Queen Victoria Gardens

Sometimes the best things are right under your nose. Directly on St Kilda Road opposite the Arts Centre and NGV International, this oddly overlooked park is perhaps the most conveniently located in the city. Aside from admiring the famous floral clock, you can discover sculptures galore, including a handsome memorial to QV herself, and The Pathfinder, an Olympic hammer thrower whose hammer is perennially getting stolen by local wags. Settle under a palm tree as tram bells ding in the background, and if the weather turns inclement, retreat to the rotunda dedicated to women’s campaigner Janet Clarke.