Things to Do in Melbourne with Babies, Toddlers & Kids

Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary

The Melbourne Zoo is a place that no one could ever dislike. Lions, tigers, and elephants, together with Australian fauna, penguins, a reptile house, and a butterfly conservatory, are all on display.

Moreover, the Melbourne Zoo is home to more than 300 different species. It has plenty of places to relax, rest, and play for both adults and children, and is also readily accessible with a stroller. It's not hard to understand why this is one of the best Melbourne attractions for families.

On the weekdays, the price is reduced to $5, and on the weekends and school holidays, it's free for children under the age of 16. Ample parking is available in the area, however at busy periods it may take some time to secure a place near the zoo.

The zoo is accessible through tram and rail stations. There's also the Healesville Sanctuary and the Werribee Open Range Zoo. These two locations are worth seeing, however they are not as convenient as the central zoo.

To be fair, the Open Range Zoo is a better option for families visiting Melbourne with young children. It's more compact, and in the mornings, there are great bus trips tailored just to kids.

The Healesville Sanctuary is a zoo that focuses on Australian native species; it was once known as the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary. At its Healesville location in rural Victoria, Australia, the facility has a long tradition of breeding indigenous species.

If you live in Melbourne, you should think about becoming a member of Zoo Victoria. For the price of one entry to each attraction without children, you may visit all three as much as you want within a year.

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium

Fish, crocodiles, seahorses, elephant sharks, and penguins, oh my! That's just a few of the amazing creatures you'll find at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium. Coral, turtles, and other marine animals are also present. Everything you'd want to see at an aquarium is there, and it's well displayed.

Little ones may get up up and personal with marine animals of all sizes at Melbourne Aquarium. Infants and toddlers are admitted free of charge. Here you may purchase cheap admission to the Melbourne Aquarium, as well as a Melbourne Big Ticket that will get you admission to both the Aquarium and Legoland Melbourne.

A subscription (or a combined membership with Legoland as part of the Merlin Annual Pass) may be worth it if you plan to come often.

This aquarium is entertaining and has no major flaws. On the other hand, it's rather pricey for how little it is. When I took S, then age 2, we finished in thirty minutes, despite going at her speed. After shelling out $93 for my whole family, I wouldn't expect to get much more than 30 minutes of pleasure for my money.

You may get here by foot or tram from the Central Business District. From Flinders St station, it's not too long of a stroll.

Children’s Farms

One of the best things to do in Melbourne with kids is to go to a children's farm. Bundoora and Collingwood are both home to fantastic kid-friendly farms.

Both are open for exploration, and you may view common farm animals there. Checking their schedules in advance can help you organise your visit around feeding times and other activities, such as pony or tractor rides.

Every second Saturday of the month, the Collingwood Children's Farm has a farmers market. Although I have heard conflicting opinions, I think we had a better time at the Collingwood farm because of the increased opportunity for direct participation.

Learn about farming while enjoying the comforts of city life by visiting a city farm. Keep in mind that your little one will be crawling about on the ground exploring the farm and the animals there.

During the Farmer's Market (held on the second Saturday of every month from 8 am to 1 pm), admission is just $2 for adults and free for children, and you may remain all day. In addition, the Mexican Music Man is often included. The Farm Cafe is a fantastic on-site cafe that welcomes families with strollers, high chairs, and kid-friendly food options.

Getting to the Bundoora farm requires a vehicle. The central business district is a bit of a drive from here. You may get to the Collingwood Children's Farm by bus or rail with a short walk from the city centre.

Melbourne Museum

The Melbourne Museum has exhibits of interest to adults, as well as a Children's Gallery aimed at kids between the ages of three and eight. The highlight of the Children's Gallery is an exhibition illustrating the process of growth. Many different textures may be experienced.

When you leave this exhibit, you'll find more fun things for the whole family to do in Melbourne. Making Roman architecture and putting up puppet plays were two of S and Z's favourite activities. In addition, there's a fantastic outdoor area stocked with fun stuff like Legos, hula hoops, and skip ropes for the kids to enjoy. Consider it a gold mine. The primary museum provides a lot for youngsters to see and do, including an insect room, dinosaurs, several animals and fish, and a forest environment.

