The Best Kids Activities in Melbourne for Fuss-Free Fun

Summer in Melbourne is a magical time, with the city transforming into a playground of adventure and wonder. With the school holidays here, it’s time to plan some unforgettable experiences for the kids. Whether your little ones are budding scientists, energetic adventurers, or creative dreamers, Melbourne has something special for everyone.

These are the coolest activities that will make these school holiday the best one yet, filled with laughter, learning, and memories that will warm your hearts all summer long.

Plans for the Planet: Olaf Breuning for Kids

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) offers a fantastic kids program filled with interactive exhibits, creative workshops, and hands-on activities. And this winter, the dedicated kids’ space is hsoting a free exhibition by Olaf Beuning: Plans for the Planet. Drawing on his paintings, sculptures and photography that explore the natural world, Breuning has created a playful and imaginative experience inspired by children’s love of adventure, playgrounds, and theme parks. 

This exhibition encourages kids to talk about sustainability and caring for the environment, highlighting issues including conservation, pollution, and the potential to create a better planet for all walks of life.

Until 5th October

180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 

Sleepover at the Melbourne Museum

Consider this the sleepover to top all sleepovers. The Melbourne Museum is hosting an exciting winter school holidays sleepover, where the whole family can kick back and snuggle up under the dinosaurs. You’ll be granted exclusive after-hours access to Lego Star Wars: The Exhibition, go on a torchlight adventure through the space, plus you get to experience Blue Whales 3D on the giant IMAX screen!

With supper provided while you sit in front of the big screen, cosy Ecosa mattresses to drift off on, and a piping hot breakfast in the morning, this is an experience like no other.

From $225, book here

18th to 19th July

11 Nicholson Street, Carlton

Hot Meatballs, Big Deals & School Holiday Feels at IKEA

If you’ve got little ones on the loose these school holidays (and a home in need of a cosy refresh), IKEA is serving up more than just meatballs this winter. From now until July 18th, IKEA Family members can score 50% off all hot meals at the Swedish Restaurant every weekday. Yes, that means half-price fish and chips, plant balls, as well as their cult-favourite meatballs — a warm reward after navigating the showroom maze.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. The Mid-Year Sale is running until July 21st, with up to 60% off everything from chic bed frames to thick rugs and dining tables (including the DOFTMYSKGRÄS rug, now $699, down from $1,999).

Looking to declutter? IKEA’s Buy Back, Get More program lets you trade in pre-loved pieces for a refund card with 15% extra value — a win for your wallet and the planet. All in all, it’s a budget-friendly way to stay warm, well-fed, and out of the rain with the kids these holidays.

Harry Potter™: The Exhibition

Grab your wands and broomsticks — Harry Potter™: The Exhibition has landed in Melbourne! Perfect for little witches, wizards, and big kids who still believe in magic, this immersive adventure brings Hogwarts to life with spellcasting, Quidditch fun, and a peek inside Hagrid’s Hut. See real costumes, brew potions, and explore enchanted spaces. You’ll be sorted into your house, attend Hogwarts and battle off He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in an epic battle.

Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin; no matter which House you’ve been sorted into, this magical interactive experience is sure to delight the whole family.

Secure your tickets here

62 Dawson Street, Brunswick

Melbourne Magic Festival

Melbourne Magic Festival will cast its enchanting spell over the city for two captivating weeks this July. Boasting over 140 performances, it stands as the southern hemisphere’s largest celebration of magic. Delight your little ones with astonishing mind readers and levitators, or let them discover the secrets behind the tricks themselves.

From the dazzling Comedy Magic Allstars to the mesmerising Great Kaplan, and adult-only magic shows at Melbourne’s VIVA, the festival offers a bewitching experience for all ages.

7th to 19th July

Multiple locations

Winter Night Market

The Winter Night Market is a quintessentinal Melbourne experience — and a must during the school holidays. Head to the Queen Victoria Market every Wednesday night until the 27th August for the ultimate warming feast, with over 60 stalls cooking up a culinary journey across various countries. There are also retail stalls offering all sorts of handcrafted goods, so you can shop while you munch.

Every Wednesday until 27th August

Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne

Firelight Festival

Firelight Festival is lighting up Melbourne’s Docklands for three heated nights. This free event celebrates all things fire, light, music and culture, delivering roaming performances that captivate audiences and installations to marvel at. Sip on hot chocolate and crunch down on s’mores while wandering around the festival — and be sure to say hello to the ‘humanoids’, four inflatable giants by Australian artist Amanda Parer making their Australian Firelight debut.

Held at the Victoria Harbour Promenade and NewQuay Central Park, the festival promises a fiery fusion of spectacle and storytelling, transforming the waterfront into a glowing playground for all ages.

4th to 6th July

Victoria Harbour Promenade and NewQuay Central Park, Docklands

Saboteurs

Remember the Among Us craze that took over the world during lockdown? Fever has brought the viral sensation to us in real life (minus the COVID restrictions), with a game inspired by the thrilling strategy game: Saboteurs. Race against the clock to complete the tasks as a team — or secretly sabotage the mission as the impostor. With two maps available, the original and dark mode, this immersive experience combines suspense, teamwork and betrayal in a real-world setting, making it the ultimate game night for thrill-seekers and fans of the cult classic.

Book here

Until 13th September

Shop 1/101 Waterfront Way, Docklands

Lightscape

Lightscape 2025 is lighting up the Botanic Gardens once again, and this year’s edition is more spectacular than ever. Returning with an all-new experience, this dazzling after-dark event transforms the park into an illuminated wonderland. Featuring over 20 breathtaking installations by international and local artists alike, the trail explores the theme of natural attraction in the most magical way.

