Melbourne is a great city for a wander around with a camera. It has a dynamic CBD with graffiti covered laneways and towering skyscrapers, superb parklands as well as beaches and coastal sights just a short trip away from the city centre.

Most locations on this list can be accessed on foot, by bike or by public transport, some a little further away from the Melbourne CBD than others. This list is always going to be subjective so please let me know your favourite spots as well in the comments at the bottom of the article. If you’re visiting Melbourne the Visit Victoria website is a great resource for things to do such as events that aren’t mentioned below.

I’ve been exploring Melbourne’s various locations with a camera for almost 15 years, I always love discovering new angles of popular locations. I feel that I always come away with different images even after visiting the same location on multiple occasions.

Without further ado, here’s my list of top 25 best locations for photography in and around Melbourne in no particular order!

#1 Birrarung Marr

Birrarung Marr is a park located on the northern banks of the Yarra River just a couple of minutes walk from Melbourne’s main train station, Flinders Street Station. It has a great mix of greenery, sculptures and offers a great chance to photograph some reflections of the buildings on the southern side of the Yarra River, notably the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria), Australia 108 and Eureka Tower shown above from left to right.

Great photos can be taken at both sunrise and sunset but if I had to pick one I would visit at sunset, especially during the summer months. When you’re there, check out the Angel Sculpture and the Federation Bells or have a picnic at the top of the grass hill on a nice day.

#2 Flinders Street Station

Next location on the list is one of the most recognisable buildings in Melbourne. Flinders Street Station is located on the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets in the central business district of Melbourne. It was opened in 1854 and services the entire metropolitan train network of Melbourne. Being a busy part of the city it’s a great location to try long exposure photography, blur a passing tram or traffic past the building for added interest. The station is best photographed at sunset or on blue hour just after sunset when you can achieve a nice balance between the blue sky and the lit up orange hues of the train station.

#3 Federation Square

Literally just across the road from Flinders Street Station is Federation Square or ‘Fed Square’ as us locals call it. I’m a bit of a sucker for modern architecture, when the sight was first developed back in 2002 it was definitely a polarising piece of architecture but I think that it’s aged as well even as I write this in 2020.

Since opening in 2002, Fed Square has seen more than 100 million visits and been named the 6th Best Public Square in the World. I like shooting the square at night in the cooler months when it’s quiet but it can also make for some nice shooting during the day as well. As it is a major tourist attraction it can be a little difficult to shoot it without people walking through your frame so try and photograph the square by using a long exposure with your camera mounted to a tripod.

#4 Hosier Lane

There are tonnes of graffiti littered laneways throughout the Melbourne CBD but the pick of the litter for me would have to be Hosier Lane and the accompanying Rutledge Lane that runs just off it. The laneway is a one way road from Flinders Lane so it doesn’t get much through traffic in the form of vehicles, but does attract lots of traffic in the form of tourists who love to photograph it’s brightly coloured graffitied walls. The laneway can be photographed at any time of the day, like most locations on this list a visit early in the day will result in less people wandering through your frame.

I actually love to visit this spot after rain when the cobblestones of Hosier Lane are rain-soaked and you can shoot some nice reflections. This is also a cool place to shoot cars, other products or portraiture. One of the cool things about Hosier Lane is that the artwork is always changing, every time I visit there’s new pieces on the walls. Also worth checking out are the nearby lanes of AC/DC lane and Duckboard Place just a short walk east down Flinders Lane.

#5 Boat Sheds

The Melbourne Boat Sheds are home to many of the rowing clubs in Melbourne including the Melbourne University Boat Club and many of the Private School boat sheds. That’s not why this location is on the list though, the foreshore next to the sheds offers some great views of the Melbourne CBD. It’s possible to photograph the city with Federation Square, Melbourne’s Skyscrapers and Birrarung Marr including the Angel sculpture all reflecting in the Yarra River. I love to visit this location early in the morning, the rowing boats can also make a nice addition to your images if you’re looking for a point of interest. A visit in autumn or winter can be rewarding on a foggy morning when the sun starts to break through as pictured here.

#6 Hamer Hall

The Hamer Hall offers multiple vantage points for photography of the Melbourne CBD. It has a lower level tier at street level that can be walked onto straight off St Kilda Road. If you walk further around the side on the National Gallery side there’s two small sets of stairs that will take you up onto the higher level. I barely ever see anyone up on the top level if you’re looking for peace and quiet! I like to photograph here in the morning after sunrise like below as the sun starts to illuminate the underside of Princes Bridge, but it’s also fantastic at dusk just after sunset.

#7 Evan Walker Bridge

I think this viewpoint of the Melbourne CBD is one of my most favourite. The Evan Walker Bridge offers the opportunity to nicely frame the Melbourne city skyline underneath the bridge itself with a wide angle lens. It also sits above a bar called Ponyfish Island, definitely check that out if you’re thirsty!

