Nature and wildlife – Melbourne

Forget you’re in a city of three and a half million people and slow down in Melbourne's lavish parks, gardens and waterways. Surround yourself with age-old trees, manicured lawns and abundant wildlife in a pocket of calm and tranquillity in the middle of this bustling city.

A quiet corner
Wander the tree-lined pathways through the Treasury and Fitzroy gardens or enjoy the sculptured terraces of Birrarung Marr, Melbourne's newest garden situated on the shoulder of the Yarra River. For a truly Alice in Wonderland escape, head to the Royal Botanic Gardens – an ornamental labyrinth of lawns, weaving paths and venerable old trees.

Friends in the foilage
Melbourne's gardens are also home to a host of bird, animal and aquatic life, but for a more formal introduction to native Australian wildlife and other locally-found or more exotic species, visit the internationally acclaimed Melbourne Zoo. As well, the state-of-the-art Melbourne Aquarium harbours thousands of creatures from the Southern Ocean.