Visitors over the age of 17 pay $14, while those under the age of 17 and those with valid discounts get entry free of charge. It is convenient for visitors because to its proximity to the city centre and the fact that it is served by many tram lines. The museum also has an Imax theatre, and admission to that theatre is included in the price of a museum pass.

Scienceworks

Scienceworks is one of the top places in Melbourne to take kids. All ages may enjoy themselves at this scientific museum. Along with a planetarium, it has a wide variety of interactive exhibits for children.

To well as the normal programming, there are often occuring special presentations and events. About once a month, there is a "little kids day in" for the preschoolers with all-day special programmes geared for children under the age of six. On the other hand, you should put off any plans until tomorrow! There are far more people about, and the lines are much longer than they would be on a typical day.

The museum's preschool play area, which is located on the second floor, got a pretend café, some cranes, and some blocks, among other things.

At this station, you may board a train, and there is also enough parking. There is no admission charge for those under the age of 17, and those with valid concession cards also obtain free access (thus, my friend and I were able to attend for free with our university IDs).

Children’s Garden at the Botanical Gardens

Among the many wonderful things to do in Melbourne, a trip to the Children's Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens is a must. It has vegetation, running water, several entertaining sculptures, walking paths, and a cooking garden.

The park also has a wetlands area, a bamboo forest, and a plant tunnel, all of which sprinkle the children in the summer. The youngsters may go about and get their hands dirty without worrying about being confined. Awesome for the youngsters in the city!

Located in close proximity to Flinders Street station, the Botanical Gardens are a breeze to get from the heart of the city. The greatest of the free or very inexpensive activities to do in Melbourne with children.

ACMI Screen Worlds

Inside ACMI on Federation Square is a fantastic exhibit called ACMI Screen Worlds. It's convenient to stop by whenever you want because to its central location and lack of admission fees.

Is there a more extensive list of free kid-friendly events in Melbourne's central business district you could provide? Then, go to the ACMI museum at Federation Square. The Australian Film, Television, Video Game, and Digital Culture and Art Museum is open to the public for free.

For families visiting Melbourne, this is another another of the city center's free and entertaining options for youngsters. Seeing how far technology has gone in such a short period was fascinating, as was playing some of the classic video games of our youth.

The ACMI plays home to a number of shows throughout the year. We visited the Aardman Animations show, Wallace and Gromit and Friends: The Magic of Aardman.

Seeing how the brilliant folks at Aardman Studios create their Claymation was the focus of this excellent display. We also got to visit the film and TV sets and meet Shaun the Sheep. We even tried our hands at creating a Claymation short.

Screen Worlds is an excellent attempt to chronicle the history of the moving image throughout its first 110 years. Beginning with the silent era and moving through the early days of movies, television, gaming consoles, and the internet, this book highlights the digital revolution. This is achieved by extensive use of televisions, digital and analogue media, and relics from the past.

Making your own shadow puppets and playing on vintage gaming consoles are just two of the many amazing displays that are great for both adults and children.

The centre is a fun way to spend an hour or two in Federation Square. It's a great example of the many free, exciting things to do in Melbourne with kids.

Latitude Melbourne

There is another trampoline park in Melbourne called Latitude Melbourne, and I think it would be great for families with young children.

You'll need a vehicle since it's in a remote area of Heidelberg. However, it offers a wide variety of amusements, such as trampolines and obstacle courses, climbing walls, foam pits, and more.

You may have fun on the trampolines, in the ball pit, or in the enormous foam pit that is part of the playground. A 5year-old child would have found it boring; the recommended age range is 2 to 4.

The only drawback is for families with children; Children 5 year older would have enjoyed the older sections, but they need to be at least 1.1 metres to safely navigate them. If you have children aged 5 and younger, this is the best location to take them. This is a minor complaint about an enjoyable area to let your children burn off some energy.

IceBar Melbourne

An ice bar is a fascinating experience since patrons get to sip a drink while standing in a large freezer with ice walls and ice décor.

