Being the cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne has plenty to offer tourists; there are a lot of fun things to do in Melbourne with kids or alone as well. Whether you are a Melburnian or an individual trying to satisfy their wanderlust, this beautiful city will offer you memories for a lifetime. This city is home to some of the most famous attractions, including the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Zoo, Scienceworks, Legoland Discovery Centre, and many others.
While travelling with kids, it’s often too difficult to keep the little ones entertained during the trip, but if you travel to Melbourne, you won’t face this. It is possible to keep your kids entertained while not losing your own interests, thanks to the children’s section of the destinations we have mentioned in this blog. You can travel to Melbourne Zoo, NGV International, Scienceworks, etc., to ensure that your kids enjoy themselves as much as you during your trip to Melbourne, Australia.
Keep reading this exclusive blog to learn more about the best things to do in Melbourne with kids. All the activities we have mentioned are tried and tested. These fun activities are sure to capture the hearts of your children and they will never forget this wonderful trip to Melbourne, Australia.
1. Visit Melbourne Zoo
Hop, skip, and jump away from Melbourne CBD, Melbourne Zoo could be your final destination if you are looking for places to visit with your kids. Your trip to Melbourne is incomplete without visiting the Melbourne Zoo, which offers a lot of kid-friendly activities. This zoo is home to more than 3742 animals from 342 species, which means your kids will learn a lot about nature and animals.
Though Melbourne Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Australia, it is constantly evolving with new events, exhibits and creatures that are both small and great. You have to spare at least one day for a complete trip and enjoyment at the Melbourne Zoo. While everything at this zoo is beautiful and adventurous, you might get amused by the majestic Wild Sea. What’s it now?
It is the largest exhibit where you will find seals and penguins basking on land before they jump into clear water in order to showcase their elegant aquatic skills. In addition to the majestic Wild Sea, your kids might get excited seeing the Orang-utan Sanctuary, where orangutans play with each other, swinging from tree to tree and feeding high off the ground.
After that, you can head towards the award-winning Trails of the Elephant, where you can see the five Asian elephants thriving in an Asian village and garden. What’s more? If seeing these wild animals doesn’t entertain your child, your kids might get amused encountering the lemurs, butterflies, lions, meerkats, and many other wild animals.
But nothing can beat spending a night in nature. What are we talking about? Roar ‘n’ Snore is an overnight camp that allows you to sleep at the zoo while listening to the calls of the animals. If you opt for this adventure, you will be provided with tents and camping mattresses, as well as dining, and breakfast.
| Website | https://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne |
|---|---|
| Address | Elliott Ave, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia |
| Distance from CBD | 4.3 km |
| How to Reach |
By Car: 12 minutes drive from Melbourne CBD via State Route 55. By Bus: Board bus route 505 from Moonee Ponds to Melbourne University; bus stops right outside Melbourne Zoo. By Train: Catch the train from Flinders Street Station to Royal Park Station. Melbourne Zoo is just across the road. By Tram: Board tram route 58 from West Coburg to Toorak via William Street. Tram stops outside the zoo at Stop 26. |
| Opening Hours | Monday-Sunday: 9:00am-5:00pm |
| Tickets |
Adult: $46 Child (4-15): $23 |
| Facilities | Parent's Room, Cafes, Group Catering, BBQ Area |
| Directions | https://maps.app.goo.gl/TFuVczEgXYpNWsHU8 |
2. Explore Legoland Discovery Centre
Established in 2017, Legoland Discovery Centre is the first and best Lego playground in the Southern Hemisphere. This discovery centre is spread over an area of 2800 sqm at Chadstone shopping centre. Your kids will love going to this place, as it has more than two million Lego bricks and children and adults will have a unique and great experience exploring the brick-tastic Lego world.
The child-friendly environment will encourage your child to take the lead in learning more things about Melbourne while playing. You will see small replicas of the most iconic landmarks of Melbourne at this discovery centre, including Luna Park, Flinders Street Station, etc. Legoland Discovery Centre has 13 great attractions in total, ranging from 4D Cinema to Underwater Quest and Merlin’s Apprentice.
