Rialto Towers & Melbourne Observation Deck

Having coffee sure is a great way to cap off a filling lunch. However, after-lunch coffee would even be more enjoyable 55 floors in the air with a 360 degree view of Melbourne and its surroundings. The place to do this is on the Melbourne Observation Deck, which is situated atop the renowned Rialto Towers.

The Rialto Towers is regarded as one of the tallest reinforced concrete structures in the southern hemisphere. It is also the tallest office building in that area and is popular for its extraordinary design and glass windows. You can access the towers from both Flinders Lane and Collins Street within the Melbourne Central Business District. The building has two towers, the South and North Towers. The South Tower has 55 floors, and the North Tower, on the other hand, has 40 floors. The Rialto Towers was opened on October 15th 1986 and no matter how old it is, it still attracts millions of visitors a year. It is also a member of the World Federation of Great Towers. The towers also has five levels of underground car parking which holds 609 bays, a rooftop communication center and of course, the Melbourne 360 which is the observation deck.

The Melbourne 360 or the Melbourne Observation Deck is home to the state's private venues and corporate functions. Its facilities include the Cafe 360, the RialtoVision theatre, a souvenir outlet, function room, facilities for the disabled, information booth, booking center and its main offering, the viewing decks.

The Cafe 360 is the perfect place to lounge after a good meal. It is also the place if you want to get a light snack while taking a break from the scenery. Take note, however, that the cafe is only open for lunch and dinner.

The RialtoVision theater offers Melbourne the Living City, a 20-minute award winning film spectacular that showcases the attractions, landmarks, regions and events in Melbourne. The mini-theater is also available for private viewing through advanced booking.

Meanwhile, the souvenir shop, booking center and information booth are always attended by the accommodation Melbourne 360 staff to help visitors. For disabled visitors however, there is an entrance through Collins Street.

The function room is available for weddings, parties, lunch and dinner. It is on the south east side of the deck which offers fantastic views of Port Phillip Bay and Albert Park. The function room by the way is called the Zenith Lounge.

And its deck! You can never forget your visit to Melbourne if you go to the 360 deck. It offers a stunning 360 degree. It is also Victoria's most famous lookout.

Getting to the Rialto Towers

To get to the Rialto Towers, if you are riding a train, it will be just a 5-minute walk to the Rialto. Just follow the exit Collins Street signs. If you are taking the Tram, take note of the tram numbers that will run along streets Collins (which will drop you off right out the front), Bourke, Elizabeth and Flinders. If you are from the airport, taxis are always available for $35-$40 for a 30-minute ride to the center. If you are taking a car, parking entrance is accessible through Flinders Street.