Yarra River

Although it's usually a muddy brown and it's not as clean as the city would like, the Yarra, which rises in the mountains east of town and flows through the suburbs and the city to the bay, is still an indispensible part of Melbourne.

In its upper and suburban reaches its bushy banks form parklands dotted with walking trails. Plying the river towards the city are water taxis and leisure craft; hugging the shores are award-winning restaurants, cafes and bars.

Riverside parks, cycling tracks, rowing sheds & lush green gardens are framed by the Crown Entertainment Centre at one end and Victoria's beloved MCG at the other. Walkers, cyclists, joggers, roller-bladers and skateboarders can all be found along its banks, while plenty of rowers skim the water from dawn to dusk.

With the newly built Federation Square and Birrarung Marr park along its northern banks & the Southbank restaurant strip along the south, the Yarra has regained its place as the grand promenade dividing the city.