Your energy levels might start going down after exploring the Lego world and working hard as a builder and for refuelling, Legoland Discovery Centre has got a Lego-themed cafe for all the hardworking builders. The cafe is baby-friendly, disabled-friendly, and offers access to Wi-Fi. Either you can try the freshly-made sandwich there or just indulge in a cupcake treat at the cafe. However, if you have kids along with you, the kids’ meal deal would be a great choice.
After recharging your imagination, you can head off to the attractions, where earthquake tables, creative workshops, and the city fire academy are waiting for you. At this place, you can flaunt your talent, build your own Lego car and test its potential with your Lego friends. Then, you can move to the earthquake tables, where you can beat your friends by building the highest tower that withstands every test.
But don’t forget to visit the Lego retail store before returning to your home or hotel room, as it has plenty of awesome toys to offer visitors. You can shop for a souvenir to remember your visit to Lego World and if you are a die-hard Lego fan, remember to collect your Lego passport so that you can collect unique stamps from each Lego store you visit!
| Website | https://www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com/melbourne/ |
|---|---|
| Address | Level 2/1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148, Australia |
| Distance from CBD | 17.5 km |
| How to Reach |
By Car: 23 minutes drive from Melbourne CBD via M1. By Bus: Board the shuttle bus from Fed Square to Chadstone - The Fashion Capital. By Train: Board the train from Flinders Street Railway Station to the Pakenham line. Hop off at Caulfield, then catch the bus on route 900 to Stud Park until you reach Chadstone - The Fashion Capital. |
| Opening Hours |
Monday-Friday: 10:00am-4:00pm Saturday-Sunday: 9:30am-5:00pm |
| Tickets |
Adult & Kids (3-12): $36 Children (0-2 years): Free |
| Facilities | Cafe, Parking, Online Tickets, Wheelchair Accessible |
| Directions | https://maps.app.goo.gl/pUSgpA4xJUWGhDRH8 |
3. Learn Science at Scienceworks
Everyone at the school thinks that science is a boring subject to learn, but it becomes interesting at Scienceworks. Your kids can learn about the wonders of science in a fun and engaging way at this interactive science and technology museum. There is always something exciting going on at this museum, whether it’s some daily special activity, an exhibition, a guided tour or a demonstration.
Scienceworks also has a planetarium (it’s a theatre for presenting educational and entertaining shows, for those who don’t know), where you find a domed ceiling that is a replica of the night sky, which is the major attraction of this science and technology museum. However, the perfect scene is created on Friday nights when the planetarium transforms into a domed cinema for adults so you can book a room in the best hotels.
Just before the start of the weekend, you can watch films here that will transport you to outer space, where you can encounter black holes and coral reefs. But don’t forget to get yourself a sneaky drink to accompany you during the whole film. If you talk about the shows that your kids can watch and events that they can attend, there are plenty, including STEM Workshop: Strength is a Superpower, Great Melbourne Telescope Restoration, and many others.
However, if it doesn’t excite you, a lightning room is waiting for you at the Scienceworks. Nothing is more exciting than seeing man-made thunderbolts, but you may have to spend a little extra money to experience it. So, are you ready to experience all these adventures? Book your tickets to this science and technology museum without any further delay.
| Website | https://museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/ |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 Booker St, Spotswood VIC 3015, Australia |
| Distance from CBD | 9.2 km |
| How to Reach |
By Car: 27 minutes drive from Melbourne CBD via Docklands Hwy/Footscray Rd/State Route 32 and State Route 35. By Bus: Board bus line 237 to Scienceworks. By Train: Train from Flinders Street Station to Scienceworks station. |
| Opening Hours | Monday-Sunday: 10:00am-4:30pm |
| Tickets |
Adult: $35 Child: $20 |
| Facilities | Coach Parking, Public Telephone, BBQ facilities, Cafe, Car Park, Interactive Centre, Picnic Area, Public Toilet |
| Directions | https://maps.app.goo.gl/R8FrHrP8DthTE9W66 |
4. Interact with Animals at Collingwood Children's Farm
Kids living in the city from birth are always excited about life in the country, so get them to Collingwood Children’s Farm to experience how things work in the rural areas. However, bear in mind that it is not a petting zoo and you should not expect animals in the cage. Instead, your kids will get a chance to interact with the animals.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to see your kids enjoying their day milking the cows, playing with the goats, or feeding the chooks? In addition to interacting with the animals, you can get information regarding all the animals there, including their diet, lifespan and much more. But nothing will beat the excitement that you will get from learning about the bees at the apiary.
