Indoor Activities Melbourne: 40+ Things to do with Kids and Teenagers

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Mum tested experiences updated for 2026 holidays.

Looking for indoor activities in Melbourne when it’s raining, freezing cold or simply far too hot to be outside? Melbourne has some brilliant indoor things to do with kids, from museums and immersive experiences to indoor skydiving, go-karting, trampolines, climbing, escape rooms and playcentres.

I’ve done Melbourne activities with my son and tested a number of these activities ourselves, including Flight Experience, Melbourne Skydeck, Archie Brothers, BOUNCE and indoor go-karting. I’ve also tried many of the same experiences around Australia with my son, niece and nephew as they were growing up, so I’ll tell you which ones I think are genuinely worth the money (and which ones are not worth the money!) and which ages they suit best.

Whether you’re entertaining toddlers, primary school kids, tweens or teenagers, I’ve pulled together the best indoor activities Melbourne has to offer for a rainy day, hot day or whenever you simply need to get everyone out of the house – school holidays or not!

Best indoor activities in Melbourne by age

Don’t want to scroll through the whole list? Start here with my quick picks:

Age	My picks
Toddlers & preschoolers	MoPA, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, Rainbow Town and selected indoor playcentres
Primary school kids	SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, Scienceworks, ArtVo, LEGOLAND, BOUNCE, Airoworld and Melbourne Museum
Tweens	Archie Brothers, Holey Moley, Hijinx Hotel, Dreamskape, BOUNCE, indoor go-karting and ice skating
Teenagers	Flight Experience, iFLY Melbourne, Fortress Melbourne, Archie Brothers, escape rooms, go-karting and Melbourne Skydeck
Whole family	ACMI, Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks, ArtVo, SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and Melbourne Skydeck

Map of indoor activities in Melbourne

Not sure what’s close to you? Use the map below to find indoor activities across Greater Melbourne. I’ve colour-coded the locations by the age group they’re best suited to, so you can quickly find ideas for toddlers, primary school kids, tweens and teenagers. Click any pin for more information.

Map key: 🟣 Teenagers | 🔵 Tweens & primary | 🟠 Toddlers & preschoolers | 🟢 All ages

Got teenagers? I’ve travelled around Melbourne with my teenager and tested plenty of activities that actually passed the teen test. See my complete guide to things to do with teenagers in Melbourne for more ideas.

Adrenaline and active indoor activities in Melbourne

Got kids who would rather race, fly or dangle high above Melbourne than quietly wander around a museum? These indoor activities bring the adrenaline without having to rely on Melbourne’s weather.

Flight Experience Melbourne

We LOVED this one.

My son was 16 when he took control of a Boeing 737 flight simulator in Melbourne, while we got to sit behind him as his passengers. He chose to take off and land in Melbourne, Paris, London and Brisbane during his one-hour experience.

The instructor was wonderful and it felt like far more than simply playing a flight simulator. If you have an older child or teenager who is interested in aviation, this one is definitely worth the money!

Best for: Older kids and teenagers, particularly aviation fans
Allow: Around 1–1.5 hours
Janine’s verdict: One of our Melbourne favourites

Address: The District Docklands, 7 The Arcade, Docklands VIC 3008

Find out more about Flight Simulator Experience Melbourne.

You can buy the flight simulator experience here.

iFLY Melbourne

Indoor skydiving is one of those activities that sounds terrifying until you actually see how controlled it is.

We’ve done iFLY with three kids at the Chermside location in Brisbane and they all loved it. I have even done it once myself. The whole experience took us around 1.5 hours, although each individual flight itself is surprisingly short. Instructors are with you throughout and friends and family can watch through the glass tunnel. I found it challenged my (lack of) core strength! You need to literally ‘keep your chin up’ and look ahead… I kept looking at the ground… it was challenging. The kids found it easier… enough said! 😉

iFLY Melbourne at Essendon Fields offers the same indoor freefall concept, making it a great Melbourne option when you want a big adrenaline activity without worrying about the weather.

Best for: Older kids, tweens and teenagers
Allow: Around 1.5 hours
Janine’s tip: Don’t judge the experience by the flight time alone. Much of the fun is the gearing up, instruction, watching each other fly and comparing everyone’s efforts afterwards.

Address: 2 Burns Street, Essendon Fields VIC 3041

Find out more about iFLY Melbourne

Melbourne Indoor Go Karting

If you’ve got competitive teenagers, putting them behind the wheel of a go-kart tends to get their attention pretty quickly!

We’ve done Melbourne Indoor Go Karting and it was an easy win with our teenagers. The Port Melbourne track is completely indoors, so this is proper wet-weather go-karting rather than an outdoor track that happens to operate in the rain.

Racing sessions are available in different lengths and all the necessary safety equipment is supplied. Drivers currently need to be at least 13 years old and meet the minimum height requirement, so this one is particularly suited to teenagers rather than younger kids.

Best for: Teenagers 13+
Janine’s tip: Wear enclosed shoes. You’ll need them to race.
Why we like it: Instant competition, completely indoors and very little chance of hearing “I’m bored”.

Check current Melbourne Indoor Go Karting sessions and prices.

Melbourne Skydeck

I took my teenage son to Melbourne Skydeck and I’ll admit it: I was scared.

My son loved it.

I did not.

The observation deck itself is on Level 88, with incredible views across Melbourne, but we also did The Edge. That’s the glass cube that projects out from the building with a glass floor underneath you.

I’m glad I did it, but standing in a glass box that high above Melbourne confirmed that my son and I have very different ideas about what constitutes fun!

What we absolutely agreed on was the view. Looking across the Yarra River, MCG, CBD and Melbourne’s landmarks from that height was spectacular.

There are different Skydeck experiences and ticket combinations available, so you don’t have to choose the most terrifying option to enjoy the views.

Best for: Families, older kids and teenagers
Janine’s verdict: The views are absolutely worth it. The glass floor is optional for those of us with a stronger instinct for self-preservation.
Good to know: Check the different ticket options before booking rather than automatically paying for every add-on.

Address: 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank VIC 3006

See the current Melbourne Skydeck ticket options.

O’Brien Icehouse

Got kids with energy to burn? Ice skating at O’Brien Icehouse in Docklands is a fun indoor activity that works particularly well for older kids and teenagers.

