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The quirkiest attractions to visit in Melbourne
Discover 13 quirky places to visit in Melbourne, from fairy gardens and sculpture trails to fun eateries and historical oddities, with plenty of bizarre curiosities in between.
Think you know Melbourne? Beyond the laneways, galleries and much-loved cafes, the city is full of surprising places with unusual stories to tell.
From hidden library catacombs and mechanical arcade giants to fairy gardens, rooftop train carriages and one very unexpected Elvis memorial, these quirky Melbourne attractions are worth adding to your next city adventure.
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The quirkiest attractions in Melbourne
Royal Arcade’s Gog and Magog clock
The Royal Arcade, one of Melbourne CBD’s most opulent spaces, is home to Gog and Magog, two wooden statues built in 1892 by local craftsman Mortimer Godfrey. Slightly menacing in appearance, the figures strike iron bells with their mechanical arms every hour during opening hours.
Linking Bourke Street Mall, Elizabeth Street and Little Collins Street, the arcade is a tourist drawcard filled with boutique fashion and jewellery stores, as well as other one-of-a-kind destination stores like Spellbox and Curiosity Merchants.
The arcade is also home to one of Melbourne’s best-known chocolate shops. Time your visit for the hour and pair a viewing of Gog and Magog in action with a hot chocolate at Koko Black
Visit on the hour to see the mechanical giants, Gog and Magog, ring the bells in Royal Arcade. Image: Visit Victoria
State Library Victoria catacombs
State Library Victoria is a beloved Melbourne landmark and a much larger institution than most visitors realise. The library is best known for its grand Dome Room, but beneath it are magnificent heritage spaces and catacombs hidden from public view. Its underground corridors, historical vaults and archival storage areas span nearly an entire city block, and the only way to experience this historic wonder is to book a guided tour.
One of the quirkiest collections at the library is the WG Alma Conjuring Collection, which includes more than 4,000 items concerning magicians and conjuring. Anyone can request access to the collection too, with requested items able to be viewed in the Heritage Collections Reading Room.
The 170-year-old library is also one of the best places to learn about Australia’s most notorious bushranger, Ned Kelly. The body armour he wore during his final siege is on display and complemented by a free online exhibition. The library’s exhibitions are among the best things to do in Melbourne for free.
Go beyond the La Trobe Reading Room (aka Domed Reading Room) and explore more at State Library Victoria. Image: Visit Victoria.
Elvis memorial, Melbourne General Cemetery
Even though the King of rock ’n’ roll never visited Melbourne, the Elvis memorial, which was erected in 1977, is one of the largest at Melbourne General Cemetery.
Commissioned by the Victorian chapter of the Elvis Presley Fan Club and built by stonemasons Giannarelli & Sons, it is believed to be the only authorised Elvis memorial outside the US. Die-hard fans can visit the rocky spot, designed to resemble a stone grotto from Elvis’ native Memphis, Tennessee.
Fairfield Industrial Dog Object (FIDO)
This giant wooden dog, made from recycled hardwood, was installed next to Fairfield Station in 2000 despite strong opposition from neighbours and shopkeepers.
Created by artists Ian Sinclair, Jackie Staude, David Davies and Alistair Knox, FIDO was intended as a symbol of community, capturing the friendliness, vitality and dog-loving character of Fairfield Village.
One of Australia’s “big objects”, the 5.5m-tall and 8m-long sculpture no longer lights up or gives warning barks as trains approach, but it has become an iconic landmark in Melbourne’s inner north.
While you’re near the station, pop into Our First Cafe for a Korean-inspired brunch and a great coffee.
Melbourne Tram Museum, Hawthorn
Built in the early 1900s, the original Hawthorn Tram Depot was used for many years to train tram drivers and conductors. Uniforms were also manufactured there in the 1940s.
Now part of a residential complex, the museum has been preserved within the building, where visitors can explore the fleet of heritage trams, learn about the historic depot and discover why trams have been so integral to Melbourne life.
