The most peaceful places in Melbourne

Head to the scenic Fitzroy Gardens, nestled in Melbourne’s busy cityscape. Take a stroll around the park and you'll notice some heritage highlights, including Captain Cook’s 1755 family home uprooted from Yorkshire and re-assembled here in the 1930s, a conservatory, and a collection of fountains, statues and memorials. The park is blissfully underused, especially on the weekends. You can always find a secluded spot from which to admire the avenues of mature elms and rare specimen trees from the 19th century.

Surrounding the Heide Museum of Modern Art are six hectares of heritage-listed gardens and a sculpture park – and it's always free to enter. Just a short drive from the CBD, the tranquillity of these impeccably maintained gardens make it a perfect place to chill out. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy in the sun or simply stroll around the public exhibition.

Birrarung Marr is an eight-hectare park located between Flinders Street and the north bank of the Yarra River, with the name meaning 'river of mists' in the Woiwurrung language of the Wurundjeri people. The winding pathway through the park acknowledges the significance of the eel as a traditional food source, and a semicircle of metal shields represents each of the five groups of the Kulin Nation. It's a beautiful, spiritual place to take a moment from the city hustle and bustle.

Located only 20 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD sits the last of Australia’s grand suburban estates. The extensive 19th-century pleasure gardens surrounding the mansion are laid out in the romantic Picturesque and Gardenseque styles popular at the time. The house is accompanied by lavish lawns, a fernery, orchards and an artificial lake full of eel, carp and turtles.

The State Library of Victoria is a cultural landmark that houses an incredible amount of books, as well as several exhibitions and galleries with a lot of history. But the jewel (or rather, the dome) in the crown is undoubtedly the stunning La Trobe Reading Room. The magnificent octagonal reading room is six storeys high, complete with spiral staircases and green glass-lit reading desks. Oh, and it's very, very quiet.

If there’s anywhere you can escape the madness of the CBD without actually leaving it, the Royal Botanic Gardens is the place. Located on the city’s fringe, this expansive garden is home to a cool 8,500 plant species, calm lakes and lush lawns. There are three meditative Wellbeing Gardens located on site, designed to encourage people to take time to relax and recharge in the peace of nature.

Named for the shape of its coastline, Jawbone Marine Sanctuary in Williamstown protects 30 hectares of coastal waters. It has been fenced off from the rest of the world for more than 80 years, making it an often-forgotten haven for coastal and marine life. Walk along the promenade and take in the stunning natural beauty of the ocean, rock formations and animals that call the sanctuary home.

Bringing the country to the city, the Collingwood Children’s Farm is the perfect place to unplug. You can get in touch with nature – literally – and milk the cows, feed the chooks, ride a pony or play with the baby lambs. In addition to the healing properties of a few furry friends, the adjacent Abbotsford Convent and surrounding parklands are a lush and peaceful place to take a bit of time out on your own.

The Shrine of Remembrance was built between 1927 and 1934 as a place for Victorians to grieve, honour and preserve the memories of those who had lost their lives in World War I. You can climb the steps of the exterior of the monument for panoramic views over Kings Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. It is truly, truly beautiful.

Carlton Gardens are home to the heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building, fronted by a tranquil water-fountain and perfectly manicured flowerbeds. The tree-lined avenues and miniature lakes within the CBD-adjacent gardens make it a tranquil escape in the heart of the city. Listen to the soothing sounds of the fountain, or spot wildlife atop trees or ponds.