🌍 International

Things to Do with Kids in Melbourne

Explore 40 family-friendly activities in Melbourne — filtered by age, scheduled around nap time, and ready to drop into your personalized itinerary.

Top Family Activities

40 of 40 selected
🎡

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Half DayAges 012+Stroller OK

Fully stroller accessible with lifts between levels. Book online to save up to 20%. The penguin exhibit and shark tunnel...

🎡

Melbourne Zoo

Full DayAges 012+Stroller OK

Stroller-friendly paths throughout. Hire a zoo stroller at the entrance if needed. Arrive early to catch animal feeding ...

🏛️

Scienceworks

Half DayAges 212+Stroller OK

Hands-on exhibits make this ideal for children aged 3+. The Lightning Room show is exciting and included with admission....

🏛️

Melbourne Museum

Half DayAges 012+Stroller OK

The Children's Gallery is excellent for under-5s with sensory play areas. Phar Lap and dinosaur exhibitions captivate ol...

🌳

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free entry. Wide paved paths are fully stroller accessible. The Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden (inside the gard...

🌳

Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden

1–2 hoursAges 08+Stroller OK

Free entry within Royal Botanic Gardens. Designed for under-8s with water play, bamboo tunnels, and climbing areas. Brin...

📌

Luna Park Melbourne

Half DayAges 212+Stroller OK

Historic amusement park on the foreshore — the Giant Scenic Railway is a Melbourne icon. Buy a Mega Pass for unlimited r...

📌

St Kilda Beach

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Wide sandy beach with calm, shallow water ideal for toddlers. The foreshore path is great for strollers. Nearby St Kilda...

📌

St Kilda Little Penguins

under_1hAges 012+Stroller OK

Free! Little penguins return to their nests at the St Kilda breakwater each evening at dusk. Rangers are present to ensu...

🎡

Healesville Sanctuary

Full DayAges 012+Stroller OK

About 1 hour from Melbourne CBD, this zoo focuses on Australian native animals — echidnas, wombats, kangaroos, platypus....

🎡

Werribee Open Range Zoo

Full DayAges 012+Stroller OK

African savannah-style zoo about 35 minutes from Melbourne. The open-air safari bus is a highlight for kids. Stroller ac...

📌

National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International)

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free permanent collection — excellent for rainy days. The Great Hall with its stained glass ceiling wows children. Strol...

📌

Federation Square

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free public space in the heart of Melbourne. Kids love the open forecourt and the unusual architecture. ACMI (Australian...

🏛️

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI)

2–4 hoursAges 312+Stroller OK

Free permanent exhibition explores film, TV, and gaming history. Highly interactive — kids can animate their own cartoon...

📌

Free City Circle Tram (Route 35)

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Completely free heritage tram loop around the CBD. Kids love riding the old-style trams. Audio commentary points out Mel...

📌

Gardiner's Creek Trail & Elsternwick Park

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Flat, paved shared path ideal for strollers, bikes, and scooters. The trail runs through multiple suburbs and is great f...

🍕

Queen Victoria Market

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Melbourne's iconic open-air market with fresh produce, international street food, and deli goods. Kids love the doughnut...

🎡

Eureka Skydeck 88

1–2 hoursAges 312+Stroller OK

Australia's highest public vantage point at 300m. The Edge glass cube (extra cost) extends out from the building — thril...

📌

Southbank Promenade & Crown Entertainment Complex

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free riverside walk along the Yarra. Kids love the buskers and the water features. Wide promenade is perfect for strolle...

🌳

Flagstaff Gardens

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free inner-city park with a large playground, open lawns, and shaded areas. The playground has equipment for various age...

🌳

Carlton Gardens & Royal Exhibition Building

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Free UNESCO World Heritage–listed gardens surrounding the Royal Exhibition Building. Great for a run-around between muse...

🌳

Edinburgh Gardens, Fitzroy North

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Large, popular local park with a great children's playground, wide lawns, and a cricket oval. Very social on weekends wi...

🌳

Burnley Park Playground

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

One of Melbourne's most popular large playgrounds on the Yarra River. Features giant slides, climbing equipment, and wat...

🍕

Southgate Arts & Leisure Precinct

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Riverside dining precinct with a wide variety of family-friendly restaurants from sushi to pizza. Wide promenade with gr...