Since there is one in close proximity to our apartment in Melbourne, S and I decided to visit it. The third iteration of Melbourne's Ice Bar welcomes children earlier in the evening (before 6:30 pm), unlike the two previous iterations.

An ice bar, for those who are unfamiliar with the term, is a bar in which as much of the decor as possible, including the walls and furnishings, is made of ice. Great ice sculptures, several entertaining activities, and a bar serving alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages await you (some of which come in glasses made of ice).

You get a complimentary drink with most ticket bundles. The temperature in here seldom rises over -10 degrees Celsius, so brace yourself (apparently the coldest ice bar in the world, so they tell me).

You will be given a thick poncho, a pair of socks, ugg boots, and gloves to keep us toasty. A scarf and a hat were also made available. Still, it's a good idea to keep your core temperature up as much as possible. Several comments at various review sites have noted that they refuse to let children who are too young to use any equipment in.

The actual ice bar is rather little. Enjoying the activities and looking at the artwork will keep you from freezing to death.

Unfortunately, photography is strictly forbidden indoors. Instead, you may use one of the store's fixed cameras and then purchase prints or digital copies.

You're not going here for the drinks, since they are premade and expensive (though this is logical, given that they are meant to prevent the cocktails from freezing). The novelty of a frozen microcosm is the main draw. It's a pub, but children will like it far more than their parents will.

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel

Taking the kids on a ride on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, which soars far above the city, is a great way to spend a family day in Melbourne. One of the most popular family outings in Melbourne, this 30-minute ride is a great way to become acquainted with the city.

Beautiful aerial views of the Melbourne Central Business District and beyond are included, as is informative commentary on the sights you'll see along the way. Free maps are provided with each admission so that you can easily follow along with the tour guide as they point out different points of interest.

There are 21 completely enclosed, air-conditioned cabins on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. There is capacity for six people each cabin, but on the day we visited, there were only a handful of guests, so most individuals got their own cabin. The space provided makes it possible to go around and get some stunning pictures of the cityscape.

When the sun goes down, the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel puts on a spectacular light display with its LED illumination system. One of the best things to do in Melbourne with kids is to take them for a ride on the Melbourne Star.

Ice Skating at Docklands

Want to find some Melbourne kid-friendly activities? Then you should check out Docklands' ice skating options at the O'Brien Icehouse. The activity in question is, without exaggeration, among the best in Melbourne.

Skating together as a family is a great way to spend quality time together, and we're all for anything that gets the kids moving and active. You should dress warmly, but remember that you will warm up as you move about, so layer up.

You may receive a free skating lesson before you start if you attend on the weekend or on a holiday. The arena has a wide range of entertaining family activities, such as games, face painting, circus acts, skating shows, and a craft zone, making it one of the best places to go in Melbourne during the school holidays.

Dinosaur Park

McNish Reserve, often known as the "Dinosaur Park," is located near Yarraville, on the banks of Stoney Creek. Mimi the Muttaburrasaurus, a three-meter-tall dinosaur sculpture with a slide for a tail, can be seen at this modest yet entertaining park. Playing in and on Mimi is encouraged, and children may do so by climbing inside, descending her tail, or manipulating her mouth to make her speak or yell.

The park is tiny, and its main attractions are Mimi, some dinosaur eggs you can climb on or inside, and some dinosaur rocking horse contraptions. Although it was a windy day, our children enjoyed themselves and so did many other children.

Mimi is one of the best kids' playground equipment in Melbourne since it is both high quality and loads of fun.

Good, though time-limited, parking is available at and around the park. It has water faucets but no restrooms for the general public.

Luna Park

Luna Park is the only amusement park in Melbourne, therefore it's hard to go wrong there. The iconic St. Kilda neighbourhood is home to Luna Park, which has a prime location right on the ocean. It's easy to get there by tram from the central business district, and admission is free but trips may cost you.

Very little fanfare surrounds this amusement park. More important than getting your heart racing on terrifying roller coasters is having a good time. The park's primary roller coaster is fairly bumpy and has been operating for 104 years. The beautiful scenery was the highlight, rather than the fast pace, but pretty sure you'd still have a great day.

