Things to do with Teenagers in Melbourne that Aren’t Lame!

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If you’ve got a teenager who can scroll for hours but can’t think of a single thing to do, Melbourne might just surprise you.

We spent the last school holidays there, and I’ll be honest, I went in prepared for a few eye rolls and a lot of “meh”.

What I got instead?

Actual enthusiasm.

Not every activity was a hit (and I’ll tell you which ones missed), but enough of them landed that I knew this article was worth sharing. Because when a teenager willingly puts their phone down, you pay attention.

Melbourne has a way of doing that. It’s not just one type of experience, it’s everything. High-energy activities, creative spaces, late-night options, and those unexpected finds that suddenly become the highlight of the trip.

So instead of you spending hours researching (only to have your suggestions rejected anyway), I’ve done the testing for you.

In this guide, you’ll find real, tried-and-tested things to do in Melbourne with teenagers. The ones they’ll actually say yes to. Including school holiday ideas, night activities, and options for all kinds of teens, whether they’re into food, adventure, or something a little different.

Have a scroll, save your favourites for the Melbourne school holidays, and keep it handy.

Because the next time you hear “I’m bored”… you’ll be ready.

Fun activities for teenagers

In this article I have divided up my suggestions of things to do with teenagers into sections to help you find the most suitable teens activities:

10 outdoor activities for teens in Melbourne

Ready to kick your teens outdoors for a while? Look no further than my suggestions for outdoor activities for teens in Melbourne. I’ve personally travelled here with my own teenager and tested a mix of these experiences myself. Some were instant hits, others surprised me, but all of these are worth considering when planning your Melbourne school holidays.

Melbourne is genuinely a playground for teens. From adrenaline-packed adventures to more relaxed days out, there is something here for even the hardest-to-please teenager including some great free options.

Big Ticket / Wow Experiences

Tour the Melbourne Cricket Ground

OK. So I had to start my recommendations 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.

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.

Grab tour tickets here.

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.

Find out more here.

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 great option for the warmer months and a fun thing to do in the school holidays for teens.

Read the Gumbuya website here.

Adventure/Active Ideas for Teens

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 itinerary 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.

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.

Find out more about BMX’ing.

Check out the kayaking tour here.

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.

Nature/Unique Experiences

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. A great reset for busy school holidays!

Find out more here.

You can find tickets here.

Moonlit Sanctuary

This one is perfect for animal lovers.With over 70 species and options like keeper experiences and night tours, this feels more interactive than your standard zoo visit.

Teens may act uninterested, but up close animal encounters always win. 

Visit the website to see what animals you can get up close and personal with.

10 Indoor activities for teens in Melbourne

Indoor activities are often where parents expect resistance, but in reality, these are some of the easiest wins especially if you choose the right ones.

I’ve done several of these myself with my teenager, and the difference between a “win” and a “waste of money” comes down to engagement, challenge and social energy.

Big Ticket / Wow Experiences

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.

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.

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.

Check out iFLY online.

Fun / Social Activities for Teens

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.

You can find Archie Brothers at:

• Moorabbin
• Chadstone
• Docklands
• Glen Waverley

Find out more and grab some credit to Archie Brothers Cirque Electricq here.

Go Karting

Perfect for teens, instant competition! 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.

Insider tip: Remember to wear enclosed shoes to this activity!

Check out this website before you go to check prices and tickets.

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.

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.

Get climbing here.

Interactive / Cool (social posts!)

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.

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.

Escape Room Melbourne

If you have a group of teenagers to entertain, do this.

Escape rooms are consistently one of the best teen activities. They combine teamwork, challenge and competition. 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.

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.

Get skating at Rampfest.

Things My Teens Didn’t Enjoy

O’Brien Icehouse

Despite loving ice skating when they were younger, my two teens didn’t enjoy this activity when we visited recently. I think it was because they had lost their ‘skating legs’ as we hadn’t been for ages and may also have been a bit repetitious for them. Sadly this activity for us was a ‘no’! 🙁

Find out more about ice-skating here.

Australia Sports Museum

This was another fail – but I think this was because we are not a sporting family – at all! However, if you have a sporting fan, check out the Australian Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground! They have an extensive collection of sporting memorabilia on display, showcasing Australia’s rich sporting culture.

Find out more about the Australian Sports Museum here.

Old Melbourne Gaol

I think my teens were a little too young to enjoy this experience. We went when they were around 13/15 and it didnt hit the mark for them on the day. I may try again when they are a bit older!

You can 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! We were not… I am considering it for next time – for research, for you guys! #promise

Read about the gaol online.

Always a Winner for Teens

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 I can’t tell you about them all in one article, but make sure you take a look online and get your tickets at the same time.

I have also written a huge round up of the best things to do indoors in Melbourne with kids of all ages here.

Fun activities for teens in Melbourne at night

Night activities shift the energy completely and often get a better response from teenagers.

See our full guide to things to do in Melbourne at night

Bowling, arcades, glow mini golf and live shows all work well, especially for older teens or groups.

School holiday activities for teenagers in Melbourne

School holiday activities for teenagers can be hit and miss, that’s why I 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 I have a heap of activities that will make sure they are happy.

I know that juggling time is hard during the holidays, that’s why I 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 I know every teen is different, I have compiled a heap of entertaining and interesting activities, including art ideas for teens. This is the stuff dreams are made of… stuff to do for teens to do at home is about to elevate your level of parental coolness!

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.

Get your drawing guide here.

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!

Find out how here.

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.

Buy the book and get started.

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.

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.

Purchase a hoverboard here.

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.

Find out if you can escape.

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.

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.

Choose your vehicle here.

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.

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.

Purchase a drone here.

Fun activities for teens in Melbourne

Melbourne is one of the easiest cities in Australia to keep teenagers entertained if you choose the right activities.

From high-energy adventures to chilled experiences, there is something here that will actually get a “that was good” instead of an eye roll.

If you want more ideas, explore by location and build a plan that works for your teen not just what looks good online.

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, I have created an article to explain to you the best school holiday activities in Canberra too!

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