Fed up with the dreaded “Are we there yet?” echoing from the back seat? If one more car journey soundtracked by cocomelon and the smudge of a ketchupy finger on your last clean device is your final straw, we’ve got you. It’s time to swap screen time for scene time.
We’ve mapped out Melbourne’s most epic family adventures that make every outing feel like a trip to Disneyland (minus the queues and the mouse).
From interactive museums to indoor sandpits the size of a small suburb, these spots are here to help your littlest explorers finally—breathe, play and yep—touch grass. So power down the tablets and buckle up; adventure (the real, unplugged kind) is calling.
Go on, admit it: this one’s for you, too.
Hoopla South Morang
330/340 McDonalds Road, South Morang
Hoopla South Morang offers a practical and engaging alternative to screen-based entertainment for families. The facility focuses on physical activity and social play, featuring Australia's largest interactive playground with structures like a double-wave slide and a multi-level climbing course. A separate, secure area is designed for toddlers. Beyond the playground, the venue includes bowling lanes—both classic ten-pin and a shorter, casual version—as well as a race track and arcade games.
The layout provides clear sightlines for parents, allowing for relaxed supervision from the adjacent seating area. The on-site bar and kitchen offer a convenient option for meals and drinks, making it a comprehensive destination for a full family day out.
Honeyccino Kids Cafe
2-4 Oxford Street, Oakleigh
Honeyccino Kids Cafe in Oakleigh provides a thoughtfully designed environment for families with young children. The focus is on safe, imaginative play for crawlers, toddlers and preschoolers within a clean and comfortable cafe setting. The two-level play area features slides, soft climbing structures, trampolines and a large pastel-pink ball pit, with highlights including a mini supermarket and a ride-on train that departs regularly.
For parents, the cafe offers ample seating with clear sightlines of the play areas, quality coffee and a menu of simple, well-made bites like their homemade sausage rolls. Practical touches, such as padded flooring throughout, ensure a safe and relaxed experience for everyone. The venue also includes a dedicated party room for private celebrations.
Immigration Museum
400 Flinders Street, Melbourne CBD
Located in the majestic Old Customs House, the Immigration Museum tells the powerful stories of those who have made Australia home. For families, it’s a place of hands-on learning and meaningful conversation. The kids will be drawn to the interactive elements, especially in the ‘Getting In’ exhibition. Here, they can step into the role of an official in a theatre experience, deciding who is allowed into Australia—a engaging activity that makes complex history relatable. The vivid ‘Joy’ exhibition ( open until 29 August 2025) is another highlight, featuring a giant soft-toy rabbit to climb and a nostalgic video store replica to explore.
Parents will appreciate the museum’s focus on personal stories and empathy, offering a chance to discuss themes of belonging and identity with their children. For a quieter experience, consider the monthly Low Sensory Sessions or a guided tour to focus your visit. Don’t miss the peaceful Tribute Garden courtyard before you leave—a reflective space honouring thousands of migrants.
Little Builders
The District Docklands, Ground Floor, 20 Wharf Street (Corner Studio Lane, Opposite Crown Duty Free), Melbourne CBD
Plan a day at Little Builders, Melbourne's largest indoor sandpit with unique, hands-on adventures for children who love to dig and create. Running until October 5th, 2025 at The District Docklands, this pop-up features a massive 50-square-meter sandpit filled with over 25 tons of clean, safe sand.
Kids can operate ride-on excavators, use shovels and molds, and build to their heart's content in this immersive construction zone. This type of play is excellent for developing fine motor skills, coordination and problem-solving abilities. Beyond the main attraction, there is a ball pit, a soft-play area for toddlers, and a separate room with Duplo and giant building blocks.
For parents, the space is designed for comfort and cleanliness. Seating lines the sandpit for easy supervision, and grated entry mats help keep the sand contained. A small 'tuck shop' offers drinks and snacks, and the venue is available for birthday parties. It’s a dedicated, mess-friendly environment where imaginative play is the top priority.
House Down Under
101 Waterfront Way, Docklands
House Down Under at The District Docklands offers a fun and quirky photo experience for all ages. As Australia’s first inverted house, it features multiple rooms where everything is bolted to the ceiling, creating the hilarious illusion that you’re a bat hanging from a tree.
This attraction is a creative playground where families can strike poses in a fully-furnished, upside-down living room and kitchen—just be sure to empty your pockets beforehand, unless you want your keys defying gravity as well. Staff are on hand in each room to help you nail the perfect gravity-defying pose and even take pictures for you. And don’t worry about bad hair days here, letting your hair hang down is all part of the effect.
A few practical tips for families: the disorienting, slanted floors can be unsettling for some young children and are not suitable for those with vertigo. The space is also not accessible for prams or wheelchairs due to narrow doorways and a spiral staircase.