In other words, visiting Collingwood Children’s Farm is one of the best things to do in Melbourne with your kids, where they get to learn a lot about life in the country and immerse themselves in nature. After exploring the farm, milking the cows, and performing some of the best things to do in Melbourne with kids, you might get tired then, you can take a break at the plant-filled Farm Cafe.
The Farm Cafe focuses on preparing flavourful and healthy dishes with homegrown and local produce. You will get a lot of dishes to choose from to satisfy your deep cravings for healthy food. But the story doesn’t end here. If you are around Collingwood Children’s Farm on a Saturday morning, head off to the farmer’s market, where you can pick up fresh veggies, eggs, and seasonal fruits.
In addition to these, you can also shop for other grocery items from the farmer’s market, including oils, chutneys, meats, jams, and flowers. The best part about going to this farm is that you indirectly help in caring for animals since your entry fees will be leveraged by the farms for conserving the farmland and providing the animals with a good life. Moreover, you can bring your furry friends with you on your trip to the farm. So what are you waiting for?
| Website | https://www.farm.org.au/ |
|---|---|
| Address | 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford VIC 3067, Australia |
| Distance from CBD | 5.5 km |
| How to Reach |
By Car: 25 minutes drive from Melbourne CBD via Victoria Parade/State Route 32. By Bus: Board bus line 200 to reach Collingwood Children's Farm. |
| Opening Hours | Monday-Sunday: 9:30am-4:30pm |
| Tickets |
Child under 2 years: Free Child (2-17 years): $8 Adult: $17 |
| Facilities | Cafe, Car Park, Food and Refreshments, Lawn/Gardens, Parents Room, Pets Allowed, Picnic Area, Public Toilet |
| Directions | https://maps.app.goo.gl/pgmekS6yeyWZvC9h6 |
5. Enjoy Breath-Stopping Rides at Luna Park
Entering Luna Park through a giant mouth is one of the best things to do in Melbourne with kids. It is Australia’s oldest theme park with a rich history spanning over a century, offering visitors a full carnival flair. The rides and attractions at Luna Park are sure to mesmerise the senses of your kids, from the fly-high rides to the historical carousel rides, this park has everything to entertain the little ones in your family.
Visiting Luna Park and riding the Roller Coaster is one of the best things to do in Melbourne with kids. Not only will the ride give you heart-stopping dips and turns, but also a breathtaking view of Port Phillip Bay. In addition to a fly-high roller coaster ride, you can try many other adventurous rides, such as the Pharaoh’s Curse and Power Surge.
Despite having plenty of thrilling rides, Luna Park continues to add more and more rides so that everyone has something to enjoy as a thrill-seeker. The best part is that the park ensures the safety of everyone and every ride has mentioned the height of children who are allowed to board the amusement rides. Overall, going to Luna Park would be an amazing experience for your child; you can see their happy faces just after entering the world of adventures!
Apart from rides and attractions, you can also book the venue of Luna Park to celebrate the birthday or bar mitzvah of your kids. Celebrating birthdays in such an iconic place is what everyone wants in their life. And yes, everyone in the street will just talk about your kid’s birthday and your children would love that.
