If doesn’t matter if it is raining and you are seeking somewhere weather proof or it is far too hot and you are seeking places that are air-conditioned in Melbourne, we have created the best list of indoor activities in Melbourne for kids. These venues are all perfect for very hot or very rainy day activities over the Melbourne school holidays.
When it is raining, these rainy day activities in Melbourne will make sure that the kids are kept dry and highly entertained. If it is too hot to enjoy being outside, then this list of indoor activities in Melbourne for kids that have air-conditioning will be your saviour.
Wet weather activities with kids in Melbourne
A lot of the places on this list of indoor activities for families in Melbourne, your kids can run, jump, skip and play to their hearts content while the grown ups can sit down with a coffee knowing the kids will be happily exhausted afterwards.
Our list is full of indoor play centres in Melbourne including those in shopping centres, trampoline parks, indoor animal adventures, heated pools, fun and kid friendly museums, and a whole bunch of rainy day activities in Melbourne for kids that you probably haven’t even thought about! It doesn’t matter if you are trying to entertain toddlers in the wet weather or teenagers when it is hot and you are seeking air-conditioning, our indoor activities Melbourne list has something for everyone!
So, without further ado, below you will find an alphabetical, comprehensive list of indoor activities in Melbourne for kids – whether they be toddlers, kids or teenagers!
Rainy day activities & air-conditioned places in Melbourne
Getting out of the house doesn’t have to be expensive either! We’ve found plenty of things to do when it’s raining (or too hot) to keep those kids from getting bored (and let’s face it the kids rainy day activities and other indoor activities really helps us to reconnect as a family).
- Wet weather activities with kids in Melbourne
- Rainy day activities & air-conditioned places in Melbourne
- Adrenaline activities
- Art & Cultural indoor activities
- 14 – 32. Indoor Playcentres in Melbourne
- Museums in Melbourne
- Trampoline Parks
- 49 – 56. Virtual Reality and Escape Rooms in Melbourne
- Other fun ideas for wet days in Melbourne
- Indoor activities in Melbourne for kids
Adrenaline activities
If your kids want to go really fast or love a rush, then check out these wet weather activities that will get their hearts pumping.
1. Flight Experience
We LOVED doing this experience. Master 16 took to the skies (almost!) with this ultimate flight experience. This is as close as it gets to operating a full-size passenger airliner. He got to step inside Australia’s state-of-the-art flight simulator experience and we got to be his passengers! He took off and landed at airports of his choice (he chose Melbourne, Paris, London and Brisbane) in a 1 hour long experience. He pilot who trained him was wonderful and I can hand on heart highly recommend this activity if you have a teen who is interested in flying! Your teen will get the ultimate Boeing 737 experience as a pilot and is a great rainy day activity for teenagers.
You can buy the experience here.
2. iFLY Melbourne
Get their adrenalin pumping these school holidays by doing some indoor skydiving! iFLY lets you re-enact the experience of a skydive from 14,000 from the 360° glass tunnel. The glass tunnel also means that friends can come along and watch – and get the ultimate photo.
3. Sidetracked
Sidetracked is packed with fun things to do for kids when it is raining, and is arguably the most fun under one roof and one of our favourite indoor activities in Melbourne. Go Karting, dodgem cars, ten pin bowling, laser tag, video and arcade amusement games, mini-golf, party rooms and a disco party room are all on offer – phew! Surely there is something there that your bored kiddo is going to love!
4. Go Karting
If riding the fastest go karts in Melbourne doesn’t excite your kids, then nothing will. Drift karts, sprint karts and double karts are all available at LeMans or Melbuoren Indoor Karting. Lemas also offers lasertag and a virtual reality arena for an experience they won’t forget. Indoor karting is a great options for bored kids when it is raining or too hot to go outside.
