Best Activities To Do With Your Friends In Melbourne

One need not spend a fortune in order to have a good time in Melbourne. We have researched all of Melbourne's free and low-cost activities to make sure that families can have a fantastic time here without breaking the bank. Melbourne is full of exciting opportunities for families to have fun without breaking the bank.

Coburg Lake Reserve, Murray Road, Coburg

The law of gravity states that what goes up must come down. In order to reach Earth's surface, you must first descend to it. You'll have to climb several ladders to the upper levels before you reach the two massive metal slides. Whereas the "smaller" slide is relatively straight and opens into a flat area at the bottom, the "bigger" one has a sharp turn just before it flattens out at the bottom.

This slide could cause nervousness in very young kids. The slide tower also includes a plastic-coated climbing wall, a fireman's pole, a set of balls affixed to a vertical pole, and two game boards for playing Four in a Row or Reversi.

It also has a birds' nest swing, a large disc carousel with hand-holds that spins around, a standard, and a shop front with a pulley system for hauling wood chips.

Considering the playground's proximity to the lake, waterfowl are practically a must-have. Even though the chances of the kids moving away from the massive slide tower are about the same as the odds of snow falling in Death Valley in the summer, you still need to be on the lookout.

There are plenty of shady tables, chairs, and other seating options, as well as flush toilets, barbeque grills, a water fountain, and beautiful carved wooden benches for parents to enjoy the view of the lake from.

Donna Buang Rainforest Gallery and Skywalk (Warburton)

Traveling to see native animals in Melbourne won't break the bank. The Pelican Feeding sessions in San Remo are actually free and open to the public; the fish and chip shop in the area provides the necessary food for the pelicans. Cement Creek, about 10 kilometres from Mount Donna Buang's peak, is where you'll find the Rainforest Gallery and Skywalk.

One of only three in all of Australia, this breathtaking spot is home to a 40-meter long observation platform. The 15-meter-high platform is a gateway to the treetops of the tropical rainforest. 

There are a number of scenic overlooks along the trail where you can take in Cement Creek on its journey to the Yarra River.

This boardwalk consists of a high vantage point overlooking the rainforest below, and a 350-meter boardwalk circuit winding its way through the forest. Steps abound, and the walkways can be slick when wet. A stroll through this neighbourhood is calming and educational. On your way to the summit, you should definitely stop for a break.

Victory Park, Langs Road, Ascot Vale

Except for the farthest-away corner from the road, the entire area is fenced in. There are water fountains, flush toilets, picnic tables, and grills for use. Guests can use the convenience of a kiosk at the adjacent Ascot Vale Sports & Fitness centre.

Lillydale Lake (Lilydale)

South of Lilydale, on Olinda Creek, is this lovely and popular lake, which serves as a flood-retarding basin. Only two or two and a half metres deep at the deepest point. Lillydale Lake and Park opened to the public for the first time in July 1990. The Park covers more than 100 square kilometres.

We can have a picnic or barbeque and then walk around the 28-hectare lake, or you can just relax and watch the clouds go by while the kids play on the sandy beaches or in the incredible playground. Those who visit the Park but aren't in the mood to walk can instead bring their bikes and ride around on the shared trail that extends for about 10 kilometres.

Facilities include:

• Electric BBQ's (no coins required)
• Picnic Shelters
• 10 kilometres Shared Trail
• Heritage Trail
• Fishing
• Wetlands
• Parking for 250 vehicles
• Monster Playground
• Boat Launching and trailer parking
• Park Lighting
• Public Toilets with disability access
• Community Room for Hire

It is possible to catch fish in the lake. Rainbow trout are regularly stocked by Fisheries Victoria and there is also redfin, carp, roach and eels. No fishing is permitted on the beach areas; however, most of the shoreline is accessible to anglers.

The lake area has some reasonable walking tracks and a great playground. The lake is not suited to swimming. The number of BBQs, shelters and tables seemed to be fairly limited.

Bundoora Park Play Space, River Red Gum Avenue, Bundoora

Anyone who wants to can go fishing in the lake. Fisheries Victoria regularly stocks fish species other than rainbow trout, including redfin, carp, roach, and eels. Although fishing is prohibited on the beaches themselves, most of the coastline is open to fishermen. Do not fish from the beach.

In addition to a great playground, the area around the lake features some nice walking paths. Due to its depth, the lake is off-limits to swimmers. It appeared that grills, canopies, and picnic tables were in short supply.

Located at: Bundoora Park Play Space, River Red Gum Avenue, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia

An exciting Play Area that is both indoors and adjacent to a food service establishment. A wooden wall maze with hidden items like a horse and a sandpit with a digger are also available. Among the many entertaining features is a sizable sandbox outfitted with a working digger (hopefully by an accommodating parent).

Shelters with tables and chairs, water fountains, and both shaded and unshaded seating areas are all available. Concrete walkways and soft, spongy areas surround the majority of the apparatus, allowing easy access for all users.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne are both internationally renowned tourist hotspots. Within easy reach of Melbourne's downtown, the Royal Botanic Gardens are a haven for local wildlife and a showcase of the city's extraordinary flora. Tired kids can take a ride on the Garden Explorer train and, for a fee, listen to an informative commentary about the Gardens.

