Things to do with kids in Melbourne City & Inner Suburbs
Kids get into Melbourne Zoo free on weekends and in the school holidays, and Melbourne Museum is free for kids every day. The museum's Children's Gallery lets under-fives dig for dinosaur fossils, so book a free time slot with your tickets. In the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Children's Garden is a nature play space for little ones, open Wednesday to Sunday and every day in the school holidays.
At Collingwood Children's Farm, just a few kilometres from the city, kids can meet pigs, ponies and guinea pigs. Albert Park Lake has playgrounds, free barbecues and paddle boats to hire.
St Kilda is good for a whole day. Luna Park has the old Scenic Railway and opens on set days, so book ahead. The beach has a swimming zone near the pier, and at sunset little penguins come home to the breakwater at the end of St Kilda Pier. The penguin sessions are free but you need to book.
186 family outings, waterfalls and walks across the region, sorted by drive time from Melbourne. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.
✓ Everything
Free · 32
Sensory-friendly · 13
Wheelchair access · 19
Top things to do in Inner Melbourne
Meet the gorillas at Melbourne Zoo
The zoo in Parkville opens 9am to 5pm every day of the year, and its Western Lowland Gorillas are a highlight. Kids get in free on weekends, public holidays and Victorian school holidays, and under-4s are free on weekdays too. During school terms, Keeper Kids runs play-based sessions every day, included with entry.
about 5 min
Zoo · Melbourne Zoo
Photo: Commander Keane, CC BY-SA 3.0
Watch little penguins come home at St Kilda Pier
About 1,400 little penguins nest on the breakwater and come ashore just after sunset. Two free one-hour sessions run each night from the boardwalk at the end of the pier, one at sunset and one after dark. Book ahead with Phillip Island Nature Parks, as each session takes 150 people, and leave torches and flash off.
about 10 min
Walk · St Kilda Pier
Photo: Donaldytong, CC BY-SA 3.0
Dig for fossils at Melbourne Museum
Children 16 and under get in free, and adult entry is $18; the museum opens 9am to 5pm daily in Carlton. In the Children's Gallery, kids aged 5 and under dig for dinosaur fossils and dance in a camouflage disco. Book a free 50-minute timed slot for that gallery when you get your tickets.
under 5 min
Museum · Melbourne Museum
Photo: Francisco Anzola, CC BY 3.0
Play in the Botanic Gardens' Children's Garden
Melbourne Gardens open every day from 7.30am to 7.30pm. Inside, the Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden is a nature play space for young children, open Wednesday to Sunday and every day of the Victorian school holidays. In the holidays, kids ride half price on the Explorer Bus tour of the gardens.
under 5 min
Gardens · Royal Botanic Gardens
Photo: Johntorcasio, CC BY-SA 4.0
Look down on the city from Melbourne Skydeck
Skydeck sits on the 88th floor of Eureka Tower in Southbank, 285 metres above the ground. It opens daily from 12pm, closing at 9pm until 1 November and at 10pm from 2 November. The Edge, a glass cube that extends 3 metres out from the building, costs extra.
under 5 min
Heritage · Melbourne Skydeck
Photo: Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hire a paddle boat on Albert Park Lake
A 5km path circles the lake just 3km from the city, with skyline views from the southern end. Its nine picnic areas have free electric barbecues and playgrounds. Paddle boats are for hire, but nobody may swim or wade in the lake, and parking in the park is paid.
about 5 min
Lake · Albert Park Lake
Photo: KeenanPJ, CC BY-SA 4.0
Watch king penguins at SEA LIFE
King and Gentoo penguins, sharks and a saltwater crocodile live at this city aquarium. Hours change by day and season, with last entry an hour before closing, so check before you go. Booking online guarantees entry.
under 5 min
Aquarium · SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Photo: Shkuru Afshar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Paddle in the swimming zone at St Kilda Beach
St Kilda Beach runs beside the Promenade, and the St Kilda Lifesaving Club sits on the sand. From the pier to Marina Reserve the water is a swimming-only zone, with no boats. Stormwater can foul the bay after rain, so check EPA's Beach Report before anyone goes in.
about 10 min
Beach · St Kilda Beach
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ride the Scenic Railway at Luna Park
Luna Park's Great Scenic Railway is billed as the world's oldest continually operating roller coaster, for riders 110cm and over. The St Kilda park opens on set days only; in early October that meant Friday night and the weekend. Capacity is limited, so book an Unlimited Rides Ticket or Family Pass before you go.
about 10 min
Fun park · Luna Park Melbourne
Photo: Jorge Láscar from Australia, CC BY 2.0
Meet 350 animals at Collingwood Children's Farm
More than 350 animals across 12 species live on this 8-hectare farm in Abbotsford, from pigs and ponies to guinea pigs and bees. It opens from 9.30am, seven days a week. Entry is $20 for adults and $10 for children, and simple hands-on activities are included.
about 5 min
Wildlife park · Collingwood Children's Farm
Photo: me (w:User:pfctdayelise), CC BY-SA 2.5
Entry tickets
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Old Melbourne Gaol
Immigration Museum
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Melbourne Skydeck
Melbourne Museum
Luna Park Melbourne
Moonlit Sanctuary
Arthurs Seat Eagle
Enchanted Adventure Garden
Peninsula Hot Springs
Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens
Gumbuya World
Penguin Parade
A Maze'N Things
Everything on the map
Over the border
Nearest first, from Melbourne
Animals
Beaches and islands
Waterfalls, lakes and swimming
Walks and lookouts
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Play
Museums and history
Libraries, cinemas and theatres
Gardens and science
Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.