For Melbourne Indoor Karting click here
5. Melbourne Skydeck 88
Skydeck is perfectly positioned for a complete 360-degree, floor-to-ceiling views encompassing Melbourne’s CBD, sports precinct, Docklands and everything in between. Come by day for brilliant views extending to the Dandenong ranges, and by night to see the breathtaking Melbourne skyline nightscape.
You can also grab tickets to the Skydeck Thrill Seeker experience. It is an all new virtual reality theatre and it’s awesome!
Apart from the unforgettable panorama and views, Skydeck 88 entertains the entire family with a host of activities and fascinating facts.
Click here to visit Skydeck’s website.
We have discounted tickets to Melbourne Skydeck – click here for cheaper tickets
Art & Cultural indoor activities
It is no secret that art galleries and cultural experiences have some of the best air-conditioning (and heating) in the city! Check out the ones we love here!
6. Artplay
ArtPlay is a venue that encourages creativity and self-expression. Workshops and programs are on offer for a range of age groups and it is centrally located in Melbourne City.
Find out what’s on offer here.
7. Art Vo
Get inside art at this truly unique experience at this ‘trick-art’ gallery. Bring your camera to pose in the ocean, space or riding wild rapids! Conveniently located in Docklands this art gallery is sure to delight.
Take a look at the website here.
8. Arts Centre Melbourne
Located on the banks of the Yarra River, Arts Centre Melbourne really does embrace families and children. Not only do they host a range of kids show and workshops, but they also offer interactive experiences for little ones, designed to spark wonder in them.
Take a look at their website to see what is playing now
9. Athenaeum Theatre
This beautiful theatre was founded in 1839 and offers shows to surprise and delight families these holidays. School Holidays tip: Located in the CBD, you can catch a show at the theatre then enjoy a free ride on the city circle tram ride!
Click here for the Athenaeum website
10. Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (Southbank)
The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) is an Australian flagship contemporary art space, and a leading centre for the artistic and wider communities to participate in a critically engaged contemporary art culture that encourages curiosity and transformation.
Click here for more information
11. Imaginator (was Imaginaria)
IMAGINATOR is a walk-through play experience that uses light, sound, sculpture and scent to create a totally unique immersive play experience for people of all ages. Set inside a series of vast temporary structures that span over 900m2 there is plenty of space to explore and interact with.
Experiences include:
- A cosmic garden
- Digital eclipse
- Pixel explosions
- An interactive constellation and wishing well
The experience session time is 1 hour. You could take the whole hour to deeply engage with the experience or take a simple 15 minute stroll. There are spaces to sit and relax, interactive zones and play areas offering something unique depending on your mood.
12. National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria has two locations and lots to offer kids these school holidays. The Gallery is committed to expanding the creativity of children with a range of programs, exhibits and activities all year round.
13. NGV Ian Potter Centre
The National Gallery of Victoria is a place for everyone and warmly welcomes children, teenagers and families. NGV Kids exhibitions and programs reflect the Gallery’s commitment to providing creative experiences for young people and their families.
Find out about their school holiday exhibits here.
14 – 32. Indoor Playcentres in Melbourne
Every parents’ “go-to” when it is raining is the ol’ favourite playcente. So we have rounded up 19 playcentres across Melbourne in this handy list:
- Airodrome, Altona
- Chipmunks, Docklands
- Crocs Playcentre, Derrimut
- DreamCity South Wharf
- Funtopia, Carrum Downs, Cranbourne, Knox and Maribyrnong
- GoClimb – Coburg
- Kid Factory, Dingley
- Landing Playcentre, Bundoora
- Leo’s Kingdom, Altona
- Lollipops Playland and Crazy Climb, Noble Park
- My Puzzle House, Pakenham
- PlanetKids – Southbank
- Playdays, Doncaster
- Rabbit Hole, Braybrook
- Rainbow Town Play Centre, Glen Waverley
- Relax and Play, Altona North
- SuperZu, Dingley
- TwistED Science, Moorabbin
- We Rock the Spectrum, Preston
Museums in Melbourne
A sure bet for a weather-proof outing is one of Melbourne’s many museums. Here are some of our favourites:
33. Fire Services Museum
Bring the kids along to the Fire Services Museum to see what fighting a fire is all about. Staffed by retired firefighters who will happily tell the kids a story or two, this museum showcases the history of firefighting and lets you get up close to old firefighting trucks.