The huge ice-skating venue has two Olympic-sized rinks and welcomes everyone from complete beginners to experienced skaters. Skate hire is available, along with free helmets for beginners, so you don’t need your own equipment to give it a go.

Teenagers can head onto the ice with their friends while parents either join them for a few laps or watch from the sidelines with a coffee. Younger kids can have a go too, although I’d allow a little extra time if it’s their first experience on skates.

During the school holidays, look out for the free short beginner lessons offered during public skating sessions. They’re a great way for nervous first-timers to learn some basics before heading off around the rink.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: Active kids, groups of friends and rainy Melbourne days
Janine’s tip: Wear warm layers, gloves and thick socks. It’s kept at around 16°C inside, and those thick socks will make hired skates much more comfortable.

Address: 105 Pearl River Road, Docklands VIC 3008

Check O’Brien Icehouse skating sessions

Immersive experiences, gaming and indoor entertainment

This is probably my favourite category for families with older kids. Melbourne has some brilliant indoor entertainment venues where you can compete against each other, play arcade games, tackle challenges or disappear into a completely different world for a couple of hours.

Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq

We’ve done Archie Brothers in Melbourne (Docklands) as well as in Brisbane, and it is an easy recommendation for families with older kids and teenagers.

Archie Brothers has Melbourne venues in Chadstone, Glen Waverley, Docklands, Moorabbin, Point Cook and QV Melbourne. We went to the Docklands venue and, let me tell you, it is much more than an arcade. You’ll find arcade and ticket games, dodgem cars, bowling and other interactive entertainment all under one roof. We’ve spent around 2.5 hours at Archie Brothers as a family and there was plenty to keep everyone occupied.

I am the undisputed dance mat Queen! It starts off slow but you really get moving… the kids try to take me on, rarely do they beat me. I am a picture of concentration and they know it’s my thing! Once I kick their butts at dance mat, we splinter off to the other activities and games to try our luck. It’s a great 2 – 3 hours out – I recommend it!

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Allow: We usually find around 2–3 hours is plenty
Janine’s verdict: A really easy rainy-day choice when you have older kids with different interests.

Find your local Archie Brothers arcade and bowling venue and book tickets

Address: Chadstone, Glen Waverley, Melbourne Docklands, Moorabbin, Point Cook and QV Melbourne

Find your nearest Archie Brothers venue

Holey Moley

We’ve played Holey Moley with teenagers and it was a hit. This is mini golf, but definitely not the quiet, traditional kind.

The holes are colourful, quirky and filled with pop-culture references, which makes waiting for your turn part of the entertainment. Throw in a competitive family and suddenly putting a tiny ball through a ridiculous obstacle becomes extremely important!

Melbourne has several Holey Moley locations, including Melbourne CBD, Crown/Southbank, Chadstone, Point Cook, Frankston and Ringwood (Eastland), so there’s a good chance you’ll find one convenient to where you are staying or live.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Allow: Around two hours has been plenty for us
Janine’s tip: Holey Moley is easy to combine with lunch, shopping, a movie or another activity nearby, particularly at one of the shopping centre locations.

Address: Melbourne CBD, Crown/Southbank, Chadstone, Point Cook, Frankston, Ringwood (Eastland).

Find your location and book Holey Moley Melbourne mini golf

Hijinx Hotel

Don’t let the name fool you. You aren’t checking into a hotel.

Hijinx Hotel is a collection of colourful challenge rooms where your group works together to complete quick games and challenges against the clock.

We’ve done Hijinx Hotel with teenagers and they loved it. In fact, they wanted to go back and do it again.That’s a pretty good endorsement from teenagers!

Melbourne now has Hijinx Hotel at QV in the CBD, with 10 challenge rooms featuring everything from flashing lights and sound cues to ball pits and heist-style challenges. I recommend spending the extra to do the 10 rooms (rather than just 5) as you will get the hang of it and by the end you will want to do even more!

This is a particularly good option if your family likes competing together rather than simply walking around looking at things. My kids all want to see our team name up on the leaderboard at the end to see who we beat (and who beat us!)

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Janine’s verdict: A big hit with our teenagers
Great for: Competitive families and groups of friends

Address: QV Melbourne, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Find out more about Hijinx Hotel Melbourne.

ArtVo

At ArtVo in Docklands, kids aren’t told not to touch the art. They’re encouraged to become part of it.

My son and I went here when he was 11. It is an immersive gallery filled with huge 3D artworks and optical illusions designed specifically for visitors to pose inside and photograph. That is us in the photo above pretending to fall down the waterfall!

You might find yourself surfing a giant wave, coming face-to-face with an animal or appearing to balance somewhere you definitely shouldn’t be able to.

ArtVo has recently had its biggest makeover since opening, with more than 40 new interactive artworks added to the Melbourne gallery.

It’s completely self-guided after the initial introduction, and most families should allow around an hour. Make sure your phone is charged because taking photos is really the point of the experience.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens, teenagers and adults
Allow: Around one hour
Great for: Kids who love optical illusions, photography and getting involved rather than simply looking at art
Good to know: Children aged four and under currently enter free.

Address: Level 1, 26 Star Crescent, The District Docklands, Docklands VIC 3008

Grab your Artvo Melbourne tickets here.

Imaginator

Imaginator in Docklands is a one-hour immersive experience where light, sound, digital art and technology come together in a series of interactive installations. We went when my son was 12. For us, this was a miss and ‘not worth the money’, sadly! We were there for about 35 minutes and it is pricey! So whilst it IS cool, it is too expensive for what it is, in my opinion.

Rather than simply looking at the displays, you move through different sensory spaces where you can play with light and sound, explore digital mazes, immerse yourself in colour and even interact with AI.

It’s designed for adults and children to experience together, although some installations are particularly suited to school-aged kids.

Best for: School-aged kids, tweens and teenagers
Allow: Up to one hour
Great for: Kids who enjoy technology, digital art and unusual sensory experiences
Good to know: You’ll be asked to remove your shoes before entering, and the experience includes a mixture of lighting, projections, sound and sensory effects.

Address: 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands VIC 3008

Find out more about Imaginator Melbourne.

