Walking through a city, you absorb its vibrancy at a slow pace. You learn the locals’ secrets and discover places you never would by car. You may also get a little lost, but that’s all part of the fun. Don’t want to venture too far from your room at Crowne Plaza Melbourne? We’ve put together a list of spots to visit that are so Melbourne-esque, you won’t need to look any further. The best part? Most are under a 20-minute stroll.
So do as the locals do, and venture out on foot to find all the things Melbourne has to offer.
And remember, if you’re just all walked out, Crowne Plaza Melbourne is the last stop on the free city tram circuit – hop on and off to get around the inner city grid (did we mention it’s free?)
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
The MCEC sits on the banks of the Yarra River, and has hosted everything from conventions and exhibitions, to concerts, tradeshows and gala dinners. Highlights of their calendar include the World Travel Expo, Beauty Expo, The Homeshow, The Boat Show, and Snow Expo.
And the best part? It is a two-minute walk along the undercover pedestrian bridge from Crowne Plaza Melbourne!
South Wharf Promenade with (DFO) Direct Factory Outlets
South Wharf Promenade is a hot spot for amazing food, sensational shopping, bars, walks and wonderful views of Melbourne.
Take a leisurely stroll along South Wharf Promenade, dine at one of the award-winning restaurants, cafes or bars, shop in DFO, take in the sights of Melbourne from one of Melbourne’s newest and unique vantage points.
Right alongside is DFO, every bargain hunters dream! Loaded with more than 170 stores with amazing discounts on some of the world’s hottest brands, you’re bound to pick up a steal here.
Loaded up with shopping bags? Don’t worry, it’s less than eight minutes walk back to your room at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne.
Crown Entertainment Complex
An adult’s playground, the Crown is a mini-city of shopping, dining and entertainment on the banks of the Yarra River. The Complex takes up two whole city blocks!
Shoppers come to browse luxury labels at Prada, Chanel, Bulgari and Burberry. Diners are spoilt for choice with everything from a food court and casual restaurants to Neil Perry’s landmark Rockpool, Rosetta and Spice Temple, shrines to fine dining.
Catch a show at the Palms at Crown, try your luck in the Southern Hemisphere’s largest casino or watch a movie in style at the Gold Class cinema.
The night comes to life at Crown – home to some of the best nightclubs and bars in Melbourne. If you’re planning a night out with friends, choose from one of the 14 bars and three premier nightclubs.
And at a mere 3 minutes walk from the Crowne Plaza Melbourne, you’d be silly not to check it out!
Marvel Stadium
Formerly known as Ethiad, the Marvel Stadium is the only football stadium in the Southern Hemisphere with a fully retractable roof. All up, it takes only eight minutes to close.
Marvel Stadium can contain up to 55,000 fans and not only hosts AFL, cricket and rugby, it’s also staged shows by some of the entertainment world’s biggest names, including U2, Robbie Williams, Barbra Streisand and Bon Jovi.
Are you planning to attend a sporting match or concert at Marvel any time soon? Stay with us at Crowne Plaza; we are a quick fourteen-minute stroll away!
Sea LIFE Aquarium
Visiting Melbourne with the kiddies? Sealife Aquarium is practically on our doorstep – it takes four minutes to walk there! Even the big kiddies will enjoy this one, we promise.
Be amazed by the world’s only display of Elephant Sharks in Bay of Rays. Shudder at the size of the prehistoric creatures floating above you at the Croc Lair. Be mesmerised as you experience a rainbow of colours at Seahorse Pier. Marvel at the majestic King and cheeky Gentoo penguins in Penguin Playground.
With interactive animal encounters, iconic state-of-the-art displays, animal feeds and diver presentations, Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is an educational and completely engaging experience.
Southgate Arts and Leisure Precinct
Southgate is a vibrant restaurant, shopping and entertainment destination right alongside the Yarra River, directly opposite Flinders Street Station
Enjoy spectacular riverside dining and Melbourne’s best city views from Southgate’s range of restaurants, bars and cafes. There’s a venue to suit any occasion, large or small, casual or fancy. After you’ve eaten your fill, and shopped til you’ve (almost) dropped, time to wander back to your room – just fourteen minutes away.
Eureka Sky Deck
All you have to do is look up and you’ll find this one – the Eureka Skydeck: Melbourne’s greatest point of view.
Situated in the heart of Southbank in the iconic Eureka Tower, the Skydeck stands at a staggering 297 metres above the streets of Melbourne. Both locals and visitors regard the Skydeck as one of the best things to do in Melbourne.
No matter who you are, the view from the top is jaw-dropping. Step out onto the glass floor with their unique Edge Experience for the extra thrill.
Easy to fit into a day of activities, it is a thirteen-minute stroll along the Yarra River.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens was established in 1846, and rose from a swamp!
Just over a twenty-minute walk from us, the gardens extend over 36 hectares and display an amazingly diverse collection of over 50,000 plants from around the world, including rare and threatened species. The Royal Botanic Gardens hosts year-round events, picnics, weddings and tours.
For visitors, it’s a cool and peaceful place to wander on a warm summer day. Maybe pack a picnic and choose a shady spot under one of the giant maples.
National Gallery of Victoria
Looking for some culture, and to escape the bustle of the streets? Check out the NGV, just over 20 minutes stroll from the Crowne Plaza.
NGV International houses a whole world of international art, displaying the National Gallery of Victoria’s collections of European, Asian, Oceanic and American art. A truly iconic Melbourne building, the gallery has been totally redesigned to house one of the most impressive collections in the Southern Hemisphere.
The NGV offers an extraordinary visual arts experience with diverse temporary exhibitions, Collection displays, talks, tours, programs for kids, films, late-night openings and performances.
Federation Square
Stroll down to “Fed Square” as the locals know it, in just nineteen minutes – it has become one of the most visited attractions in Melbourne with more than 10 million visits a year.
Since it’s official opening sixteen years ago, it’s hard to imagine Melbourne without the iconic “Fed Square”.
It is host to more than 2,000 events a year and home to the National Gallery of Victoria’s Australian collection, The Ian Potter Centre as well as the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).
It has become the heart and soul of Melbourne, hosting major cultural attractions, world-class events, tourism experiences and an exceptional array of restaurants, bars and specialty stores.
There’s always something on – it’s a great place to hang out and watch all the action.