Melbourne - Australia 2004 - page 550

Melbourne Zoo This place is a must-see. Built in 1862, it's the old-
est zoo in the world, and among the best. There are some 3,000 animals here,
including the ever-popular kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, koalas, wombats, and
platypuses. Rather than being locked up in cages, most animals are set in almost
natural surroundings or well-tended gardens. Don't miss the butterfly house,
with its thousands of colorful butterflies flying around; the free-flight aviary; the
lowland gorilla exhibit; and the tree-top monkey displays. Allow at least 1 hour if
you just want to see the Australian natives and around 2 1 ⁄ 2 hours for the whole zoo.
Elliott Ave., Parkville. & 03/9285 9300. www.zoo.org.au. Admission A$16 (US$10) adults, A$8.10 (US$5.25)
children under 14, A$44 (US$29) families. Daily 9am-5pm. Free guided tours daily; go to the Friends of the
Zoo Office to arrange tours. Free parking. Tram: 55 going north on William St. to stop 25; 19 from Elizabeth
St. to Stop 16 (then it's a short walk to your left following signposts). Train: Royal Park Station.
National Gallery of Australia: the Ian Potter Centre—Australian Art
This fascinating gallery, featuring 20 rooms dedicated to Australian art, opened
in 2002 in the heart of Federation Square. Some 20,000 objects are stored here
but only about 800 are on display at any one time. Aboriginal art and colonial
art collections are the centerpieces of the gallery, but you will find modern paint-
ings here, too. Temporary exhibitions include anything from ceramics to shoes.
There are also a couple of cafes here.
Federation Square (runs north-south from Flinders St. to the Yarra River). & 03/8662 1555. Free admission.
Mon-Thurs 10am-5pm; Fri 10am-9pm; Sat-Sun 10am-6pm. Bus: City Explorer.
Old Melbourne Gaol I love this cramped former prison with its
tiny cells and spooky collection of death masks and artifacts of 19th-century
prison life. Some 135 hangings took place here, including that of notorious ban-
dit (and Australian hero) Ned Kelly, in 1880. The scaffold where he was hung is
still in place, and his gun, as well as a suit of armor used by a member of his
gang, is on display. The jail closed in 1929. Profiles of former prisoners give a
fabulous perspective of what it was like to be locked up here. Chilling night tours
run every Sunday and Wednesday (call ahead and check the schedule); they cost
A$18 (US$12) for adults and A$10 (US$6.50) for children (though the tour is
not recommended for children under 12). Allow 1 hour or more.
Russell St. & 03/9663 7228. Admission A$10 (US$6.50) adults, A$6.60 (US$4.30) children, A$45 (US$29)
families. Daily 9:30am-4:30pm. Tram: City Circle tram to corner of Russell and Latrobe sts.
Queen Victoria Markets The Queen Victoria Market is a Melbourne insti-
tution covering several blocks. There are hundreds of indoor and outdoor stalls,
where you can find anything from live rabbits to bargain-basement clothes. The
markets can get cramped, and there's a lot of junk to sort through, but you'll get
a real taste of Melbourne and its ethnic mix. Look out for the interesting deli-
catessen section and cheap eateries. Allow at least an hour.
Two 2-hour tours of the market take in its food and heritage. The Foodies
Dream Tour departs every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 10am
and costs A$22 (US$14) for adults and A$15 (US$9.75) for children under 15,
including sampling. Well-known chefs give cooking classes, costing $65
(US$42) per session. Call & 03/9320 5835 for reservations.
Between Peel, Victoria, Elizabeth, and Therry sts. on the northern edge of the city center. & 03/9269 5835.
www.qvm.com.au. Tues-Thurs 6am-2pm; Fri 6am-6pm; Sat 6am-3pm; Sun 9am-4pm. Tram: Any tram trav-
eling north along William St. or Elizabeth St.
Rippon Lea House Museum & Historic Garden This grand Victorian
house, 8km (5 miles) from the city center, is worth a visit to get a feel for

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