Bubble Planet Melbourne

For something completely different, Bubble Planet Melbourne is an immersive experience in Brunswick built around, you guessed it, bubbles.

Rather than simply walking through an exhibition, families move through a series of colourful themed spaces with oversized bubbles, optical illusions, interactive installations and sensory experiences.

This one is particularly photogenic and probably has its strongest appeal for younger children and primary school kids, although older kids who enjoy immersive experiences and taking photos may get a kick out of it too.

Best for: Younger kids and primary school children
Great for: Colourful photos and something a little different
Good to know: Check current dates and sessions before making a special trip.

Address: Fever Exhibition and Experience Centre, 62 Dawson Street, Brunswick VIC 3056

Check current sessions for Bubble Planet Melbourne.

Metartworld

Metartworld in Port Melbourne is not your average art gallery. Instead of paintings on walls, you’ll find an enormous collection of sculptures made from scrap metal, including everything from superheroes and movie characters to animals, cars and robots.

And this is definitely not a hands-off gallery. Kids are encouraged to get amongst the displays, pose for photos and even climb inside some of the incredible metal creations.

There is also plenty more to explore beyond the metal art, including the colourful Starry Sky exhibition, immersive digital experiences, a mirror maze, VR games and a 9D flying cinema.

With so many different things happening under one roof, this looks like a particularly good option if you have kids of different ages to entertain. Younger kids will love the larger-than-life characters and interactive displays, while tweens and teenagers should get a kick out of the gaming, technology and seriously impressive sculptures.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: Interactive art, photos, gaming and something a little different
Good to know: Metartworld is in Port Melbourne and is completely indoors, making it an easy wet-weather option.

Address: 155 Boundary Street, Port Melbourne VIC 3207

Book Metartworld tickets through Experience Oz.

Fortress Melbourne

Got a gamer in the family? Fortress Melbourne could buy you some serious parent points.

Located inside Emporium Melbourne, Fortress is a huge gaming and entertainment venue with PC gaming, consoles, board games, tabletop gaming and an esports arena.

Entry to Fortress itself is free, so you can go in and have a look around before deciding how much you want to spend on games or other experiences.

I particularly like this as an option for tweens and teenagers because so many lists of indoor activities are heavily weighted towards younger children. This is somewhere older kids can genuinely be excited to visit.

Best for: Tweens and teenagers, particularly gamers
Cost: Entry is free, with charges for games and bookable experiences
Good to know: Under 18s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult and there are evening restrictions for minors.

Address: 23 Caledonian Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000

Find out more about Fortress Melbourne

Melbourne Game Show Experience

If your family is even slightly competitive, this one is a lot of fun. I actually really loved this experience and I am thinking of doing it again!

We have done the Brisbane version of this real-life game show experience as a family and laughed a lot. You step onto a proper game show-style set, complete with buzzers, lights and sounds, and compete against each other in a series of quiz-style challenges.

The Melbourne experience in West Melbourne follows the same format, with two 30-minute games during your one-hour session. I really liked having two rounds because by the second game we’d worked out what we were doing and could start being a little more strategic.

And my advice? Use your wildcards wisely! Don’t waste them early. If one team is looking particularly dangerous, save them until later and use them to try to block the leaders.

The difficulty can be adjusted, which makes this a good one for families because you don’t need everyone to have the same level of general knowledge to get involved. It’s competitive without requiring any physical ability, so it also works well when you’ve got different ages playing together.

Best for: Ages 8+, particularly tweens and teenagers
Great for: Competitive families, groups and kids who love quizzes and game shows
Our experience: We did the Brisbane version as a family and had a lot of fun
Janine’s tip: Don’t blow your wildcards too early. Work out who your biggest competition is and save them for when they can do some damage!

Address: 73–75 Peel Street, West Melbourne VIC 3003

Book the Melbourne Game Show Experience through Experience Oz.

Dreamskape

Dreamskape bills itself as Australia’s first digital theme park, and it’s a good one to consider if you’ve got kids who love technology and interactive games.

Rather than one single attraction, there are different digital experiences to choose from. Depending on the location, these include challenge rooms with dozens of different game modes, interactive obstacle challenges, 3D experiences and digital rides.

The Docklands venue has the broadest mix, including challenge game rooms, a high-tech obstacle arena and a 3D cinema experience that doesn’t require glasses.

There are also Dreamskape locations at Westfield Knox in Wantirna South and Westfield Southland in Cheltenham, although the attractions vary between venues.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: Kids who like gaming, technology and competing against each other
Janine’s tip: Check the individual venue rather than assuming every Dreamskape has the same activities.

Address: Docklands, Wantirna South (Westfield Knox), Cheltenham (Westfield Southland).

Find your nearest Dreamskape Melbourne venue

Melbourne escape rooms and VR experiences

Escape rooms are one of my favourite indoor activities for older kids and teenagers because everyone has to get involved. We’ve done escape rooms and VR experiences as a family, and there’s usually a point where the kids start solving things faster than the adults. Humbling, but fun!

Melbourne has plenty to choose from, including traditional puzzle-based escape rooms and huge free-roam virtual reality experiences where your family can step inside the game together.

Escape Hunt Melbourne

If you’re looking for an escape room to do with the kids, Escape Hunt Melbourne is one of the more family-friendly options I’ve found.

Located in Melbourne’s CBD, the escape rooms combine puzzles, clues and challenges that require everyone to work together to solve the mystery before time runs out.

What I particularly like for families is that Escape Hunt actually identifies which adventures are suitable for children. Its kid-friendly rooms are recommended from around age seven and don’t rely on jump scares, so you can choose an experience based on your children’s ages rather than discovering halfway through that you’ve booked something terrifying!

Escape rooms are also one of those activities where different generations can genuinely contribute. Kids often notice clues adults completely miss, while adults can help with some of the trickier puzzles.

Best for: Older primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: Families who love puzzles, mysteries and working as a team
Good to know: Check the difficulty and recommended age of individual rooms before booking, particularly if you’re visiting with younger children.

Address: Ground Floor, 190 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Book an Escape Hunt Melbourne experience through Experience Oz.

Escape Room Melbourne

Escape Room Melbourne is a good choice if you’re looking for an escape room to do as a family, particularly with older primary school kids, tweens or teenagers.

