IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD…
The Yarra River
Spend a day full of culture, adventure, and fine food along Melbourne’s Yarra River.
WORDS Patricia Maunder
PHOTOGRAPHY Jake Roden
With the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people north of the Yarra (Birrarung), and that of the Boonwurrung people extending from its southern banks, the Yarra River has been an important landmark for millennia. Flowing through the heart of Melbourne (Naarm), a day spent along this waterway reveals some of the city’s best natural, cultural, and flavour-filled pleasures.
MORNING
Start with breakfast at Studley Park Boathouse, nestled in Yarra Bend Park’s remnant bushland just a few kilometres from the CBD. Enjoy a classic Melbourne breakfast – think avocado and poached eggs on sourdough bread with an oat-milk latte – in the charming old-meets-new dining room, or outdoors on the riverside deck. Afterwards, hire a rowboat, kayak, or canoe for a jaunt amid native birdsong.
In the city, explore the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia’s oldest and most-visited art gallery. Highlights from its massive collection are presented across two buildings on either side of the Yarra. Find works by the likes of Rembrandt, Tiepolo, Monet, Picasso, and Dalí at NGV International. If Australian art is more your style, step across the river to NGV Australia to see national treasures by artists such as McCubbin, Streeton, Namatjira, Piccinini, and Moffatt. Apart from major temporary exhibitions, entry is free.
After your gallery visit, stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens, one of Melbourne’s favourite attractions and among the world’s most significant botanic gardens. Highlights of its beautiful 38 hectares include a lush fern gully and the Ornamental Lake. Before being separated from the Yarra when the river was straightened in the late 19th century, this lake was a lagoon the Boonwurrung people called Tromgin. The recently revitalised Terrace Cafe is an ideal spot for coffee with lakeside views, including black swans and pink waterlilies.
AFTERNOON
Early each spring, one of Melbourne’s favourite al fresco destinations for wining, dining and fun is reborn. Moored in the city’s heart, Arbory Afloat is a 50-metre-long, partly two-storey pontoon, open until late autumn (or even early winter). With everything from fountains to trees, it gets a themed refresh each year. This eighth season offers a Mexican fiesta, so your lunch could include tacos, tostadas and less familiar dishes like jocoque, a popular dip in Mexico.
Enough floating – it’s time to cruise. For an intimate hour amid heritage maritime-style, including varnished wood and polished brass, get on board Classic Steamboat Cruises’ MV Eureka or MV Grower. Travel upriver for leafy scenery and views of Melbourne’s legendary sports precinct, or downriver to see bridges, skyscrapers and the re-imagined docks.
Enjoy lunch on the water at Arbory Afloat
“In the city, explore the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia’s oldest and most- visited art gallery.”
EVENING
Get a bird’s-eye view of the Yarra at Melbourne Skydeck, the Southern Hemisphere’s highest observation platform. The 360-degree panorama visible from Eureka Tower’s 88th floor also showcases Port Phillip Bay (Nairm), distant mini-mountains and skyscrapers including an even taller neighbour, Australia 108. Upgrade to the Cocktail in the Clouds package, which includes entry, a Bar 88 signature cocktail and the Voyager Theatre experience. This high-definition, 6D, virtual-reality joyride whisks you through the most exciting Melbourne events.
Upstairs at Eureka 89, watch as the sunset colours give way to city lights, and feast your eyes on the vista 300 metres above sea level while indulging in a multi-course tasting menu with matching wines. Executive Chef Renee Martillano refreshes the menu each season according to the best Australia has to offer, from Tasmanian quail to Western Australian crayfish. No matter when you visit, you’ll be in for a treat.
