The best things to do in Melbourne with kids

Take a walk on the wild side and marvel at all the incredible animals at any of the Zoos Victoria locations. Stay close to the city at Melbourne Zoo or head out west and take a safari tour at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Venture out east and admire Aussie wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary. Or, check out Kyabram Fauna Park in Victoria’s north. Children aged 4 to 16 can visit the zoos for free on school holidays and weekends. Younger bubs aged 0 to 3 can enter for free at any time.

There’s lots of awesome things to do with kids at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. Marvel at rays and other creatures in the oceanarium, see the adorable penguins, learn all about jellyfish and more.

If you’ve ever wanted to wander through a dreamscape made of shimmering bubbles and glowing colours, then drift over to Bubble Planet. Perfect for all ages, this immersive experience invites you to explore ten playful, interactive environments designed to awaken your senses. Find it at the Fever Exhibition and Experience Centre in Brunswick. Get your tickets here.

Encourage a budding interest in plants at the Children’s Garden in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Play, explore, dig and scramble around a bamboo forest, a wetland area, a kitchen garden, a rocky gorge and more. This space is open from 10am between Wednesday and Sunday. It’s also open throughout the Victorian school holidays and public holidays, with an annual closure during winter. Learn more here.

There’s lots of cool things to see and do with your kids at Melbourne Museum. There’s a Children’s Gallery which is perfect for those aged 0 to 5. Let them explore and play through hands-on learning. For some outdoor fun, check out the Gandel Gondwana Garden and learn more about the animals and plants of Victoria’s past. Both younger and older kids will also enjoy indoor exhibitions, like Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs.

There’s so many awesome things to check out at Scienceworks. Give your kids a core Melbourne memory and have them race against Cathy Freeman. Check out other cool exhibitions, ranging from aerodynamics to technology, and see a live show in the Lightning Theatre. Then, head inside Melbourne Planetarium for a show that’s out of this world.

Teamwork makes the dream work, and that’s especially true at SENSAS, which will test all five of your senses through a range of intriguing and exciting challenges. This experience is suitable for kids aged 7+. Get your tickets here.

ACMI has a whole range of exhibitions and experiences to help your kids learn more about screen culture. In the free exhibition, The Story of the Moving Image, you’ll learn about the past, present and future of films, TV, video games and art. There’s also fun interactive experiences, a rotating range of exhibitions, movies, and more to discover.

Get a taste of country life without having to go too far from the city at Collingwood Children’s Farm. This adorable space has plenty of animals, and daily activities like cuddling guinea pigs. Throughout the year, there’s also fun events like workshops. Learn more here.

123Boom! has brought its explosive mix of immersive challenges to Melbourne. You’ll get the chance to become the main player in a high-energy adventure filled with interactive games, team challenges, and an epic finale. Think rooms filled with lasers, interactive screens, and arcade-style games that demand quick thinking, coordination, and a bit of bravery. Get your tickets here.

The iconic Luna Park is the oldest theme park in Australia. Since it first opened in St Kilda in 1912, it has entertained generations of families. You’ll have a blast with plenty of rides for the little ones and the older thrill seekers.

Stroll along Birrarung Marr and pop into ArtPlay, an exciting place for children to get in touch with their creative side. Suitable for babies to children aged up to 13, this space has a range of exciting events, performances and workshops throughout the year. Activities at ArtPlay are either free or available at an affordable price. Learn more here.

Fitzroy Gardens has lots of interesting places for kids. See the enchanting Fairies Tree, marvel at the Model Tudor Village, check out Cooks’ Cottage and more. Find out more.

This virtual reality adventure was created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Stand on the edge of black holes, see a supernova, explore an exoplanet and much more. Smithsonian Starstruck is suitable for visitors aged 10+.

This historic ship, Polly Woodside, first launched in Belfast in 1885. After multiple trips around the world, she’s now docked in South Wharf. There’s guided tours on the first Sunday of every month, but if you’re keen for a fun time out with the kids, check out their Pirate Days on the third Sunday of the month. Go on a treasure hunt, receive a pirate tattoo, swing on the rope, dress up as a pirate and more. Learn more here.

