Correction (4 October 2026): an earlier version of this page listed places and details we could not stand behind. It has been rewritten from scratch: every place below was confirmed at two sources on 4 October 2026, and every price was copied from the page it was published on.
Free first, always. This page covers seven places in and around South Yarra: three in South Yarra, three in the City of Melbourne, and one in Prahran. Most cost nothing to enter, and where something does cost money, the price sits beside it.
Each place was confirmed at two sources, including OpenStreetMap, the official park, council or National Trust page, or the Chapel Street precinct site. We only say a place is free where one of those pages says so.
Two caveats up front. Como House has paid parts, since house entry is by guided tour, and Herring Island’s free punt runs only part of the year, so read those two entries before you head out.
The quick picks
| If you’re after | Head to | Listed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free gardens, paid house tours | Como House and Garden | Como House Tours Adult | $15 |
| Sculpture trail on an island | Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park | see below | not printed here |
| Basketball half court and playground | Grosvenor Street Reserve | see below | not printed here |
| Free admission gardens | Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne | see below | not printed here |
| Free memorial visit | Shrine of Remembrance | see below | not printed here |
| Memorial garden and rockery | Kings Domain | see below | not printed here |
| Free events and splash pads | Prahran Square | see below | not printed here |
Como House and Garden — Corner Williams Rd & Lechlade Ave, South Yarra VIC 3141
Free: the National Trust page says Entry to the gardens is FREE, with public access Monday to Friday 9:00am-3:30pm, Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm and Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm, and it lists closures on public holidays. Paid: the house itself is by guided tour only. Como House Tours Adult is $15. Como House Tours Concession is $10. Como House Tours Child is $5. Como House Tours Family is $30. The page also says dogs are permitted in the grounds, and the Cornerstone cafe is on site.
Listed prices (copied from nationaltrust.org.au/como-house-and-garden on 4 October 2026):
- Como House Tours Adult: $15
- Como House Tours Concession: $10
- Como House Tours Child: $5
- Como House Tours Family: $30
Free first: Start with the gardens, and bring a picnic, which the National Trust page suggests, before deciding on a tour.
Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park — Herring Island, Yarra River (free punt from Como Landing), South Yarra VIC 3141
Parks Victoria describes a small 3.2ha artificial island on the Birrarung (Yarra River), approximately 4kms from the city centre. Its page says to explore the 9 environmental sculptures on the Herring Island Sculpture Trail, which loops the island. There is a grassy picnic area with free electric barbecues. Dogs, cats and pets are not allowed on the island, though Parks Victoria says assistance dogs are welcome in its parks.
Get there: Parks Victoria says the free punt runs on weekends and public holidays from January until Easter, so it is not running in spring; until then, the page says to make your own way across by boat, canoe, kayak or paddleboard.
Grosvenor Street Reserve — 43-47 Grosvenor Street, South Yarra VIC 3141
Stonnington Council describes a quiet and leafy reserve with an outdoor basketball half court and a rebound wall, plus a playground. The Chapel Street precinct site lists a free Caravan Sounds DJ session here on Sunday 8 November, 3pm–6.30pm. It says each session is free and open to all ages.
Plan it: Pair a shoot-around on the half court with the free DJ session on Sunday 8 November.
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne — Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne VIC 3004
The gardens’ own page lists Admission Free, with opening hours Daily : 7:30am - 7.30pm. It also advertises a free guided walk, and a Children’s Garden open 10am - 7:30pm, Wednesday - Sunday, and every day of the Victorian school holidays. Its listed location is Birdwood Avenue.
Free first: Admission is free per the gardens’ own page, and the guided walk is free too, so check its page for session times before you go.
Shrine of Remembrance — Birdwood Avenue and St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004
The Shrine’s site says admission is free and no tickets or bookings are required, with donations appropriate and appreciated. It lists open daily 10am–5pm, with last entry 4.30pm. Its Shrine Kids and Explorer Kit activities take the whole family on a journey of discovery (check the site for any cost), and the Shrine is closed on Good Friday and Christmas Day per its page.
