Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 11 . MELBOURNE
rushes. A temporary exhibition gallery on the premises can feature anything
from prints to gold-thread embroidery. Allow about an hour.
Old Treasury Building. Spring St. (top of Collins St.) & 03/9651 2233. A$7 (US$4.55) adults, A$3.50
(US$2.30) children, A$18 (US$12) family. Mon–Fri 9am–5pm; weekends and public holidays 10am–4pm. Bus:
City Explorer.
IMAX Theatre Kids This eight-story movie screen rivals the world’s largest
screen at Sydney’s Darling Harbour. Recent subjects have been outer space, the
African Serengeti, and the deep oceans.
Melbourne Museum Complex, Rathdowne St., Carlton. & 03/9663 5454. Admission from A$14 (US$9)
adults, A$9.95 (US$6.50) children. Daily 10am–10pm. Tram: 1 or 22 from Swanston St.
Melbourne Aquarium Overrated Opened in early 2000, the Melbourne Aquarium
stretches over three levels and features a Barrier Reef–type exhibit, some interesting
jellyfish displays, and an enormous walk-through tank with larger fish,
sharks, and rays. However, it’s pretty disappointing compared to the ones in Sydney
and doesn’t live up to the hype. Allow 30 minutes.
Corner Queens Wharf Rd. and Kings St., opposite Crown Casino. & 03/9620 0999. www.melbourne
aquarium.com.au. Admission A$21 (US$13) adults, A$11 (US$7) children under 16, A$49 (US$32) family of 5.
Daily 9:30am–6pm.
Melbourne Museum Kids This newly constructed museum is Australia’s
largest, and is located opposite the 19th-century Royal Exhibition Buildings. It
houses interactive exhibits and science displays, Bunjikata, the award-winning
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre, bits and pieces of social history,
and other exhibits. Check out the brightly colored Children’s Museum which
will bring hours of enjoyment to the little ones.
Melbourne Museum Complex, Rathdowne St., Carlton. & 13 11 02. Admission A$15 (US$9.75) adults, A$8
(US$5.20) children, A$35 (US$23) family. Daily 10am–6pm. Tram: 1 or 22 from Swanston St.
Melbourne Observation Desk From the observation deck on the 55th
floor, near the top of the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, you get
360-degree views of the whole of Melbourne and beyond. See if you can spot
the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the Crown Casino. A 20-minute
film costing A$2 (US$1.30) shows you what you’re looking at, but you might as
well just take a map up with you and figure it out for yourself. Of interest are
the displays telling about life in Melbourne, past and present. There’s a licensed
cafe here, too. Allow 1 hour.
Rialto Building, 55th Floor, Collins St. (between William and King sts.). & 03/9629 8222. Admission
A$11.80 (US$7.70) adults, A$6.50 (US$4.20) children, A$34 (US$22) families. Daily 10am–11pm. Parking
underneath. Tram: Any tram on Collins St.
Melbourne Zoo Kids This place is a must-see. Built in 1862, it’s the oldest
zoo in the world, and among the best. There are some 3,000 animals here,
including the ever-popular kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, koalas, wombats, and
platypuses. Rather than being locked up in cages, most animals are set in almost
natural surroundings or well-tended gardens. Don’t miss the butterfly house, with
its thousands of colorful butterflies flying around; the free-flight aviary; the lowland
gorilla exhibit; and the tree-top monkey displays. Allow at least 1 hour if you
just want to see the Australian natives and around 2 1 ⁄2 hours for the whole zoo.
Elliott Ave., Parkville. & 03/9285 9300. www.zoo.org.au. Admission A$16 (US$10) adults, A$8.10 (US$5.25)
children under 14, A$44 (US$29) family. Daily 9am–5pm. Free guided tours daily. (Go to the Friends of the Zoo
Office to arrange tours.) Free parking. Tram: 55 or 56 going north on William St. to Stop 25, 18, 19, or from Elizabeth
St. to Stop 16 (then it’s a short walk to your left following signposts). Train: Royal Park Station.