You could easily spend half a day here, and an unlimited ride ticket is well worth the price. When the youngsters are at least 1.2 metres tall, you may take them on all the rides save for one (which is a minimum height of 1.3 metres). The park has rides for both adults and children, so everyone can have a good time.

Conclusion

Since there are so many family-friendly activities available in Melbourne, it's a great place to visit with children. Exploring Melbourne's colourful laneways with their parents, taking a ride on the Star, and taking a cruise down the Yarra River will be a blast for the whole family. We've compiled a list of 35 of the best things to do in Melbourne. Melbourne's Open Range Zoo is a great choice for families with young children on vacation in the city. As its name implies, the Healesville Sanctuary is an Australian native species zoo.

Life in the sea The Melbourne Aquarium is a fun family outing that is devoid of serious problems. Admission for infants and children under the age of two is free. The Melbourne Museum is a cultural and natural history museum located in Melbourne's Carlton Gardens. An insect chamber, dinosaurs, animals, and a forest environment are just some of the attractions at the museum's central location. The Collingwood Children's Farm hosts a farmers market every second Saturday of the month.

The Scienceworks Museum is located in Spotswood, a local suburb. For children, there are numerous interactive exhibitions including a planetarium. An Imax theatre is also included in the price of a museum pass at the museum. The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria's Children's Garden is a must-see. From the heart of the city, the Botanical Gardens are a cinch to get there.

Film, television, and video game-related events are regularly featured in the museum's exhibitions and screenings. Creating your own shadow puppets and playing on retro gaming consoles are just two of the many fascinating activities on offer. As much of the bar's decor as possible, including walls and furniture, is constructed of ice, a "ice bar." For the third time, Melbourne's Ice Bar has opened its doors to children earlier in the night (before 6:30 pm). I've been told this is the world's coldest ice bar.

The Melbourne Star, a huge Ferris wheel in the Docklands neighborhood's Waterfront City section, can be found in Melbourne. The biggest draw is the strangeness of a frozen microcosm. The Melbourne Star Observation Wheel has 21 fully enclosed, air-conditioned cabins. Ice skating, hockey, and other ice sports are popular at the Icehouse. Sculpture of the Muttaburrasaurus, standing three metres tall, with a tail slide.

McNish Reserve is situated on the banks of Stoney Creek, not far from the town of Yarraville. Mimi is a great piece of play equipment for kids in Melbourne because it's well-made and a lot of fun. Everyone can have a nice time at Luna Park because there are rides for adults as well as children. The park's main roller coaster has been running for 104 years and is fairly rough.

