Things To Do With Kids

Highlights

Melbourne's Best Pubs With Playgrounds
Fam

A Parents’ Guide To Melbourne’s Best Family Pubs With Playgrounds

Melbourne’s best pubs are redefining family-friendly dining—with proper playgrounds, delicious food  and cocktails to top you off. We’ve hunted down the 19 spots where kids go feral in enclosed play zones, teens disappear into arcades and parents finally get to enjoy a meal while it’s still hot. Genius? Absolutely. Long overdue? Even more so.

Rest of the best

Wondering where to watch the AFL grand final in Melbourne for 2023? Check out our ultimate guide.
Things To Do

Where To Watch The AFL Grand Final In Melbourne

Let’s cut straight to the chase, Melbourne. After a few years of chaotic fixture changes and interstate envy, the question on every footy fan's lips as we look to the future is: where are we watching the holy grail of Australian sport in 2025?
national-gallery-victoria-ngv-melbourne
Homewares

National Gallery Of Victoria

You can’t call yourself a true Melbournian till you’ve stuck your hand on the Waterwall at the National Gallery of Victoria (AKA the NGV International). It’s something every Melbourne local remembers from their childhood.
scienceworks-melbourne-museum
Things To Do

Scienceworks

Forget everything that comes to mind when you think of science. Including your old physics teacher who crushed your dreams of being a scientific genius when he gave you a D on your physics test (it’s a sore spot, okay).
good-times-milk-bar
Cafes

Good Times Milk Bar

Bentleigh locals, we’ve got some good news. Good Times Milk Bar is officially open for business, and your Sunday mornings just got 37% more delicious.
A cake at Koi, one of Melbourne's best dessert spots.
Food & Drink

We Reckon These Are Melbourne’s Best Dessert Spots In 2025

Whether you’ve been out at one of Melbourne’s best restaurants and require an equally excellent dessert or just have a craving for sugary goodness that warrants an excursion, Melbourne is home to plenty of dessert bars, patisseries and other sweet offerings that are sure to tickle your fancy. 
Things To Do Ballarat
Local Escapes

A Local’s Guide To Eating, Drinking And Hanging Out In Ballarat

Arguably Melbourne’s most picturesque regional city, Ballarat was founded in 1838 and was the centre of the gold rush in Victoria—and very briefly one of the wealthiest cities in the world. It’s come a long way since then and it’s not just about gold rush history anymore—there’s more things to eat, drink, do and see than ever before.
A view of the CBD with a rainbow in a blue sky.
Activities & Itineraries

Things To Do In Melbourne Right Now

Consider this your Melbourne bucket list that covers both tourist attractions and local haunts. There are endless things to do, see, eat and drink but sometimes it's difficult to know where to start. Like all good city guides, we’ve divided our hit list into a compass-like fashion to help you navigate your way around Melbourne’s best activities. So this is your chance to discover something new in your suburb or dare to venture into an unfamiliar area.
News

Adorbs! Hello Kitty & Friends Cafe Now Open In Melbourne Central

Hold onto your hearts, Melbourne—the world’s most adorable gang is about to make its grand entrance! The long-awaited Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe, after much speculation, has finally swung open its doors, bringing the whimsical world of Sanrio to life in an Australian first-of-its-kind immersive dining experience. And yes, it’s as adorable as it sounds.
A shot of a jacaranda tree with the CBD in the background.
Things To Do

The Five Best Spots To See Melbourne’s Most Beautiful Jacaranda Trees

The sight of the blossoming purple flowers of the Jacaranda trees is a friendly reminder that the true frosty season is over and there are warmer climates ahead. The Jacaranda is typically earmarked with the coming of summer and Christmas (according to the jingle). The floral tree is an Australian icon in the plant community and a welcome beacon to the tail end of the year. 
Things To Do

The Best Go Karting In Melbourne 2025

Go karting is a timeless activity. The almost child-like pursuit of speed and reckless endangerment is a thrill that you can’t (and shouldn’t) get driving to coles. With many tracks and karts around town, all with their own different bends and different levels of engine CC’s, it can be a little difficult to know where exactly you should burn rubber. 
Things To Do With Kids

9 Cracking Things To Do In Melbourne During The School Holidays

Parents and guardians know the struggle all too well of trying to find an activity that will entertain kids for longer than a few minutes. If you’re looking for something to do away from the screens and out of the house, we know a couple spots. Even better, some of these outings will amuse adults just as much if not even more than the kids. 
Fam

World-Class Golf Simulator Now Open In Clyde North

Big swing, all ding! The suburbs are set for another cracking entertainment venue, this time in the form of an indoor golf simulator. X-Golf is moving into Clyde North on August 21 and will provide a sports entertainment hybrid with a big food and drink offering. 
Activities & Itineraries

The Best Walks To Take In Inner Melbourne

Getting out and pounding the pavement and mixing up your environments is a bloody good way to refresh the body and the mind. There are plenty of ripper trails and paths across the city that’ll give you some great vistas of Melbourne and show off some of its most pristine stretches and undiscovered spots.
What's On

Globally Acclaimed LEGO Exhibition, Art Of The Brick, Returns To Melbourne With A Million Bricks

