Things To Do With Kids

When life’s going at full pelt, the sweetest escapes are the ones that turn everything down a notch. These slow-down towns turn rest, stillness and a wander to the local bowlo the whole itinerary.

We’ve uncovered a luxurious lineup of local road trips that feel like a slice of Italy, the Alps and beyond.

 With a stacked calendar of festivals and events lighting up regional Victoria this winter, the season’s never looked so good.

PowerPlay has just opened its newest electric go-karting track in Braybrook, Melbourne, and it's waiting for you to take the wheel.

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.

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?

A melting pot of rich culture, incredible cuisine and plenty of fun, Singapore is the ultimate getaway for families. 

If you’re chasing the van life but want to skip the epic endurance test, the half lap might be your new ultimate travel hack.

Astro-tourism is the latest travel craze. From dark-sky parks to luxury bubble retreats, explore family-friendly stargazing spots across Australia. 

Perfect for family holidays, solo sojourns, or a getaway with your mates, Flight Centre just dropped a stack of Singapore hotel deals, so get planning on your next overseas getaway.

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. 

Geelong, it's only an hour away from Melbourne but it's a whole new world and there's plenty of things to get around. Here's the local inside scoop on where to eat, drink, play and stay when you're in The Pivot.

Whether it's Dolly Parton hitting the Comedy Theatre stage bootstraps and rhinestones in tow, or the awaited return of Lightscape’s epic winter trail, Melbourne’s serving up another weekend of top-tier happenings. 

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.

If you're planning on cosying up and leaving home only for the most impressive events this winter you're in luck, because Firelight Festival is set to return bigger and brighter than ever. 

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.

Rainy day? School holidays? Just need to get the kids out of the house before they climb the walls (or you do)? Melbourne’s packed with indoor play centres that go way beyond your average ball pit. 

Looking for Melbourne's best mini golf? Whether you're after a glow-in-the-dark party, coastal views with your putts or the ultimate obstacle courses, we've teed up the city's top spots for unforgettable rounds. 

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.

For those on the hunt for a cultural experience rich with all things history, people, stories, and nature, Auckland (Tāmaki Makaurau) should be top of the list. 

The moment every foam-footed fanatic has been impatiently waiting for is finally here – Crocs is opening its first Australian flagship store at Melbourne Central this April, and it's about to rewrite everything you thought you knew about comfortable footwear. 

Winter just got cheesier. From 15 May to 22 June 2025, Fed Square transforms into a snow-dusted French alpine village for Fondue Chalet—the city’s most indulgent winter pop-up from the team behind Melbourne’s cult-favourite Raclette Igloo.

We asked mum and midwife Lauren Brenton for the hacks every toddler parent needs to know. 

As the action revs up on the track, we'll show you how to ace the off-track scene

Patience, young padawan LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition will be knocking down blast doors and arriving in Melbourne on 4 May at Melbourne Museum.

As the temperature rises and summer holidays get into full swing, it’s time to hit the pool. Here’s our list of the best places to make a splash this summer.

Ever been at the kids’ play centre and thought, ‘I wish there was a little more here for me?’ Well, you’re not the only one. Hoopla has opened as Australia’s first ‘parent’ focused kids indoor play centre and family outing spot (read: there’s a grown-ups menu). 

Returning to where it all started Jurassic World: The Exhibition is pipelining for Melbourne with some raving reviews following its massive season in Sydney. 

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. 

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. 

Melbourne loves to make a big deal of things—think laneways and the metro rail project—and fortunately for us, Christmas falls into that category of ‘things’. Kicking off at the end of the month is the City of Melbourne’s four-week-long Christmas Festival set to take over the city.

It’s that time of year again where Melbourne welcomes Moonlight Cinema back for its 28th summer. Returning to their usual turf—the Botanic Gardens Friday 29 November 2024. This annual cinematic tradition has multiple flicks to feast your eyes on. 

Tucked away in the lush, tranquil Otway Ranges, just a stone’s throw from the legendary Great Ocean Road, there’s a slice of nature that feels like it’s been plucked straight from a fairy tale

Everoyne's favourite train is running a late timetable this spring, with Twilight Trains choo chooing us into the balmy evenings ahead and making room for plenty of Instagrammable moments. 

If you’re up the top end of the Sunshine Coast and looking for things to do in the bustling hub that is Noosa, we’ve got you covered.

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. 

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. 

Instead of waiting for school holidays to plan your next vacay, pack your suitcases for a destination that has the little people covered from check in to check out. 

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.

In the small town of Moama just on the outside of the Victorian border sits a stretch of the Murray river that holds a long and special history. 

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. 

Here’s a round-up of kid-friendly places to see and things to do in Melbourne CBD. 

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:

Attention all summer beach lovers, The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Series returns for a massive 11th season in 2024 ready to delight and inspire with stunning agility, skill and team spirit.

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.

No matter how much you love your job, some weeks just seem to drag, right? But, instead of wishing them away, we’ve trying to add in more mid-week activities to give us something to look forward to during the work week and to embrace our thriving cities. 

Whatever your dream vacay looks like, Village Roadshow Theme Parks has over 120 world-class rides, slides, shows, characters and attractions to choose from.

Following an extended season in the US, the closest thing to taking a walk in Jurassic Park has arrived in Melbourne at Dinos Alive, an immersive exhibition featuring 80+ life-sized, animated dinosaurs. 