Little Ravers
Various Locations
Little Ravers is here to pivot ordinary days into unforgettable adventures for Melbourne’s coolest kids (and their fun-loving parents!). This dynamic event organiser specialises in crafting immersive, screen-free experiences that speak directly to what kids are tuned into about right now.
From bouncing through colourful worlds at Bounceland to hunting down that elusive stripes-and-glasses legend in a city-wide Where’s Wally? Scavenger hunt, Little Ravers knows how to blend play with pop culture. Budding Swifties can craft their custom charm bracelets at the Taylor Swift Club, while aspiring racers can rev it up at Little Drag Racers. Nerf Wars offers action-packed thrills, while the Silent Disco for Kids lets little ones dance the day away to their current favourite hits!
Many events are seasonal or one-day-only, so checking the LittleTix website regularly is a must for parents in the know. It’s the perfect way to fill school holidays or weekends with engaging fun, no displays required.
Scienceworks
2 Booker Street, Spotswood
For families looking for a day of hands-on discovery, Scienceworks delivers with its brilliant blend of playful learning and real-world science. Their must-see feature Tinkertown (on until 26 Jan 2026) is a vibrant, interactive village where kids become the inventors. They can construct soft cubbies with magnetic cushions, design magnetic ball runs, send coded messages and solve tangram puzzles, all while exploring the engineering design process in a fun, accessible way.
Besides that, the permanent exhibitions captivate all ages, with tons of hidden alleys to explore. Test your strength and speed at Sportsworks, witness the awe-inspiring lightning shows or explore perception in Beyond Perception. The Planetarium offers immersive adventures, like joining Tycho the dog on a daily quest across Mars, perfect for space lovers.
Special events like the Science is a Superpower festival (with activities focused on strength, curiosity and kindness) add even more depth, encouraging tweens, especially girls and non-binary kids, to see STEM as a creative superpower. With activities spanning physics, space, sport and design, Scienceworks ensures everyone leaves a little more curious.
Australian Sports Museum
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Yarra Park, Gate 3 Brunton Avenue, East Melbourne
The Australian Sports Museum, nestled within the iconic MCG, is a thrilling, interactive tribute to Aussie sporting culture. Kids (and competitive parents) will beeline for Game On, the museum's high-energy activity zone. Here, they can shoot netball goals, test their reflexes, try their hand at AFL goal-kicking or even ride a virtual surfboard. It’s a dream for primary-aged children with energy to burn and a love of friendly competition.
Beyond the games, the museum tells the rich story of Australian sport through iconic artifacts. Every visitor gets a green and gold sweatband to activate interactive exhibits, adding a fun, personalised touch to the experience. It’s a celebration of passion, persistence and play—Aussie style.
Kusama For Kids
NGV, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne CBD
Step into a world of pure, interactive joy with Kusama for Kids at the NGV this summer. This free, family-focused installation is a perfect introduction to the iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s spellbinding world of dots. The highlight is The Obliteration Room: a completely white, domestic space that you and your kids are invited to “transform” (if we’re being kind) .
Upon entry, each child receives a sheet of brightly coloured dot stickers. They are then encouraged to ‘obliterate’ the room by sticking them anywhere and everywhere—on furniture, walls and objects. It’s a powerful, fun and incredibly satisfying act of collective creativity that results in a colourful, ever-changing artwork. The NGV also offers relaxed sessions for those who benefit from a quieter, less stimulating environment.
Museum Of Play And Art
Various Locations
The Museum of Play and Art (MoPA) is ideal for a family day out, bringing its signature blend of creative chaos and artful exploration. Designed specifically for children aged 1–7, this sprawling space is one of the largest children’s museums in the Southern Hemisphere, with every corner designed to spark imagination through hands-on play.
Kids can lose themselves in a world of inventive exhibits: they can send balls whizzing through vacuum tubes, build their own race tracks in the Zoom Room, paint toy cars or control water flow in the brand-new water play area. The best part is a magnificent four-storey cityscape, which is Australia’s largest wheelchair-accessible climbing structure—where little ones can crawl through buildings and peek from hand-painted windows.
For quieter moments, there’s a colour-themed sensory nook, a storytelling cinema and a digital art station. Meanwhile, parents can relax in the café with sightlines to the play areas or make use of thoughtful amenities like breastfeeding pods and inclusive facilities.
Pixieland
M-City Shopping Centre, 2107/2125 Princes Highway, Clayton
Pixieland is a thoughtfully planned play centre that feels like a gentle storybook brought to life. Perfect for children aged 1–6, it trades overwhelming noise for calm, creative play. Little ones can ride the included mini train and Ferris wheel, explore a glowing sensory room, dress up as princesses or navigate a dreamy ball pit and galaxy slide.
