Kings Domain
Alexandra Avenue, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004
Stretching along the south bank of the Yarra River and encompassing more than 89 acres (36 hectares) of parklands, Kings Domain is one of Melbourne’s most popular green spaces. The tree-lined walkways, lengthy manicured lawns, and shady picnic areas offer plenty of scope to escape the city, dotted with monuments and memorials.
The basics
The Kings Domain Gardens can be explored on foot, by bike, or on a horse-drawn carriage ride. Stop off along the way to admire the historic Government House; visit the Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden and the Shrine of Remembrance, dedicated to the heroes of WWI; or stroll around the fern gullies of The Grotto. To the north of the park, the Queen Victoria Gardens are home to the Victoria Monument and a Giant Floral Clock, while to the south, you’ll find the Melbourne Observatory and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Things to know before you go
Kings Domain is an idyllic spot for nature lovers and families.
The 14-mile (22-kilometer) Main Yarra Trail runs along the riverfront of the Kings Domain park and is a popular choice for hikers and cyclists.
The park has restrooms, picnic benches, and public barbecue areas.
The park is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
How to get there
The park is located on the south bank of the Yarra River, just south of downtown Melbourne. It's about a 20-minute walk east from the Southbank or south from Federation Square. The closest tram stop is Grant St-Police Memorial/St Kilda Rd (served by multiple tram lines), on the west side of the park.
When to get there
Visit the park in the summer months to have a riverside BBQ or attend an open-air music concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. It's much quieter in the fall and winter, but Melbourne’s mild weather means locals still frequent the park to walk, jog, or bike.
Melbourne’s parks and gardens
The Kings Domain Gardens are part of a larger expanse of outdoor destinations, including the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Alexandra Gardens, which offer waterfront walking and cycling trails, a children’s playground, and a skate park. Other parks in the city include Fitzroy Gardens, where you can visit Captain Cook’s 1755 home and explore the early 20th-century Conservatory; the Treasury Gardens, known for its large number of brushtail possums; and the unique Melbourne Skypark, an urban park suspended over Collins Street.
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