A gold crown on Southbank
Look up from the Yarra and you’ll spot it quickly. Eureka Tower is the slim building with the gold-glazed top, and the Skydeck is inside that crown on level 88. The upper floors are fitted with gold-plated glass. That’s why the tower glows amber when the late sun hits it.
The design has a story to tell. A red stripe runs down the facade for the blood spilled at the 1854 Eureka Stockade, the miners’ rebellion the building is named after. The gold top refers to the Victorian gold rush that paid for much of the city below. Allow 60 to 90 minutes. Add more if you want to stay for sunset and see the lights come on.
What level 88 shows you
The lift climbs 88 floors in under a minute, and then the doors open onto a floor walled in glass on every side. Work your way around it clockwise. Each side has a different stretch of Melbourne to pick out:
- North: the Central Business District towers, with Flinders Street Station’s copper domes right below
- East: the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rod Laver Arena and the green belt of the Kings Domain
- South: St Kilda Road leading towards Port Phillip Bay
- West: the docks, the West Gate Bridge and, on clear days, the You Yangs ranges
On a clear day the Dandenong Ranges show up as a blue line out east. Fixed viewfinders around the deck help you pick out the landmarks. There’s also a small open-air terrace where you can feel the wind at this height, which says more than any photo about how high you are.
Stepping into The Edge
The Edge is the glass cube mentioned in every description of the tower. You step inside a glass box, the glass is frosted at first, and then the cube slides out from the building’s side. Then the glass turns clear and you’re standing with nearly 300 metres of open air underneath you.
It doesn’t last long and it isn’t for everyone. People with a fear of heights often stay at the entrance, and that’s fine, because the main deck already gives you the full panorama. The Edge takes a separate ticket, so decide before you pay whether you want it.
When the deck is quiet
Weekdays are simple. Our crowd data shows the deck stays calm from 12pm to 10pm, so a weekday lunchtime or sunset visit is usually relaxed. You’ll get space at the glass and a short wait for The Edge.
Weekends are harder. Try not to arrive between 2pm and 9pm on a Saturday or Sunday, because the deck is at its busiest then. That’s when people crowd the window ledges and the queue for The Edge gets long. The quiet weekend window is 9pm to 10pm, when the city is lit and most visitors have gone.
Getting to Riverside Quay
Flinders Street Station is the easiest starting point. Cross the Yarra on the Evan Walker Bridge or Princes Bridge. Then follow the Southbank Promenade west for about ten minutes and the tower’s base is at Riverside Quay.
From Southern Cross Station, the walk along the river takes around fifteen minutes. Trams on St Kilda Road stop near Arts Centre Melbourne, only a short walk from the tower. If you’re driving, you’ll find parking under the Southbank complexes. The riverside walk is part of the fun, though, so taking the train or tram is usually the better choice.
Tickets, glass and the queue for The Edge
A few habits make the visit smoother:
- Book online. Tickets are sold on the official Melbourne Skydeck website, where current prices and opening hours are listed. Check both before you go, because the times change with events and seasons.
- Look for sunset combination tickets. They let you come back later the same day. Visit in daylight, eat along Southbank, then go back up for the night view.
- Stop reflections spoiling your photos. Press your lens flat to the glass or cup your hand around it. The interior lights are what spoil most night shots.
- Queue for The Edge first. Its line only grows through a busy afternoon, and you’ll have the whole deck to yourself afterwards.
Paying by card or phone is normal throughout, including at the café on the deck. Tipping isn’t expected in Australia. Once you’re back down, the Southbank Promenade has restaurants and bars facing the river, and Hamer Hall and the NGV on St Kilda Road are both within a ten-minute walk.
Frequently asked questions
When is the quietest time to visit Melbourne Skydeck?
On weekdays it's quiet from 12pm to 10pm. At weekends the quiet window is 9pm to 10pm. Try not to go between 2pm and 9pm on weekends, because that's the busiest time.
How do I get to Melbourne Skydeck?
Walk from Flinders Street Station across the Yarra on the Evan Walker Bridge or Princes Bridge, then head west along Southbank to 7 Riverside Quay. It takes about ten minutes.
How long should I spend at the Skydeck?
Allow 60 to 90 minutes. Add The Edge or stay on for sunset and it can take a couple of hours.
Is The Edge included with a Skydeck ticket?
No, The Edge needs a separate ticket. You can buy it with your deck entry on the official Melbourne Skydeck website, where the current prices are listed.
What are the opening hours?
Hours vary with the season and with events, so check the official Melbourne Skydeck website before you go.
Plan your trip to Melbourne
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