There are rooms in South Melbourne as well as the Original Escape Room in Flemington, with teams working together to decipher clues and solve puzzles before time runs out.

If you’re visiting with younger children, choose your room carefully. Escape Room Melbourne specifically recommends its original Flemington room for families with children under 12, as some of its other rooms are more difficult and can be a little intense for younger players.

Children under 16 can participate when accompanied by an adult.

Best for: Older primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Good to know: For children under 12, the original Flemington escape room is the recommended option.

Address: South Melbourne and Flemington
See the Escape Room Melbourne experiences

Entermission VR

For something a little different from a traditional escape room, Entermission in Melbourne’s CBD combines escape-room puzzles with virtual reality.

Instead of searching a physical room for clues, you put on a VR headset and enter a virtual world where your team can see, hear and interact with the environment around you. Experiences range from fantasy adventures and journeys through space to much scarier options, so choose your game to suit the ages and bravery levels in your family.

It’s a particularly good option for tweens and teenagers who enjoy gaming but still want the teamwork and puzzle-solving of an escape room.

Best for: Tweens, teenagers and gaming families
Great for: Virtual reality, puzzles and something different on a rainy day
Good to know: Experiences vary considerably in theme and intensity, so check the individual game before booking.

Address: Level 1, 164 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Book a Melbourne Virtual Reality Escape Room

Rush Escape Game

If your family loves puzzles, mysteries and racing against the clock, Rush Escape Game has a huge choice of themed escape rooms across Melbourne.

There are currently locations in South Yarra, Hawthorn, St Kilda and Chadstone, with themes ranging from fantasy and adventure to much creepier experiences.

Because the difficulty and scare factor vary considerably between rooms, this isn’t somewhere I’d simply book the first available game when taking children. Check the individual room description and recommended age before choosing.

Best for: Older kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: Families who love puzzles and working together
Janine’s tip: Choose the room for your kids, not just the coolest-looking theme. Difficulty and scare levels can make a huge difference to how much everyone enjoys it.

Check the current Rush Escape Game rooms and age recommendations.

Address: South Yarra, Hawthorn, St Kilda and Chadstone.
Find a Rush Escape Game Melbourne location

Adventure Rooms Melbourne

Adventure Rooms Melbourne is another good choice for families who prefer solving puzzles to being scared silly.

The focus is on finding clues, cracking codes and working together to escape within the time limit. There are several different adventures to choose from, including options designed for groups with different levels of escape-room experience.

If you’ve never done an escape room before, don’t worry about being an expert. Half the fun is discovering which person in the family is unexpectedly brilliant at spotting clues everyone else has walked past five times.

Best for: Families with older kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: Teamwork and puzzle lovers
Janine’s tip: Escape rooms work particularly well when everyone gets involved. Let the kids investigate and solve things too rather than having the adults take over.

Address: Basement/306 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Check the current Adventure Rooms Melbourne games before booking.

What about LOST in Melbourne Escape Rooms?

You’ll probably come across LOST in Melbourne when searching for Melbourne escape rooms, but personally, I wouldn’t recommend this one for most kids.

Children aged 12 and under are allowed to participate when accompanied by an adult, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the experiences are designed with younger children in mind.

LOST leans heavily into horror, shocks and scares, with each room given its own “Fear Factor”. Current themes include haunted and paranormal stories, zombies and other deliberately frightening scenarios.

Of course, every child is different and an older teenager who loves horror may think this sounds fantastic. But for a general family day out, I’d choose one of Melbourne’s more family-friendly escape rooms instead.

Best for: Horror-loving older teens and adults
My tip: Don’t rely on the permitted age alone. Read the theme and Fear Factor of the individual room before booking.

Zero Latency VR

Zero Latency takes VR well beyond standing in one spot wearing a headset.

The company actually started in Melbourne, and its free-roam VR lets players physically move around a large space while exploring virtual worlds together. Depending on the game you choose, you might be battling zombies, exploring another world or working together on a virtual mission.

We’ve tried VR experiences with our kids before and the free-roam format adds another level because you’re physically moving through the game rather than playing from a fixed position.

Best for: Older kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: Gamers and families looking for something genuinely different
Janine’s tip: Check the individual game’s age recommendation before booking. Some VR themes are much more intense than others.

Address: Docklands, Moorabbin, Dandenong South and South Morang.

Find your nearest Zero Latency VR Melbourne location

Indoor trampoline parks and climbing centres

Sometimes the best rainy-day activity is simply somewhere the kids can burn off a ridiculous amount of energy.

Melbourne has plenty of indoor trampoline and climbing centres, ranging from huge trampoline parks to colourful Clip ‘n Climb courses and proper indoor rock climbing for older kids and teenagers.

BOUNCE Melbourne

We’ve done BOUNCE with teenagers and it is one of those activities that still works well once kids have outgrown traditional indoor playcentres.

There is much more than simply bouncing around on trampolines. Depending on the Melbourne location, you’ll find different activity areas designed for jumping, climbing, freestyle tricks and challenges.

BOUNCE has eight locations across Melbourne, including Blackburn North, Essendon Fields, Narre Warren (Fountain Gate), Frankston, Glen Iris, Heidelberg West, Hoppers Crossing and Keysborough.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Janine’s verdict: A reliable option for active older kids and teenagers
Janine’s tip: Check the activities at your chosen location rather than assuming every BOUNCE centre is identical.

Address: Blackburn North, Essendon Fields, Narre Warren (Fountain Gate), Frankston, Glen Iris, Heidelberg West, Hoppers Crossing and Keysborough.

Find your nearest BOUNCE Melbourne location.

Airoworld Trampoline & Inflatable Park

If you remember Airodrome in Altona North, it has had a makeover and is now Airoworld Trampoline & Inflatable Park.

The huge indoor centre combines trampolines with inflatable attractions, slides and other active play, making it a good option when the kids need to burn energy but Melbourne’s weather isn’t cooperating.

Airoworld is particularly handy if you’re looking for something that can work across different ages rather than an indoor playcentre aimed mainly at little kids.

Best for: Kids and active families
Great for: Rainy days and burning off school-holiday energy
Good to know: This is the former Airodrome, so older references to Airodrome Altona North are referring to the same venue.

