Top 5 Views of Melbourne at Night along Yarra

Ben Huberman has rightly said for this week challenge, “It’s trickier to take pictures at night, but the rewards are well worth it”. I could not agree more with him. Some photos are overexposed or pitch dark, some can be blurred to the extent that even the photographer may be ashamed of. But nighttime is fun clicking photos as it needs lot of efforts and perseverance (not that in daytime, you don’t need them). The best part of taking photos at night is many times, unconscious, photos can be very creative, even if they not perfect or sharp and are blurred. (Enjoy photos of NewYork at twilight here)

A couple of years back, i was on my first trip to the southern hemisphere – Melbourne (Australia). August is a good time to be there as winter is not so cold then. Days i spent there, i encountered rain on few evenings. I was little disappointed. Finally, one fine evening, i decided to tie my shoe laces and hopped on to the all-famous tram system of Melbourne. One of the finest tram systems in the world, Melbourne boasts of its legacy. And that’s how i found the splendid beauty of this city after the sun had set.

Here are my top 5 views of Melbourne at night along the Yarra River.

1. Princes Bridge

The below photograph is of the famous Princes Bridge on Yarra River in Melbourne CBD (Central Business District) that connects Swanston street and St Kilda Road. It is at a walking distance from the Flinders Street Station – first railway station of Australia. The arch bridge design of the bridge looks very familiar to the Blackfriars bridge over Thames in London.

2. Melbourne Skyline from Yarra River

View of Melbourne skyline, overlooking Yarra River, is stunning from the bridge and worth capturing. Do not forget to take a leisurely walk along the riverfront in the evening. There are many restaurants on the beautiful riverfront to satiate your taste buds.

In case, you just want to see the night view of Melbourne, sitting at a place, you must head to the 88th floor Eureka Skydeck – tallest building of the Southern Hemisphere. It is open till 10 pm with last entry at 9:30pm. Observatory deck general admission for an adult (one time entry) costs AUD 19.50. Two visits on consecutive days costs AUD 25 for an adult. In case, you are on a shoestring budget like me, you can just enjoy Eureka building from the level of Yarra River. Tall building on the left of the below photo is the Eureka.

Located on St Kilda, Shrine of Remembrance is an impressive monument. This memorial was built to commemorate the services of Victorian men and women during World War I.

3. Crown Casino & Fire Display

In the evening, you must visit Crown Casino complex – the biggest casino of the southern hemisphere. Get inside the casino, even if you are not too much into gaming to enjoy the light & sound show, which happens every 15 minutes. And its completely Free entry, provided you are into neat attire.

Another big attraction of Melbourne evening is the fire display at Crown complex. Every hour, mostly from 8 pm or 9 pm, depending on the day of the week and weather, till midnight, there is a fire display – Fireballs or Gas Brigades – on the eight towers along the waterfront. Do check the timings before proceeding towards it. (Read about a famous promenade visited in the evening in Singapore)

4. Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

Now that you visited Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the daytime, you must not miss the view of MCG at night time. It is a monumental sight with all street lights.

5. Chinatown

One of the big attractions of Melbourne in the evening is Chinatown. Illuminated with glitzy neon lights, it is home to the ethnic food and culture in Melbourne. In case, you are in Melbourne in spring, do not miss to attend the Asian food festival. Located in CBD, it boasts of several restaurants, cafes, and temples.

***

Do you think nighttime photography is a challenge? Or its more creative and brings out more unpredictable beauty in photo? Do let us know which city hosted you to a memorable evening.

***