NGV is a great space to introduce art and culture to the family. Pop into the children’s gallery and see the latest exhibition for kids. There’s also fun events, workshops, activities and even art parties for teens. More info here.

Flip your perspective at House Down Under. Head to Docklands and enter an inverted house that looks like it dropped straight from the sky! Walk in and take heaps of fun photos, while exploring the upside-down rooms. See more here.

If you loved playing the online, multiplayer game, Among Us, and you’d like to experience something similar IRL, then you’ll definitely want to head to The District Docklands. There, you’ll find Saboteurs, an immersive, space-themed game played inside converted shipping containers. Play with your family and friends, live on a Moon Base and eject any crewmates that seem sus. The original mode is suitable for ages six and up. Get your tickets here.

Play and socialise with adorable cats while sipping on a hot chocolate or other cosy beverage at Cat Café Melbourne. This space is open to visitors aged 8 and above.

Does your family have a need for speed? Scratch that itch by racing over to some thrilling go karting tracks around Melbourne. See our list of recommendations here.

There’s lots of things to do with your kids at Melbourne Skydeck. Take in the view from nearly 300 metres high, and experience a thrill by stepping into the Edge, a transparent cube that juts out of the building. Go in the immersive Voyager Theatre, then test your balance in the VR Plank experience.

If you’ve not been enchanted by Melbourne’s beautiful Candlelight Concerts yet, now is the perfect time. With a relaxed, ambient setting and an array of talented musicians performing in stunning venues, it’s the ideal way to introduce younger generations to classic music without it feeling stuffy. Group bookings for school visits and educational institutions are also available here.

Perfect for children aged 1 to 7, the Museum of Play and Art has plenty of exciting exhibits and activities for play-based learning. You’ll find venues in Nunawading, Sandringham, Thomastown and Geelong. Find out more.

Suitable for visitors aged five and above, Hijinx Hotel features a series of challenge rooms. You will be assigned five rooms at random, and you’ll need to complete tasks, like shooting a basketball through a hoop, in order to win points. You can find it in QV or Chadstone.

The kids will have fun at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Chadstone. There’s 13 awesome attractions to explore, with over two million LEGO bricks. Watch something in the 4D Cinema, go on rides and create something cool in the play areas. Learn more here.

Ballet of Lights is a 60-minute dance show that recreates iconic productions in an innovative way. Think glow-in-the-dark tutus and sparkling pirouettes! Suitable for children aged 5 and over, ballerinas wearing luminous costumes illuminated by countless optical fibres take on beloved fairytales like The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Peter Pan, enchanting both kids and adults with a luminous twist. See what’s coming up here.

Find fun for the whole family at indoor entertainment centre Hoopla. The kids will have a blast with a massive playground, arcade, bowling and more, while the adults can take it easy at the kitchen and bar.

Hop aboard this iconic steam train, swing your legs from the carriage sills and go on an adventure through the lush surrounds of the Dandenong Ranges. Zoom past towering mountain ash trees and across trestle bridges in this quintessential Melbourne experience. There are daily trips from Belgrave to Lakeside, as well as other routes on weekends, like Lakeside to Gembrook. Puffing Billy Railway also has special events and experiences throughout the year, like the stunning Train of Lights during winter and the Polar Express trip around Christmas.

Drive 50 minutes southeast of Melbourne CBD and have a wild time at Moonlit Sanctuary. This incredible wildlife park is home to over 70 Australian species, including endangered animals. At night, you can also take lantern-lit tours to see these creatures in their natural nocturnal environment. Children under 4 can visit for free. Learn more here.

Escape to Arthurs Seat and have a blast at Enchanted Adventure. There’s all sorts of stuff to keep both the kids and the adults busy, with tube slides, tree surfing courses, an aerial playground, giant brainteaser puzzles, hedge mazes and more. They’re open every day except for Christmas. See more here.