The Melbourne City Circle tram is a free service, which is a circular route passing through major tourist attractions in the central business district. This is a fastest way to get a feel of Melbourne city and what it has to offer.
You can get a copy of the Melbourne City Circle tram map here.
The tram operates between 10am to 6pm from Sunday to Wednesday and between 10am to 9pm from Thursday to Saturday. The frequency is about every 12 minutes.
The city circle tram travels in both directions around Melbourne’s central business district. The whole loop takes about 48 minutes.
The clockwise route travels from Flinders Street, Harbour Esplanade, Docklands Drive, La Trobe Street, Victoria Street, Nicholson Street, Spring Street, and finally back to Flinders Street.
The anti-clockwise route travels from Flinders Street, Spring Street, Nicholson Street, Victoria Parade, La Trobe Street, Docklands Drive, Harbour Esplanade, and finally back to Flinders Street.
We recommend the anti-clockwise route as the initial part of the ride will take you through most of the major attractions. You would have expanded most of your energy by the time you reach Harbour Esplanade, which is then a good place to end with shopping at Harbour Town Shopping Centre.
If you are heading for shopping first, then do the clockwise route.
1. Flinders Street Stop
Start your ride at Flinders Street stop, which is just outside Flinders Street Station.
2. Treasury Gardens
Get off the stop at Spring Street and cross the road to Treasury Gardens.
Treasury Gardens is one of the two biggest gardens in East Melbourne. The garden is beautifully landscaped with matured elms and Moreton Bay fig trees.
A few monuments to look out for in Treasury Gardens. The first one is Robert Burns monument, which is located at the entrance from Spring Street.
The other one is John F. Kennedy’s monument, which is located near a little pond and stream.
3. Fitzroy Gardens
Exit Treasury Gardens, cross Lansdowne Street and enter Fitzroy Gardens.
Fitzroy Gardens is the biggest garden in East Melbourne, covering an areas of 26 hectares (64 acres). The garden was named after Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, who was the Governor of New South Wales in 1845.
The highlights of Fitzroy Gardens are Conservatory, Cooks’ Cottage and Model Tudor Village.
4. Conservatory
The Conservatory is located on the southeastern corner of Fitzroy Gardens.
The design is of Spanish Mission-style architecture and there are five separate display of flora during different seasons of the year.
Enter the Conservatory and enjoy the flora display.
5. Cooks’ Cottage
Cooks’ Cottage was constructed in 1755 in England and was Captain James Cook’s parents home.
It was dismantled brick by brick and then shipped to Australia. It was then re-assembled in Melbourne.
To spice up the cottage, volunteers dressed up in the 18th century costumes to welcome visiting tourists.
There is an entry fee to further explore the interior of the cottage.
6. Model Tudor Village
Head towards the Pavilion café you will find the Model Tudor Village near by.
This a cluster of miniature village, which was presented to the people of Melbourne from the City of Lambeth, in South London.
This was in appreciation of the Victorians’ generosity to send food to Britain during World War II.
8. Parliament House
Head back towards Spring Street to catch the next City Circle tram towards Parliament House.
Get off at the Parliament House stop.
The Parliament started meeting at the Parliament House since 1856. However, between 1901 and 1927, the parliament House was used by the Federal Parliament and the Parliament of Victoria sat at the Royal Exhibition Building.
9. Carlton Gardens
Catch the next City Circle tram. Get off at Royal Exhibition Building stop and cross Victoria Street towards Carlton Gardens.
The Carlton Gardens is a World Heritage Site covering an area size of 26-hectare (64-acre). A variety of European and Australian trees are planted here.
Carlton Gardens is one of the most popular locations for wedding ceremony.
10. The Royal Exhibition Building.
The building was completed in 1880 and was built to host the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1881. It hosted the first parliament of Australia seating in 1901.
Today it is a commercial exhibition venue.
11. Melbourne Museum
Further up from Royal Exhibition Building is the Melbourne Museum. The Melbourne Museum was constructed in 2001.
This is a great venue to spend a whole day with your children. It has seven main galleries, a gallery for children and exhibition galleries in the concourse area.
Please check the opening hours and entrance here.
Located in the lower level is the Discovery Centre. The entrance is free and is a great place for children to explore the various exhibits in the centre. There are also hands-on activities and the friendly staff are ever ready to take questions.
