Heads up, Melburnian moms and dads! Australia Day is right around the corner and 2022 public holidays in Melbourne and the whole of Victoria are ahead of us, which means it’s time to plan those long-awaited trips! No need to stray too far—there are heaps of exciting things to do in Melbourne with kids. We’ve handpicked our favourite family-friendly activities in Melbourne and its surroundings. Plus, these attractions won’t break your bank and are open during most public holidays in Melbourne!
Make the most out of those long weekends in Victoria with these fun-filled family activities in and around Melbourne:
- Legoland Discovery Centre Melbourne
- Werribee Open Range Zoo
- SEA LIFE Aquarium Melbourne
- Melbourne Zoo
- Live Wire Park Experience
- Sovereign Hill Ballarat
- Puffing Billy Steam Train
- iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience
- Healesville Sanctuary
- Otway Fly Treetops Walk
- Gumbuya World
- Luna Park Melbourne
- Phillip Island Penguin Parade
- Royal Gardens Melbourne
- Melbourne Museum
- National Gallery of Victoria
- ACMI
- Old Melbourne Gaol
- Kryal Castle
- Arthurs Seat Eagle
When are the public holidays in Victoria?
New Year's Day: Saturday, 1 January - Monday, 3 January
Australia Day 2022: Wednesday, 26 January
Labour Day: Monday, 14 March
Good Friday: Friday, 15 April
Saturday before Easter Sunday: Saturday, 16 April
Easter Sunday: Sunday, 17 April
Easter Monday: Monday, 18 April
Anzac Day: Monday, 25 April
Queen's Birthday: Monday, 13 June
Friday before the AFL Grand Final: Subject to AFL schedule
Melbourne Cup: Tuesday, 1 November
Christmas Day: Sunday, 25 December - Tuesday: 27 December
Boxing Day: Monday, 26 December
1. Legoland Discovery Centre Melbourne
Enjoy a fun day out with the whole family at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne. "Credits; @legolanddiscoverycentremelb"
LEGO remains to be a crowd-favourite for kids of all generations, so you and your little ones will definitely enjoy your time at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. Explore 13 kaleidoscopic play zones inside the attraction, such as Miniland featuring the city’s main attractions, and the LEGO factory where you can craft your very own minifigure on the next public holiday in Melbourne!
2. Werribee Open Range Zoo
Feel closer to nature at Werribee Open Range Zoo.
See how it’s like to be at an African Savannah at Werribee Open Range Zoo! This wildlife experience lets your kids get up close and personal with animals they’ve never seen before, and there are almost no barriers that hinder you from interacting with the zoo’s friendly furry residents. Fret not—trusty zookeepers will be by your side at all times.
3. SEA LIFE Aquarium Melbourne
Watch cute penguins get fed at SEA LIFE.
If your fam are interested in underwater creatures , visiting SEA LIFE Melbourne is the perfect attraction to visit during the next public holiday in Melbourne. From majestic stingrays and nurse sharks to gigantic crocs, this massive aquarium houses more than 10,000 marine species! For the ultimate experience, make sure you watch and participate in animal feeding shows. Don’t miss out on the penguins!
Klook Tip: Did you know you can book this Melbourne Attractions Keypass and save 25% on tickets?
4. Melbourne Zoo
There are tons of animals to see at Melbourne Zoo!
Melbourne Zoo is a great spot at the heart of Melbourne if you want to escape the city bustle. Kids and adults alike are given a chance to interact with rare species, including the critically-endangered Sumatran Tiger and Asian elephants, and with local Aussie creatures like koalas, wombats and kangaroos. Aside from exhibiting these animals, Melbourne Zoo also provides an avenue for visitors to take part in animal conservation efforts!
5. Live Wire Park Experience
Conquer your fear of heights at Live Wire Park!
Still not sure where to go on the next Melbourne public holiday? Challenge the whole family to a fun treetop adventure at Live Wire Park! Test your endurance and foster camaraderie with the kids as you take on different circuits of varying difficulties. Fret not—there are kid-friendly obstacles! This experience will leave you out of breath by the end of the day.
6. Sovereign Hill
Go crazy as you pan for gold at the nearby river!
Surprise your kids with something out-of-this-world on your next trip: time travelling at Sovereign Hill! Travel back in time and relive the golden days of Ballarat as you wander around the iconic open-air museum. There are various family activities in this Melbourne attraction: from gold panning to dressing up as Ballarat’s early settlers. You’d be amazed by how much you can discover about Australia’s gold rush history while you’re here.
7. Puffing Billy Steam Train
Bask in the tranquil nature of Dandenong Ranges aboard the Puffing Billy. "Credits: @puffingbillyrailway"
Choo-choo! Take your little ones out to an exciting outdoor adventure aboard the iconic Puffing Billy Steam Train. Chug along the magnificent Dandenong Ranges and the surrounding rainforest as you sit back on the well-preserved vessel. The train is currently running on limited capacity, so book as early as now to secure your seats for the following public holiday in Melbourne!
8. iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience
Take the leap of faith with iFLY Melbourne.
Are you a family of thrill-seekers? We’ve got something exciting for you! Feel the adrenaline rushing through your veins on this indoor skydiving experience, provided by iFLY Melbourne. Soar through the air at 12,000 feet high without the need to jump off a plane. Even kids and beginners can learn how to skydive with an experienced instructor!