Content Summary

• Since there are so many family-friendly activities available in Melbourne, it's a great place to visit with children.
• There are a variety of activities for youngsters in and around Melbourne's CBD.
• As a family, you'll find 35 of the city's best attractions, as well as information on entry costs, online discount ticket purchase choices, and hours of operation, in our guide to Melbourne.
• Because there are so many fun things to do with kids and families in the larger Melbourne area, I'm only going to write about the options in the CBD.
• There are three zoos in Melbourne: Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, and Melbourne Zoo
• The Melbourne Zoo, in a nutshell, is the city's biggest draw.
• There isn't a single person who doesn't like the Melbourne Zoo.
• More than 300 species may be found at the Melbourne Zoo.
• For families, this is a must-see sight in Melbourne, Australia.
• The Werribee Open Range Zoo and the Healesville Sanctuary are two other options.
• It's worthwhile to see these two sights, but they aren't exactly convenient.
• Werribee Open Range Zoo is an African-themed zoo located in Werribee, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
• The Open Range Zoo, on the other hand, is a great alternative for families with young children in Melbourne.
• The Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary, formerly known as the Healesville Sanctuary, is an Australian native species zoo.
• Become a Zoo Victoria member if you live in Melbourne, Australia.
• All three attractions can be visited unlimited times for the price of a single admission without children.
• Life in the sea The Aquarium of the City of Melbourne The Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is located in the centre of Melbourne, Australia, and focuses on the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
• The marine mammal centre is run by Merlin Entertainments.
• At the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, you'll find a wide variety of fascinating creatures.
• Additionally, you'll see things like coral reefs and turtles.
• With everything you could possibly want in an aquarium on display, you won't be disappointed.
• At Melbourne Aquarium, children of all ages can get up and personal with aquatic creatures of all shapes and sizes.
• Admission for infants and children under the age of two is free.
• It's possible to get cheap admission to the Melbourne Aquarium here, as well as the Melbourne Big Ticket, which gives you admission to both the Aquarium and Legoland Melbourne.
• Despite its minor drawbacks, this aquarium is a lot of fun to explore.
• In these places, you can see a variety of farm animals.
• The Collingwood Children's Farm hosts a farmer's market every second Saturday of the month.
• We had a better experience at the Collingwood farm since we were able to participate more directly in the farm's activities.
• Visiting a city farm is a great way to learn about farming while also getting a taste of city life's conveniences.
• Keep in mind that your child will be crawling around the farm and seeing the animals.
• For just $2 for adults and free for children, you may stay all day at the Farmer's Market on the second Saturday of every month from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• The Bundoora farm can only be accessed by car.
• Collingwood Children's Farm is accessible by public transportation and a short walk from the city centre.
• The Melbourne Museum is a cultural and natural history museum located in Melbourne's Carlton Gardens.
• A Children's Gallery and exhibits for children aged three to eight are available at the Melbourne Museum.
• As soon as you've seen the exhibit, you'll be able to find other family-friendly activities in Melbourne.
• There are gold nuggets in here.
• Admission is $14 for those over the age of 17, but it's free for those under 17 and those who have valid discounts.
• Because of its proximity to the city centre and the numerous tram lines that serve it, it is a popular tourist destination.
• Admission to the museum's Imax theatre is included in the cost of a museum pass, as is parking.
• The Scienceworks Museum may be found in Melbourne, Australia.
• It can be found in Spotswood, a nearby suburb.
• Scienceworks is one of Melbourne's most popular destinations for families with children.
• This museum caters to visitors of all ages.
• For children, there are numerous interactive exhibitions including a planetarium.
• Children under the age of six are invited to an all-day event called "small kids day in" around once a month.
• In addition to a pretend café and cranes, the museum's second-floor preschool play area now has some blocks.
• Those under the age of 17 are admitted free of charge, as are those with valid concession cards.
• Sections of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria are located in both Melbourne and Cranbourne, the state capital.
• Melbourne Gardens, a new botanical garden, was established on the south bank of the Yarra River in 1846.
• Fantastic news for the city's youth!
• The Botanical Gardens are easily accessible from the city centre thanks to their location near Flinders Street station.
• Film, television, and video game-related events are regularly featured in the museum's exhibitions and screenings.
• The ACMI Screen Worlds exhibit, located inside the ACMI building on Federation Square, is a must-see.
• After that, pay a visit to Federation Square's ACMI museum.
• It's free to visit the Australian Museum of Film, Television, Video Games and Digital Culture and Art (AFFTCA).
• Another one of the city's many cost-free and family-friendly attractions is right in the heart of the action here in Melbourne.
• Playing some of our favourite old-school video games was a treat as well as seeing how far technology has come in such a short time.
• Throughout the year, the ACMI is host to a variety of performances.
• We went to see Wallace and Gromit and Friends: The Magic of Aardman, an animation by Aardman.
