Car Rental Glen Iris Downtown

Glen Iris is a suburb of Melbourne just 10 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. Known for its many parks, the residents of Glen Iris enjoy the urban oases with wetlands, native animals, walking trails, picnics and outdoor activities filling the parks. The suburb is a school district, with many elite private schools dotted throughout the suburb.

Glen Iris is a picturesque suburb and a great place to relax and unwind after spending the day in the Melbourne CBD or other suburbs. You won’t find any museums or galleries in here, however, although it is predominantly a residential suburb, you will find high-quality restaurants and cafes to enjoy, along with its many parks. Glen Iris has one famed building, the Harold Holt Swim Centre, a building named in memory of the Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt. Many locals don’t quite know what to make of a swim centre named after a man who went missing while swimming in the ocean, but the centre makes a great place to exercise, with a modern pool and swimming facilities, as well as a sauna, spa and gym.

The most unique parkland in Glen Iris is perhaps the Glen Iris Park wetlands. The wetlands consist of three separate bodies of water, where you will find a range of native aquatic birds such as black ducks, herons, cormorants and swamp hens. It is a great easy location for bird watchers or those interested in wildlife to spot unique species, with bird boxes and fallen trees incorporated in the parks to encourage nesting. The park wetlands are located in the southern central park of Glen Iris, mere minutes from the main shopping streets.

Take a Drive in Your Hire Car to a National Park

Melbourne is surrounded by national parks, and with a rental car, they are all accessible from Glen Iris and the city. It’s pretty hard to choose which one to visit during your time in Victoria, but if you are looking to drive from Glen Iris to a National Park, we would suggest the Yarra Ranges National Park, 2.5-hours to the east of Melbourne. There are many fun, quaint regional towns in the area and on the way to the park, so depending on how much time you have, we strongly suggest stopping off at a few.

We chose the Yarra Ranges due to its close proximity to the eastern side of Melbourne and its many attractions and incredible scenery. The Yarra Ranges are a rainforest right on Melbourne’s doorstep, with fantastic drives, including the Black Spur drive, which sees you winding through the thick forest and tall trees from the comfort of your rental car. If you want to get out and stretch your legs, stunning views are available right out of the car parks, and rest stops you will frequent along your drive. See mountains, rivers, lakes, and gorges from the many lookout points of the park.

From Glen Iris to the City in Your Car Rental

Melbourne has everything any visitor needs; whether you are looking for a natural escape to one or more of the national parks, a quiet time in the suburbs, or taking in some big-city attractions, Melbourne has it covered. You can be in the heart of the city from Glen Iris in a matter of minutes, so why not take in some free attractions. Sites such as the National Gallery of Victoria, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Australian Centre for Contemporary Arts and more are free entry and make for an excellent way to save money for the more important things.