How to Witness the Best Views of Sunset and Sunrise in Melbourne

While tourists bound for Melbourne expect to enjoy a great many holiday experiences in the city, few consider the Victorian capital the perfect venue to witness natural phenomena. In spite of its reputation as a bustling metropolis, Melbourne city is home to some of Australia's finest observation points for sunrises and sunsets. Here's a comprehensive list of locations in Melbourne that tourists can head to catch more than a passing glimpse of these daily visual spectacles.

The Royal Botanic Gardens

When it comes to catching the sunrise over Melbourne, there's no finer location than the Royal Botanic Gardens for the best views. Whether one is based at Avani Melbourne Central Residences or any of the other Melbourne city hotels in the inner city area, all one has to do is make it to the Swan Street bridge at first light. Visitors can reach the Swan Street Bridge by walking along the Tan. Don't forget to wear hiking boots or a comfortable pair of sneakers as it can be a chilly walk in the wee hours of the morning for those who have only sandals or flip-flops on.

Kokoda Track Memorial Walk

Travellers staying close to Tremont, on the other hand, can stroll along the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk path, which most Melbourne residents walk for fitness reason. At the end of the nearly 3km long walk, one reaches the iconic One Tree Hill lookout point, which affords some of the best views of the sunrise accessible in the city. As a popular destination for watching the sunrise, it may be difficult to find a spot if one does not arrive early.

The Shrine of Remembrance

While The Shrine of Remembrance is a cultural landmark that's associated with the annual ANZAC and Remembrance Day celebrations and ceremonies, it is also a good spot to watch the sun come up over the city. The steps of The Shrine of Remembrance located next to the Eternal Flame are perhaps the city's most somber and reverent location to catch the sun rising over the horizon in light of what the flame and the shrine have come to represent.

Hit the Skies

Those who sign up for a hot air balloon ride over Melbourne city in the early hours of the morning can also watch dawn break from a truly vaulted vantage point. Floating among the clouds at a height of 3000 feet, there are no words to describe how visually arresting the sunrise can be when viewed from on high. Accessible in Melbourne neighborhoods such as Richmond, hot-air balloon rides across the city are available through a number of resorts and tour operators.

The Boatbuilders Yard

South Wharf's iconic bar, The Boatbuilder's Yard is not only the ideal spot for an afternoon beer but one of the top spots for catching the sunset in Melbourne. The vast wooden deck outside the bar, which looks out over Yarra River, is the perfect location to watch the sun seemingly descend into the water with a beverage in hand.

St Kilda Pier

While this may be one of the oldest sunset viewing hotspots in Melbourne, St. Kilda Pier still affords some of the most breathtaking views of the daily miracle from its worn footbridge. Dangling one's feet over Port Phillip Bay, the joy of watching the sun dip its wary head is a ritual that residents have been indulging in for decades.

Eureka Skydeck 88

This Southbank observation platform with floor-to-ceiling glass panels allows locals and tourists unhindered views of the sunset a whopping 88 floors above ground. As the city's tallest viewing platform, the Eureka Skydeck 88 is one of the safest venues in the city to watch this daily occurrence without clamouring for a spot with large crowds.