Treasury Gardens

Treasury Gardens sits on Spring Street in East Melbourne, right on the edge of the CBD beside the grand Treasury and parliamentary buildings. A beautifully maintained formal garden, it's a much-loved green space — elm-lined paths, lawns, an ornamental lake and the John F. Kennedy memorial all making for a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city.

The appeal is that combination of elegant, historic garden design and a prime central location, perfect for a lunchtime break, a stroll or a picnic just steps from the city's business and government precinct. Together with the adjacent Fitzroy Gardens, it forms part of Melbourne's lovely ring of inner-city parkland.

With a 4.6 rating from more than 1,800 reviews, it's a well-loved spot. The gardens are free and open year-round, but facilities and any events vary, and they're busiest at weekday lunchtimes, so it's worth checking the surrounds before a special trip — though for a stroll, a picnic or a quiet break among the elms, you can generally just turn up and enjoy one of the city's gracious garden squares.