Plan it: Check the Shrine’s page for maintenance closures before you go, and aim to arrive before last entry.
Kings Domain — Kings Domain, Linlithgow Avenue to Domain Road, Melbourne VIC 3004
The City of Melbourne says Kings Domain covers the area from Linlithgow Avenue south to Domain Road. Its page points to the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden, created to recognise the contribution made by Victoria’s female pioneers, and a cool and shady rockery and fern gully created from a former quarry. The facilities list shows picnic facilities, drinking fountains, seats and three public toilets.
Free first: Pack your own lunch: the council page lists picnic facilities, drinking fountains and seats.
Prahran Square — Cato Street, Prahran VIC 3181
Prahran Square’s site lists free events at Centre Square: CIRCUS FIRE Spectacular on 15 – 18 October 2026, and a free event on 24 October 2026 from the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Its play area has interactive splash pads and water jets, and the site says it features two dedicated children’s play areas. Dogs are welcome, and free public Wi-Fi is available throughout.
Plan it: Pick an event date from the square’s listings, then add the splash pads for any kids in tow.
Quick answers
Is Como House free to visit?
The National Trust page says entry to the Como gardens is free. House entry is by guided tour only. Como House Tours Adult is $15. Como House Tours Concession is $10. Como House Tours Child is $5. Como House Tours Family is $30.
Which free places near South Yarra allow dogs?
The National Trust page says dogs are permitted in the grounds of Como House. Prahran Square’s site says dogs are welcome. Parks Victoria says no dogs, cats or pets are allowed on Herring Island.
Are there free events near South Yarra this spring?
The Chapel Street precinct site lists a free Caravan Sounds DJ session at Grosvenor Street Reserve on Sunday 8 November, 3pm–6.30pm. Prahran Square’s site lists CIRCUS FIRE Spectacular on 15 – 18 October 2026 and a free event on 24 October 2026, both at Centre Square.
Which free places near South Yarra have a playground?
Stonnington Council says Grosvenor Street Reserve has a playground and an outdoor basketball half court. Prahran Square’s site says it features two dedicated children’s play areas. Separately, the Royal Botanic Gardens page lists a Children’s Garden.
How we checked
We checked every place on this page against at least two independent sources on 4 October 2026: OpenStreetMap, the places’ own websites, government pages, council pages, chapelstreet.com.au and prahransquare.com.au. Every price is copied exactly as printed on the page linked under Sources, on 4 October 2026. Facilities and opening hours change, so check the official page before you go. The cover photo is from Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), and it does not show any place on this page.
Seen something out of date? Email [email protected] with the page link and what has changed, and we will check it again.
Sources
- Como House and Garden: openstreetmap.org/666237472, nationaltrust.org.au/como-house-and-garden, nationaltrust.org.au/visiting-faqs
- Herring Island Environmental Sculpture Park: openstreetmap.org/49458524, parks.vic.gov.au/herring-island
- Grosvenor Street Reserve: stonnington.vic.gov.au/Grosvenor-Street-Reserve, chapelstreet.com.au/sunday-arvos-just-got-better-caravan
- Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne: openstreetmap.org/45422277, rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens, nationaltrust.org.au/la-trobes-cottage, rbg.vic.gov.au/free-guided-walk
- Shrine of Remembrance: openstreetmap.org/24590190, shrine.org.au/plan-your-visit, nationaltrust.org.au/la-trobes-cottage, shrine.org.au, shrine.org.au/visit
- Kings Domain: openstreetmap.org/24593825, melbourne.vic.gov.au/kings-domain
- Prahran Square: stonnington.vic.gov.au/Prahran-Square, prahransquare.com.au/childrens-play, prahransquare.com.au/faqs, prahransquare.com.au/features, prahransquare.com.au/free-jazz-at-prahran-square, prahransquare.com.au/circus-fire-spectacular, chapelstreet.com.au/the-corner-market-is-taking-over