For parents, it’s a matchless find: a play cafe where you can actually relax. The space is kept impeccably clean, the music is subtle and the café offers appealing options like prawn tacos and smashed avocado. Best of all, surveillance screens let you keep an eye on the play zones while you enjoy a hot sip. Though slightly pricier, Pixieland delivers a magical, and manageable, experience for families with young children.
Social Fair
Cranbourne & Coburg
Social Fair redefines family fun with its high-energy mix of climbing, adventure and imaginative play. It’s the kind of place where kids can burn energy, and the adults might just rediscover their inner child.
The heart of the action is the Climbing Arena, featuring 23 different walls suitable for ages 4 and up. For even bigger adventures, the SkyGlider High Ropes Course sends brave climbers nine metres up to navigate nets, bridges and a thrilling zip line, all safely harnessed. Younger kids aren’t forgotten—there’s a dedicated multi-level play zone for ages 3+ with tube slides, spiral slides and endless obstacles, as well as a separate area for toddlers. When time to refuel, the onsite kitchen and bar serve up quality meals and drinks.
And for a change of pace, don’t skip the creatively designed 18-hole mini golf course, excellent for some friendly family competition. Social Fair truly offers something for everyone, making it the destination for active, screen-free fun.
Holey Moley Funhouse
590 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
Holey Moley Funhouse | Website
Holey Moley’s Funhouse is a wild, interactive twist perfect for families and kids craving laughs and lighthearted competition. This is an arcade-style adventure filled with eccentric holes and hilarious challenges that both young ones and adults can enjoy together.
Kids will love testing their memory in The Glowey Hole, stepping only on the right lit tiles to cross safely. For a burst of action, Drop Shot lets them toss soft golf balls to rack up points, while Invasion of the Birdie Snatchers turns putting into a fast-paced colour-matching frenzy. Older kids and parents can team up for games like Putt Putt Pong—a clever mix of cup pong and tic-tac-toe, or try their luck with the card-guessing game Birdie or Bogie. And no one can resist the silly challenge of dodging swinging obstacles in King of the Swingers!
With its neon glow, playful atmosphere and games that blend skill with fun, Holey Moley offers a awesome, tech-free experience where families can laugh, play and make unforgettable memories together.
Ninja Parc
13/15 Burton Court, Bayswater
Ninja Parc | Website
Prepare to release your little warriors at Ninja Parc—the best indoor adventure hub designed to turn energy into agility, and play into skill-building fun! With dedicated zones for different ages, it’s the spot for families looking for active, engaging and unplugged excitement.
For little ninjas under 8, The Playground offers a safe yet thrilling two-storey obstacle course tailored to their size and ability. With soft mats, cushioned flooring and Ninja-inspired challenges, toddlers and young kids can climb, slide and explore worry-free – and parents are welcome to join in or relax at the onsite café with full visibility.
Older kids and adults should not miss the main Obstacle Course, featuring over 20 challenges including warp walls, bouldering climbs, slacklines and parkour-style soft play blocks. Best of all, no prior experience is needed—friendly staff are on hand to guide and encourage everyone.
Flip out
Various Locations
Flip Out | Website
Get ready to bounce, flip and soar at Flip Out—the high-energy trampoline park for energetic families craving active, offline fun. This massive arena is packed with escapades, it’s the best place to turn up the excitement and let the kids run amok.
At the heart of Flip Out is its epic trampoline zone, where kids (and their guardians) can jump, dunk and practice flips into soft foam pits. Challenge each other on the parkour courses, test your grip on the climbing and running walls or tackle the ninja-style warped walls and escalating climbing poles. There’s even an exclusive soft play area for younger children, ensuring everyone from toddlers to teens finds their thrill.
While height restrictions apply in some zones (with areas tailored for both under and over 130cm), the variety means no one misses out. Parents can join in or rest knowing the kids are burning energy in a safe, supervised environment. With special sessions for playgroups and birthday parties, it is the antithesis to your couch potato days!
Blender studios
400 Spencer Street, West Melbourne
Get messy at Blender Studio’s Paint Lab, where art is less about perfection and more about joyful, grimy experimentation. Located in the CBD, this unique experience invites kids (aged 5+) and adults to dive into abstract painting with a fun, guided twist.
Each participant gets their own canvas, six pots of non-toxic paint and an array of tools to pour, splash, drip and throw colour in wild ways. A professional artist guides you through techniques, so even beginners can create something bold and beautiful to take home. For something truly otherworldly, try the UV Paint Experience: in a darkened room under blacklight, watch your luminous creations come to life with every splatter and swipe.
Parents can participate or watch closely (booking a spot is recommended if you want to paint alongside your child). With all protective gear provided, it’s a stress-free zone where families can laugh, smear some paint and leave with a unique masterpiece and even better memories. Bookmark this for a rainy day or a brilliantly different family activity!
Main Image Credit: Hoopla South Morang | Website
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