Top things to do in Melbourne

From the air, these stunning, 94-acre gardens evoke a giant green lung in the middle of the city. Drawing nearly two million visitors annually, they're considered one of the finest examples of Victorian-era landscap…

Attica is Australia's only restaurant on San Pellegrino's World's Top 50 Restaurants list. Here Ben Shewry creates contemporary dishes with native ingredients, like saltwater crocodile rib glazed with soured honey a…

Good things come to those who queue, and here they come in the form of unrivalled pastries, from innovative cruffins to plain croissants often dubbed the world's best. In the centre of this warehouse space is a glas…

This contemporary Southeast Asian restaurant is in a former car park down a laneway. Slick with metal scaffolding, raw brick, a long communal table and mezzanine level, the calm kitchen plates modern Indonesian, Vie…

Arguably Australia's best Japanese restaurant – if you care to empty your pockets and book two months in advance. Hidden down a side street, the best seats are at the bar, where sushi master Koichi Minamishima prepa…

Housed in a vast, brutally beautiful, bunker-like building, the international branch of NGV has an expansive collection, from ancient artefacts to the bleeding edge. Regular blockbuster exhibitions (prices vary) dra…

With more than 600 traders, 'Vic Market' is the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere. Visit early morning to shop for fresh produce, accepting tasters and dodging the booming cries of spruiking stall h…

Established in 1862, this compact zoo is the oldest in Australia and the third oldest in the world. It remains one of the city’s most popular attractions and continues to innovate, becoming the world's first carbon-…

With a capacity of 100,000 people, the 'G' is one of the world’s great sporting venues, hosting cricket in summer and AFL (Australian Football League, Aussie rules or 'footy') in winter – for many Australians it's h…

You could spend a day going from room to room now the beloved 'Espy' is back, following a $15-million renovation. Antiques complement its Victorian bones and there are three food and beverage offerings, plus about 1…