After a successful sold-out debut in 2011,  The Art of the Brick Immersive LEGO exhibition returns to Melbourne for a second time at The Showgrounds in mid-April, this time as an immersive experience. This globally acclaimed exhibition, which redefines the intersection of LEGO and art, uses over one million LEGO bricks to present over 100 pieces within a 360-degree setting, bringing the childhood toy to life. 
What's On

5 Things To Do At Brunswick Music Festival For 2024

Brunswick, or Bulleke-bek in Woi Wurrung language, is the inner-city suburb in Melbourne's northeast, and once a year the entire suburb lights up for the long-loved Brunswick Music Festival. Nine huge days, the festival stands to celebrate the people, place, culture and music of Brunswick. From compelling performances to free live music, here are five things to do this year at the Brunswick Music Festival for 2024:
Things To Do

27 Of The Best Museums In Melbourne And Victoria For 2024

What better time to upgrade on some culture and history and explore what makes Victoria unique. Melbourne newbies can check out the classic Melbourne Museum or locals can head a few hours out to one of the largest surf museums in Australia. Regardless, such interesting niches exist within this state and it would be remiss to not get cracking to at least one museum Melbourne and Victoria have on offer.
Things To Do

A Sprawling Holey Moley And Big Kids Arcade Is Coming To Moorabbin

It’s safe to say you’ve had at least one ‘team building’ session at a Holey Moley over the years, and it’s safe to say you’ve left feeling like your cup is full—as well as your ego if you managed score a hole-in-one. Well, the good news is that those in the south-east can try their luck at another ace at Holey Moley’s latest locale in Moorabbin.
A person holding up the peace symbol at some of the best rock climbing Melbourne has to offer.
Fitness

The Best Rock Climbing In Melbourne For 2023

Going Indoor rock climbing and bouldering has never been easier in Melbourne. Thanks to the flurry of interest in the sport a couple of years ago off the backs of films such as Free Solo and The Dawn Wall there's now some world-class indoor climbing around town. 
A small child playing inside a neon-lit installation.
Fam

9 Free Things To Do In Melbourne For You And The Family

Whether it's just another weekend or summer school holidays, activities with kids can quickly become costly. So we’ve rounded up a list of the best free things to do with kids in Melbourne. Lucky for us the city is littered with destinations and excursions that the whole family can enjoy for little to no cost at all. 
A small child in a green jumper holding a small coffee cup.
Fam

The Best Cafes Near Playgrounds In Melbourne

If you’ve successfully rounded up the kids to make it to a cafe, you may as well make the most of the outing and piggyback brunch with a trip to the park. We’ve found some of the best cafes across Melbourne that are conveniently located right next to or around the corner from a playground. 
A plate with mushrooms on toast and a hand holding a fork, for national mushroom day
Things To Do

Take Inspo From National Mushroom Day And Indulge In Your Fave Fungi Feasts

Saturday, October 15 is National Mushroom Day, reminding us to pay homage to the mighty mushrooms in our lives. Whether you’re a mushroom farmer, cafe owner, or simply a humble mushy admirer, Saturday is the day to shout your love of mushrooms to the rooftops and celebrate everything about them—from their mind-boggling health benefits to that unparalleled taste.
A cabin on a hill overlooking a wide mountain range.
Things To Do

The Stunning 160km Trail Through The Grampians Is Finally Open

A true hikers’ Shangri La, the all-new Grampians Peaks Trail or more the digestible ‘GPT’ as it is colloquially known as has officially opened to the public. The sprawling 160km trail delves deep into the breathtaking landscape of one of Victoria’s treasured regions, exploring the Gariwerd wilderness. 
A field of yellow tulips with a building in the background.
Things To Do

5 Things You Can’t Miss At The Bendigo Bloom Festival

Head to Victoria’s goldrush region this spring either in-person or through the magic of the internet for the annual Bendigo Bloom Festival. Across the region, there will be a selection of over 20 cultural and outdoor events that have been designed to be enjoyed in-person and virtually—the main star of which is the tulip blossom, a stunning collection of over 50,000 tulips coming into full bloom.
The archway of the NGV with a man walking past.
What's On

The NGV Is Opening Doors To Their Mammoth New Winter Exhibition This Friday

Its been a while since we’ve been able to saunter through the halls of the NGV and thankfully after the easing of restrictions this Friday we’ll be able to get back to it. The cultural drought is about to be quenched with a hefty new line-up of exhibitions and events at the gallery kicking off with the French Impressionism exhibition straight from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. 
The exterior of Cannoli Bar shop with umbrellas and blue skies.
Cafes

Get Piping At Home With Cannoli Bar’s Authentic DIY Kits

Everyone knows the best cannoli are filled on the spot. Unfortunately, the process can be difficult to follow and tough to replicate at home. To sort this tricky situation, Melbourne’s very first dedicated cannoli bar is offering take-home DIY kits. You can pipe delicious cannoli custard into a crispy shell, or directly into your mouth, whenever you desire. 
A wide field of pine trees and high grass with people searching over it in winter garments.
Activities & Itineraries

Go Foraging For Mushrooms Then Learn How To Cook Them Fine Dining Style

Up in the Macedon Ranges in Woodend just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD lies some of the most fertile ground, each year as Victoria’s temperature dips and the rain starts to fall a special kind of season begins. Mushrooms, one of earth’s greatest and most delicious bounty’s start to spring up all over the hills and pine forests. Fan favourites like the Slippery Jack and Golden Tops make their way onto tables across Restaurants and homes in the state.