Family activities

Melbourne and Victoria for families

So you’ve decided to take the family over the ditch for a holiday. Melbourne offers a great range of experiences for the young and young at heart. From native animals to native views, historic immersive experiences  to number one sports venues. The choice is yours to make!

Swap the Melbourne city centre for a safari on the African savannah and enjoy a unique zoo experience just 30 minutes out of town at Werribee Zoo. Tick off everybody’s bucket list with a Slumber Safari sleepover, featuring dinner and drinks, a private animal encounter, night tours, a personal guide and luxury glamping. Wake up early for a sunrise like no other.

Just five minutes from Melbourne’s laneways live over 320 species of the weirdest and wonderful animals in unrivaled natural enclosures at Melbourne Zoo. Wander past lemurs sunning themselves, venture into the Lion’s Den and be tickled by butterflies landing on the tip of your nose. You’ll feel like a kid again – with actual kids free on weekends and public holidays.

No age is too great to dissolve into giggles at the sight of the world’s smallest penguins waddling along the beach at sunset at the Phillip Island Nature Park. Watch them from the sand or stroll along the boardwalks around The Nobbies. As a bonus, you’re close enough to be back in Melbourne for brunch.

There’s something about seeing a city from on high that’s almost impossible to resist on the top of Eureka Sky Deck. It’s even more enticing when it’s the Southern Hemisphere’s highest observation deck , offering breathtaking views of Melbourne and far beyond. Don’t miss The Edge, a switchable glass cube that slides out from the building – with you inside.

Get a glimpse of life in Australia’s 1850s gold rush. Named Australia’s best major tourist attraction in 2015, Sovereign Hill recreates the colour and excitement of the gold rush. By night, see the sound-and-light spectacular, ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’. You don’t even need to leave – on-site accommodation is at Sovereign Hill Hotel.

Know your sports? Then the MCG and National Sports Museum tour is a cover drive away from the city centre. Immerse your family in sporting history, channel your best Benaud in the commentary boxes, see a 3D Shane Warne, and let your kids realise their dreams by stepping onto the hallowed turf.

Thinking of experiencing Melbourne in a whole new way? Take a flight of discovery on the Melbourne Star see the city from a different perspective. Melbourne Star gives you a unique introduction to the city, with all its colour and culture. It’s more than just a view – it’s a complete experience, giving visitors and locals alike a new way to engage with Melbourne’s vibrant cityscape.