Address: Westgate Sports & Leisure Centre, corner Grieve Parade and Dohertys Road, Altona North VIC 3025
Find out more about Airoworld

Flip Out

Flip Out is another good option if the kids want trampolines, but you’ll find more than just rows of places to bounce.

The activities vary between centres and can include trampolines, obstacle-style challenges and other active indoor attractions.

Flip Out has several locations across Melbourne, including Box Hill South, Braybrook, Derrimut, Narre Warren (Fountain Gate), Wantirna South (Knox) and Craigieburn. Check the current location finder before visiting as locations can change over time.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: Active kids who want more than a traditional playcentre
Janine’s tip: Look at the individual centre before booking because the attractions differ between locations.

Address: Box Hill South, Braybrook, Derrimut, Narre Warren (Fountain Gate), Wantirna South (Knox) and Craigieburn.

Find your nearest Flip Out Melbourne venue

Activate by Hardrock

If traditional rock climbing sounds a little intimidating, Activate by Hardrock in Heatherton is a much more colourful introduction.

Its Clip ‘n Climb arena has more than 30 climbing challenges with different difficulty levels. The climbs use auto-belay systems, so kids can concentrate on getting themselves up the wall rather than learning how to manage ropes first.

There are also some much more adventurous challenges, including the Leap of Faith and a vertical drop slide.

Clip ‘n Climb is suitable from age five, making this a particularly good climbing option for primary school-aged children.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and families
Age: Clip ‘n Climb is suitable for ages 5+
Great for: First-time climbers and kids who like a challenge
Good to know: Some of the additional challenges have their own age requirements.

Address: Unit 4, 444 Warrigal Road, Heatherton VIC 3202

Find out more about Activate by Hardrock.

Hardrock Climbing Melbourne

For older kids and teenagers who want to try proper indoor rock climbing, Hardrock is right in Melbourne CBD.

This is quite different from Clip ‘n Climb. Hardrock has more than 100 climbing routes, including top-rope walls reaching up to 16 metres, with options for beginners as well as experienced climbers.

First-time climbers are shown what they need to know and climbing equipment is available to hire, so you don’t need to arrive with your own collection of ropes, harnesses and mysterious climbing paraphernalia.

Hardrock also runs youth programs and school-holiday climbing programs, with its holiday program aimed at climbers aged 11 to 17.

Best for: Older kids and teenagers
Great for: Kids who want to progress beyond recreational climbing walls
Good to know: Casual climbing doesn’t normally require a booking, although larger groups do.

Address: 4/8 Franklin Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Find out more about Hardrock Climbing Melbourne

Melbourne indoor playcentres for younger kids

Sometimes you don’t need a major Melbourne attraction. You just need somewhere the little kids can climb, slide, play and burn off some energy while you stay safely out of Melbourne’s rain or heat.

There are dozens of indoor playcentres across Melbourne, so rather than list every single one, I’ve picked a handful that are particularly useful for families with younger children.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne

LEGO-loving kids could easily spend a few hours at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne at Chadstone.

Designed particularly for children aged 3 to 10, this huge indoor LEGO playground combines plenty of opportunities to build and create with rides, play zones, a 4D cinema and MINILAND, where Melbourne landmarks have been recreated in LEGO.

There’s enough variety here that kids aren’t simply sitting at a table building LEGO all day. They can build and test their own creations, explore the play areas and move between the different attractions and experiences.

I’d particularly recommend this one for preschoolers and primary school-aged kids. Older LEGO-mad children may still enjoy it, but the centre is very clearly designed with younger kids in mind.

Best for: Ages 3–10, particularly LEGO fans
Great for: Creative play and an easy all-weather activity
Good to know: Pre-book your timeslot, particularly during school holidays. Adults normally need to be accompanied by a child to enter.

Address: Level 2, Chadstone, 1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone VIC 3148

Read up on Legoland here.

Book LEGOLAND Discovery Centre tickets

Save with a SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Melbourne combo ticket

SuperZu Playcentre

SuperZu in Dingley Village is a huge safari-themed indoor playcentre designed with different ages in mind.

There’s plenty of climbing, sliding and exploring for bigger kids, but what makes SuperZu particularly useful for families with younger children is that toddlers don’t simply have to follow the older kids into equipment that wasn’t designed for them.

Children aged one and two have their own toddler admission category, while babies under 12 months currently enter free. There are also safari car rides for something different from the usual climbing and sliding.

Best for: Toddlers, preschoolers and primary school kids
Great for: Families with children of different ages
Good to know: Babies under 12 months currently enter free.

Address: 362–364 Boundary Road, Dingley Village VIC 3172

Find out more about SuperZu Playcentre

Rainbow Town Play Centre

Rainbow Town in Glen Waverley is one of the more elaborate Melbourne indoor playcentres, with a colourful play environment that feels more like a miniature indoor town than a traditional collection of slides and climbing frames.

There are different spaces and activities to explore, making this a good option when you want something a little more immersive than a standard suburban playcentre.

It’s particularly suited to younger and primary school-aged children who still love imaginative play.

Best for: Preschoolers and primary school kids
Great for: Imaginative play and a more immersive playcentre experience
Good to know: Rainbow Town can get busy, particularly on weekends and during school holidays, so check current sessions and booking requirements before you go.

Address: 49–55 Myrtle Street, Glen Waverley VIC 3150

Find out more about Rainbow Town Play Centre

Croc’s Playcentre

Croc’s is useful because there are multiple locations around Melbourne, so you don’t necessarily have to drive across the city just to find somewhere for the kids to play.

The playcentres are designed for different ages, with dedicated baby and toddler areas as well as larger play equipment for bigger kids. The toddler areas are separated from the main play structures, which is something parents of little ones will appreciate when the centre is busy.

Best for: Babies, toddlers, preschoolers and younger primary school kids
Great for: Finding a playcentre relatively close to home
Janine’s tip: Check your individual Croc’s location before visiting because facilities and opening hours can vary between centres.

Address: Derrimut, Clayton, Craigieburn, Epping, Hoppers Crossing, Keilor Park, Lyndhurst, Narre Warren, Pakenham and Ringwood.

