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Family activities

There's plenty of things to do for the whole family in Melbourne. From interactive museums and kids' festivals to exhilarating outdoor adventures and wildlife parks, you'll discover a whole host of things to do with the family.

Highlights

Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience
Sentence yourself to a day of fun or a spooky night at Victoria's oldest prison, which housed tough criminals and the infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly.
Federation Square
In the tradition of the world's busiest public spaces, "Fed Square" buzzes with a daily program of events, restaurants and cafes and bold galleries.
Scienceworks
Journey to the stars and beyond at the Melbourne Planetarium, travel through space and time, and have a hair-raising encounter with lighting volts.
Melbourne Zoo
Enliven your zoo visit with up-close Wild Encounters tours, groove in summer to the 'Zoo Twilights' music performances, or just gawp at new arrivals.
Melbourne Museum
Touch and feel your way through local history; give Phar Lap a nod, explore a rainforest, rest in a rollercoaster car, and discover Koori heritage.
Polly Woodside - Melbourne's Tall Ship Story
Step aboard and join the crew on the Polly Woodside and experience a new world of maritime adventure. With an interactive museum and an exciting...

More family activities

Werribee Open Range Zoo

Join a wildlife safari, Melbourne style, and spot rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and monkeys as they roam freely through the grounds of the zoo.

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Medibank Icehouse

Come Ice Skating, all day every day, 7 days a week, 364 days a year at Medibank Icehouse. For beginners there are FREE lessons on weekends and school...

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National Sports Museum

Become part of Australia's sporting history through thousands of sporting artifacts and multimedia displays at the home of Australian sport, the MCG.

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Galactic Circus

Galactic Circus is Australia's largest indoor interactive theme park centrally located in the heart of the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne....

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Children playing with our Eastern Fiddler Rays

Australian Shark and Ray Centre

The world's largest shark and sting ray feeding experience. The Australian Shark and Ray Centre sharks and rays feed all day, everyday. And feeding...

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Rhyll Trout & Bush Tucker Farm

See the thousands of plants that make up the taste of Australia on the Bush Tucker Trail and then learn how to catch a trout, indoors and out.

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Werribee Mansion

Smell the roses - all 5000 varieties - in the magnificent grounds of the Victoria's largest private residence, pausing to admire the pastoral style.

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Federation Square

In the tradition of the world's busiest public spaces, "Fed Square" buzzes with a daily program of events, restaurants and cafes and bold galleries.

Read more | Show on map

Melbourne Aquarium

Dive deep to discover life beneath the Southern Ocean; walk under tunnels filled with sharks and rays, or ride a simulated underwater rollercoaster.

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Eureka Skydeck 88

Teeter on The Edge, a switchable glass cube that slides you out from the building's 88th floor for unsurpassed views of Melbourne and far beyond.

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Cooks' Cottage

Eight reasons why you must visit Cooks' Cottage: Discover Melbourne's rich history and how Cooks' Cottage came to be one of the city's great...

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Animal Land Children’s Farm

Animal Land Children's Farm was originally established in 1985. Animals on the farm love it when children come to visit them. Meet all types of farm...

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Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience

Sentence yourself to a day of fun or a spooky night at Victoria's oldest prison, which housed tough criminals and the infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly.

Read more | Show on map

Funfields

Funfields is located only 40 kilometres north of Melbourne, it is an outdoor family fun park with rides to suit all ages. Enjoy unlimited rides all...

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National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA)

NICA is a national not-for-profit organisation. Funded primarily by the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts, NICA is auspice by...

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Living Legends: The International Home of Rest for Champion Horses

Living Legends: The International Home of Rest for Champion Horses provides the opportunity to mingle with retired champion racehorses such as Apache...

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Auscarts

Auscarts is a state of the art indoor karting venue and entertainment complex just 5 minutes from the heart of Melbourne's CBD. Auscarts is an ideal...

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Fairy Park

Fairy Park is a place dedicated to story telling of fairy tales and ancient myths and legends. A spectacular rocky hilltop has been crafted into a...

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Melbourne Zoo

Enliven your zoo visit with up-close Wild Encounters tours, groove in summer to the 'Zoo Twilights' music performances, or just gawp at new arrivals.

Read more | Show on map

Queen Victoria Market

Shop 'til you drop at this celebrated market to see buskers, find souvenirs and to marvel at the fresh produce and the treats in the Dairy Hall.

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Scienceworks

Journey to the stars and beyond at the Melbourne Planetarium, travel through space and time, and have a hair-raising encounter with lighting volts.

Read more | Show on map

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

Winner of the Victorian Tourism Awards in Ecotourism, cuddle up to koalas, feed kangaroos and wallabies, meet endangered species all in a beautiful...

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Wonderland Fun Park

Wonderland Fun Park is a fantastic inner-city fun park conveniently located at Harbour Town Shopping Centre, Docklands. Offering many great rides and...

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Polly Woodside - Melbourne's Tall Ship Story

Step aboard and join the crew on the Polly Woodside and experience a new world of maritime adventure. With an interactive museum and an exciting...

Read more | Show on map

National Gallery of Victoria

Appreciate art and surrounds at the two NGV spaces - the iconic original housing international art and the newer, light-filled home of local works.

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Melbourne Museum

Touch and feel your way through local history; give Phar Lap a nod, explore a rainforest, rest in a rollercoaster car, and discover Koori heritage.

