Search hotels in Southbank

Located alongside the Yarra River, the district of Southbank is the hub of Melbourne’s entertainment scene. The area is home to a vibrant café culture, fine dining restaurants, designer shopping and a burgeoning arts landscape. Southbank has also carved itself a reputation as a major business centre with many media and finance corporations opting to locate their offices in Southbank due to its close proximity to Melbourne’s central business district less than 2 kilometres away.

Southbank is home to the largest casino in the southern hemisphere, perfect for visitors who fancy a flutter. Many fine dining restaurants are located in Southbank in addition to several nightclubs and designer shopping boutiques. One of the major highlights is a visit to Eureka Tower, its observational sky deck offering the highest viewing platform in Australia with unrivalled panoramic views across the Melbourne cityscape. Although Southbank is at the forefront of the Melbourne entertainment scene, it is also home to historical places of interest, such as the National Gallery of Victoria, Victoria Barracks, and Malthouse Theatre. It’s also a great place from which to enjoy a river cruise or a day trip to Williamstown Bay, the oldest maritime seaport in Melbourne. Alternatively, relax and unwind at one of the many riverside bars and restaurants and soak up the eclectic, dynamic atmosphere of Southbank.

Southbank is less than 2 kilometres from central Melbourne, ensuring it is an easily accessible district to reach by foot, train, car, ferry, bicycle or bus. Visitors can walk to Southbank in less than 25 minutes, crossing the Yarra River close to the Immigration Museum. Shuttle buses run every ten minutes and take approximately 10 minutes to reach Southbank, and there are also various cycle routes which can be taken over the river. If travellers wish to travel by tram or train, there are regular services from several areas across the city.

Southbank has come a long way since its days as a low-lying swampland which was home to the indigenous people. European settlements in the area between the 1860s and 1920’s brought factories, wharfs and warehouses to the riverside and Southbank became part of the first port of Melbourne. Bridges were constructed in order to link the district with central Melbourne and an urban renewal to the area in the 1980’s and 90’s, ensuring that Southbank would become the forerunner of the business, arts and entertainment scene in Melbourne.