Yarra River

A Melbourne icon, the river is the central focus for many spectacular events including the famous Moomba festival, rowing regattas, the Melbourne Festival and Dragon Boat Festivals. Walking along the Yarrariver is a quintessential Melbourne holiday experience.  Although Melbourne is situated on the shores of one of the largest bays on the Australian coast, the Yarrariver is city's main water feature. This is because the city grew from the banks of the Yarra and until today the focus of the city is still very much on a one-kilometre section of the river. Visitors on holiday in Melbourne will quickly realise that within that one kilometre are some of the great sights and attractions of Melbourne.

The Yarra River was very important to Aboriginal people, and its name is thought to derive from Aboriginal words meaning "ever flowing". In 1803, Charles Grimes, Acting Surveyor General of New South Wales, led the first party of Europeans up the Yarra River.

 

The river was instrumental in the establishment of Melbourne beside its banks. The river provided shelter for ships and drinking water for the first inhabitants. The river drained the neighbouring land and it gave the early industries the large volumes of water necessary in their processes. Over the years, the mouth of the river has been completely transformed by realignment, widening and deepening in order to create a large modern port.

The Yarra River offers a multitude of picturesque settings for Melbourne holidays. The banks of the river have a number of barbecue and picnic facilities, fishing platforms and jettys and are a great opportunity to indulge in the Melbourne holiday experience. There are trails and paths which cater for cyclists, walkers and joggers. The nicest feature of the Yarra River for those on a Melbourne holiday is its picturesque walks. Once you get away from the concrete of Southgate and walk east down through King's Domain, you can walk for kilometres along the banks of the river without any sense of being on holiday in a great city like Melbourne. That's because the city planners have allowed for parklands either side of the roads that skirt around the river, including the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Southgate Arts and Leisure Complex

Royal Botanic Gardens

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Crown Entertainment Complex

Arts Centre

Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre

Melbourne Aquarium

Federation Square

Melbourne Park sports venue

Olympic Park sports venue

Birrarung Marr

St Johns Southgate