If you are looking for awesome things to do in Melbourne with teenagers, you are going to love this article. We just got back from there, spending a lovely long weekend and we found all the best things for you and your teen – no matter what they are into!
This city is an awesome place to find fun things to with teenagers in Melbourne, Victoria. We have love, love, loved finding all the best activities for teens so you can try something new with your kiddos. So, sit back and relax because we have you covered with our huge round up of things to do in Melbourne for teens.
In this article we have complied the best list of teens activities and fun things for teens to do so that you can get back to the million other things we know you have to do as a parent. Melbourne is a cultural and social hub and is full of activities for teenagers. We were so excited to try out a bunch of these activities so we could report back to you. No matter what your teen is into, we have found fun activities for teens that aren’t lame, including school holiday activities for teens.
Take a look at our list. We think you with find it filled with things to do when bored for teens. Use it to make your life easier and make your teens so much happier.
Fun activities for teenagers
In this article we have divided up this list of things to do with teenagers into sections to help you find the most suitable teens activities:
- Fun activities for teenagers
- 10 outdoor activities for teens in Melbourne
- 15 indoor activities for teens in Melbourne
- School holiday activities for teenagers in Melbourne
- 10 fun things to do at home for teens
- Fun activities for teens in Melbourne at night
- Fun activities for teens in Melbourne
- Even more VIC school holiday ideas:
10 outdoor activities for teens in Melbourne
Ready to kick you teens outdoors for a while? Look no further than the list of outdoor activities for teens we have compiled. Melbourne is literally a playground of fun activities for teens. From adrenaline junky activities to relaxing days out, we have something that is sure to make your fussy kid happy, including free teen activities!
1. Tour the Melbourne Cricket Ground
OK. So we had to start our list with the most iconic of Melbourne tourist attractions. The MCG. The “G”. It is a must do on your teenager list of activities in Melbourne. (OK, fair, it is great for all ages!)
Here you can go behind the scenes at this iconic Melbourne venue and walk on the oval where many historic sporting moments have occurred. Whether your teen likes cricket, football, soccer or just music, the ‘G’ as it is affectionately known, has seen the stars of them all and will delight everyone in your family. Take the tram to really make a day of it, plus you can forget about the stress of parking.
Click here for the Melbourne Cricket Ground website.
You can book tour tickets here.
2. Kayaking tour
You and your teen can discover Melbourne’s city sights and beautiful skyline on a 1.5 hour guided kayak tour along the Yarra River. This is a fun and gentle paddle taking you downstream into the heart of Melbourne and giving you a unique perspective of the city. Your guide will tell you interesting stories about the city and important landmarks along the way. Add this to your list of things to do in Melbourne for young adults.
The guided kayak tour is a fun way to sightsee passing Flinders Street Station, the Docklands precinct, Crown Casino and Southbank District before finishing up at Boathouse Drive next to the Princes Bridge.
Insider tip: No kayak experience is necessary. If you have a love of the outdoors and want to see a different side of Melbourne then this tour is for you.
Check out the kayaking tour here.
3. Go surfing
Forget waiting for the perfect wave these summer holidays, URBN Surf Park offers the perfect wave all year round! The waves are always rolling in and you can choose your level or for the beginners, take a lesson. This is definitely a cool thing for teens to do and it will elevate your social status with your teen for sure!
Take a look at Australia’s first surf park here.
Buy your learn to surf lessons here.
4. Melbourne Cable Park
What do you get when you combine wakeboarding, an aqua park and a high ropes course? An EPIC day out for adventurous teens. Home to Victoria’s only cable wakeboarding lakes, teens can kneeboard or wakeboard more than 500m on the cable system.
They also offer a ‘chicks clinic’ where ladies can learn wakeboarding – a great thing to do with teenage girls. Afterwards wakeboarding, enjoy the aqua park where they can bounce, splash and slide across the park. If they aren’t keen on getting wet, then try the high ropes course.
5. Luna Park
Melbourne’s Luna Park is the ultimate theme park. Located in the heart of St Kilda, this iconic theme park offers rides to thrill teens and some awesome Instagram worthy shots (and we know they love those!). For those less adventurous, simply enjoy this historic park and enjoy some fun carnival food. This place is full of fun teen activities!
Get unlimited rides ALL DAY for $55 here.