More: Best historical experiences in Melbourne
Fruit bats of Yarra Bend Park
For one of Melbourne’s more unexpected wildlife experiences, head to Yarra Bend Park at dusk to see grey-headed flying foxes stir from their daytime roosts. Often called bats, these Victorian native flying foxes can be spotted hanging in the trees before they take flight over the river in search of fruit, nectar and pollen.
Pack a picnic and find a spot along the riverbank to watch the evening fly-out, which can be a memorable family-friendly activity. Grey-headed flying foxes also play an important role in pollinating and regenerating native forests by spreading pollen and seeds as they forage at night.
The Fairy Tree and Tudor Village are free to visit and add a touch of whimsy to Fitzroy Gardens. Image: Visit Victoria
Fairy Tree and Tudor Village, Fitzroy Gardens, East Melbourne
Trees have long captured children’s imaginations, from The Magic Faraway Tree to Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s Treehouse series, making the Fairy Tree at Fitzroy Gardens a fitting family favourite. Carved in the 1930s by artist Ola Cohn, the artwork transformed the stump of a 300-year-old red gum into a whimsical world of animals and little figures.
Take the kids to spot the koalas, kangaroos, possums, lizards, kookaburras and tiny people hidden in the carving. Nearby, the Model Tudor Village features miniature British Tudor-style homes and public buildings that were gifted to the people of Melbourne in 1948. The River God Fountain, also known as the Old Man Fountain or Neptune, and the Dolphin Fountain add more sculptural curiosities to this much-loved park.
More: The best free botanic gardens and parks to visit in Melbourne
St Kilda Beach is one of Melbourne's most popular attractions, but have you noticed the Solar System Trail that runs along it? Image: Visit Victoria
Solar System Trail, St Kilda to Port Melbourne
Astronomy enthusiasts can explore the Solar System Trail, a 5.9km walking and cycling path along the Port Phillip Bay foreshore. The permanent 1:1 billion scale model of the solar system was created in collaboration with the local council, Lonely Planet and Victorian astronomers, with every metre of the trail representing one million kilometres in space. Start at the Sun at Marina Reserve in St Kilda and follow the planets towards dwarf planet Pluto, near Sandridge Beach in Port Melbourne. Allow around 90 minutes to walk the trail, or about 20 minutes to ride it by bike.
For families with young children, make time to visit Maritime Cove Community Park. This quirky marine-themed playground has bright-yellow steel buoys and channel markers for climbing, metal shovels and tunnels for sand play, and a musical area with a bell children can ring.
Coop's Shot Tower stands as the centrepiece of Melbourne Central and is a must-see if shopping in the city. Image: Visit Victoria
Coop’s Shot Tower, Melbourne Central
Coop’s Shot Tower was the tallest building in Melbourne’s CBD until the 1940s. Now dwarfed by towers such as the 316.7m Australia 108 residential building and the 297.3m Eureka Tower, home to Melbourne Skydeck, the 84m-high shot tower has been carefully preserved inside Melbourne Central shopping centre.
Completed in 1889–90, the tower once produced lead shot and lead pipes. Shot-makers would climb to the top and pour molten lead through a sieve; as the droplets fell into a vat of water below, they cooled into perfectly spherical pellets. You can learn more at the free museum.
Nearby, the Fob Clock is another popular curiosity, with the lower half descending on the hour to reveal mechanical Australian birds moving to the tune of Waltzing Matilda.
Herring Island, Yarra River
Environmentally inspired sculptures are a feature of Herring Island, a 3.2ha man-made island in a bend of the Yarra River between Richmond and South Yarra, just 3km from the city.
The sculptures were made using natural materials, while the rest of the island is planted with indigenous trees, grasses and other native vegetation.
Visit on weekends and public holidays from early January through to Easter by catching the free ferry from Como Landing, at the end of Williams Road in South Yarra.
