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A former local’s guide to the best places to photograph the Melbourne skyline at night in 2020 – from St Kilda to the city centre. Ready, set, shoot the best views in Melbourne!
Before I left Melbourne, I had a few spare days where I wasn’t running errands or packing up my life. So I made the most of the time off and checked out a couple of places I had yet to visit. It just so happened that they were all positioned for spectacular skyline views. If you want to capture the best views in Melbourne, here are my top 9 places to photograph the Melbourne skyline.
The best views of the Melbourne skyline
1. St Kilda Pier
I’ve written a guide to St Kilda on the blog before, as it’s one of my favourite Melbourne suburbs. As soon as you step out on to St Kilda Pier, turn to your right and prepare to be awed. You will get great Melbourne skyline views all the way down to the end of the pier, where the penguins hang out at night. Although I was there in the middle of the day, I know that this is also one of the best places to photograph the Melbourne skyline at night. Hello, lights reflected in the calm ocean 😍.
2. Shrine of Remembrance
Why it took me so long to visit the Shrine of Remembrance, I don’t know. But the Victorian war memorial is located just a short walk outside of the CBD and next to Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens. You can get a different view from the Shrine’s stairs, looking towards the city. However, one of the best views in Melbourne (in my opinion, anyway) can be found inside the Shrine and up the stairs. On top, you can walk around and capture the Melbourne skyline perfectly. Although the view makes visiting the Shrine worthwhile, there’s some very interesting war history and memorabilia located inside, too.
The Shrine of Remembrance is just one of the places included in my guide to the 23 best free things to do in Melbourne. Check it out HERE.
3. Yarra River
I suggest walking along the Yarra River from Princes Bridge to DFO South Wharf, or vice versa. From the opposite side of the river to the city, you are able to get excellent photos of the Melbourne skyline. My favourite building is undoubtedly Flinders Street Station, which looks regal compared to the normal CBD skyscrapers. I recommend taking photos around Southbank and Spencer Street Bridge. Take advantage of all of the bridges crossing the Yarra River to get some unique perspectives as well.
4. Royal Botanic Gardens
Now the Royal Botanic Gardens are a big place, so capturing the Melbourne skyline might take some wandering. But as you make your way around the 38-hectare gardens, you’re able to see the Melbourne skyline from a different perspective. I also like that instead of water, you can capture the skyline peeking out from the plants.
5. Eureka Skydeck
Eureka Skydeck is actually the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere. From the 88th floor of Eureka Tower (also the tallest building in Melbourne), you can get a pretty amazing view of not only the Melbourne skyline but a lot of the city too. There are , but there is an option to go up both during the day and night. The Eureka Skydeck is also a great place for epic photos of the Melbourne skyline at night. Please see below for photographic evidence 😉.
The Melbourne skyline at night from Eureka Skydeck
Looking for more things to do in Melbourne at night besides taking photos of the Melbourne skyline?
6. Williamstown
The Williamstown Ferry departs from Southbank and takes you down the Yarra River to the ocean and onto Williamstown, an outer suburb. From the boat, you can get close-up photos as you exit the city, but the best Melbourne skyline view is awaiting you at the end. From Williamstown, you can capture the entire skyline, which is pretty spectacular. We took the ferry down and then got the train home, but you can also train it both ways.
7. The Melbourne skyline from the suburbs
I have seen some excellent Melbourne skyline photos from the city’s outer suburbs. I was staying with my awesome housemate at her new place in Hawthorn before I left, and as you walk along Glenferrie Road you can get some pretty stellar shots of the city. Just be that person who awkwardly stops on the footpath to look down each street as you walk past.
I’m also yet to cross these off my list, but for more Melbourne skyline views outside the CBD, check out Footscray Community Centre, Ruckers Hill in Northcote, Wills Street in Kew and the Naked for Satan rooftop in Fitzroy. The latter is a great place to take photos of the Melbourne skyline at night as well.
If you’re looking for foodie recommendations for Melbourne, here are my favourite places to eat.
8. Morell Bridge
This may be a slightly random inclusion, but I personally think this is one of the best views in Melbourne of the city skyline. I walked across the bridge to get to Richmond following my jaunt through the Botanic Gardens and loved the view. There’s a bit more greenery in this skyline view compared to the previous Yarra River shot, so I thought it needed to be included. You can also keep walking across and check out Olympic Park (another place I worked).
9. Albert Park Lake
These photos were taken on my last day in Melbourne. It was a totally miserable, cold, windy and cloudy day. But I went to Albert Park Lake, I took some photos, and then raced back to the warmth of home. But on a summer day, this would totally be the place to capture some of the best views in Melbourne. The Melbourne skyline view is beautiful and the walk around the lake is quite peaceful. Plus, you might even make a new animal friend. That little duck was not afraid of me.
I hope you enjoy capturing the Melbourne skyline from all of these possible angles.
Through my own research and exploring, these are definitely the top nine places for epic Melbourne skyline views.