Take a look at the website here.
34. Immigration Museum
This thought-provoking museum on the edge of Melbourne’s CBD documents the history of immigration in Australia including the different policies that have been in place at different times, the different groups who have immigrated and how and why they would have immigrated.
Click here to find the opening hours and what’s on now
35. Museum of Play and Art Melbourne (MoPA)
Attracting thousands of visitors from all over the country, every single week, MoPA hosts a huge range of immersive exhibits and experiences that will entertain the kids all day. Their exhibits and activities are crafted to provide rich opportunities for play-based learning and creative exploration. The museum is suitable for children aged 1 – 7 years old and bookings are essential.
36. Moorabbin Air Museum
The Moorabbin Museum (previously known as the Australian National Aviation Museum) is located at Moorabbin Airport. With one of the most important collections of aircraft and engines in Australia this is a fantastic place for those interested in aviation history and technology, and a great place for kids and adults alike to wander around and even look inside a number of aircraft. There are a number of cockpits open for public access to sit in and interact with the aircraft.
37. Melbourne Museum
Walk among skeletons, through a living rainforest and marvel at dinosaurs up close all at the Melbourne Museum. For the really little ones (up to 5 years) there is an interactive children’s gallery where you can let them explore and have fun.
Read what else you can do at the Melbourne Museum.
38. Old Melbourne Gaol
Take your kids inside a thrilling piece of history at the Old Melbourne Gaol. Home to some of Australia’s most notorious criminals (including Ned Kelly!) this gaol offers tours and experience sure to excite. Walk through cells and see how the prisoners lived. Take a look at the gallows where prisoners were hung. They even offer night tours for those who are brave enough!
Get your discount tickets here
39. RAAF Museum
A visit to the RAAF Museum will ignite the passion for flying in your kids. See aircraft up close and learn about the history of the air force. Open days and flying displays are held throughout the year so make sure you add them to the list!
Take a look at their website to learn more.
40. Railway Museum at Newport
Newport Railway Museum is a must-see for rail enthusiasts of all ages, and a favourite of families looking for an interesting, enjoyable and affordable weekend outing. Newport Railway Museum’s display includes the largest collection of steam locomotives of the former Victorian Railways, many of which were built just metres away in the Newport Railway Workshops.
Click here to sdee their Facebok page with up to date info
41. Melbourne Town Hall
Not technically a museum, but we included this one because it is FREE! Free tours of Melbourne’s historic Town Hall give visitors the chance to learn about the architectural, social and political significance of this impressive 19th century building. Experience the grandeur of the wood-panelled Council Chamber, stand on the portico where the Beatles waved, sit in the Lord Mayor’s chair and view the richly carved Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ, the largest grand romantic organ in the southern hemisphere.
Click here to learn more about what they offer
42. Old Treasury Building
Step back in time by visiting the exhibition ‘Growing Up in Old Treasury’, where the Maynard family lived as caretaker of the building during the 1920’s. The Fun Trail is offered as part of the Old Treasury Building experience. Children are encouraged to interact with the history of Melbourne by answering a questionnaire and earning a Gold License!
Click here to find out more
Trampoline Parks
If you want to ensure the kids burn off some energy, then try these awesome trampoline parks. They are not air-conditioned, but they are suitable for a great wet weather activity. Here are our favourites:
43 – 47. Bounce
Bounce your way through 50 interconnected trampolines at this massive indoor venue. The perfect place for burning off energy and showing of your tricks. Try the out the slam dunk, big bag or maybe a game of dodgeball. Plenty of parking available onsite, plus a tuckshop for when the teens get hungry (aren’t they always!).