However, celebrating special occasions in your life is also one of the best fun things to do in Melbourne with kids. Don’t suppress your inner child; do it once in a lifetime!
| Website | https://lunapark.com.au/ |
|---|---|
| Address | 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia |
| Distance from CBD | 7.8 km |
| How to Reach |
By Car: 27 minutes drive from Melbourne CBD via State Route 33. By Bus: Board bus routes 246, 606, 623, 600/922/923. By Tram: Catch Tram 16 to Acland Street - Stop No. 138 (Luna Park). |
| Opening Hours |
Monday-Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 11:00am-6:00pm Friday: 11:00am-8:00pm Saturday: 11:00am-10:00pm Sunday: 11:00am-7:00pm |
| Tickets | Family Pass (4 members): $170 |
| Facilities | Cafe, Parking, Online Tickets, Big Venue |
| Directions | https://maps.app.goo.gl/bkbxTrQ6BBZDbVQf9 |
6. Admire the Artworks at NGV International
Visiting the National Gallery of Victoria is one of the best and most fun things to do in Melbourne with kids. You might be wondering how your kids will get entertained in a gallery. Usually, the things in the galleries are not interesting to the kids, but we are talking about NGV Kids, where there is an abundance of experience waiting for teenagers, children, and families.
The National Gallery of Victoria is a place that is committed to entertaining every visitor, no matter what their age. This place allows all the kids to experience the creative ways artists approach their work. In addition, kids get access to new ideas and worlds by seeing the artworks present in the gallery, especially for kids.
There is always something interesting going on in the National Gallery of Victoria for kids, such as the exhibition for kids. You can take little members of your family to those events and foster creativity in them. Some of the most popular activities for kids at NGV International are POSSUM-SKIN CLOAKS with Maree Clarke and GUMNUT BLING with Paul McCann.
Also, you can buy your kids the NGV’s kids content that won’t burn your pockets or it is free sometimes. However, the best part about visiting this place is that you don’t have to compromise on your interests while visiting NGV International. You will also enjoy it with the kids; you just need to enter the adult section of the gallery, where plenty of beautiful and historical artworks are waiting for you.
This gallery has plenty to offer adults, too, thanks to its epic permanent art collection. The permanent collection of NGV International includes a Bonnard, a Tiepolo, and a Rembrandt, which is enough for a gallery that’s only been in operation since the 1800s. So, include the National Gallery of Victoria in your itinerary if you plan to travel to this beautiful city in Australia shortly. Don’t miss trying some delicious foods at the nearby best restaurants.
| Website | https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ |
|---|---|
| Address | 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006, Australia |
| Distance from CBD | 2.2 km |
| How to Reach |
By Car: 16 minutes drive from Melbourne CBD via St Kilda Rd. By Bus: Board bus lines 251, 302, or 605 to reach NGV. By Tram: Take tram lines 1, 3-3A, 5, 6, or 72 to reach NGV from Melbourne CBD. |
| Opening Hours | Monday-Sunday: 10:00am-5:00pm |
| Tickets | Ticket prices depend on the event. For instance, **Friday Night**: $40 for adults, $18 for children. |
| Facilities | Dining, Parking, Virtual Tours, Guided Tours |
| Directions | https://maps.app.goo.gl/RsEggKFX15akMs6q6 |
On the Final Note
Making childhood memorable is the responsibility of the parents and you can easily do it by doing some fun things with them. One of the fun things to do in Melbourne with kids is visit some of the most famous and iconic attractions. Though the list of attractions and activities available in this beautiful city is pretty long, you should not miss out on Melbourne Zoo, Luna Park, NGV International, Scienceworks, Legoland Discovery Centre, and Collingwood Children’s Farm.
All these attractions have plenty to offer tourists coming from all around the world as well as locals. The tickets to all these attractions are not that expensive and the best part about these places to visit in Melbourne with kids is that parents can also enjoy them with their kids. Some of these attractions have parents’ rooms too, for the ultimate comfort of the parents while the kids enjoy their day playing.
Hopefully, you have gotten all the information regarding the fun things to do in Melbourne with kids from this exclusive blog by enthusiastic travellers like you. For more such blogs, articles, information or news, stay tuned!
