The Melbourne Visitor Shuttle is a great way to see Melbourne's attractions, and it's free!  

Operates daily every 30 minutes from 9.30am to 4.30pm.  

The trip takes approximately 90 minutes and includes an informative on-board commentary.

Please note:

• Stop 11 is closed until further notice

• Stop 3 Sports Precinct not in service MCG event days

• On Labour Day and Anzac Day the service operates every 30 minutes between 1pm and 4.30pm

• No service on Christmas Day.

There are 13 stops on the route:

Download a Melbourne Visitor Shuttle brochure (PDF 1.3MB)

Stop 1 Arts Precinct 

Arts Centre Melbourne, with its iconic spire, has a number of gallery and performance spaces including the Performing Arts Museum which tells the story of circus, dance, music, opera, and theatre in Australia.

The NGV International houses Victoria’s impressive international collection and nearby is the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) and the Malthouse Theatre. The city’s newest arts venue the Melbourne Recital Centre is home to the Melbourne Theatre Company and the Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Recital Hall.

Stop 2 Federation Square

Federation Square is home of the Melbourne Visitor Centre, your one-stop-shop for tourist information and booking services, Federation Square is a vibrant precinct conveniently positioned in the centre of Melbourne. Federation Square brings together a creative mix of attractions, including the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, ACMI – Australian Centre for the Moving Image.   

Federation Square also boasts a range of restaurants, cafes, bars, open public spaces which host up to 2,000 events annually. Free guided walking tours are available from Monday to Saturday at 11am (one hour duration).

You'll also find Melbourne’s contemporary riverside park Birrarung Marr, and ArtPlay with its fantastic kids’ playground.

Stop 3 Sports Precinct

Melbourne is a passionate sporting city, home to a fantastic array of local, national and international events. Hop off here to visit or take a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the National Sports Museum. The Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Olympic Park, Hisense Arena and AAMI Park are popular venues for a wide range of sport and entertainment activities.

From this stop it is only a short walk to the historic Fitzroy Gardens with its many charms, including Cooks’ Cottage, the Fairy Tree, model Tudor Village, Conservatory and more. 

* Please note, this stop is not in service on MCG event days.

Stop 4 Chinatown Precinct

Melbourne has long been the theatrical heart of Australia and many of the theatres in this district are known for their stunning architecture including Her Majesty’s, Princess and Comedy Theatres.

Don’t miss Chinatown on Little Bourke Street – a slice of Asia in the heart of the city with a smorgasboard of Asian cuisines and arcades selling everything from Chinoiserie to funghi. You can learn about the history and customs of Chinese Australians at the Chinese Museum.

Stop 5 Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens

Here you can view the exciting displays and exhibitions of Melbourne Museum and its IMAX Theatre, the World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens.

Carlton Gardens is the home of the 1891 Curator’s Lodge and three important fountains: the Hochgurtel Fountain, the French Fountain, and the Westgarth Fountain. It is only a short walk to the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Stop 6 Lygon Street Precinct

Lygon Street in Carlton is the historic heartland of Melbourne’s Italian community. Italian restaurants spill on to the footpaths, with pasta to savour and cake to devour. This area is renowned for its links to Melbourne’s experimental and fringe theatre scene with La Mama and the Carlton Courthouse theatres.

Stop 7 University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne, displaying varied eclectic architectural styles, houses its own museums, galleries and special collections. It is also home to the Ian Potter Museum of Art and the Grainger Museum.

Stop 8 Queen Victoria Market

More than a shopping destination, the Queen Victoria Market is a historic landmark and a leading tourist attraction. Over 125 years old, this vast and vibrant centre of trade and commerce serves the consumer needs of more than 200,000 shoppers a week.

Spreading over some seven hectares, the market sells everything from gourmet food and wine to clothes and souvenirs. From this stop you can also visit the Melbourne Zoo by taking tram number 55 from Peel Street, or head to Flemington Racecourse by taking tram number 57 from Victoria Street. The Flagstaff Gardens are also just a short walk away.

Stop 9 Harbour Town, Docklands

From the intersection of Pearl River Road and Docklands Drive, you are only minutes from a wide variety of waterfront attractions. Medibank Icehouse is home to ice-based events including ice hockey, curling and more. You can take to the ice yourself on one of the two Olympic-sized rinks.

Harbour Town is all about shopping. The Waterfront City Marina offers public berthing facilities and is a great place to check out the boats. At New Quay Promenade you’ll discover a host of restaurants and bars.

Stop 10 Etihad Stadium and Victoria Harbour

From Harbour Esplanade you’re in a great position to explore Docklands, including Victoria Harbour with its dining, parks, waterfront walks and more. Etihad Stadium hosts many of the nation’s greatest sporting events, along with concerts and more. Docklands Park has free barbecues, picnic areas, an interactive ‘Play Journey’ playground for the kids and three wetlands attracting many indigenous birds to the park.

Stop 11 William Street

Due to construction works at the intersection of Williams and Collins Streets, Stop 11 (William Street) is out of service until further notice.  

Stop 12 Southbank and Yarra River

The chic riverside strip of Southbank is home to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and the South Wharf Promenade. Experience the glitz and glamour of Crown Entertainment Complex, where you can dance at a nightclub, catch a movie, or eat at a waterside restaurant. Heading east along the bank is Southgate, a popular shopping and restaurant complex on the banks of the Yarra River.

The Eureka Skydeck 88 is the southern hemisphere’s highest viewing platform with the amazing Edge experience, a glass cube which projects three metres out from the building suspended almost 300 metres above the ground. Visit a classic tall ship, the Polly Woodside.

Stop 13 The Shrine and Royal Botanic Gardens

One of Melbourne’s most recognisable landmarks, the Shrine of Remembrance, is Victoria’s memorial to the service and sacrifice of its men and women in times of conflict. The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is a must-see attraction for spectacular scenery and native bird-life.

The Botanic Gardens feature an award winning garden shop and visitor centre, the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden and cafes. Nearby are the formal parklands of King’s Domain, the world-class performance venue of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Government House and La Trobe’s Cottage. 

Download a Melbourne Visitor Shuttle brochure (PDF 1.3MB)