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What's on

Jun 2013
Pre School Story Time at Readings
Each Monday, Readings staff read out a story from a favourite book - new or old, whimsical or exuberant - for children aged two to five. Story Time...
Jun 2013
Titans of the Ice Age 3D
Discover the real Ice Age and the majestic prehistoric animals that lived in this harsh and beautiful lost world, in the new action-packed IMAX film,...
Jun 2013
Rippon Lea School Holiday Program
Rippon Lea House & Gardens presents a school holiday program that will immerse participants in a 'Victorian Era Childhood' experience. At 10. 30am...
Jun 2013
Poets' Corner
Melbourne's mums and dads are invited to discover the delights of performance poetry in an environment that is welcoming and supportive of their...
Jul 2013
Circus Fun at NICA these holidays
NICA has a wide range of circus classes for you to try. Come and join in the circus fun. Sessions for kids, teenagers and adults are all only $40....
Jul 2013
Roola Boola
Held during the July school holidays, The Roola Boola festival will introduce children to a range of art forms over four fun days. Children aged 4-12...

More family events

Wildlife & zoos

Werribee Open Range Zoo
Join a wildlife safari, Melbourne style, and spot rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras and monkeys as they roam freely through the grounds of the zoo.
Australian Shark and Ray Centre
The world's largest shark and sting ray feeding experience. The Australian Shark and Ray Centre sharks and rays feed all day, everyday. And feeding...
Animal Land Children’s Farm
Animal Land Children's Farm was originally established in 1985. Animals on the farm love it when children come to visit them. Meet all types of farm...
Collingwood Children's Farm
Only five kilometres from the centre of Melbourne, nestled on a bend of the Yarra River lies seven hectares of paddocks, gardens, orchards, rustic...
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park
Winner of the Victorian Tourism Awards in Ecotourism, cuddle up to koalas, feed kangaroos and wallabies, meet endangered species all in a beautiful...
Chesterfield Farm
Come to Chesterfield Farm and experience a little bit of farm life in the city, on a real working farm. Milk a cow, feed and play with the baby farm...
Melbourne Zoo
Enliven your zoo visit with up-close Wild Encounters tours, groove in summer to the 'Zoo Twilights' music performances, or just gawp at new arrivals.
Melbourne Aquarium
Dive deep to discover life beneath the Southern Ocean; walk under tunnels filled with sharks and rays, or ride a simulated underwater rollercoaster.

More wildlife and zoos

Parks & gardens

Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne
After 20 years of planning, construction and planting, the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne vibrant Australian Garden is now complete. An additional...
Queen Victoria Gardens
Stand beside the Queen Victoria memorial statue and survey the ornamental lakes, palm trees, sweeping lawns and rose gardens, and stunning cityscapes.
Birrarung Marr
Listen to the ringing of the eye-catching Federation Bells and browse the open-air collection of artworks to discover Melbourne's indigenous culture.
Como House and Garden
Boasting one of Melbourne's finest gardens and an inspiring historic mansion, Como House and Garden provides a glimpse into the privileged lifestyle...
Fitzroy Gardens
Marvel at the tiny doorways of historic Captain Cook's Cottage, the carved Fairies Tree, the model Tudor Village, and myriad fountains and statues.
CERES Community Environment Park
CERES Community Environment Park, situated on the banks of Merri Creek in East Brunswick, is one of Australia's most visited environmental education...
Fairy Park
Fairy Park is a place dedicated to story telling of fairy tales and ancient myths and legends. A spectacular rocky hilltop has been crafted into a...
Carlton Gardens
Appreciate the fresh air and greenery of the landscaped Carlton Gardens after a visit to the Melbourne Museum, sitting by the lakes and fountains.

More parks and gardens

Museums

Chinese Museum
A living part of Melbourne's modern Chinatown, the Chinese Museum documents, preserves and displays the history of Australians of Chinese descent. An...
Immigration Museum
The Immigration Museum explores the stories of real people from all over the world who have migrated to Victoria. Located in the Old Customs House in...
Scienceworks
Journey to the stars and beyond at the Melbourne Planetarium, travel through space and time, and have a hair-raising encounter with lighting volts.
Old Melbourne Gaol Crime & Justice Experience
Sentence yourself to a day of fun or a spooky night at Victoria's oldest prison, which housed tough criminals and the infamous bushranger, Ned Kelly.
National Sports Museum
Become part of Australia's sporting history through thousands of sporting artifacts and multimedia displays at the home of Australian sport, the MCG.
Melbourne Museum
Touch and feel your way through local history; give Phar Lap a nod, explore a rainforest, rest in a rollercoaster car, and discover Koori heritage.

More museums

Tours

Food and wine tours
Taste your way around Melbourne's top foodie destinations and sample local fare from fine wines to locally produced delicacies at markets and stores.
Shopping tours
Tour the Queen Victoria Market, find a bargain in Melbourne's factory outlets and warehouses or shop til you drop in designer arcades and laneways.
Motorcycle tours
From the West Gate Bridge to St Kilda, Melbourne looks amazing on a motorbike. Take a passenger tour on a Harley Davidson or a trike.
Audio tours
Plug in to the city's sights with an audio tour. Listen here or download the audio files to your media player and listen while you walk.
Walking tours
Follow a heritage trail on a walking tour through Melbourne streets or wander through the laneways and arcades on a cafe, shopping or art tour.
Boat tours
Cruise down the Yarra on a Melbourne boating tour, set sail on Port Phillip Bay with a chartered yacht service, or ferry across to Williamstown.
Sports tours
Visit some of Melbourne's major sporting venues on a guided sports tour to see the MCG, watch tennis greats, or join a bus group to the Melbourne Cup.