🎡

Penguin Parade, Phillip Island

Full DayAges 012+Stroller OK

About 1.5 hours from Melbourne. The world-famous Little Penguin parade is magical for kids. Book premium viewing online ...

🎡

Puffing Billy Railway

Half DayAges 012+Stroller OK

Historic steam train through the Dandenong Ranges — kids can dangle their legs out the windows (with a harness)! Departs...

📌

Dandenong Ranges National Park

Half DayAges 212+

About 45 minutes from Melbourne. The sky-high mountain ash forests are breathtaking. William Ricketts Sanctuary within t...

📌

Bells Beach, Torquay

2–4 hoursAges 312+

About 1.5 hours from Melbourne. Australia's most famous surf beach. Not ideal for young swimmers (rough surf) but the cl...

📌

Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road

Full DayAges 012+Stroller OK

About 3.5 hours from Melbourne — plan as an overnight or very long day trip. The limestone stacks rising from the ocean ...

🎡

Collingwood Children's Farm

2–4 hoursAges 010+Stroller OK

A real working farm in inner Melbourne — kids can feed animals, collect eggs, and pat cows. Great for toddlers and young...

🍕

Abbotsford Convent Farmers Market

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Artisan produce, food stalls, and a lovely historic setting adjacent to the Children's Farm. Great for a weekend morning...

🎡

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel

1–2 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Closed permanently — do NOT include. Replace with Williamstown Beach.

📌

Williamstown Beach

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Calm, sheltered bay beach about 20 minutes from CBD by ferry (scenic) or train. Shallow water is safe for toddlers. Gras...

🏛️

Polly Woodside Museum Ship

1–2 hoursAges 412+

Historic tall ship moored at South Wharf. Kids love exploring the restored 19th-century sailing ship. Some areas have la...

🌳

Docklands Park & Playground

1–2 hoursAges 010+Stroller OK

Free modern playground on the Docklands waterfront. Features water play in summer, climbing structures, and open lawns. ...

📌

O'Brien Icehouse

2–4 hoursAges 312+Stroller OK

Two Olympic-size rinks in Docklands. Great rainy-day activity for kids aged 4+. Skate hire included. Penguin walkers ava...

📌

Bounce Inc. Melbourne

2–4 hoursAges 112+Stroller OK

Indoor trampoline park with dedicated Toddler Time sessions for under-5s. Kids must wear grip socks (available for purch...

🥾

Lerderderg Gorge, Lerderderg State Park

Half DayAges 512+

About 1 hour west of Melbourne. The gorge walk is stunning with rock pools and wildlife. Suitable for children 5+ who ca...

🌳

Jells Park

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Large suburban park in Wheelers Hill with a lake, walking trails, playground, and BMX track. Free BBQ areas and picnic s...

📌

Werribee Park & Mansion

2–4 hoursAges 012+Stroller OK

Beautiful historic estate with formal gardens and a Victorian mansion about 35 min from Melbourne. Kids enjoy exploring ...

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Packing Tips for Melbourne
  • Sunscreen & hats for outdoor activities
  • Comfortable walking shoes for the whole family
  • Stroller or baby carrier
  • Snacks & water bottles
  • Rain jacket or poncho (just in case)
  • Small first-aid kit with band-aids
  • Entertainment for transit (books, tablet, coloring)
  • Hiking gear & bug spray
Get a full personalized packing list when you plan your trip.
Sample Family Itinerary
Day 1 — Explore
🌳
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
2–4 hours
🍕
Lunch Break
🎡
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Half Day
Day 2 — Adventure
🎡
Melbourne Zoo
Full Day
Build Your Custom Itinerary

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do with kids in Melbourne?

Top family activities include SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, Melbourne Zoo, Scienceworks, Melbourne Museum, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Toddler Trip curates age-appropriate activities and builds nap-aware itineraries for your family.

Is Melbourne good for toddlers?

Yes! Many activities in Melbourne are suitable for toddlers. Toddler Trip filters activities by your children's ages and schedules around nap time so everyone enjoys the trip.

How do I plan a family trip to Melbourne?

Use Toddler Trip's free planner: enter your family profile, pick from AI-curated activities, and get a nap-aware day-by-day itinerary with a personalized packing list — all in about 5 minutes.

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