Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Dandenong

"See the iconic Botanic Gardens, River Gardens and Dockland or experience a cruise at night to experience the river by moonlight while enjoying a delicious dinner in comfort and privacy. You can choose from a range of cruise options including a lunch and dinner cruise or just a normal sightseeing cruise. Seeing the beautiful city of Melbourne from the water will surely enhance your sightseeing experience while also providing you with a relaxing and enjoyable day out."

"This fenced garden is within the Royal Botanic Gardens and provides opportunities for water play and nature play in a popular picnic spot. You can also take your under 5s on a Punt Tour for free!. Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra"

"Melbourne’s iconic monument was built as a memorial to honour all those who served during World War I and all Australians who have since served in military conflict and peacekeeping operations. Open daily, visitors can wander through reflective exhibition spaces including Galleries of Remembrance, The Victoria Cross and Gallery of Medals and see over 800 objects including photos, uniforms and historical artefacts."

"A free experience and in walking distance to Flinders Street Station, the Shrine of Remembrance is a stunning visual and educational experience. A be great place if you want to show older kids the Australian heritage. There are many areas to explore."

"One of the more lifeless buildings of Melbourne on the outside, the old Melbourne Gaol has quite a ghastly history to back it up. Sitting right on Russel street (another very famous Melbourne street) is an incredibly eerie, 3 story high former prison. While it’s no longer a prison (it was officially closed in 1924), it’s now a museum filled with relics of the past and the history of some of Australia’s most notorious criminals."

"One of the most interesting historical sites in Melbourne is the Old Melbourne Gaol. It was in use from 1842 to 1929 and was ‘home’ to some of Australia’s most notorious criminals, including bushranger Ned Kelly. Oh, the stories it could tell!"

"Created to reach for the sky, nothing you have ever experienced will prepare you for the awe inspiring view of Melbourne from the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform. The Skydeck features thirty viewfinders that help visitors to pinpoint numerous significant landmarks around all parts of Melbourne, along with several free binoculars. Tommy Ooi’s Traveling Tips"

"Another one of the cool activities for kids Melbourne has is the Eureka Skydeck. Get a bird’s eye view of the city from the southern hemisphere’s highest viewing platform. Travel up to floor 88 in less than 40 seconds and enjoy fantastic views of Melbourne."

"If your family loves sports then the Melbourne Cricket Ground needs to be on your itinerary!. If there are no matches on you can still visit. Just book the tour and also make sure you visit the National Sports Museum."

"Cook’s Cottage is open daily for visitors between 9am – 5pm at a price of $6.50. The visit offers the chance to see the antique furnishing and style of the famous voyager’s family home for a little slice of charming history within the city. The visit shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours, and so visiting several of the city’s gardens can be done easily within a morning or longer if you’re wrapped up in a particular exhibition."

"You may not want to attend a sitting but there are also tours that you can book when Parliament is not sitting. This way you can get access to some extra information on the building and the things that happen behind the scenes. The express tours take only 20 minutes, perfect if you have children that have the attention span of a goldfish."

"From 1901 to 1927, Parliament House was the home of the Federal Government before it moved to its permanent home of Canberra. At the top end of Bourke Street, this is where the Victorian Parliament sits to make legislation. Politics doesn’t seem like a big draw-card, but the building has a very fascinating history."

"Grab a coffee from Market Lane Coffee, in the Deli Hall, and a spinach and cheese borek from the Borek Shop. Hop back on the tram to Federation Square. This is Melbourne's cultural heart, home to cutting-edge art at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) and an extensive range of Aboriginal works at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. Explore the galleries before sitting down to lunch at one of the many restaurants on nearby Flinders Lane – Chin Chin and Coda are both standouts."

"It's as much about having a good time as it is about the food here at this bright izakaya. Alongside a vibe as busy as the Tokyo streetscape mural running along one wall, highlights from the menu, which primarily jumps between Japan and Korea, come from the hibachi grill. Cuttlefish and wagyu skewers come in sets of two, and there's even a whole spatchcock basted in a sticky-sweet bulgogi glaze."

"For peace and quiet away from the busy city there’s nowhere better than Kings Domain. A completely free activity just south of the CBD, you can easily walk to the park."

"The 25 acres park is perfect if you want to see Australian native animals by day or by night. The night tours in particular where you can see possums, wombats and many other nocturnal animals are pretty special. Just make sure you pre-book."

"The Conservatory restaurant offers an array of international cuisine, with a series of different culinary stations, each offering a unique dining experience."

"For when life demands the exceptional" is their tagline and they don't disappoint!. From the tranquil sorrounds to the ultimate in private pampering suites, Australia's most exclusive and sophisticated day spa delivers you an indulgent experience that's hard to beat. Treatments are performed by a team of expert professional spa therapists using La Prairie treatments designed to soothe and revitalise body, mind and soul."