21 of My Favourite Photo Spots in Melbourne [From a Local]


There are heaps of great photo spots in Melbourne, hardly a surprise for such a photogenic city!

Having lived and worked here for just under two years I’ve been lucky enough to spend lots of time exploring and have hundreds of photos.

In this post, I share with you my favourite photo spots in the city and where to find them.


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The Reeves have lived for over 5 years in Melbourne, with little Gracie being born here. We have travelled extensively, picking up lots of tips about how to make the most of this incredible country.
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Ben Reeve
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Map of Melbourne Photo Spots


‘Across the Water’ Melbourne Skyline

Melbourne CBD with water in front and blue skies to the back

This classic photo of Melbourne is taken from the pretty seaside town of Williamstown, which can be quickly accessed via ferry or train.


Flinders Street Station

Flinders Street Station. A big yellow building, with archway above the entrance which has multiple clocks above it.

If you’d not been to Melbourne before, it would be hard to pick out an iconic building. There are no huge famous landmarks of the type you’d find in New York, Sydney or Paris however there are lots of wonderful smaller structures, the most memorable of which would have to be Flinders Street Station.

READ NEXT: 25 Pros and Cons of Living in Melbourne (From a Local)


Looking Down The Yarra

A river flanked by skyscrapers

The Yarra River is at the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, jump on any of the bridges for a great photo.


The City From St Kilda Pier at Dusk

A harbour at dusk, with a red sky in the background

St Kilda Pier is famous for its colony of Little Penguins, but it’s also one of the best photo spots in Melbourne, thanks to its great views back over the city skyline.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VICTORIA: 30 Interesting & Unusual Facts About Victoria


Kangaroos of Plenty Gorge Park

Two kangaroos hopping away from a tree

Plenty Gorge Park is the closest place to the centre of Melbourne that you can see kangaroos in the wild.

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The Melbourne Cricket Ground

The Melbourne Cricket ground or MCG, taken from the park below. The white floodlights pop out from above the trees

A short walk from the city centre you’ll find all many of Melbourne’s iconic sporting venues grouped together around Yarra Park.

You’ll find the Olympic Park, AAMI Arena (Rugby and Soccer), Rod Laver Arena (Tennis), Punt Road Arena and Olympic Park Oval (Aussie Rules) and – most famous of them all – the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) also known as just ‘The G’ which host test matches and big Aussie Rules games.

Recommended Reading: How to Take Better iPhone Photos: 5 Tips to Become an Insta-Legend!


Melbourne Skyline from Port Melbourne

A city blanketed in mist with the sunrise above

One of my favourite photo spots in Melbourne is on top of the car park for Coles Supermarket in Port Melbourne. From here the city skyline is in clear view, I was so pleased with this photo of the skyscrapers shrouded in morning mist.


Melbourne Star

A large, white Ferris wheel with blue sky behind it

Located in the Docklands the Melbourne Star was originally completed in 2008, but shut 40 days later due to structural defects, and wasn’t fully reopened for five years!

The seven spokes of the wheel represent the seven-pointed star of the Australian Flag.

We’ve not been on it yet, but I do love taking photos from underneath this 120m structure, which contrasts perfectly with a blue Victorian sky.

Recommended Reading: What is Melbourne Known For?


Jawbone Sanctuary

A large rock set in a marshy area with lots of indigenous Australian plants and sunset in the background

The Jawbone Sanctuary is located to the west of Melbourne between the suburbs Williamstown and Altona.

This Melbourne hidden gem is a marine reserve and protected area of indigenous plants, and one of my absolute favourite photo spots in Melbourne, especially with the sun setting in the distance.


South Melbourne Market

South Melbourne Marker. A building with diamond roofs and planters on a quieter street in front of it

South Melbourne Market is my favourite of the big markets in Melbourne, with a delicious mix of food stores and fresh produce.

Most of my photos from here are of food, but I do love the outside of the building, with the shiny glass buildings of Melbourne’s CBD popping up in the background.

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The Polly Woodside

The Polly Woodside, an original tall ship. It has a blue bow, with a long wooden front pole and large masts with rigging hanging from them

The Polly Woodside is one of Australia’s last surviving 19th Century Tall Ships and is moored up in Melbourne’s South Wharf. Having had over 60,000 hours of restoration she is now the main exhibit at Melbourne’s Maritime Museum.


