Melbourne's Best: Self-Guided Driving Tour of Iconic Landmarks
Places: 22 POIs
Distance: 16.91 mi
Duration: 1h:12m
GPS-guided narration through
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Tour #2909
About this English self-guided 1h:12m driving tour in Melbourne
G’day, and welcome to Melbourne!
Today, we’re going to discover one of Australia’s most exciting and diverse cities, from its grand historic buildings and hidden laneways to world-famous sporting venues, beautiful gardens, waterfront neighbourhoods and some fantastic views of the Melbourne skyline.
We’ll begin right here in the heart of the city, passing landmarks like Queen Victoria Market, the Old Melbourne Gaol, Parliament House and the magnificent Royal Exhibition Building. We’ll explore Melbourne’s famous sporting and cultural precincts, cross the Yarra River, pass the Shrine of Remembrance and Royal Botanic Gardens, and then make our way towards Albert Park Lake.
From there, the character of the tour changes completely as we head for the coast. We’ll cruise through lively St Kilda, pass its beach, historic theatre and famous Luna Park, and then follow Port Phillip south through Elwood before finishing at colourful Brighton Beach and its iconic bathing boxes.
Along the way, I’ll share some of the stories, history and fun facts that make Melbourne such a fascinating city, while pointing out plenty of places you may want to come back and explore on foot later.
So get comfortable, keep your eyes on the road, and leave the storytelling to me.
We have a lot of Melbourne to discover today, so when you’re ready, let’s get going!
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
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Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.00mi
132 Dudley St, West Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
Flagstaff Gardens – Where Melbourne Once Watched the Ships
We’re about to get started, so get ready to turn left at the traffic circle ahead.
As you approach the circle, take a look ahead and around you. From this elevated part of the city, you can catch some great views of Melbourne’s downtown skyline.
On your right are Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne’s oldest public park, established in 1862. But the history of this hill goes back much further. In Melbourne’s earliest colonial days, it was known as Burial Hill and served as the settlement’s first burial ground.
The name “Flagstaff” came a little later. In 1840, a flagstaff was erected here because the hill provided excellent views toward the harbour. Flags were used to signal the arrival of ships, and locals would gather here looking for news and arrivals from overseas.
Today, instead of watching for ships, you’re surrounded by modern Melbourne.
At the traffic circle, turn left, and let’s begin our drive through the city.
As you approach the circle, take a look ahead and around you. From this elevated part of the city, you can catch some great views of Melbourne’s downtown skyline.
On your right are Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne’s oldest public park, established in 1862. But the history of this hill goes back much further. In Melbourne’s earliest colonial days, it was known as Burial Hill and served as the settlement’s first burial ground.
The name “Flagstaff” came a little later. In 1840, a flagstaff was erected here because the hill provided excellent views toward the harbour. Flags were used to signal the arrival of ships, and locals would gather here looking for news and arrivals from overseas.
Today, instead of watching for ships, you’re surrounded by modern Melbourne.
At the traffic circle, turn left, and let’s begin our drive through the city.
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 0.29mi
, Attraction : Market (Recommended selfie spot).
11 State Route 32, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
Queen Victoria Market – Melbourne’s Historic Marketplace
Get ready to turn right, but first on your right is Queen Victoria Market, one of Melbourne’s most famous landmarks and a fixture of city life since 1878.
Known locally simply as “Queen Vic” or “Vic Market,” this enormous open-air market has been serving Melburnians for nearly 150 years. Inside you’ll find everything from fresh produce, meat and seafood to cheeses, baked goods, clothing, souvenirs and plenty of places to grab something to eat.
But there’s another layer of history beneath the market. Part of the site was once Melbourne’s first official cemetery, and thousands of early residents were buried here. Many remains were relocated as the market expanded, although some still remain beneath sections of the market today.
If you have time later, Queen Victoria Market is definitely worth coming back to explore on foot. For now, just take a look to your right as we pass one of Melbourne’s great institutions.
Known locally simply as “Queen Vic” or “Vic Market,” this enormous open-air market has been serving Melburnians for nearly 150 years. Inside you’ll find everything from fresh produce, meat and seafood to cheeses, baked goods, clothing, souvenirs and plenty of places to grab something to eat.
But there’s another layer of history beneath the market. Part of the site was once Melbourne’s first official cemetery, and thousands of early residents were buried here. Many remains were relocated as the market expanded, although some still remain beneath sections of the market today.
If you have time later, Queen Victoria Market is definitely worth coming back to explore on foot. For now, just take a look to your right as we pass one of Melbourne’s great institutions.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
Flagstaff Gardens – Where Melbourne Once Watched the Ships
Place 2
Queen Victoria Market – Melbourne’s Historic Marketplace
Place 3
Old Melbourne Gaol – Crime, Punishment & Ned Kelly
Place 4
Carlton Gardens
Place 5
Melbourne Museum & Royal Exhibition Building – Old and New Melbourne
Place 6
Parliament House Victoria
Place 7
St Patrick’s Cathedral – Melbourne’s Great Gothic Landmark
Place 8
Fitzroy Gardens – A Green Oasis in the Heart of Melbourne
Place 9
Melbourne Cricket Ground – The Legendary MCG
Place 10
Melbourne & Olympic Parks – The Heart of Melbourne’s Sporting World
Place 11
Hosier Lane, St Paul’s Cathedral & Federation Square – Melbourne’s Creative Heart
Place 12
Federation Square & Flinders Street Station – Old Meets New
Place 13
Yarra River – The River That Shaped Melbourne
Place 14
Arts Centre Melbourne
Place 15
Shrine of Remembrance & Royal Botanic Gardens – Melbourne’s Grand Boulevard
Place 16
Albert Park Lake – Melbourne Skyline Views
Place 17
St Kilda Beach – Melbourne’s Seaside Playground
Place 18
Palais Theatre & Luna Park – St Kilda Icons
Place 19
St Kilda Marina Lighthouse – A Bayside Glimpse
Place 20
Elwood Beach – Melbourne’s Relaxed Bayside
Place 21
Brighton Beach – Melbourne’s Famous Bathing Boxes
Place 22
Brighton Beach – Our Final Stop
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Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 22 stops, covering top attractions such as Flagstaff Gardens – Where Melbourne Once Watched the Ships, Queen Victoria Market – Melbourne’s Historic Marketplace, Old Melbourne Gaol – Crime, Punishment & Ned Kelly, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne Museum & Royal Exhibition Building – Old and New Melbourne.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Flagstaff Gardens – Where Melbourne Once Watched the Ships (Address: 132 Dudley St, West Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
+ Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!