6. Ride Puffing Billy
If you have not done this and want a full day excursion, this is it! We loved, loved, loved, our day out on Puffing Billy! Like us, you can experience the beautiful rainforest of the Dandenong Ranges and ride an iconic steam train! Puffing Billy was constructed in the early 1900’s and today, with it’s open sided carriages, allows the imagination of children to run wild. And yes! you really can hang out the side, like we did in the photo above!
Take a look at the Puffing Billy website.
7. Peninsula Hot Springs
If you are looking for mindful activities for teenagers, then why not visit Peninsula Hot Springs. Located on the Mornington Peninsula just 90 minutes outside Melbourne, this makes for a relaxing day trip and is a fun thing to do with your teenage daughter or teenage son. With a range of pools to enjoy, you and your teen can relax and spend some quality time together.
8. BMX
BMX racing is all about having fun. If you have a teen that craves action and adrenalin, why not get them to try BMX racing. Not only is it a great way for them to get fit, but they can also meet new friends and learn a new skill. A wonderful way for teens to learn to take risks in a safe (and very cool!) way.
9. Gumbuya World
Grab your backpack and swimmers and let the teens run loose at Gumbuya World. Home to exotic animals and a waterpark this is the perfect combinations to give your teens the freedom to roam and explore. Even better, get their friends to meet them there and they can enjoy the day together. This is a fun thing to do in the summer for teens.
Read the Gumbuya website here.
10. Moonlit Sanctuary
More than 70 wildlife species await you at the Moonlit Sanctuary. This sanctuary is a must for animal lovers and even offers a keeper for a day experience for teens. Enjoy an encounter with a python, dingo or koala. There is even an option to take a night tour at this sanctuary less than an hour from Melbourne Central.
Visit the website to see what animals you can get up close and personal with.
Grab your tickets before you go here.
15 indoor activities for teens in Melbourne
Although there are lots of fun things to do with teenagers indoors, we know the ones they WON’T think are lame. Take a look at the indoor activities for teens in Melbourne we have for you. Our list of fun things to do with teenagers ranges from indoor skydiving to ice skating and also includes a heaps of fun things to do for teenagers at night.
11. 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. The 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 we did here.
12. ArtVo Melbourne
Located in the Docklands, ArtVo is perfect for teenagers who love to take selfies and cool photos on their mobiles! They have over 80 artworks and they guide you through how to take the best photos of each. The gallery is considered a ‘trick’ photography gallery because you can take amazing photos with your mobile that look incredible!
Insiders tip: The City Circle free tram stops right outside The District Shopping Centre, Docklands Drive. Take Tram 70 (via Flinders Street) OR Tram 86 (Via Bourke Street) to the The District tram stop.
Find out more and book your tickets to ArtVo here.
13. Skydeck
I took my teenage son to Melbourne’s Skydeck, and I have to admit, I was scared! Why? well because you get to go in a glass ‘box’ that slides out from the building with a glass floor. See the photo above to see what I mean. I didn’t enjoy it (although I am glad I did it), but my son loved it!
We were both blown away by the stunning view of the city from the Southern Hemisphere’s highest viewing platform. It was like nothing we had ever experienced before. From Level 88, we gazed out over the Yarra River, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and all the famous landmarks and architecture. The panoramic view was simply breathtaking. I have to say, the experience whilst terrifying, was worth it, and I highly recommend a visit to the Melbourne Skydeck for anyone visiting or living in Melbourne.
Find out more about Skydeck here.
14. Go Karting
Perfect for teens, their sessions are split up by duration, so you can choose from a 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 45-minute session, depending on how long you’re looking to race around the track. All riders are asked to wear comfortable clothing and only bring along their need for speed as all necessary safety equipment is supplied on site.
The indoor race track is open 7 days a week from 10am and caters for kids as young as 13 years of age. For those eager to get on the track, choose your session duration below and book your spot today!
Insider tip: Remember to wear enclosed shoes to this activity!
Check out this website before you go to check prices and tickets.
15. Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq
Another great activity for teens located in Docklands, 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.
Find out more and grab some credit to Archie Brothers Cirque Electricq here.
16. O’Brien Icehouse
Teenagers got energy to burn? Why not take them 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. Kids will also tell you this is also a great thing to do with their teenage friends.
Find out more about ice-skating here.
17. Australia Sports Museum
If you have a sporting fan, check out the Australian Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground! We were blown away by the extensive collection of sporting memorabilia on display, showcasing Australia’s rich sporting culture.
