Luna Park opened in 1912 and still has an old-style amusement-park feel, with creepy Mr Moon’s gaping mouth swallowing you up as you enter. There’s a heritage-listed wooden roller coaster, the oldest of its kind in the world, which stayed open during WWI when the rest of the park was closed; a beautiful baroque carousel with hand-painted horses, swans and chariots; and the full complement of gut-churning rides, with something for all ages and levels of adrenaline-seeker.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Linden New Art

0.16 MILES

Housed in a whitewashed, wrought-iron-clad 1870s mansion, Linden mainly champions new contemporary art by mid-career artists. The annual postcard show …

2. St Kilda Foreshore

0.3 MILES

With a palm-fringed promenade, sandy beach and eclectic architecture, St Kilda’s seaside appeal lands somewhere between Brighton in England and Venice…

3. St Kilda Pier

0.44 MILES

Jutting out over the bay, St Kilda Pier offers a smashing view of the Melbourne skyline, best seen at sunset. The Edwardian-style kiosk at the end of the…

4. St Kilda Botanical Gardens

0.44 MILES

Taking pride of place on the southern side of the Barkly–Carlisle–Blessington Sts triangle, the Botanical Gardens are an unexpected haven from St Kilda's…

5. Jewish Museum of Australia

0.66 MILES

Interactive displays and timelines tell the history of Australia’s Jewish community from the earliest days of European settlement, while permanent…

6. Elwood Beach

1.21 MILES

A short drive or a concerted foreshore walk will take you to this swimming beach. Usually less windswept, though often no less crowded, than St Kilda…

7. Artists Lane

1.26 MILES

Running parallel to Chapel St is Artists Lane (Aerosol Alley to southsiders), a long bluestone alley splattered in street art. The project was initiated…

8. Justin Art House Museum

1.58 MILES

The geometric, zinc-clad home of Melbourne art collectors Charles and Leah Justin doubles as the Justin Art House Museum. Book ahead for a tour of the…