Carlton Gardens

Carlton Gardens, just north of Melbourne's CBD, is one of the city's grandest and most historic green spaces — a beautifully preserved example of 19th-century landscape design. It's World Heritage-listed, sharing that status with the magnificent Royal Exhibition Building at its centre, which makes a wander through the grounds as much a journey through history as a stroll in the park.

The gardens combine sweeping tree-lined avenues, ornamental lakes, fountains and manicured lawns with the striking architecture of the Exhibition Building and the adjacent Melbourne Museum. It's a serene, elegant escape right on the city's edge, equally suited to a quiet walk, a picnic or a visit to the cultural institutions it surrounds.

With a 4.7 rating from more than 14,000 reviews, it's one of Melbourne's most loved and visited spots. The gardens are open daily and free to enter, but the Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne Museum and any events have their own hours and ticketing, so it's worth checking current details before you visit — particularly if you want to see inside the historic building.