More: The islands of Victoria: the forgotten paradises you can visit
A ferry lets you visit Herring Island during the warmer months. Otherwise, you'll need to make your own way there via private boats, kayaks or similar. Image: Parks Victoria
Sojourn restaurant and rooftop bar, CBD
Melbourne is full of surprises, and this bold blue dining venue is one of them. You’ll find Sojourn – a double-storey metal structure akin to a Meccano set – nestled among some of Melbourne’s finest Victorian and Edwardian landmarks.
Located in New Chancery Lane, it catches the eye as you walk along Little Collins Street. Dine downstairs or enjoy a view of the street from the rooftop bar. If you want to go from one extreme to another, one of Melbourne’s oldest buildings, The Mitre Tavern, built in 1837, is nearby.
For another unique dining experience, take an 86 tram along Smith Street in Collingwood to Easey Street. Admire the street art, then have lunch or dinner at Easey’s, a converted train carriage perched on a rooftop. Be aware that this place is popular during school holidays.
More: Best things to do and see, and places to eat in Melbourne, Victoria
There's no missing Sojourn, a bright blue laneway bar and restaurant situated at the intersection of Little Collins Street and Chancery Lane.
Dights Falls Yarra Bend Park
This artificial weir, built by entrepreneurial brothers John and Charles Dight in the early 1840s, spans the Yarra River at Abbotsford. Originally designed to power their flour mill, the weir has since become an inner-city waterfall for generations to enjoy.
The 4.7km Dights Falls loop track is a lovely trail along the riverbank through eucalypts, where walkers can see an abundance of wildlife and birds, especially in the early morning or at dusk. Beware of snakes, especially in the warmer months between October and March. Book a table at the Studley Park Boathouse for breakfast, lunch or an afternoon cocktail.
More: The best waterfalls to explore in Melbourne and Victoria
Montsalvat, Eltham
Always inspiring, the Montsalvat artists’ colony is Australia’s oldest artist colony and heritage village. Built by artists and craftspeople from the 1930s, the Eltham estate feels like a European village transported to the bush, with rustic stone buildings, leafy courtyards, studios, gardens and a Great Hall that gives the place a slightly medieval, fairytale quality.
Famous artists and creatives who spent time at Montsalvat include its founder Justus Jörgensen, and painters such Clifton Pugh and Albert Tucker, whose work you can see at the National Gallery of Victoria.
It still attracts creative types from across the city for classes in mosaic, jewellery making and painting, while visitors can wander the grounds, see artists at work and stop for a drink or meal at the onsite cafe.
Other nearby attractions include the Diamond Creek Trail for walks and cycling, Alistair Knox Park for its fabulous wooden adventure playground and Sugarloaf Reservoir Park for walks and picnic areas.
Victoria has plenty of unusual attractions to tempt you, such as the Stick Shed at Murtoa. Image: Visit Victoria
Going on a road trip? Try these quirky regional attractions
Beyond the city limits you'll find even more odd, quirky and amazing attractions in regional Victoria. If you're planning a road trip, detour to one of regional Victoria's most quirky attractions the next time you're travelling.
- Cactus Country (Strathmerton) – stop by Australia's largest cactus and succulent garden to marvel at the desert landscapes and enjoy a cactus ice cream.
- Pink Lakes (Murray-Sunset National Park) - these surreal pink salt lakes are a popular site for photographers. Visit at sunset or sunrise for some of the best colours.
- Silo Art Trail (various locations) – pitching itself as the country's biggest outdoor art gallery, the Silo Art Trail comprises 20+ large-scale murals painted on silos around Victoria.
- Kryal Castle (Ballarat) – a favourite for kids big and small, Kryal Castle is a medieval fantasy land is where you'll find dragons, jousting, knights, witches and more.
- The Stick Shed (Murtoa) – aka the "Cathedral of the Wimmera", this huge grain store was completed in 1942 and is the only remaining grain store of its type in Australia.