Just next the the main building is the IMAX Melbourne. IMAX Melbourne has the second largest screen in the world. 3D documentaries and Hollywood blockbusters are screened here.
Check their screening details here.
12. Old Melbourne Gaol
Exit Carlton Gardens and get back on City Circle tram towards Old Melbourne Gaol.
The Old Melbourne Gaol is a bluestone building and is located next to the City Courts buildings. Part of the gaol has become RMIT university.
It’s now a popular tourist destination. It’s open daily from 9.30am to 5.00pm (recommended that the last entry is at 3.30pm).
There’s an entry fee. For details, please check their web site here.
13. State Library of Victoria
The State Library of Victoria is just a short walk further down La Trobe Street. It would save you some time if you walk instead of waiting for the City Circle tram or other trams.
The State Library of Victoria is another icon and heritage building of Victoria. The library was first opened in 1856 but the rest of the building was completed in stages.
You can check their opening hours and what is on here.
The most significant part of the library is the Domed Reading Room, which was opened in 1913.
There are two free permanent exhibitions in the building. The Ned Kelly’s armour located in The Changing Face of Victoria and the history of books in Mirror of the World.
There are other various exhibitions at different time of the year. Here is an example, “On Air: 40 Years of 3R.”
The Pictures Collection in the Cowen Gallery is the oldest visual documentary collection in Australia.
The Redmond Barry Reading room is located at the eastern end of the library. The reading room is equipped with internet ready computers and this room is the busiest when close to exam months in Victoria.
14. Melbourne Central Station
Just opposite the State Library is Melbourne Central Station. Here almost everything is found under one roof. Shopping, restaurants, pubs, and underground train services are found here.
Melbourne Central Shopping Centre is connected to Emporium Melbourne shopping centre and Myer shopping centre via pedestrian bridges and tunnels.
The shopping area is so huge that you do not need to exit the entire shopping area.
The main attraction of Melbourne Central Station is the ‘Coop’s Shot Tower’, a bullet making facility designed in 1889.
The tower is under the cover of a 20 story high glass cone, which is an architectural showpiece designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa.
15. Queen Victoria Market
Make your way towards Elizabeth Street and catch tram No. 19, 57 or 59 towards Queen Victoria Market. The tram stop is just outside Melbourne Central Station on Elizabeth Street. The tram ride is free.
The Queen Victoria Market by itself is a half day visit. There are lots of shopping, food and street entertainments at the market.
You may want to plan a seperate trip to Queen Victoria Market.
16. Harbour Town Shopping Centre
Finally we are at Harbour Town Shopping Centre. There are more than 90 shops offering a mixture of speciality and discount shops. You can check out what is on on their web site here.
The Melbourne Star, the Southern Hemisphere’s only Giant Observation Wheel, is also located here. For more details check out here.
O’Brien Group Arena, which is Australia’s largest ice arena is also located here. For details on ice skating, click here.
A relatively new development, which just opposite of Harbour Town Shopping Centre, is the New Quay Promenade.
It is Melbourne waterfront lifestyle living. High rise apartments, restaurants and a marina is the make-up of this waterfront living.
17. Flinders Station
By now you are probably exhausted and hand full of shopping bags. Time to head back home. Take the tram and that head back to Flinders station. You can also travel on tram No 70 to Wattle Park, which will also stop at Flinders Station.
We hope you have enjoyed the tour using the free City Circle tram. Please take a moment to leave us a positive comment and share us on your favourite social media.
Thank you.
Hi. When we board the Free tram at Melbourne Central Station and exit at Queen Victoria market, do we need to pay? It seems the tram stops nearby Queen Victoria market is out of the free tram zone. Thank you.
Hi Marco,
Thank you for the message. The City Circle Tram is completely free. City Circle Tram line doesn’t pass Queen Victoria Market. You need to get off at Queen Street stop and take a short walk to Queen Victoria Market. Hope that helps.
Thank you, Kee Leow.
Hi Marco, I just recalled that QVM is in the free tram zone so your ride is free. I wrongly assumed City Circle line as the ‘free tram’ mentioned in your email. Sorry for the confusion. You are all good. Hope you had a great day at QVM. Cheers