘Greater love hath no man’ inscribed onto it. On Remembrance Day, 11th November at 11am a ray of sunlight shines through the aperture (hole) in the roof and lights up the word love. The Shrine runs many tours each day through the year and includes the crypt, the central sanctuary and the roof and balcony on the tours as part of the main attraction.
Little Bourke Street/ Melbourne’s China Town
Little Bourke St is a street within Melbourne’s CBD and is the perfect place for Asian tourists and an attraction for those wishing to gain a better grip of Melbourne culture. Within Melbourne, Little Bourke St is known as China Town. When the Chinese began immigrating to Melbourne the first lodging was opened in 1854 in Little Bourke and has since quickly developed itself into a whole new little district full of Chinese cultural shops, restaurants and decorations.
The Chinese began immigrating during the 1850’s when the Victorian gold rush was beginning. China Town is the oldest cultural strip in Australia, the oldest Chinatown in Australia and the second longest continual cultural strip in the world behind San Francisco’s. Most of the old Chinese buildings still stand and the modern ones have been redeveloped with Chinese furnishings.China Town is place for people to go and catch up after work and grab something to eat and drink.
Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne
The Royal Botanical Gardens are situated near the centre of Melbourne. The gardens are known as the Botanical Gardens. The gardens are noted as the finest and most beautiful gardens in Australia and among the best in the world. They have contributed so much to the historical views of Melbourne and the invasive spaces of buildings.There are many plant species in the Gardens and all mean something to the history of Melbourne. The species have been chosen on their value, rarity, diversity and interest.The gardens are a vast environment of serenity and energy due to the vibe of the plants and the amount of tourists that come and view this natural attraction.
Around the Botanical Gardens is the famous Melbourne running track called the Tan. The Tan is 3.8km running track which forms the boundary of the Botanical Gardens, and is given its name by the track being made of a tan coloured crushed stone. The Tan used to run by horse’s but is now a track famous for joggers and runners especially elite AFL athletes and world class international runners like Steve Moneghetti and Cathy Freeman.The Tan is a major running site for Melbourne locals, tourists and anyone wanting to run in this beautiful attraction.
