The Best Family Activities in Melbourne

Known as a city bristling with arts and culture perfect for discerning adults, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it also offers a range of experiences tailored to your mini artists.

The Museum of Play & Art (MoPA) is a world-famous children’s museum that has been designed specifically for kids aged 1-7. Founded on the philosophy that play and creativity will paint a brighter future for our children, their exhibits and activities provide rich opportunities for play-based learning and creative development. Found in the Bayside suburb of Sandringham, it’s easily accessible through public transport or car.

Docklands in Melbourne is also home to the mind-blowingly innovative ArtVo 3D Gallery. A highly unique gallery which actually encourages and supports selfies and photography, ArtVo offers a fantastical, immersive experience which will not only transport your kids to a range of new worlds, but also allows you to capture the memories.

Rounding out this trio for the little ones is The Museum of Melbourne, which features a specific kids zone called The Children’s Gallery, combining hands-on exploration and play-based learning with immersive environments and unique collection items. Kids under 16 even get in free, but bookings for The Children’s Gallery are essential, so grab your family’s spot now!

Perhaps the most iconic of Melbourne’s kid-friendly attractions, your family simply cannot miss the Legoland Discovery Centre. With 12 different play areas to explore, 2 rides, and even a 4D Cinema, it truly is the ultimate indoor playground experience. Immerse the kids in the mini replica of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings made up of over 1.5 million LEGO bricks, or get building and help improve their problem-solving, cognitive skills, and spatial awareness. And as a fully indoor space, it offers endless family fun activities in Melbourne city regardless of the weather.

Enjoy one of the best free family activities in Melbourne with some fun in the sun at one of the iconic locations of Melbourne's South Side. St Kilda is probably Melbourne’s most popular beach destination, and for good reason. Located just a short tram ride from the CBD and walking distance to Luna Park Melbourne, it's the ideal location for an easy day beachside with the kids. Take in the sights at the iconic pier, or head across to the St Kilda Breakwater and you might just get an aquatic surprise in the form of a few local penguins.

If you’re looking for something more calm and quiet, head to Carrum beach for its peaceful vibes and nautical-themed playground, or try Half Moon Bay for its shallow, protected, and picturesque landscape. Visit Ricketts Point for some amazing rockpool vistas, head to Williamstown Beach if you want to watch the sunset, and don’t forget to visit the nearby Jawbone Fauna Reserve and Marine Sanctuary along the way.

If you’re looking for the most famous and expensive stretch of Melbourne sand, look no further than Brighton’s brightly decorated and heavily instagrammed beach boxes, which offer a fun little hideaway for the kids, and a great spot for a family photo.

We know kids enjoy discovering nature and seeking out interesting fauna and colourful flora. Luckily Melbourne and the surrounding areas have got you covered. 

Visit Sealife Aquarium and get an up close and personal look at Pinjarra the gigantic male croc, take a stroll through the Antarctic to meet the cheeky Gentoo penguins, or marvel at the weird and wonderful world of rays and sawfish. If you’re looking for a next level experience, you can even swim with the sharks, mingle with the penguins, or enjoy your very own private dining experience under the sea.

The Melbourne Zoo offers another fauna fix in close proximity to the city. Run by Zoo’s Victoria as a not-for-profit organisation focussed on protecting a range of Australia’s endangered animal species, visitors can enjoy a huge range of unique wildlife and habitats. The Growing Wild is their interactive play area designed especially for children aged 3 to 8, where little ones can mingle with meerkats, crawl inside a Giant Tortoise shell, and come face-to-face with birds, reptiles, and insects. Don’t forget to visit the award winning Trail of the Elephants, be amazed by the Gorilla Rainforest, or head underwater to the Wild Sea exhibit.

For a more laid back nature experience, The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne are an amazing spot for a relaxing walk or picnic with the family. Not to mention, when it comes to free family activities in Melbourne, the Botanic Gardens are a shoe-in.

Within these beautifully lush gardens you will also find the Ian Potter Children’s Garden, a designated area for kids that provides a natural environment of learning and exploration. This award winning garden features a Wetland area, Bamboo forest, water spouts where kids can play on hotter days, and even an accessible kitchen garden with secret tunnels to run, hide, and play in.

Melbourne is home to a smorgasbord of family activities and events, only a fraction of which we could fit in this article. Whether you’re planning a quick weekend away with the kids or a fully fledged family getaway over the school holidays, you won't be disappointed by Melbourne.

So choose your Melbourne accommodation and start planning that family getaway!