• On the film and television sets, we were also able to meet Shaun the Sheep.
• Screen Worlds is an admirable attempt to document the first 110 years of the history of the moving picture.
• From the silent era to the early days of cinema, television, gaming consoles, and the internet; this book focuses on how the digital revolution has evolved over the past 100 years.
• This is made possible by a heavy reliance on televisions, digital and analogue media, and other artefacts from the past.
• Playing on ancient gaming consoles and making your own shadow puppets are just two of the many fascinating exhibits that are appropriate for both adults and children alike.
• Federation Square's central area is a great place to spend an hour or so.
• It's a terrific example of the many free and entertaining things to do with children in Melbourne.
• Latitude Melbourne, another trampoline park in Melbourne, looks like a good option for families with young children.
• Due to its location in a distant part of Heidelberg, you'll require a vehicle.
• The amusements include trampolines, obstacle courses, climbing walls, and foam pits, among others.
• There are trampolines, a ball pit, and a huge foam pit at the playground for you to enjoy.
• This is the greatest place to take children under the age of five.
• A delightful place to let your kids burn off some energy has a little issue.
• A Melbourne Ice Bar
• There are also ice chunks utilised to sell cold weather clothing in this bar.
• Patrons of an ice bar can have a drink while standing in a huge freezer surrounded by ice walls and ice decorations.
• S and I went because it was close to our Melbourne apartment and we had never been there before.
• In contrast to the previous two versions, the third Melbourne Ice Bar admits children earlier in the evening (before 6:30 pm).
• For those who aren't familiar with the term, an ice bar is a bar where the walls and furniture are built entirely of ice.
• Prepare yourself because it rarely gets over -10 degrees Celsius in here (apparently the coldest ice bar in the world, so they tell me).
• Several reviewers have highlighted that they do not allow children who are too young to utilise any of the items in the facility to enter the premises.
• The ice bar itself is quite small.
• Keep yourself warm by participating in activities and admiring the artwork.
• Indoors, photography is strictly prohibited, thus you won't be able to take any pictures.
• The biggest draw is the strangeness of a frozen microcosm.
• This is a tavern, but kids will like it more than adults.
• The Melbourne Star, a gigantic Ferris wheel, is located in the Waterfront City area of the Docklands neighbourhood in the Australian city of Melbourne.
• When visiting Melbourne with the kids, be sure to take a ride on the city's highest observation wheel, the Melbourne Star.
• An excellent introduction to Melbourne, this 30-minute trip is a favourite among locals and tourists alike.
• Cabins on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel are totally enclosed and air-conditioned.
• Having a lot of room to roam about allows you to take some great cityscape photos.
• The Melbourne Star Observation Wheel's LED lighting system puts on a stunning light show when the sun sets.
• If you want to go ice skating or play hockey, the Icehouse in Melbourne, Australia is a great place to go.
• This ice rink is open seven days a week, and they provide many different types of lessons for people who want to learn how to ice skate or get into ice sports in general.
• You're looking for kid-friendly things to do in Melbourne?
• The O'Brien Icehouse in Docklands offers great ice skating.
• Without exaggeration, this activity is one of the best in Melbourne.
• Family skating is an excellent opportunity to spend quality time together, and we're all for anything that gets the children moving and active.
• If you visit on a weekend or holiday, you may be eligible for a complimentary skating lesson.
• The arena is one of the greatest places to visit in Melbourne during the school holidays since it offers a wide choice of fun activities for the whole family, including games, face painting, circus acts, ice skating shows, and a craft zone.
• Jurassic World: A Visit to a National Park
• On the banks of Stoney Creek, McNish Reserve, better known as "Dinosaur Park," is located.
• This small but enjoyable park is home to a three-meter-tall dinosaur sculpture named Mimi the Muttaburrasaurus, which features a slide for a tail.
• Mimi, some dinosaur eggs that can be climbed on or inside, and some dinosaur rocking horse contraptions are the park's major attractions.
• Despite the windy conditions, our children had a great time, as did many other youngsters.
• Since it's both high-quality and enjoyable, Mimi is one of the greatest playground equipment for kids in Melbourne.
• There is ample parking in and around the park, albeit it is time-limited.
• There are water taps, but no public restrooms.
• Luna Park is on the National Register of Historic Places. Luna Park Sydney is located in Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia, at 1 Olympic Drive, on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour.
• Luna Park is Melbourne's sole amusement park, thus it's impossible to go wrong there.
• Luna Park, located directly on the ocean in Melbourne's renowned St. Kilda suburb, is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.
• Free entrance is available, but you'll have to pay for the tram ride to get there.
• This entertainment park has received very little publicity.
• The most essential thing is to have a nice time, not to get your heart beating on dangerous rides.
• The park's main roller coaster has been running for 104 years and is fairly rough.
• For the price of an unlimited ride ticket, you could easily spend half a day here.
• You can ride all of the rides except for one if your children are at least 1.2 metres tall (which is a minimum height of 1.3 metres).
• Everyone can have a wonderful time at the park because there are rides for both adults and children.