Traveling to Melbourne is easy for families as there are countless activities to see and do. Melbourne is one of Australia’s main arts and cultural hubs and draws visitors from all over the country and the world due to its cooler climate, culture, and diversity.
When traveling with kids and families, it’s often difficult to please everyone. Different ages, tastes, and conflicting preferences make planning your trip challenging.
Luckily, Melbourne has a lot of fun things to do for all ages, whether it be arts, music, food, or sports-related. It is easy to get around Melbourne by the free inner-city tram, scooters for hire, trains, walking, or Uber.
Take the time to see and do as much as you can, and research ahead of time to plan your trip. Melbourne has many hidden secrets, such as coffee spots, restaurants, bars, galleries, boutique stores, and live music venues.
Here are the top ten family activities in Melbourne to assist you in planning your ultimate trip to Australia.
Best Places Stay Stay For A Family Trip To Melbourne
Melbourne has plenty of hotel options in different areas, with river views, garden locations, and locations within walking distance of the city’s main areas. These are ten of the top-rated hotels in Melbourne. We’ve organized them by luxury, mid-range, and budget to help you choose the best hotel for your group.
Luxury Melbourne Hotels
- The Ritz-Carlton Melbourne – This luxury hotel is within walking distance of Collins Street, Melbourne Central and the Queen Victoria Market. The hotel has 257 rooms, an indoor swimming pool, a spa and an on-site restaurant.
- Lancemore Mansion Hotel Werribee Park – Located in Werribee South, a neighborhood in Melbourne, this hotel has an attached winery, a rooftop terrace, a spa, an on-site restaurant and an indoor swimming pool.
- Sofitel Melbourne On Collins – This eco-certified hotel has a fitness center and is connected to a shopping center in the center of Melbourne. The hotel has 363 rooms with a mix of junior suites, king rooms, city views, river views, and rooms that can sleep three people.
Mid-Range Melbourne Hotels
- The Westin Melbourne – Located just a one-minute walk from Collins Street and a seven-minute walk from Melbourne Central, this hotel is a great base to explore the city. The hotel has one-bedroom suites with city views, deluxe studios and king rooms.
- Treasury on Collins – Located near Collins Street, this hotel has 94 individually furnished rooms, including a loft apartment, a balcony suite, and one- and two-bedroom apartments. The rooms can accommodate between one and six people.
- W Melbourne – This luxury Art Deco hotel is located close to Queen Victoria Market, Crown Casino and Fed Square. The hotel has two bars, an indoor swimming pool with sun loungers, a poolside bar, a steam room, and two restaurants.
Budget Melbourne Hotels
- Ovolo South Yarra – This upscale, eco-certified hotel is located near the Melbourne Cricket Ground in South Yarra. The hotel has 123 rooms with solo travel options, city views, queen beds and king beds.
- Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne – Located within a five-minute walk of Queen Victoria Market and a ten-minute walk from Melbourne Central. The hotel has a restaurant, a terrace, a garden, a sauna and a steam room.
- Veriu Queen Victoria Market – Just a short walk from Queen Victoria Market, this hotel has 110 rooms, including city view rooms, king rooms, queen and twin beds.
Top 10 Family Activities In Melbourne
1) Visit The National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria, or NGV, is made up of two NGV buildings- one located on St Kilda Road, which is NGV International, and one located in Fed Square opposite Flinders Street Station, NGV at The Ian Potter Centre.
These buildings have excellent touring and local exhibitions, with ticketed and free options.
NGV International has a free kids exhibition, with interactive arts and exhibits as well as an outdoor picnic and sculpture area.
The video art and interesting installations in both NGV buildings are perfect for young, inquisitive minds and parents who wish to spend time with a coffee or snack.
For both teenagers and adults, the NGV international collection includes British and European art from the 13th to the 18th century, a modern collection of design and contemporary works, and select works by artists such as Salvador Dali, William Blake, Iris van Herpen, and countless more.
2) Explore The Australia Centre of Moving Image
Australian Centre of Moving Image or the ACMI is located at Fed Square. With many free exhibitions and interactive events, ACMI is an incredible resource for both kids and adults interested in animation, the history of the screen, video, film, and media.
ACMI has a free exhibition showcasing the history of the screen and media in Australia. Full of historical forms of media and film, this exhibition is fun for kids, with creative displays and interactive games that allow them to immerse themselves in the timeline of the beginning of film and television.
3) Admire The Royal Botanic Gardens
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne is the oasis of the city, providing many families with nature and beautiful scenery in the middle of the hustle and bustle.
The Royal Botanic Gardens is between the Yarra River Domain road and St Kilda road. It includes plenty of picnic spots, a cafe, and a children’s garden.
The Myer Music Bowl is next to the gardens. It is an iconic live music and outdoor event amphitheater that is definitely worth a visit to attend an event or even to view the design itself.
