On our 2017 Melbourne trip we visited both the Melbourne Star and Eureka Skydeck 88, now called Melbourne Skydeck. These were two very different ways to see the city with the boys. Our impressions below come from that visit; the planning information was checked on 6 November 2026.

What has changed?

The Melbourne Star reopened on 15 October 2026. The observation deck in Eureka Tower now operates as Melbourne Skydeck. The old prices and opening times in this article have been removed. Check each operator’s current tickets, hours and available experiences for your travel date.

Our Melbourne Star experience

We loved the friendly service and the space inside the cabin. There was no queue when we arrived, and having the cabin to ourselves made it easy to enjoy the view while keeping the boys close. That was our luck on the day, rather than something every booking guarantees.

The Docklands location gave us a broad view, but we felt farther from some of the city landmarks we wanted to see. We also missed out on the evening timing we had hoped for. That reflects the opening hours on our old visit, not the wheel’s current schedule.

See our original Melbourne Star photo.

Our Melbourne Skydeck experience

The view from the 88th floor of Eureka Tower was the highlight for us. We liked being able to walk around the observation deck and then head out along Southbank. We visited on a Friday evening and found that people moved through the viewing areas more quickly than expected.

It was a shared viewing space, so it felt less private than our cabin on the Star. There were bag checks and a quick lift journey, which the boys noticed. Current add-on experiences and ticket conditions should be checked separately from our original review.

See our original Skydeck photo.

Which would we choose?

Based on that trip, Skydeck was our favourite for the city views and Southbank location. The Star offered a different experience with a contained cabin and a gentle change of viewpoint. With children, think about how they feel about heights and enclosed spaces, how much time you have, and where you are staying.

We preferred Skydeck’s value at the prices we paid then. A current decision needs a fresh comparison of the final ticket costs, including any extras, rather than the old $20 and $36 figures.

For more of our Melbourne trip, watch our Luna Park visit or read the good, the bad and the ugly of travelling with kids.

Elisa, The World n Us