Step into tunnels awash with radiant colour, wander beneath towering illuminated flowers, and stroll past glowing bush blossoms — all brought to life by an immersive, enchanting soundscape. Experience nature from a bugs’-eye view, transformed into a luminous world alive with creativity. Warm up your evening with mulled wine, toasted marshmallows, and delicious bites from local vendors.

Perfect for a cosy date night, a winter adventure with friends, or a memorable family outing, Lightscape is an unmissable experience this season.

Book here

20th June 10th August

Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

Kids 2K Dash

The Kids 2K Dash is here to kick off ASICS Run Melbourne Weekend, and it’s a fun event for kids of all abilities to get involved in! Parents can get in amongst the action and run alongside the little ones, cheering them on towards the finish line. The route travels along the Tanderrum Bridge, through Birrarung Marr, across the William Barak Bridge, and back through Garden Square, finishing in the ASICS Run Melbourne Event Village at Melbourne Park. There’ll be water available at the finish line, plus a medal for every single contender! Everyone’s a winner, from budding athletes to kids just wanting to have load of fun.

12th July, 9:30am

Melbourne Park, Richmond

Winter Wonderlights at Sovereign Hill

Winter Wonderlights, one of Victoria’s most cherished winter family activities, is taking over Sovereign Hill once again this July. Watch in awe as themed projections take over the historic town’s buildings, captivating the streets in a chilly blue hue. There will be a dedicated warmth zone, equipped with roaring fires, hot food and drinks to keep you cosy while you wander on through, and a snow and lights show that will dazzle crowds at 5pm.

It’s the ultimate winter wonderland!

Tickets from $35.50, book here

4th to 27th July, 10am to 7pm

Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

123BOOM!

123BOOM! is an adventure that will raise heart rates and test the minds of the whole family. This high-pressure mission involves solving a range of puzzles, cracking codes and defusing a bomb before it’s too late! If you fail to stop the clock, you’ll be met with a very colourful surprise that you may not be mad about.

Note that kids under the age of 12 are not allowed to participate, and kids 12 and over must be accompanied by an adult

551 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

SENSAS

For a sensory experience like no other, SENSAS is a kids activity in Melbourne to add to your hitlist. This is an immersive team experience that takes you through six themed rooms, all targeting different senses. Put yourself to the test in the ‘Smell Lab,’ which uses only smell and memory, ‘Sight Lab,’ which will have you dodging laser beams in a pitch-black room and even an ‘Antigravity’ room.

Book tickets here

6 Garden Street, South Yarra

Archie Brother’s Cirque Electric

Let your inner child run wild alongside your kids at Archie Brothers Cirque Electric. This nostalgic arcade lets you and your kids embrace your playful side, from arcade games to dodgem cars. Explore the quirky games and try your hand at the claw machine to win some prizes for the little ones…or yourself.

Locations in the Docklands, Moorabbin, Glen Waverley and Chadstone

Melbourne Zoo

Who doesn’t love getting up close with all sorts of animals? Melbourne Zoo is a kids activity that never gets old. Whether your children love standing still in the butterfly enclosure in the hope one will land on their finger, or enjoy marvelling at the giraffes and gorillas, there’s an enclosure to impress every animal-lover.

There are also water and nature play zones to help burn out your bundles of energy, so you’ve got a nice, quiet ride home.

Elliott Avenue, Parkville

BOUNCE Inc

There’s no better way to tire your kids out than by sending them straight to BOUNCE Inc. With multiple locations across Melbourne, there’s an endless amount of fun to be had! There’s trampolines on trampolines, walls for them to (literally) bounce off, dodgeball courts if they want to get competitve, and big bags and ball pits for the kids to jump into!

Plus, if your kids love going to BOUNCE regularly, there are even memberships and school holiday camps available! This is one of the best kids activities in Melbourne for the little bundle of energy in your life.

Multiple locations across Melbourne, see website for details

Grazeland‘s Winter Wonderland

For two dazzling weeks this July, Grazeland is turning up the heat with its annual Winter Wonderland — a neon-lit food fest meets family carnival. Expect falling snow, fire shows, stilt walkers, and live music from acts like Cassidy La Crème and the Emily Williams Band. Little ones can get their faces painted, meet Frosty the Snowman, and snack on street eats galore (hello, hot apple crumble and Southern fried chicken). It’s cosy, chaotic, and full of magic — perfect for a winter’s night out.

4th to 20th July

20 Booker Street, Spotswood

Step Inside House Down Under: Where Everything’s Upside Down

Flip your world on its head and let your imagination run wild at House Down Under, the quirky inverted house that seems to have fallen from the sky, Wizard of Oz style! This fun-filled attraction invites you to capture surreal and creative photo memories while enjoying a laugh with family and friends.

Walk (or dance) on the ceilings, explore an upside-down bathroom with a quirky toilet, and wander through inverted rooms like the kids’ space, home office, lounge, bedroom, and kitchen.

With your entry ticket, you get unlimited time to snap as many photos as you like on your own devices. Opening hours vary by season, so be sure to check their socials before you go. 

Book here

Under the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, The District Docklands, 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands 

Explore ACMI’s Guided Play-Based Experience for Young Learners

ACMI offers a monthly guided play-based experience perfect for preschool children aged two to five. Each session is designed to help young learners engage with the ideas and concepts explored at the museum, which covers film, TV, video games, and digital art.

With a new theme each month, there’s always something fresh to discover and enjoy. Parents, grandparents, or carers are required to stay with the children throughout the session. Make sure to arrive 10 minutes early, as sessions begin promptly.

3rd Friday of every month, from 10:30am

ACMI, Flinders Street, Melbourne

Explore the city as it bursts into bloom and create unforgettable memories with your family with our guide to fun kids’ activities in Melbourne. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head over to these top family-friendly restaurants for a delicious meal that everyone will love.