Pocket Guide
Nº11 · Carlton

Museum & playground

Dinosaurs, a World Heritage building and a big playground, all in one park.

With kidsRainy dayHalf day

Draft trail. We haven’t walked this one yet to check every detail. Opening days, prices and paths can change, so check before you go.

Melbourne Museum: Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis skeleton in Melbourne1 / 6
Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Carlton Gardens holds a day out for families in one place: Melbourne Museum’s galleries (children enter free), the 1880 Royal Exhibition Building next door, and room to run in the gardens themselves.

Getting there
Parliament station is about 900 m away, and trams along Nicholson Street stop beside the gardens.
How long
About 4 hours, 1 km on foot (3 h 5 min at the stops)
Cost
Museum entry for adults; children free
Best time
Weekday mornings, before school groups arrive.

The stops

  1. 1Melbourne Museum · Culture · 2 h
    Natural history, First Peoples galleries and dinosaurs.
    Directions
  2. 2Royal Exhibition Building · History · 20 min
    Built for the 1880 International Exhibition; World Heritage–listed.
    Directions
  3. 3Carlton Gardens · Nature · 45 min
    Fountains, lawns and space to play.
    Directions
On the map
Walk Public transport (schematic) Drive

Tips

  • Allow time for the museum’s children’s gallery.
  • The gardens have toilets, water fountains and shade.

Collect this trail’s stamp in your Passport by checking in at each stop.

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