Find your nearest Croc’s Playcentre

Leo’s Kingdom

Leo’s Kingdom in Altona North caters for children from around nine months through to 12 years, with separate infant and toddler spaces alongside the larger play equipment.

The main play area includes a four-storey climbing structure, slides and ball pits, so there’s enough for older siblings to do while the smaller children stay in the areas designed for them.

One feature parents may appreciate is that Leo’s allows visitors to bring their own food and drinks, which can be very handy when you’re dealing with fussy eaters or dietary requirements.

Best for: Babies, toddlers and children up to 12
Great for: Families with younger and older siblings
Good to know: Weekend visits operate in set morning and afternoon sessions, so check times before heading over.

Address: 61-69 Dohertys Rd, Altona North VIC 3025

Find out more about Leo’s Kingdom here

Landing Playcentre

Landing Playcentre is another straightforward option for families with younger kids who mainly want somewhere indoors to climb, slide and play.

There are different admission categories for toddlers and children aged three and over, while babies under 12 months currently enter free. Adults need to supervise children and socks are required for both adults and kids.

This isn’t one I’d drive across Melbourne specifically to visit, but that’s not really the point of a good local playcentre. If you’re in Melbourne’s west and need somewhere to fill a wet morning or afternoon, it does the job nicely.

Best for: Toddlers, preschoolers and younger primary school kids
Great for: Families in Melbourne’s western suburbs
Good to know: Everyone needs socks, including adults.

Address: 1 Gilbert Dr, Altona North VIC 3025 and 12 Nexus Street, Ravenhall VIC 3023

Find out more about Landing Playcentre.

Melbourne museums and educational indoor activities

Melbourne does museums particularly well, and these aren’t all places where kids have to wander quietly past glass cabinets.

There are interactive science experiments, dinosaurs, film and gaming exhibits, play-based museums for little kids and some smaller museums that are easy to overlook. Several are also free for children, making museums a particularly good option when you need an indoor Melbourne activity without spending a fortune.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

I wish I could find my photos from SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. I took my son there when he was very little and have the cutest photos of him! It is a great indoor venue and it’s particularly good for families with younger children.

Right in the Melbourne CBD, the aquarium takes you through different underwater environments where kids can see everything from sharks, rays and jellyfish to seahorses, tropical fish and King and Gentoo penguins.

There are plenty of opportunities to get closer to the animals too, including interactive rockpools and daily talks and feeds. The aquarium has continued to change and add new exhibits since our visit, so there will be plenty that’s new if, like us, you visited years ago.

While I’d particularly recommend SEA LIFE for preschoolers and primary school kids, older children who love marine life will still find plenty to see.

Best for: Toddlers, preschoolers and primary school kids
Great for: Penguins, sharks, marine life and a completely weatherproof Melbourne activity
Our experience: We’ve visited SEA LIFE attractions around the world and Melbourne is one of the best we’ve been to.
Good to know: Book ahead for a date and timeslot, particularly during weekends and school holidays.

Address: King Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Take a look at the Sea Life website here.

Grab your ticket here to skip the queue.

Save with a SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Melbourne combo ticket

ACMI

We’ve visited ACMI in Federation Square with my teenage son and I was really impressed by how well it worked for older kids.

My son is a huge Marvel fan, so seeing props from Thor: Love and Thunder was a particular highlight for him. There was also a high-school group visiting while we were there and they were genuinely excited and getting involved with the interactive exhibits, which I thought was a pretty good endorsement!

ACMI is Melbourne’s museum of screen culture, covering film, television, video games and digital culture. Its permanent Story of the Moving Image exhibition includes plenty of interactive elements rather than simply giving kids things to look at.

General entry to the permanent exhibition is free, although some temporary exhibitions and events are ticketed.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Cost: Free general entry, with some ticketed exhibitions
Janine’s tip: Don’t dismiss ACMI as somewhere just for film buffs. The interactive and gaming elements make it particularly good for older kids and teenagers.

Address: Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Find out more about ACMI

ArtPlay

ArtPlay at Birrarung Marr is a little different from Melbourne’s traditional museums and galleries. It’s a creative arts space designed specifically for children from babies through to 13 years, where kids can make, create and experience art alongside professional artists.

Rather than offering the same activities every day, ArtPlay has a changing program of exhibitions, workshops, performances and creative experiences. That means one visit might look completely different from the next.

Some activities are free while others require tickets, and many have specific age ranges, so this is definitely somewhere to check what’s on before you visit rather than simply turning up.

Best for: Babies through to 13-year-olds, depending on the program
Great for: Creative kids and families looking for something different from a traditional museum
Janine’s tip: Check the current program carefully. ArtPlay’s activities change throughout the year and some are designed for quite specific age groups.

Address: Birrarung Marr, Melbourne VIC 3000

Check what’s on at ArtPlay

Scienceworks

If your kids are the type who need to touch, press and experiment rather than simply look at exhibits, Scienceworks is one of Melbourne’s best museums for them.

Located in Spotswood, Scienceworks makes science much more hands-on, with interactive exhibitions exploring how things work, technology, the human body and the world around us.

There’s also the Melbourne Planetarium and the Lightning Room, although these experiences can require separate tickets.

This is one I’d allow a decent chunk of the day for rather than trying to squeeze it into an already packed Melbourne itinerary.

Best for: Preschoolers and primary school kids
Great for: Curious kids who love hands-on exhibits
Good to know: Scienceworks is in Spotswood, not Melbourne CBD, so factor travel time into your day.

Address: 2 Booker Street, Spotswood VIC 3015

Plan your visit to Scienceworks

Melbourne Museum

Melbourne Museum is one of those attractions that can work for surprisingly different ages because there is so much inside.

Dinosaur fans can meet Horridus the Triceratops, while other galleries explore animals, science, nature, Melbourne’s history and First Peoples cultures. There’s even a living rainforest inside the museum.

Families with little kids should look for the Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery, which is specifically designed for babies to five-year-olds and combines museum objects with hands-on, play-based learning.

Children aged 16 and under currently receive free general entry to Melbourne Museum’s permanent exhibitions, which makes this a particularly good-value indoor family activity.

Best for: All ages
Great for: Dinosaurs, nature, history and families with children of different ages
Cost: Children 16 and under currently receive free general entry to permanent exhibitions.

