Located just 6km outside of Melbourne’s city centre, you will find the beautiful seafront town of St Kilda. Here you can explore some of Melbourne’s top attractions including St Kilda Beach, Esplanade Market and Luna Park.
Famous for its food and entertainment, we take a look at some of the must-visit attractions when in the area.
Adventure at Luna Park
For the past century, this historic park has been welcoming visitors for over 100 years. With a mix of heritage attractions combined with newer rides, there’s something here for all thrill-seekers.
As the world’s oldest continually operating roller coaster, the Great Scenic Railway should be your first port of call. Standing 16 metres tall with 967 metres of track and reaching speeds of 60km/h, the large wooden coaster transports passengers around the outside of the entire park.
It also boasts a mini roller coaster, Ferris wheel, a carousel and a mirror maze among many other amazing attractions.
Shopping at Esplanade Market
Open every Sunday since 1970 and only a 15-minute drive from Melbourne, St Kilda Esplanade Market presents over 150 unique, vibrant and lively stalls, each selling hand-crafted products, from artwork to artisan food – all perfectly situated by the sea on the Upper Esplanade.
Close to Luna Park and the beach, it is the ideal way to spend a relaxing morning taking a gander at the stalls before heading to the next attraction in St Kilda.
Relaxing in the sea baths
For a unique experience visit St Kilda Sea Baths where you can bathe in water from the sea and heated to the optimal temperature. Swimming in seawater has copious benefits on the body. The water possesses high amounts of minerals, including sodium, chloride, sulphate, magnesium and calcium – a reason why it has such a positive effect on easing skin conditions such as eczema. It has also been shown to assist with relaxation, relieve muscle soreness and restore energy.
Facilities at the baths include a heated 25-metre seawater pool, hydrotherapy spa pool, aromatherapy steam room and a lounge area where you can relax and admire the views of the bay.
Penguin spotting at St Kilda Pier
The beach is alive with walkers, joggers, kite surfers, windsurfers and swimmers. With a history dating back to 1853, the most famous attraction at the heart is the St Kilda Pier.
For scenic panoramic views of Melbourne’s skyline and Port Phillip Bay, this is the place to be. Why not take up a spot to enjoy some fishing or try your hand at rollerblading? Alternatively, it’s at the pier where St Kilda’s nature comes out; every day of the year, after sunset, penguins come out from the sea to visit their nests settled at the end of the pier. They then return to the sea 9-12 hours later to get back before sunrise. The best viewing spot is on the boardwalk, usually 30 minutes after sundown.
With a variety of sites and attractions, St Kilda makes for an amazing day out when visiting Melbourne.