Melbourne Botanic Gardens

Two people on a green punt with a guide at the back controlling them. A black swan is in the front of the frame which is surrounded by lush, green trees

Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens are spectacular throughout the year a great place to escape the busy city and unwind.

There is a huge ornamental lake at the centre where it’s possible to take a voyage out on one of the traditional punts.


CBD After Dark

The night time view of a city with the lights of modern buildings reflected in the water

As with many modern cities, Melbourne is just as beautiful after dark as it is in the daytime.

Anywhere near the Yarra River will offers up some fantastic photos spots, with the lights of the skyscrapers reflected off of the brown waters.


Albert Park

Albert Park in Melbourne, a long shot with the grey water at the front and Melbourne City skyline at the back. It is a cloudy day

In March, Albert Park gets converted into a racetrack for the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

For the rest of the year, it’s a great spot to wander, run the loop of the lake or just sit back with a coffee and admire the views of Melbourne.

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Shrine of Remembrance

Looking up the steps to the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, a huge stone building with blue sky and wispy cloud in the background

The Shrine of Remembrance is Victoria’s National Monument to Australians that have served in wars and peacekeeping operations.

It is located right beside the Botanic Gardens and offers great views of the city, as well as being very photogenic in its own right!

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Centre Place Laneway

A dark, narrow all with restaurants either side, each of which have lit up signs above them

Centre Place is my favourite of Melbourne’s famous laneways. The Victorian Capital’s answer to Diagon Alley, it’s flanked by hole-in-the-wall style restaurants filled with Melburninan’s catching up on the day’s gossip.

Recommended Reading: The Best Photography Kit for Travel (All my favourites)


The View From Mount Dandenong

A view of Melbourne from the top of a mountain. It is a long way off in the distance, the sky is bright blue

Mount Dandenong rises high in the suburbs of Melbourne’s East and is the best spot to get photos back over the city and Port Philip Bay.

I simply love the views from up here and am always amazed at how low-rise most of Melbourne is and how compact the high-rise central business district is compared to other cities.


Skyscrapers from Victoria Market

Modern, colourful skyscrapers above Victoria Market. A sign says 'we are proudly plastic free'

One of the things I love about Melbourne’s skyline is the creative approach taken to the design of the buildings. From wonky angles to funky colours, the architects of Melbourne were working overtime to make their buildings stand out.

One of my favourite photos spots in Melbourne is right beside Victoria Market, where the most colourful of the glass monoliths rise high behind the traditional roofs of the 150-year-old stalls.

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The City from St Kilda Pier in Daytime

Melbourne City taken from St Kilda Pier. The harbour at the front is full of boats, and above the city an aerial display team is doing a loop the loop leaving a long line of smoke behind them in the blue sky

This might be cheating, but including a second photo from St Kilda Pier just reinforces why it is one of my favourite photo spots in Melbourne.

This snap was taken a few days before the 2020 Grand Prix, which got cancelled at the very last minute due to Covid-19. The Australian Air Force aerobatic team (The Roulettes) were practicing their display over the city and I was lucky enough to time this photo just as they came out of a synchronised loop.


Williamstown Botanic Gardens

Williamstown Botanic Gardens

Another vote for my hometown of Williamstown with the Botanic Gardens being one of my favourite places here.

The Central Palm Walkway was planted in 1988 brings a little Los Angeles style to Victoria. Get up before dawn and you might just be treated to some beautiful pink skies like I was. I love this picture so much, it sits in a photobook I had made of my favourite places in Australia.

READ MORE: Complete Guide to Williamstown Botanic Gardens


Sandridge Lookout, Port Melbourne

Sandridge Lookout In Port Melbourne

One of my favourite places for sunrise photos, Sandridge Lookout and the Maritime Cove Community Park offer awesome views over the ever-growing Melbourne skyline.

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AUTHOR – BEN REEVE

Reeves Roam, is a first-hand travel blog. The Reeves have lived in the UK, South Africa and Australia and have travelled extensively in Europe and Southeast Asia.

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Thanks – Ben, Becca and Gracie

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