Address: 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton VIC 3053

Plan your visit to Melbourne Museum

MoPA: Museum of Play and Art

If you’ve got younger kids, MoPA is very different from Melbourne’s traditional museums. With locations across Melbourne, the Museum of Play and Art has been designed specifically for children, combining creative play, art and learning in an indoor environment where kids are expected to get involved.

Rather than walking from exhibit to exhibit, children can explore hands-on play spaces and creative activities. That makes it particularly useful for families with preschoolers and younger primary school children who aren’t ready for a full day in a traditional museum.

Visits operate in sessions, so this is one to book rather than simply turning up whenever Melbourne’s rain starts.

Best for: Toddlers, preschoolers and younger primary school kids
Great for: Creative kids and hands-on play
Good to know: Sessions can sell out during busy periods, so check availability before visiting.

Address: Sandringham, Thomastown and Nunawading.

Find your nearest MoPA location

Australian Sports Museum at the MCG

You definitely don’t need to be a cricket or footy fanatic to enjoy the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG.

This is much more interactive than your traditional museum, with touchscreens, holograms, climbable displays and plenty of opportunities for kids to get involved rather than simply look at sporting memorabilia.

One of the highlights for families is the Game On! gallery, where kids can put their own sporting skills to the test with activities including cycling, surfing and climbing. Elsewhere, you can explore Australia’s sporting history across everything from AFL and cricket to the Olympics and dozens of other sports.

If you have sports-mad kids, you could also combine your visit with a behind-the-scenes MCG Tour.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: Sports fans and kids who prefer interactive museums
Good to know: Opening hours can change when events are being held at the MCG, so check before you visit.

Address: Gate 3, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Yarra Park, Brunton Avenue, East Melbourne VIC 3002

Book Australian Sports Museum tickets here

Moorabbin Air Museum

If you’ve got a child who loves planes, Moorabbin Air Museum is definitely worth knowing about.

Located at Moorabbin Airport, the museum has one of Australia’s most significant collections of aircraft and engines, with everything from military jets and helicopters to passenger aircraft and aviation memorabilia.

What makes this particularly good for kids is that some of the aircraft aren’t simply there to look at. Visitors can get inside a number of the aircraft and cockpits, giving kids the chance to see what it actually feels like to sit where the pilots sat.

The collection includes some fascinating Australian aviation history as well as aircraft such as a Mirage, F-111, Canberra and Boeing 737.

It’s also one of Melbourne’s more affordable family attractions.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers, particularly aviation fans
Great for: Aircraft, cockpits and Australian aviation history
Cost: Currently $10 adults, $5 children and free for children under five, with a $20 family ticket
Good to know: Some aircraft can be accessed, but not every aircraft in the collection is open to visitors.

Address: 12 First Street, Moorabbin Airport VIC 3194

Find out more about Moorabbin Air Museum

RAAF Museum

For kids who love military aircraft, the RAAF Museum at Point Cook is well worth the trip out of the city.

Located at the birthplace of Australian military aviation, the museum takes families through more than 100 years of Air Force history, with hangars filled with historic aircraft ranging from early training planes to fighter jets and bombers.

One of the highlights is the Strike Hangar, home to an F-111C, F/A-18 Classic Hornet and Canberra bomber, along with an immersive light and sound show telling the stories of the aircraft and the people who flew them. There are also huge aircraft displayed outside, including a Hercules and Orion.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers who love planes or military history
Cost: Free
Good to know: This one requires some planning. The museum is inside RAAF Base Point Cook, so bookings are essential and visitors over 16 need photo ID. Opening days are also limited, so check the current schedule before you go.

Address: RAAF Base Point Cook, Point Cook Road, Point Cook VIC 3027

Plan your visit to the RAAF Museum

Newport Railway Museum

If you’ve got a child who loves trains, the Newport Railway Museum is one to add to your list.

The museum has a large collection of historic Victorian railway locomotives and carriages, giving kids the chance to get up close to the enormous steam and diesel engines that once travelled Victoria’s railways.

This isn’t a slick, interactive museum like Scienceworks, but for young train enthusiasts, seeing the real locomotives is likely to be the attraction.

Best for: Preschoolers and primary school kids who love trains, plus older railway enthusiasts
Great for: Historic locomotives and Victorian railway history
Good to know: Opening hours are limited, so check before making the trip to Newport.

Address: 26 Champion Road, Newport VIC 3015

Find out more about Newport Railway Museum

Old Melbourne Gaol

Old Melbourne Gaol is one of Melbourne’s best-known historic attractions, but I’ll go against the grain here and say it wasn’t a favourite for us.

I visited with my teenage son and, although we were interested in the history and stories surrounding Ned Kelly, we didn’t find the general experience as engaging as some of Melbourne’s other attractions. For us, it was interesting rather than a must-do.

That doesn’t mean I’d leave it off this list. The original cell block is an extraordinary piece of Melbourne history and you can explore the cells, learn about the prisoners who were held here and discover the darker side of crime and punishment in colonial Melbourne.

I would think carefully before taking very young children, though. The Gaol itself warns that some of the content can be confronting, including references to executions, punishment equipment and death masks. Its school programs generally start from Year 5 for this reason.

Families with younger kids should check what’s on during the school holidays. The Gaol regularly runs special children’s activities and mystery trails that can make the experience much more accessible and engaging for primary school-aged children.

Best for: Older primary school kids, tweens and teenagers with an interest in history
Our experience: Interesting, but not one of our Melbourne favourites
Good to know: Some displays and stories may be confronting for younger or sensitive children
Janine’s tip: If you’re visiting with younger kids, check the school-holiday program before booking. A family activity or mystery trail may make this a much better experience for them.

Address: 377 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Get your discount tickets here

Read about the gaol online.

Arts Centre Melbourne

Before heading to Melbourne, it’s worth checking what’s on for families at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Rather than being an attraction where you simply turn up and explore, Arts Centre Melbourne has a changing program of family theatre, performances, exhibitions and creative workshops throughout the year, with additional activities often scheduled during the school holidays.

Depending on when you visit, kids might be able to see a live theatre production, take part in a creative workshop or explore an exhibition.

It’s right in Melbourne’s arts precinct near the NGV and only a short walk from Federation Square, so it’s also easy to combine with other indoor Melbourne attractions.

