10 Kid-Friendly Things to Do near Melbourne Post-lockdown

Okay, so you can finally leave the house! Yay! The kids are roaring to go somewhere - but where? It may be a bit blurry on what's open, what's safe, what's a good deal but also supporting local business. We've addressed all of those things below, so you've got the full download on kid friendly activities in Melbourne for the weekend and upcoming school holidays!

Thanks to a Victorian Government initiative, the zoos have received a financial lifeline to weather the crisis, help their animals and implement new COVID-Safe measures.

Melbourne Zoo, just at the centre of Poyal Park, has 300 different species of animals and is a very clean, accessible and easy to get around attraction that is perfect for the little ones! It has a butterfly house, lots of Australian native animals as well as plenty of animals you'd expect in a city zoo - think Madagascar lions, elephants and gorillas.

Take in views of fern gullies, farmlands and forests as you journey through the majestic Dandenong mountain ranges!

Puffing Billy is certainly an experience most kids in Victoria do at least once. The ride starts in Belgrave (50 minutes from Melbourne), and you can choose to go to Lakeside or Gembrook. Single or return tickets are available, too. The kids will love the big open-sided chugger, and the 600 volunteers who manage it (yep, volunteers!) are great with the youngsters, going out of their way to make it a memorable day.

Tiny penguins scurry off Brighton Beach shore in the morning, off for a day’s work of fishing in the ocean, then shuffle back together at home-time to Phillip Island (2 hours from Melbourne) to be greeted by their family.

The Penguin Parade lets visitors catch the cute, little furry creatures on their return home in evening. Depending on your day plans, there's also heaps to see on the Island - including the Koala Conservation Centre, Churchill Heritage Farm and Nobbies Antarctic Journey!

For making the most of your penguin adventure on Phillip Island, check out these tips:

Hop on a safari bus tour and see giraffes, hippos, rhinos and zebras with the terrain and landscape to match - no need to take your kids all the way to Africa now!

Werribee Open Range Zoo is a perfect day trip from Melbourne (only 30 minutes). As the zoo is open range, you can get up close with all the animals - but maybe bring binoculars in case they're having a shy day!

If catching the penguins in their natural habitat is too far - or just too cold! - for the kids, then you can get a just as good experience at Sea Life Aquarium in the CBD.

The aquarium has lots of cool things to do - including a 2.2 million litre Oceanarium with sting rays and nurse sharks, a Croc Lair with saltwater crocodiles and daily feedings with the Gentoo penguins in Penguin Playground.

An adventure park with something to do for kids of all ages - there's a Canopy Circuit to view the glorious Otway Ranges from and Zip Coasters to buzz around the trees, with varying heights and degrees of scariness!

Live Wire Park is 2 hours from Melbourne. You can buy tickets here from the official website!

The Enchanted Adventure Garden (1 hour from Melbourne) located in Arthurs Seat is a magical tree wonderland, filled with Tree Surfing Courses, Tube Slides and Bushland obstacles! If you don't know what any of those things are (but like the sound of them) we highly suggest you check it out - best suited for kids under 10.

You can buy tickets here from the official website!

The Melbourne Museum has a lot of engaging exhibitions for the kids - a  Science and Life Gallery, including Bugs Alive, Marine Life and Dinosaur Walk, as well a Mini Mega Model Museum, are just two galleries you'll want to visit.

Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery is also specially designed for the young ones (up to 5 years of age) – and features all kinds of hands-on educational activities. There’s a Camouflage Disco with mirror wall, soundscapes and light projections, net climbing, and even a quiet ‘nothing nook’ where kids can chill out for a while.

The kids will GO WILD at this place - "mummy mummy mummy take my photo here!" is something you will probably get sick of hearing. ArtVo Museum features over 80 3D artworks, so prepare to get your cameras ready.

The fastest elevator in the Southern Hemisphere (take that Sydney), the kids will love the zippy ride as it soars up 285 metres in just 38 seconds at Eureka Skydeck.

Once you reach the top, you'll get a 360° bird's eye view of Melbourne through giant glass windows. A great game to play with the kids, get them to try and find your house! That'll keep an entertained for a good 20 minutes or so!