Eureka Tower

For the highest view in the entire Southern Hemisphere, there’s literally nothing to beat the 88th floor of Melbourne’s Eureka Tower. Skydeck 88, reached by a superfast lift travelling at a mind-blowing 9 metres per second, offers a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the city, Port Phillip Bay and the Dandenong Ranges in the distance. Once you’ve got your bearings using the interactive viewfinders, step outside to the terrace for a bird’s-eye view.

If you’ve got a head for heights, dare to step into The Edge and experience the exhilarating sensation of floating high above ground in this glass cube extending from the deck. Then go one step higher with dinner at Eureka 89 on the floor above, which offers a delicious degustation menu from Wednesday to Saturday.

Located in a residential block at Southbank on the Yarra River, the Eureka Tower has become an iconic feature of the Melbourne skyline. At 297 metres tall, it outstrips all other buildings in its vicinity. The tower is named after the Eureka Rebellion of 1854, when local gold miners reacted against the punitive taxation and licence fees imposed by the government. The rebellion occupies an important place in the history of Australian resistance and this is reflected in the design of the tower. The gold decorative features at its pinnacle represent nuggets from the minefields and the red strips represent the spilt blood of the miners, while the building’s blue and white colour scheme mirrors the famous Eureka flag.

The Eureka Tower is in Southbank, a short walk from Melbourne city centre and Federation Square. Pay parking is available under the tower. There are separate admission fees for Skydeck 88 and The Edge, and both are open daily.