There’s no need to jet off to Europe for a culture fix. Instead, set your sights on Auckland (aka Tāmaki Makaurau) just a short plane ride away. New Zealand’s largest city turns it on over the summer months with a vibrant event line-up encompassing music, art, culture, and all things inspiring.

Bring the light and flavours of Diwali home with some delicious help from our community and The Spice Tailor. 

Christmas shopping in Melbourne can be an incredibly stressful experience, especially if you've taken it upon yourself to transform your home into a festive wonderland. 

Heading over to Singapore with the family or simply love all things nautical? Home to more than 100,000 beautiful and distinctive marine creatures, S.E.A Aquarium Sentosa is a must visit on your next vacay to Singapore. 

With summer around the corner, the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre (NARC) is gearing up to welcome the Darebin community on Monday, November 13, following an extensive 18-month transformation. 

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 sure-fire way to end friendships and relationships, a giant real-life Monopoly experience is arriving in Melbourne. 

Take to the skies, soak in the view and pop a bottle once you're back on dry land, the hot air balloon experience is pretty bloody sweat. 

You'll love these kid-friendly experiences, too. 

It can often be too gloomy to venture out over the winter months. Stop cabin fever and the groans of “I’m boreddd” in its tracks with these kid-friendly indoor activities. 

From scenic flights to night kayaking, luxe harbour cruises, haunted ghost tours, and more. 

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. 

There's never been a better time to be (or indulge) a Disney fan with the Disney100 Celebration taking over the 'Happiest Place On Earth'.

‘Beaches’ might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of for a day-trip with the kids in and out of Melbourne, but we’d argue that there are more than plenty of absolutely gorgeous spots for the entire family to enjoy.

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. 

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. 

The hike has long been a weekend tradition for Melbournians. An off-the-grid walk is one of the best reasons to escape suburbia and the concrete jungle. With so many hikes in Victoria to choose from there's never been a better time to pile the whole family into the car, kids and maybe even dogs included.  

Between Melbourne’s four-seasons-in-a-day weather and La Niña it can be tricky to organise a rainproof plan that the whole family can enjoy. Lucky for you, we’ve found a heap of activities you can do with the kids if the weather forecast is calling for a wet day timetable. 

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.

We’ve got plenty of sunshine on the cards, and what better way to enjoy it than picnicking amongst the leafy backdrop of the Yarra Valley’s Cherry Hill Orchards farm.  

If you wish you could take your furry pal everywhere around Melbs, get ready for some amazing news.

Bring your wildest interior design fantasies to life at the mammoth IKEA Festival.

Join us for Reason Season to craft healthy daily habits and routines.

Say goodbye to home delivery.

Join us for a four-week course to help you establish healthy habits and improve your overall wellness. 

Have a whale of a time this winter at the Gold Coast, Australia's whale watching capital. 

With five flavours to choose from, you're spoilt for choice. 

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. 

As part of the PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, Thread Count is an art show that endeavours to celebrate First Nations’ rich and diverse culture. These masterpieces made with an age-old technique hold generations' worth of knowledge from the expert hands that wove them

With Melbourne Fashion Festival coming in hot there’s a whole raft of things happening all over the city, one more than worthy of your time and attention is the Stay Soft autumn market. 

Federation Square is launching Summer Fest, a Kaleidoscope of free events to take over the centre of the city. Encouraging Melburnians to reclaim their city this summer in a celebration of culture and community; eloquently dubbed, ​​The Kaleidosquare.

If there’s one thing we love about summer, it’s the stacked social cal. And after this year, throwing on your party threads never felt so good. Whether it’s balmy beachside picnics, classy evening soirées or just a good old festive dinner—summer is where the socialising is at.   

For Victorians, this summer is bringing with it many glorious things—like being able to drink a pint at the pub and the ability to stay out past 9pm—but a more wholesome phenomenon is the welcoming of the state’s cherry season, and specifically The Cherry Trail.

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.

While we shouldn’t be burying our heads in the sand on the situation that we’re facing, sometimes, disconnecting from the noise is necessary. The legends over at Zoo’s Victoria are helping you find some catharsis in your day with several live streams watching candidly over their furry—and feathered—friends.

The annual Firelight Festival is back and packed with some truly spectacular fire-fuelled performances. Usually, this festival would fall on the longest night of the year to celebrate our emergence from winter, but due to COVID setbacks, it’s instead celebrating Melbourne’s emergence from lockdown and our return to city life. 

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. 

Everybody’s favourite historical archeologist is set to return after 40 years since his first appearance. The 1981 Spielberg classic Indiana Jones ‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’ is being immortalised by the Metropolitan Orchestra with a special live performance of John William’s entire film score, including the incredibly iconic theme tune.

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. 

The exploration of some of Melbourne’s heritage-listed and most iconic buildings is back for 2021, although last year it went completely virtual, this year it looks like we’re shaping up for a fully IRL line-up of inspection festivities.

In case you haven’t quite got your fill of animal-based livestream activity from all the Melbourne Zoo action, SEA LIFE Melbourne’s Aquarium is making your dreams of dwelling under the sea come true. Catch all the action from above and below sea levels with a live stream straight the maritime domain.

Stay home, keep rugged up in your favourite sweater and trackie-dacks, and enjoy what this city still has to offer, despite being confined to lockdown restrictions. Here are 9 things to do this weekend.