4) Take A Yarra River Cruise
Cruising the Yarra River through the middle of Melbourne is a great activity in the warmer months. A river cruise gives a unique perspective on the city, its many gardens, and its views.
Different types of river cruises are available, ranging from $30 per person to upwards. From sightseeing cruises heading to varying parts of the river, bottomless brunch cruises or sunset cruises there is something here for everyone.
5) Visit The Lume Melbourne
The Lume Melbourne is an immersive experience dedicated to Leonardo Da Vinci. Located at South Wharf, The Lume offers everything from viewing the exhibition ‘Leonardo Da Vinci – 500 Years Of Genius’ to dining and drink-themed experiences on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tickets for The Lume can be pricey, but they now offer student, child, and family packages to help keep the costs down.
A single ticket to the Leonardo Da Vinci interactive exhibition is priced from $29.90 up to $129.90 AUD for family booking. It is not limited to viewing only the Mona Lisa and Last Supper experiences. You can see Da Vinci’s original sketchbooks and take in the Mona Lisa replica in 360 degrees, all while staying inside the exhibition space as long as you like, as there is no time limit to exit The Lume.
6) See The View From The Tallest Building In The Southern Hemisphere
The Melbourne Skydeck is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. At level 88, the Skydeck is an incredible viewing area, with food and drinks available and unforgettable views of Greater Melbourne and beyond.
With stunning views of Melbourne, day and night, this is a must if you want to see the entirety of Melbourne to the hills to gain perspective of the population of the city.
Prices range from $23 to $34 AUD and children under 3 are free.
7) Explore Chinatown
Chinatown in Melbourne is a buzzing hub on Little Bourke Street, covering a few blocks between Swanston Street and Exhibition Street.
Melbournians have their top go-to dumpling houses and restaurants, but there are so many to choose from, and most of them are of great quality. Little Bourke Street is fun to wander along, with vibrant signs, lanterns, and a buzzing atmosphere.
On a recent visit, we went to The Crane for lunch- a no-fuss Chinese restaurant in the middle of Little Bourke Street. The service was fast and friendly, and prices were very competitive. We had dumplings, spring rolls and fried rice which were all delicious. The Crane is a licensed restaurant and perfect for small groups. High chairs available.
8) Take A Ride On The St Kilda Tram
If you’re not from Melbourne, trams in the CBD and inner city are a novelty and easy to use. If you’re interested in taking a tram with the family for a meal or a visit to the beach, St Kilda is a 20-minute tram ride from the inner city of Melbourne.
Rattling along St Kilda Esplanade is a memorable experience, taking in the vast sea view, Palais Theatre, and famous Espy Hotel. The area’s art deco apartments and houses, backpackers, artists, and locals all contribute to the heart of this historic beachside suburb in Melbourne.
It should be noted that tram travel is free in the city circle of Melbourne, but once you leave this area, you will need a MYKI card for any public transport travel.
9) Watch The Melbourne International Comedy Festival
If you happen to be traveling in Melbourne during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, you should definitely see a show or 10! The festival runs annually from the end of March to mid/late April and showcases the world’s top comedians, as well as a huge selection of homegrown talent.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the largest in the world. Ticket prices range from free shows and family concessions to top-tier ticketing for the big acts.
Visiting Melbourne at this time of year is recommended, as Autumn sets in and the lights come on with the buzz of the city.
Tommy Little, Tom Ballard, Mel Buttle, Takashi Wakasugi, and Fern Brady were recent comedians (of the 800 performers!) at the 2024 festival.
10) Listen To Live Music
It is almost impossible to discuss Melbourne without mentioning live music. The Live Music Centre of Australia hosts gigs every night of the week. From major touring artists to local up-and-coming bands, DJs, and acoustic acts, there is something for everyone in Melbourne, not to mention the street musicians and buskers.
Iconic venues like The Forum, Palais Theatre, Corner Hotel, Espy, Cherry Bar and Northcote Social Club advertise shows on their websites and are impressive venues to see live music.
Melbourne Wrap Up
Of course, there are hundreds of activities to take part in in Melbourne, and depending on your tastes and preferences, you are sure to find the best activities for you and your family. Melbourne’s inner city is set out as a grid, so it’s easy to navigate, and groups split up if needed for different activities to then meet up later for coffee or a meal.
Other popular activities in addition to this list are shopping, delicious food from all cuisines (there is a large Italian and Greek community in Melbourne, with delicious restaurants), and hiking or bike riding along the inner city paths in good weather.
We hope that this article has inspired you to Melbourne for a family trip! If you have questions about Melbourne or tips to share with our readers please leave these in the comments below.
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We Are Travel Girls Contributor Kate Rae of SheTravelsAustralia.com
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