Bounce now has 5 locations in Melbourne – so you are bound to find one nearby:
- Blackburn
- Essendon Fields
- Glen Iris
- Heidelberg
- Keysborough
Read more about Bounce online.
48. Flip Out
Another fantastic trampoline park with multiple venues across the city. Bounce, flip and play to their hearts content. They wont be able to tell you if they had a good time though, they will be fast asleep in the car on the way home! A great indoor activity for kids of all ages!
Find your nearest Flip Out location here.
49 – 56. Virtual Reality and Escape Rooms in Melbourne
Rainy day activities for teenagers and older kids can be tricky but this list of indoor activities in the form our VR and escape rooms will definitely help. With a number of experiences to choose from, you can grab a small group and, by using the state of the art virtual reality gadgets, get them engaged in a very different gaming experience.
These venues have Escape Rooms & VR experiences across Melbourne:
- Escape Rooms Melbourne
- Lost in Melbourne
- The Mystery Rooms
- Rush Escape Game
- Melbourne Virtual Reality Escape Room
- Apsis VR Melbourne
- Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq
- Entermission
Other fun ideas for wet days in Melbourne
If nothing above floats your bait for indoor play for the kids, check out this list below:
57. Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq
Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq has breathed life into arcade games across Australia. Roll on in to enjoy the Cirque Electriq experience and relive joyous memories from your childhood and share them with a new generation.
Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq is no ordinary arcade. Here, you will find state-of-the-art virtual reality games and thrill rides, bumper cars and some of your favourite video games including Dance Dance Revolution, NBA Hoops and a life-size Mario Kart race car driving game. Simply purchase your one or two-hour game card online here to tap away and enjoy unlimited activities within a time limit. It’s the new way to play thanks to Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq.
Grab your vouchers for an hour of unlimited play and head on in here.
58. Legoland Discovery Centre
Conveniently located in the Chadstone Shopping Centre, Legoland lets kids explore the exciting LEGO-themed rides, replicas of local and global landmarks made out of millions of LEGO bricks in MINILAND, five LEGO build and play areas, as well as a 4D cinema.
59. O’Brien Icehouse Ice skating
The ultimate place to cool down on a hot day!! Or warm up with a few laps of the rink! Why not take the kids ice-skating! Watch them (or join in!) doing laps with their friends or enrol them in skate school while you sit back with a coffee at the café.
Find out more about ice-skating here.
60. Scienceworks
Our family’s favourite indoor activity in Melbourne is Scienceworks. Bring the kids to Scienceworks and find something for the whole family. Conveniently located in Melbourne City, this interactive and fun museum offers something for all age groups.
Click here for Melbourne Scienceworks.
61. SEA LIFE
Take your ocean lovers to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium where they can learn and play. Find out about marine creatures while also enjoying watching sharks and rays get fed.
Take a look at the Sea Life website here.
Grab your ticket here to skip the queue.
62. State Library of Victoria
If you want to get the kids excited about visiting a library, remind them that the State Library of Victoria houses Ned Kelly’s armour! The library also has a range of talks, workshops and children’s story time on offer all year round. And it has the BEST air-conditioning in summer and heating in winter – I promise!
Find out what’s on at the State Library of Victoria here
63. The Queen Victoria Market
This open air market, but mostly under cover is a wonderland for the senses. Yummy food and smells greet you as you enter this expansive outdoor market. This iconic market has been running for 140 years and is a must see if it is too wet outside to play. Buy some fresh food and take it home to cook up a storm with your kids. They will be learning about measuring, weighing and timing.. but don’t tell them they are learning… ssshhh!
Browse the Queen Victoria Market website.
Indoor activities in Melbourne for kids
Melbourne air-conditioned places and Melbourne rainy day activities are plentiful – and it’s easy when there is a place to start your research. Hopefully this has helped you identify something that you can all enjoy from rainy day activities kids-style to places to take the kids to cool down on those stinking hot summer days. If we have forgotten your favourite, let us know! We’d love to add any new locations!
