A free safari bus tours the savannah at Werribee Open Range Zoo, and nine Asian elephants roam the Elephant Trail. It opens 9am to 5pm daily, last entry 3.30pm, and kids get in free on weekends, public holidays and Victorian school holidays. Little ones can climb aboard a giant helicopter at Ranger Kids, the indoor play space.

Werribee Mansion opens daily from 10am to 4pm, and a family ticket is $39.50. Entry to the formal gardens and the Victoria State Rose Garden, with its 5000 roses, is free. Prams can't go inside the mansion, so bring a carrier for babies.

From the car park on an old volcano, a short sealed path drops very steeply to basalt columns above Jacksons Creek. Carry on to Rosette Rock, laid out like the spokes of a wheel, and allow about 90 minutes in all. In summer go before mid-afternoon, and in spring look out for kangaroo or wallaby joeys.

Children 16 and under get in free at Scienceworks in Spotswood, and adults pay $15; it opens 10am to 4.30pm daily. Sportsworks is open every day. Planetarium shows such as Tycho Goes to Mars run daily for an extra ticket.

Brimbank Park in Keilor East has a nature playscape built so children of all abilities, including wheelchair users, can play together. Over 10km of mostly sealed paths follow the Maribyrnong River, and the visitor centre cafe opens during park hours. Snakes are active and river crossings can flood, so stay on the tracks.

The museum at RAAF Base Point Cook tells more than 100 years of Air Force history among the aircraft. It opens most Thursdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm, bookings are essential, and visitors over 16 need photo ID. Heritage aircraft fly on as many open days as possible, so call ahead to check.

A wheelchair-accessible gravel track runs 1.5km through native grassland to The Tower, with 360-degree views over the Cheetham Wetlands. Bring binoculars: shorebirds feed on the mudflats from September to April, and dogs aren't allowed in the park. From October to March the park shuts at 7pm, and the Tower car park gates lock two hours earlier.

This museum ship is afloat at Gem Pier in Williamstown, near cafes. It opens 11am to 4pm on weekends and public holidays. A family ticket for two adults and two children is $25, and under-5s are free.

The Bay Trail is a continuous off-road path from Williamstown to Point Cook Coastal Park, with views over Port Phillip Bay and the Cheetham Wetlands. Walk, run or cycle any stretch of it. If you stop for a swim, check EPA's Beach Report first, especially after rain.

Point Gellibrand in Williamstown was Victoria's first permanent European settlement and seaport, and its Timeball Tower helped ships set their chronometers. Park at the Quarry Picnic Area for the Dolphin Playground and accessible toilets. The Bay Trail here suits prams, and kids can hunt for the Lava Bubble at Shelley Beach.