I prefer to shoot the bridge at sunrise when there’s no crowds. Too many people walking on the bridge can add vibrations to your image so be mindful of that if you’re shooting with you camera on a tripod.

#8 Sandridge Bridge

This next location is only a few hundred metres to the west of the previous location on the list. Sandridge Bridge offers a unique perspective back towards the Melbourne CBD and is better photographed from the south side of the Yarra River looking towards the city. There’s multiple viewpoints that I think are great. Some of the composition options are to shoot from the start of the bridge and photograph looking straight down the bridge itself or up on the bridge using the solid rivets as a lead in line towards the CBD. Otherwise just to the right of the bridge on the river bank can create some striking images as well.

#9 Seafarers & Jim Stynes Bridges

You guessed it.. more bridges! I’ve combined these two locations as they are very close to one another. The Seafarers Bridge is a footbridge over the Yarra River between Docklands and South Wharf in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It’s best photographed using a wide angle lens and looking up so that the whole unique shape of the bridge will fit into your frame.

The Jim Stynes bridge named after the AFL footballer is a pedestrian bridge and bike path that meanders along the northern banks of the Yarra River and connects the Docklands to the Melbourne CBD. It’s best photographed at dusk when its illuminated yellow lights turn on and provide some nice interest. In the image below Seafarers bridge can be seen in the background.

#10 St Kilda Pier

St Kilda Pier is a super popular tourist destination and with good reason. It’s one of the closest beaches to the Melbourne CBD and is easily accessible via public transport. The pier itself dates back to 1853 and if you’re lucky you might get a chance to see some of its popular little fairy penguins hiding amongst the rocks. From 2020 onwards to 2024 the pier area will be redeveloped and offer a better chance for tourists to see the penguins waddle back to their rock homes after sunset.

Photographing here can be great at both sunrise and sunset. If you’re wanting to photograph back towards the view of the city I would recommend a visit at sunrise, otherwise a shot of the kiosk at sunset can be rewarding as shown below.

#11 Albert Park Lake

Albert Park Lake is located just 3kms south of the Melbourne CBD, many motorsport fans will know it as the home of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix but it also offers some fantastic views of the city from its shores. It also has a popular running circuit around it at 4.8km in length. There’s also some beautiful flora and fauna to be found, one of my favourite tree species the Moreton Bay fig can be found on the southern side of the lake. The city is best photographed from the south shore near the Carousel Cafe. try and visit on a calm, clear morning as you’ll hopefully be rewarded with some beautiful reflections of the Melbourne city skyline.

#12 Docklands

The Docklands in my opinion is a bit of a playground for photographers. It has an array of modern architecture, sculptures, wide open spaces and views of Melbourne. Best of all, most of the time it’s fairly quiet so it’s not too difficult to take photos without people walking through your frame which can be more of an issue in the Melbourne CBD. It’s hard to name just one favourite place to shoot within the Docklands area but if I had to pick one it would probably be the Webb Bridge. Its distinct shape is instantly recognisable and its possible to shoot great photos from inside it and from outside looking back towards it.

Some of the other notable locations within the Docklands worth checking out are shooting Yarra’s Edge from outside the ANZ building, the pier remains at Victoria Harbour Promenade, the Cow Up A Tree sculpture and the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel.

#13 Princes Pier Remains

There’s something I love about derelict pier remains by water, Princes Pier in Port Melbourne is one of the few remaining rundown locations by Port Phillip that hasn’t yet been removed and its wide concrete pier attracts people from all over Melbourne. Visitors come here to fish, rollerblade, walk and ride bikes around it, especially at sunset. The pier itself faces almost directly south so it’s difficult to get the sun in the frame, I like to shoot the pier remains in the evening as the sun lower in the sky starts to light up the poles with a warm cast.

#14 Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes

When I think of an image that instantly speaks Melbourne it has to be the famous little bathing boxes of Brighton Beach. The colourful little huts have been a major tourist attraction and have been known to sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars a piece! I love visiting this spot at sunrise, sunset and even the middle of the day with blue skies. I quite like to visit the beach at low tide when the sandbank becomes accessible near the shore and you can photograph the boxes reflecting in a shallow pool. If you visit at sunset, especially on a warm night, don’t expect to have the place to yourself!

#15 Williamstown - Hobsons Bay Pier

On the western side of the West Gate Bridge is the lovely little bayside suburb of Williamstown. It’s waters are littered with boats and yachts of all shapes and sizes. It offers a great view back towards the Melbourne city skyline. Many of the piers here are private but the bigger ones can be accessed by the public. My favourite one is the Hobsons Bay Pier. Try shooting a panorama of the city with boats as foreground interest. After sunrise if it’s a calm morning you can also photograph some stunning reflections of the boats.

#16 Lagoon Pier

This cute little pier is located in the bayside suburb of Port Melbourne, there really aren’t many traditional wooden piers left in Melbourne but this is one of them. Make sure you get down there and photograph it before they replace it with a concrete one! It’s a perfect place to relax and watch the sunset, especially in the warmer months of summer. This web page on Lagoon Pier has some great information about it. When the tide is lower a sand bank will be exposed enabling you to photograph some nice reflections of the pier.

