Top 10 romantic places in Melbourne to pop the question

MELBOURNE flutters her romantic eyelids this Valentine’s Day with 10 perfect places to pop the question.

Hot air balloons drift over Melbourne's Arts Centre at sunrise.

ROMANTIC Melbourne turns on her charm this Valentine’s Day, making it the perfect location to propose. Catherine Lambert finds 10 of the best place to pop the question.

1. Vue de Monde. Couples who appreciate the finer things in life can swoon at the 360 degree views of the city while enjoying some of the best tastes of Melbourne.

2. Hot air balloon. For an incredible vantage point of the city, rise early for a balloon tour and float high above our cityscape as the sun rises, followed by a celebratory post-flight 5-star full buffet champagne breakfast at Pullman on the Park.

3. Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. It was the question popping location of choice last year with more than 100 proposals made during the 30-minute ride which has views of the city, Port Phillip Bay, Mount Macedon and the Dandenong Ranges.

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More than 100 proposals were made on the Melbourne Star observation wheel last year.

4. Royal Botanic Gardens. Channel Oxbridge with a punt tour around the ornamental lake followed by a high tea at the Terrace Restaurant.

Gliding on the lake in a Venitian-style punt is a romantic start to a day at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

5. Cultural Melbourne makes the NGV International the perfect spot for some romantic inspiration. Propose beneath one of the Francois Boucher works in the 18th century painting room.

6. Studley Park Boathouse. Chaps who can concentrate on two things at once and appreciate a captive audience can hire a row boat and meander along the Yarra River, followed by some contemporary fine dining at the restored boathouse.

Go for a romantic row at the Studley Park boathouse in Kew.

7. Colonial Tramcar. If you’ve left it to tourists so far, this is the time to try the charm of this gorgeous mobile restaurant on the 1927 converted tram that chugs along the streets of Melbourne as it’s Victorian curtains sway.

The Colonial Tramcar Restaurant has a romantic charm.

8. Melbourne Zoo. The call of nature makes the Platypus Lawn or the Japanese garden and lake the perfect spots for a romantic picnic. The more adventurous can organise a behind-the-scenes animal tour.

The picturesque Japanese Garden at the Melbourne Zoo.

9. 12 Apostles. Okay, so it’s not strictly in Melbourne but you leave from Essendon Airport. First-class travellers will appreciate the wonder of viewing the 12 Apostles from the sky in Air Adventure’s 25 minute tour followed by a lunch of fresh crayfish in Port Campbell before flying back to Essendon Airport.

Viewing the 12 Apostles from the air as you propose will up the romance stakes.

10. The Grunge option. Write it in giant letters down one of Melbourne’s laneways where street art is legal and encouraged, such as Hosier Lane or arrange for an artist to write it for you, along with a picture of you both.

The iconic graffiti art in Hosier Lane is the perfect backdrop for a Melbourne proposal.