With plenty of shops, restaurants and activities, it’s a good time to plan a day out at The District Docklands. Billed as an inner-city playground, a visit here goes beyond your usual shopping experience. Sure, you can catch the latest releases at HOYTS Cinema, restock your wardrobe at the likes of Uniqlo or H&M, and grab a bite to eat at The District’s range of restaurants – but to plot the ultimate day out here, we’ve stepped in to help, with a roundup of the best things to do at The District Docklands.
What to do at The District Docklands
1. Immerse yourself in the world of Banksy’s art
The much-anticipated Art of Banksy exhibition has finally arrived in Melbourne after stops in Brisbane, Adelaide, and Sydney, and has made a home at The District Docklands. Almost 2 million visitors have seen what’s been described as “the most complete Banksy exhibition” ever, and take it from us: the hype is real. See more and book your tickets here.
2. Shoot some hoops at the official NBA Exhibition
Australia’s first touring NBA Exhibition experienced an in-season trade from Brisbane to Melbourne, and now it’s delighting the crowds with a fascinating exploration of the history, culture, and legacy of the NBA. Sports fans of all ages will find something to enjoy here, whether that be shooting hoops, checking out signed jerseys, or joining the VR experience. You’ll find it on Level 1 opposite H&M, and tickets are on sale here.
3. Enter a madcap playground of science and adventure at Chaos Lab
Science has never been as fun and playful as it is at Chaos Lab! Kids will have a blast in the ballpit, unleash their creativity on the graffiti wall, get hands-on at the slime station, and learn about science with demonstrations from the lab’s friendly mad scientist. You can find out more and book tickets here.
4. Marvel at the dazzling Firelight Festival
Keep the cold at bay when Firelight Festival comes back to Docklands over three spectacular nights. Featuring fire sculptures, fire performers, live music, food trucks, and more, the free festival runs across the weekend of June 28-30, but there’s a ticketed Firelight Labyrinth event that will run through the school holidays to July 14 at nearby Marvel Stadium.
5. Explore new realities at Dreamskape
The newest addition to The District is Dreamskape, a 770 square metre entertainment complex filled with immersive experiences, games and activities. A cutting-edge AR entertainment, your day out here will see you explore six activity zones, taking part in several of their 100 games that make use of lasers, light, colours and movement.
6. Flip your world upside down at House Down Under
Tired jokes from the northern hemisphere about Australia being upside down are just a little less true at House Down Under. Playing with your perspective in creative ways, it offers some unique photo opportunities, and the chance to see the world from another point of view. Personally, I think I’d need a sit down afterwards, though…
7. Find the suspicious ones among you at Saboteurs
Anyone who spent lockdown immersed in Among Us will want to make a beeline for Level 2 of The District Docklands, to find Saboteurs. An immersive, space-themed game played inside 11 converted shipping containers, it’s your chance to eject any suspicious characters from your friend group. Temporarily, of course…
8. Get lost in illusions at ArtVo
Photo opportunities abound at ArtVo, where you can step into the large-scale paintings and become part of the illusion. It’s trippy stuff, but it’ll no doubt fill your socials with all manner of scroll-stopping shots.
9. Challenge your pals at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq
You may want to block out an entire afternoon for a visit to Archie Brothers in Melbourne, considering that you can do (friendly) battle across laser tag, bumper cars, bowling, arcade games, and the Zero Latency VR experience. It’s the best bits of all your youthful birthday parties, rolled into one – and with the addition of crazy cocktails served with style.
10. Twirl around the rink at O’Brien Icehouse
Whether escaping the summer heat or embracing the winter chill, O’Brien Icehouse is a great shout. The year-round skating rink offers one-off sessions, skate lessons, and also hosts the Melbourne Figure Skating Club and two Australian Ice Hockey League teams, the Melbourne Ice and the Melbourne Mustangs. The season runs from April to August, ideal for a sports-mad city seeking a winter sport to embrace.
How to get to The District Docklands
Happily, The District is just within the boundaries of Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone, so you can save a few dollars getting here. The best trams to catch are the #70 and #86, both of which will drop you right outside on Docklands Drive. If you’re driving to The District, there’s 90 minutes of free parking to be had, but we reckon you’ll need a while longer to enjoy all the activities on offer here!