Polly Woodside is a restored iron-hulled tall ship, dating from 1885. After circumnavigating the world 17 times it now rests in a basin off the Yarra River. A glimpse of the rigging makes for a tiny reminder of what the Yarra would have looked like in the 19th century, dense with ships at anchor.

Check the website for Pirate Days with games and sausage sizzles, or simply relax at the wharf's picnic facilities.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Melbourne attractions

2. Crown

0.27 MILES

The Crown complex sprawls across two city blocks and includes three luxury hotels, restaurants and a casino that never closes. It’s another world with its…

3. Sea Life

0.35 MILES

This interesting but extremely pricey aquarium is home to giant rays, gropers and sharks, all of which cruise around a 2.2 million-litre tank, watched by…

4. Immigration Museum

0.52 MILES

The Immigration Museum uses voices, images and memorabilia to tell the many stories of Australian immigration. It's symbolically housed in the old Customs…

5. South Melbourne Market

0.56 MILES

Trading since 1867, this market is an institution, its labyrinthine guts packed with a brilliant collection of stalls selling everything from organic…

6. Eureka Skydeck

0.63 MILES

Melbourne's tallest building, the 297m-high Eureka Tower was erected in 2006, and a wild elevator ride takes you to its 88th floor in less than 40 seconds…

7. Australian Centre for Contemporary Art

0.73 MILES

ACCA is one of Australia’s most exciting and challenging contemporary galleries, showcasing a range of local and international artists. The building is…

8. Buxton Contemporary

0.83 MILES

Weird, wonderful and thought-provoking Buxton Contemporary, located at the University of Melbourne’s art school, opened in 2018 powered by the Michael…