The interactive exhibits at the museum were a real highlight for us, with a range of activities suitable for the whole family. We had a blast with the holographic exhibits, touchscreens, climbable walls, and sporting challenges that kept us active and entertained. We particularly enjoyed the cricket gallery featuring a 3D hologram of Shane Warne and the Australian Football Hall of Fame and Gallery.
The Olympics gallery was another standout, and we were impressed by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and Victorian Racing Gallery. We even got to see 3D holograms of Bachar Houli and Taylor Walker. The reimagined Game On! interactive gallery was a real hit with my teenager, who loved trying out all the different activities. We highly recommend getting your tickets online and checking it out for yourself!
Find out more about the Australian Sports Museum here.
18. Escape Room Melbourne
If you have a group of teenagers to entertain, try an escape room. Escape Room Melbourne is Australia’s first live puzzle game. Work in teams of 2-6 players to solve the puzzle and escape. Each room takes just over an hour to complete and will really challenge your teen to think outside the box. Escape rooms are wonderful team building activities for teens and with 2 different locations in Melbourne, you will be spoilt for choice.
Learn about Escape Rooms Melbourne and find tickets here.
Find virtual reality escape room tickets here.
19. Old Melbourne Gaol
Take your teens 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!
20. Clip n Climb
Climbing meets theme park at Clip ‘n Climb Williamstown. Give your teens a vertical challenge and let them climb the walls, literally! There are a range of different climbs to conquer, including speed walls and the twister. Plus, there is a café onsite so you can enjoy some downtime while your teen tests out their skills.
21. 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.
22. iFLY Melbourne
Get their adrenaline 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.
23. Go skateboarding
Try out some cool moves at Rampfest. This indoor skate park is arguably one of Melbourne’s best skate parks. Teens can scoot, skate, rollerblade and more at this massive venue. With small ramps through to large ones, teens will be sure to find something that suits them. Plus, it is a cool activity for teens.
24. ACMI – Australia Centre for the Moving Image
Located in Federation Square, ACMI in Melbourne is a dynamic hub of creativity and innovation, perfect for teenagers looking to explore the exciting world of film, TV, and digital media.
When we were there (on a Friday), there was a high school group touring. The kids looks super excited and were interacting with all the displays. My son particularly loved the Thor Love and Thunder movie props. (He is a huge Marvel fan!)
With a range of interactive exhibitions, workshops, and screenings, there’s something for everyone at ACMI. Teenagers can immerse themselves in the latest blockbuster films, learn about the history of Australian cinema, and even try their hand at creating their own animations and video games. Whether your teen is a budding filmmaker or simply a fan of all things digital, ACMI is a great FREE options in the CBD.
Insider tip: Whilst the museum is free to enter, their special exhibitions do have a cost.
Find out more about ACMI here.
25. Shopping on Swanston and Bourke Streets
When you have exhausted all the other options, let them shop! Teenagers love shopping. Even without a lot of cash to splash, most teens enjoy wandering the shopping malls, or streets of Melbourne and taking in the sights. If you want to let your kids have a wander through some of the best shopping options in the Melbourne CBD, I recommend setting them off towards Swanston and Bourke streets. Both of these streets house a bunch of great shops that they will recognise as well as lots yummy places to eat. If they want, they can also duck into the three large shopping malls here – them Emporium and Melbourne Central. And just across the road is the Queen Victoria building. There are a tonne of shopping options within a stones throw of each other.
You can find out what is on offer at Melbourne Central here.
You can find out about the shops at Emporium here.
Check out the QV Melbourne shopping options here.
There are so many activities to do with teenagers in Melbourne that we can’t list them all, but make sure you take a look online and get your tickets at the same time.
We have also written a huge round up of the best things to do indoors in Melbourne with kids of all ages here.
School holiday activities for teenagers in Melbourne
School holiday activities for teenagers can be hit and miss, that’s why we have done the hard work for you and found the best of the best. From arts and crafts for teens, fun activities for teenagers and things to do for teens at night we have a heap of activities that will make sure they are happy.
We know that juggling time is hard during the holidays, that’s why we have included half day, full day and multiple day holiday programs. Some are even good team building activities for teenagers (but don’t worry, they won’t even know it!). You can find a huge range of excellent school holiday programs in Melbourne here.
10 fun things to do at home for teens
When your kids can’t get out and about, finding activities for teens at home can become a full time job. Because we know everyone is different, we have compiled a heap of entertaining and interesting activities, including art ideas for teens. This list of stuff to do for teens to do at home is about to elevate your level of parental coolness!