9. Healesville Sanctuary
Grab the chance to pet local creatures at Healesville Sanctuary.
Native Aussie creatures await the whole family at Healesville Sanctuary. You and the kids can discover more about our adorable local fauna, such as wombats, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and koalas from the friendly zookeepers around the area. If you’re interested in getting closer with these creatures, Close-Up Encounters can be purchased with your general ticket, depending on the species you want to meet and greet inside the sanctuary.
10. Otway Fly Treetops Walk
Feel relaxed amongst the trees at Otway Fly. "Credits: @otwayflyvictoria"
Take your family trip to the next level with this Otway Fly Treetops Walk experience. Let your kids grow closer to nature as you walk 30 metres above the lush rainforest on one of the four steel canopy walkways in the world. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, climb the Spiral Tower that takes you 47 metres above the ground. The view above is equally magical!
11. Gumbuya World
Tour the entirety of Gumbuya World aboard its mini express train.
If you’ve been wishing to have a water park, a wildlife park, and a theme park in one place, then consider Gumbuya World a dream come true! Adventure bursts at the seams of this well-loved Victorian attraction no matter what season you visit. During the summer, you can cool down in the calm waters of Oasis Springs Water Park. By winter, the waterpark closes, but the fun doesn’t stop as its wildlife and amusement park transform the area!
12. Luna Park Melbourne
The kids will adore Luna Park Melbourne!
Fill your day with shouts of glee and excitement when you visit Luna Park Melbourne! Conquer historic rides like the park’s oldest roller coaster, The Great Scenic Railway. Kids can have fun on their child-inclusive rides such as the mini roller coaster Speedy Beetle, Moon Balloons Ferris wheel, and the thrilling Dodgem Cars. Don’t forget to snap a photo with the park’s iconic mouth entrance!
13. Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Watch these cute penguins parading at Phillip Island!
Enjoy one long weekend watching Victoria’s most famous parade: the Phillip Island’s penguins! Head over to Phillip Island by sunset to marvel at these adorable Little Penguins at your chosen viewing platform. You can even upgrade with binoculars or high-tech night vision scopes! If you have more time to spare before the parade starts, you might also want to check out nearby parks like the Koala Conservation Reserve.
14. Royal Gardens Melbourne
Gaze upon different kinds of plants at the Royal Gardens. "Credits: @rjstyle_21"
Discover an oasis in the middle of the city in the form of the Royal Gardens Melbourne, where endless lawns of vibrant flora can be seen. The Royal Gardens have a variety of events on offer for families. Dive into the rich culture of indigenous people and identify significant native plants on the Aboriginal Heritage Walk within the Gardens. Children can even go on their own adventure, thanks to the Seek & Find activity, where kids should match their nature cards to real-life plants inside the Gardens. How exciting!
15. Melbourne Museum
Kids will be fascinated by the exhibits at Melbourne Museum. "Credits: @melbournemuseum"
Still on the hunt for family activities in Melbourne? Check out Melbourne Museum, where you and the kids can discover more about our natural and cultural heritage. With an abundance of exhibitions, talks, and workshops, learning seems to be limitless inside this cultural institution!
16. National Gallery of Victoria
Young and old—everyone can join a drawing class at NGV. "Credits: @ngvmelbourne"
Pique your kids’ interest in all things art at the National Gallery of Victoria, which has two locations within the city. If you’re interested in seeing local and indigenous art pieces, you should visit the one on Fed Street. International artworks can be found at the NGV at St Kilda Road. Have we also mentioned that entrance is free?
17. ACMI
Check out the current Disney exhibit at ACMI! "Credits: @lavina_elizabeth"
If you love holding movie nights for the whole family, why not spice up your usual pastime by visiting ACMI? Check out their exhibits featuring classic films, television shows, and video games, or you might be interested in watching a screening at their in-house cinema. ACMI also holds interactive exhibits that will surely keep the kids entertained throughout your whole visit.
18. Old Melbourne Gaol
Listen to eerie stories of the past Old Melbourne Gaol. "Credits: @oldmelbgaol"
Embark on a hair-raising tour in Victoria’s oldest surviving prison: Old Melbourne Gaol. Depending on what you and the kids enjoy, there are a variety of excursions to join here—from chilling ghost tours to exciting Cluedo simulations where the whole family can play as detectives. You may also opt for the classic Old Melbourne Gaol tour to listen to stories about past criminals that once walked the prison.
19. Kryal Castle
Watch the Royal Joust at Kryal Castle’s Main Arena. Credits: @kryalcastle
Roleplay your child’s royal fantasy when you visit Kryal Castle on your next family trip! Step back in time to the medieval period. Daily programs feature something different each day to ensure you have a unique experience inside the castle. If your kids grew up reading fairy tales, they would definitely enjoy the Once Upon A Time program that will run until the end of this month. Imagine: their favourite princesses come to life right in front of their eyes!
20. Arthurs Seat Eagle
Experience quality bonding time with your kids at Arthurs Seat. "Credits: @litte_harperku"
Looking for attractions open on Australia Day? Arthurs Seat Eagle is one of the many attractions you can visit with the whole fam. Apart from riding the gondola and enjoying the majestic view of Melbourne and surrounding areas, you can also set up a lovely picnic around the Arthurs Seat Summit or enjoy refreshments amidst spectacular views at The Eagle Summit Café.
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