If that mode of transportation doesn't excite you enough, take the kids for a punt ride on the Ornamental Lake (fees apply). The free Ian Potter Foundation Children's garden is the highlight of any trip with kids, as kids can run wild, climb, splash, hide, and dig until their hearts are content. The Ian Potter Foundation is responsible for funding this garden (well, at least until the gardens close).

In 1846, work began on what would become Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, a lush urban oasis. Garden plots, lakes, and vast grassy areas fill their 38 hectares. There are more than 52,000 individual plants there, representing over 10,000 different species of flora from all over the world.

Beautiful scenery, tranquil lakes, and a wide variety of plants can all be found in Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. More than 1.4 million people visit the Gardens annually.

Some of the most interesting and unusual plant collections in the world can be found at Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. Plants native to Southern China, the Amazon, and other tropical regions, as well as herbs, perennials, cacti, succulents, and roses, are all represented here.

It's run by the Ian Potter Foundation. The Children's Garden is a popular tourist attraction for good reason. To encourage exploration of the outdoors, the Children's Garden provides a bamboo forest, rock walls, and crawling tunnels made of plants.

Opening Hours:

Open every day of the year:

• 7.30 am to 8.30 pm November to March
• 7.30 am to 6.00 pm April, September and October
• 7.30 am to 5.30 pm May to August
• Note: Tropical Display in the Glasshouse is open daily: 10 am - 4 pm.

The Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden

• Open: 10 am - 4 pm, Wednesday to Sunday
• 10 am - 4 pm, seven days per week during Victorian State School holidays

Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday

For two months at the end of the Victorian July School Holidays (Victorian State Schools) for rest and maintenance.

Mornington Peninsula

This playground has as much sand as the Gobi Desert, if not more. A fantastic playground where kids of all abilities are welcome and can use the facilities. Two play structures, one on either side of the large sandbox, provide additional sand-playing options.

To the side of the main play area, a large boat and seesaw have been placed in the sand. When you get to the other side, you'll find a twisted-pipe climbing structure and a number of swings.

At the peak of the hill, there is a bird's nest swing, a steep, winding slide (which the kids and Dad agree is too slow to generate real excitement), and a series of large, soft mounds connected by rope bridges. Separate from the main structure, a long rope bridge provides access to the main pyramid-shaped rope climbing structure. The rope used to construct this span is entirely non-permanent.

There are water fountains, loos, a small number of shaded seats, and open ground. Additionally, there are covered areas equipped with picnic tables and barbecues. Near the lake are numerous grassy areas and ovals, and there is a path that leads to the water itself.

CERES Community Environment Park (Brunswick East)

For kids, there's no better place to spend the day than Brunswick East's CERES Community Environment Park, which is packed with options for fun and learning.

The Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies (CERES) is located in a public park and offers classes on urban farming, green technologies, permaculture, and seasonal cooking. CERES is an abbreviation for the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies.

Have fun with our cultural educators' interactive activities and then use the CERES resources at your disposal, including the cafe, playground, and farm.

A wide range of enjoyable and instructive options are provided for the kids. This includes a cafe, a cultural village display, a plant nursery, a chook house, a pond, and a playground (with features like an elevated cubby in a tree, a big dome play area, a rowing boat, and a shaded sandpit) (a touch expensive but it is organic).

Ballam Park Reserve

A Tale of Two Playgrounds is the title of a novel by Charles Dickens that is set in Frankston and follows the events of the See-saw Revolution. If that's the case, you should hurry to Frankston's Ballam Reserve. As a result, the world as we know it will be drastically altered.

There are two large playgrounds for kids in the park. The playground's "big brother" section, intended for slightly older kids, can be found on the western side.
One of the four swings has an extra handle and harness for bigger kids. Large tractor tyres have been embedded in the ground and there is a boat structure, three springers, and an unusual swing in the separate playground area that is surrounded by a fence but does not have a gate. In addition, there is a multi-story building with ramps and elevators for transporting sand from a massive pit.

To the east of the park is a playground designed specifically for younger children. A vast wooden framework connects its many stories via a network of tunnels, ramps, and walkways.

Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve (Springvale South)

Take advantage of a free tour given by a local ranger at the Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve in Springvale South to learn more about the area's natural history. We'll be in Springvale South for the tour.

The Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve is a great place to go for a hike through some of the most scenic bushland in the area, and it also serves as a valuable cultural and educational resource for the local community.

There is a ranger on duty to lead tours and answer questions about the local flora and fauna.

The reserve also offers:

• Picnic areas
• Walking nature track - a 35-minute walk through stunning bushland
• Sense trail - a trail, ideal for students, that utilises the senses
• Toilets
• Barbecue
• Regular environmental events and activities are held at Alex Wilkie reserve.

There is a sensory trail and the main reserve area to explore. Near the entrance is a covered area with some informational panels, restrooms, a water tap, a barbeque, shaded tables, and seating. A brochure detailing the nature trail's features will also be available for your perusal.

The trail meanders back and forth through a fairly congested neighbourhood, allowing occasional glimpses of dwellings. There are a few benches dotted along the trail in case you need to rest, but you can easily cover its distance without tiring yourself out. The children showed little enthusiasm for the sensory trail we had prepared.

The reserve can only be visited on specific days and at specific times, so planning ahead is essential.