Melbourne Star | Observation Wheel

Melbourne Star

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel Ropens

The Melbourne Star Observation Wheel welcomes passengers from 15th October 2026 following an $11 million overhaul, returning the 120-metre Docklands attraction to operation more than five years after its closure during Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdowns.

The reopening will introduce an expanded visitor experience incorporating a city-facing bar, function space, catered VIP cabins offering wine and beer tastings, along with mixed reality games for children, while extensive recommissioning and refurbishment have been undertaken ahead of the resumption of passenger rides.

A landmark with a complex history

Standing almost 120 metres high, the Melbourne Star features 21 enclosed, air-conditioned glass cabins offering panoramic views across Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay and surrounding suburbs.

The attraction originally opened in 2008 as the Southern Star Observation Wheel but closed only weeks later after structural issues were identified. Following extensive rebuilding, it reopened in 2013 under the Melbourne Star name. The wheel continued operating until September 2021, when the business entered liquidation after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged travel restrictions.

Alongside the new hospitality and entertainment offerings, the refurbishment has included work on the wheel’s mechanical, electrical and safety systems, upgraded cabin technology and renewed entry and loading areas, with independent engineering reviews forming part of the recommissioning process.