26. How to draw cool things drawing guide
Looking for art activities for teens? Learn to draw cool stuff with this awesome book ‘How to draw cool things’. It contains step-by-step instructions that will suit even a very beginner. Optical illusions, 3D letters, cartoons are just some of the things they can learn to draw.
27. Be a rubber band engineer
Got teens that love to tinker? This book will teach them (step-by-step) to create their very own rubber band launchers and gadgets. You will never believe what they can make with just a rubber band and the ideas between the pages. Plus, it will keep them out of your hair!
28. Get Procrastibaking
Tired of looking for outside activities for teenagers? Then send them into the kitchen to have some fun. Not only will they love these recipes, but they will (hopefully!) end up with something delicious to show for it. Filled with 100 non-boring recipes, there is sure to be something they want to make.
29. Non boring board games
Put away the boring board games for teenagers and take a look at these. Challenging, creative, hilarious or even straight up ridiculous, these games will have them putting down their devices and actually enjoying themselves. It even includes some team building games for teens.
Get playing with these board games.
30. Learn how to ride a hoverboard
If they want to impress, encourage your kids to learn how to ride a hoverboard. Imagine showing up to school or sport on one of these. It even has built in speakers so they don’t even have to turn off their music to ride. Ride into the future on one of these hoverboards.
31. An escape room in a book
Get involved in a mystery without even leaving the comfort of home with this unique book. With just 60 minutes to escape from a labyrinth, you must take on the challenges, solve mysteries and clues to finish the book. Perfect to entertain teens that love to read or those that love a good mystery.
32. Put your time to good use
With a lot of time to kill during school holidays, reading any of these books is a great way for teens to learn how to put their time to good use. This selection includes books on becoming more efficient, techniques to increase their level of happiness and even confidence building books like ‘What’s my super power’. Perfect for those that are looking to learn more about themselves or just read a good book on a rainy day.
Check out this selection of books on highly effective teens.
33. Master a remote controlled car
Take a look at this selection of the latest, greatest and quirkiest of remote control cars and vehicles. Racing cars, 4WD’s, mini coopers and heavy machinery vehicles are just some of the vehicles you can control. You can even build your own from Lego! Some can even be used on grass so your teen can take them (and themselves!) outside for a bit.
34. Fun things to do when stuck at home
Finding fun things for teens to do at home doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, this book makes it easy and interesting in a quirky way. This book is full of things for teens to do when bored.
Read up on things for teens to do here.
35. Fly a drone
What could be cooler than spending a day flying a drone! Teens will love getting off the couch to spend time in the backyard when they have a drone to play with. From a basic model to something much more sophisticated (some with handheld screens), teens will be sure to find a drone that is cool enough for them.
Melbourne Star Observation Wheel – permanently closed 🙁
Sadly the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel was a victim of Covid.
Fun activities for teens in Melbourne at night
We have a whole article dedicated to things to do in Melbourne at night have have listed 10 of our favourite things, so do check that out too!
Fun activities for teens in Melbourne
In conclusion, spending time with your teenager in Melbourne doesn’t have to be a costly affair. As an engaged parent, I have discovered that there are plenty of fun things to do with my teenager that don’t break the bank. From exploring the city’s parks and museums to taking a stroll along the beach, there are endless opportunities to bond with your teen while keeping within your family budget. The key is to plan ahead and research activities that suit your interests, time frames and budget.
By taking advantage of the many free and low-cost attractions in Melbourne, you can enjoy quality time with your teenager and create memories that will last a lifetime. And every now and then you can throw in a ‘treat’ for one of our ‘big day out’ ideas. So go ahead, get out there and make the most of all the fantastic activities Melbourne has to offer!
While it can be almost impossible to find things to do for teens that they will 100% love, we think our activities for teenagers to do list above is pretty impressive, and not at all lame! Try it out with your teenager and let us know what they think. We are quietly confident!
Even more VIC school holiday ideas:
If you are heading off on a Victorian road trip these school holidays check out our other articles:
- Bendigo school holiday activities
- Geelong school holiday activities
- Ballarat school holiday activities
- Warrnambool school holiday activities
And if you are heading to our nations capital, we have listed he best school holiday activities in Canberra too!
Loving this list! As a local Melburnian, I can attest to the diversity and creativity of activities for teens in this city. My personal favourite is the visit to the Docklands. Thanks for compiling this list, it’s a great resource for anyone looking to keep their teens entertained and engaged!