Best for: All ages, depending on the performance or activity
Great for: Theatre, music, performing arts and creative kids
Janine’s tip: Melbourne has a fantastic children’s theatre scene, so it’s also worth checking what’s playing at other CBD theatres during your visit, particularly during the school holidays.

Address: 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004

Check what’s on for families at Arts Centre Melbourne.

Immigration Museum

The Immigration Museum in Melbourne CBD tells the stories of people who have travelled from around the world to make Australia their home.

The exhibitions explore why people leave their homelands, their journeys to Australia and questions around culture, identity and belonging.

I’d put this one slightly further down the list for families with very young children, but it can be a really interesting choice for older primary school children and teenagers who are old enough to engage with the stories behind the exhibits.

Children aged 16 and under currently receive free entry.

Best for: Older primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Great for: History, culture and starting conversations about identity and belonging
Cost: Children 16 and under currently enter free.

Address: 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Plan your visit to the Immigration Museum

Fire Services Museum of Victoria

Got a child who is obsessed with fire engines? Put this one on your list.

The Fire Services Museum of Victoria is housed inside Melbourne’s original 1893 Metropolitan Fire Brigade headquarters in East Melbourne and contains an enormous collection of firefighting history.

Kids can see historic fire engines and equipment, uniforms, helmets and other firefighting memorabilia, while many of the museum’s volunteers have actually worked in Victoria’s fire services and can share their own knowledge and stories.

This is a much smaller experience than somewhere like Melbourne Museum or Scienceworks, but that’s part of its appeal, particularly for kids with a genuine fascination with firefighters and emergency vehicles.

Best for: Primary school kids and fire-engine enthusiasts
Great for: Historic vehicles and firefighting history
Good to know: Opening days are limited, currently Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, so check before making a special trip.

Address: 39 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne VIC 3002

Find out more about the Fire Services Museum of Victoria

Free indoor activities in Melbourne

Keeping kids entertained in Melbourne can get expensive very quickly, but not every rainy-day activity needs another round of tickets.

Some of Melbourne’s best museums, galleries and cultural attractions offer free general entry, which makes them particularly handy when you need an indoor activity on a budget.

Looking for ideas that won’t cost a thing? We’ve also rounded up the best free things to do in Melbourne with kids, with both indoor and outdoor activities for all ages.

NGV International

NGV International is one of the best free indoor places to visit in Melbourne, particularly if you’d like something right in the city.

General entry to the NGV collection is free, so you can wander through and stay for as little or as long as suits your family. Major temporary exhibitions may require tickets, but you don’t need to pay simply to experience the gallery.

Don’t assume an art gallery won’t work with kids either. The NGV regularly offers family and children’s activities and exhibitions, particularly during school holidays.

Best for: Families, primary school kids and older children
Cost: Free general entry; some exhibitions are ticketed
Janine’s tip: Check what’s on for kids before visiting. A family exhibition or activity can completely change the experience for younger visitors.

Address: 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3006

See what’s on at NGV International

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

Don’t confuse this with NGV International on St Kilda Road. The National Gallery of Victoria actually has two Melbourne galleries. While NGV International showcases art from around the world, The Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square is dedicated to Australian art, including an extensive collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.

General entry is free, making this another easy indoor activity to combine with a day in Melbourne CBD.

It’s also right near ACMI, which gives you a very handy rainy-day combination without having to spend money on admission to either attraction.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers with an interest in art
Cost: Free general entry
Great for: Combining with ACMI (see below) for a free indoor day around Federation Square.

Address: Federation Square, Melbourne VIC 3000

Plan your visit to The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

ACMI

ACMI’s permanent Story of the Moving Image exhibition is free, and this is one we’ve personally visited with my teenage son.

With interactive exhibits covering film, television, video games and digital culture, it’s my pick of Melbourne’s free indoor attractions for older kids and teenagers.

I’ve included our full ACMI review in the Museums & Educational section above.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers
Cost: Free general entry; some exhibitions are ticketed.

Address: Federation Square, Melbourne VIC 3000

Find out what is on at ACMI here

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA)

If you’re looking for a free indoor activity around Southbank, check what’s showing at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA).

Entry to the gallery is always free and the exhibitions change throughout the year, showcasing contemporary art by living artists. ACCA also runs family programs and free art-making days for children at selected times during the year.

Because contemporary art can range from wonderfully weird and interactive to exhibitions that will appeal more to adults, I’d check the current exhibition and family program before deciding whether it’s right for your kids.

Best for: Primary school kids, tweens and teenagers, depending on the exhibition
Cost: Free
Great for: Creative kids and families already exploring Melbourne’s arts precinct
Janine’s tip: Check what’s on before you go. The experience changes with each exhibition and family activities are held on selected dates.

Address: 111 Sturt Street, Southbank VIC 3006

Check the current exhibition and family programs at ACCA.

State Library Victoria

State Library Victoria is much more than somewhere to borrow a book.

The building itself is worth seeing, particularly the spectacular La Trobe Reading Room with its huge domed ceiling. There are also free galleries and exhibitions to explore, and the library regularly runs children’s and family programs.

Because entry is free and it’s right in Melbourne CBD, this is an easy place to duck into when the weather turns or to combine with another city activity.

Best for: All ages
Cost: Free
Great for: A quieter indoor activity in Melbourne CBD
Don’t miss: Looking down into the La Trobe Reading Room from the upper levels.

Address: 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

See what’s on at State Library Victoria

Old Treasury Building

For a free dose of Melbourne history, visit the Old Treasury Building at the top of Collins Street.

Built during Victoria’s gold rush, the building once stored gold bullion in its basement vaults, which families can still explore today. Exhibitions cover the Gold Rush and the development of Melbourne, along with changing displays about Victoria’s history.

This is more traditional museum than hands-on kids’ attraction, so I’d recommend it particularly for older primary school kids, tweens and teenagers who enjoy history.

Best for: Older primary school kids, tweens and teens interested in history
Cost: Free
Don’t miss: The original gold vaults

More things to do with kids in Melbourne

• Melbourne school holiday activities
• Things to do with teenagers in Melbourne
• Free things to do in Melbourne with kids
• Things to do in Melbourne at night with kids

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