#17 Point Ormond Lookout

This small little grassy bluff is located in the popular bayside suburb of Elwood. It has a photographic white trig point located on top of the hill but also offers a great view of the skyline of Melbourne from the Bolte Bridge over on the left to the Melbourne CBD on the right. To view more information about this location checkout the Tripadvisor page for Point Ormond here.

#18 Ricketts Point

A bit further down the bay from Elwood is the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary. Like Elwood it has a little wooden trig point but this time out on the rocks surrounded by exposed rock pools. A visit here at low tide and at sunset is my favourite time to go, especially in summer when the skies can some produce some amazing colour like in this image below.

#19 Half Moon Bay

Not Half Moon Bay in California, Half Moon Bay in Melbourne! This quaint spot has not only a nice little beach but also the Red Bluff Cliffs, a pier and the HMVS Cerberus which is a purposefully wrecked ship out in the bay that acts as a breakwater. This location has regularly appeared in commercials and was even in the original Mad Max film. I recommend a visit at sunset to watch the sun setting over the bay. the Red Bluff Cliffs also turn into a nice shade of orange as the setting sun illuminates them.

#20 Mentone Beach Pier Remains

This location is the furthest away from the Melbourne CBD on the list but I felt it was a worthy inclusion as I’m a sucker for seascape locations, especially rundown piers as mentioned above. The popular Mentone beach has some old pier remains that are great place to relax and enjoy the sunset. I really like shooting long exposures here to give a smooth, calming effect to the image. The beach is often busy in summer but can be nice and quiet in the cooler months, just remember to pack a jacket as being by the water it can get a little chilly.

#21 Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance is a large war memorial in a beautiful location just off St Kilda Road. near the city. At the top of its steps you can look all the way straight down St Kilda Road into the Melbourne CBD. From there you can see Australia 108, Eureka Tower, National Gallery of Victoria, St Paul’s Cathedral, 101 Collins Street and many other points of interest. The building itself is also an attraction, I recommend visiting early in the morning when you’ll probably have the whole grounds to yourself as it doesn’t open until 10am each day. Otherwise late or early in the year when the sun sets later, it can be very quiet as well as most people will be further into the city or out of Melbourne on holidays.

#22 Swan Street Bridge

Swan Street is a very popular road full of bars and restaurants that runs through the inner city suburbs of Richmond and Cremorne. It also travels past the major sporting precinct that’s home to AAMI stadium, Rod Laver Arena and not far from the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Swan Street Bridge lies at the western most end of Swan Street and crosses over the Yarra River. It was recently upgraded and now includes much more room for pedestrians, cyclists and photographers! It has a great view of the Melbourne CBD where you can photograph nice reflections in the river.

Handy tip: The bridge is a major truck route and they can cause pretty bad vibrations when driving over it so if you’re shooting long exposures on the bridge itself keep that in mind and zoom in on your shots on your camera’s viewfinder to make sure they are sharp.

#23 Sandridge Lookout

The Sandridge Lookout is a lesser known view of Melbourne and doesn’t attract the same numbers of people like some locations above because it’s away from residential areas and borders on an industrial zone. Park at the Maritime Cove Community Park and then walk around 10 minutes along the edge of the water to the Sandridge Lookout. You really can photograph from anywhere along this trail, not specifically at the lookout at the end. At sunrise it can offer some beautiful colour over the Melbourne city skyline, in the winter months you can also shoot the sun rising right around the skyscrapers which can make for a nice sight. In the summer, the sun rises further to the south east side lighting the CBD. On a still morning you might even see some hot air balloons depending on the time of year so pack your telephoto lens in case!

#24 Yarra Bend Road

If you love long exposure photography, especially of light trails like car headlights and taillights, then you’ll love Yarra Bend Road where it crosses over the Eastern Freeway. This is one of the better places in Melbourne to shoot major road light trails with the CBD being visible in the shot. Aim to shoot just after sunset when there’s a nice balance between the sky and the the light trails below. Another similar view point close to here that offers a similar type of shot just with the Melbourne skyline further to the left of your frame is the Yarra Boulevard overpass.

#25 Norris Reserve

The Norris Reserve lookout sits just off the Yarra Boulevard, a popular road amongst cyclists and motorists just a few kilometres north east of the Melbourne CBD. It’s a perfect spot to sit and watch the sunset over the city. It offers a full panoramic view of the city skyline including the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Abbotsford convent can also make for some nice foreground interest, shown below in the middle and right in the bottom third of the image.

That concludes the list of my Top 25 Best Locations for Photography in Melbourne. Many of these images are available to purchase as prints and more through my Redbubble store. I’d love to hear your thoughts on your favourite photography locations in Melbourne. Let me know in the comments below!

Top 25 Best Locations for Photography in Melbourne