☀️ What to Do with Kids in Melbourne This Weekend
Looking for fun things to do with the kids in Melbourne this weekend? We've got you covered with the best free family-friendly events and activities happening across the city. From outdoor adventures to hands-on workshops and local festivals — there’s something for every age and interest!
🌈 What's on this Weekend: 24, 25 & 26 Jan
🎆 Australia Day Concert at Whitehorse
Celebrate summer with the much-loved Whitehorse Australia Day Concert 🌞
Enjoy a relaxed evening of live music, family-friendly fun and fantastic performances in a welcoming community setting.
🗓 Monday 26 January 2026
🎡 Food and rides from 6pm
🎵 Concert from 7pm – 9.50pm
🎆 Fireworks from 9.50pm – 10pm
📍 Whitehorse Civic Centre Precinct, Nunawading
🔐 PrisonBreak Explorers 2 at Pentridge Prison Tours
A daring school holiday mystery awaits at Pentridge Prison!
Kids become detectives as they crack clues, uncover the real crook and race against time to earn their freedom. Perfect for curious kids 6–12 years
🗓️ Until 25 Jan
🕥 10:30–11:30am & 12:45–1:45pm
📍 Pentridge Prison Tours, Coburg
🦕 Jurassic Creatures
🦖 ROOOOARR! The dinosaurs are coming!
Get ready for life-like moving dinos, fossil digs, jumping castles, crafts, mini golf & more – fun for the whole family!
Activities include: Interactive walk-through; Fossil digging; Dino jumping castles; Dino maze; Dino selfie stands; Dino mini golf; Paint a dinosaur; Dino sand art; Mini carousel; Egg-chipping experience; Teacup ride; Learn to draw a dinosaur; Hot food & drinks available
🗓 10 Jan – 1 Feb 🕓 10am–5:30pm
📍 Pakenham
👶 Kids under 3 enter FREE
🎉 Congrats to the winners of the competition!
🌸 Blue Lotus Water Garden
🌷 School Holiday Fun!
Boxing Day Weekend (26–28 Dec): Queen Kristabelle
New Year’s Day (1 Jan): Fairy Poppie + Giant Bubbles
Bubble Weekend (3–4 Jan): Fairy Poppie
Magical Weekend (10–11 Jan): Steve’s Magic Show
Peter Pan (17 Jan): Mad Hatters
Lucky Luke (18 Jan): Magic Show
Australia Day Weekend (24–26 Jan): Queen Kristabelle
🗓 26 Dec – 26 Jan
📍 2628 Warburton Highway, Yarra Junction
Kids 0–15 FREE with a paying adult.
🎉 Congrats to the winners of the competition!
🕵️♀️ Billie B Brown and the Case of the Missing Treasure at Old Melbourne Gaol
These school holidays, Old Melbourne Gaol has transformed into a world-first immersive Billie B Brown adventure. Armed with an activity map, kids become detectives and follow a trail of clues left by the Secret Mystery Club to help them find missing treasure!
🗓 Until 1 February
📍 Old Melbourne Gaol, Melbourne
🎡 Mordialloc Christmas Summer Carnival
One of Melbourne’s favourite summer carnivals is back by the beach! Enjoy:
🎠 Rides for all ages
🎯 Classic carnival games
🍿 Showbags & food
🎆 NYE Fireworks at 9:30pm
🎟️ FREE entry. Rides via wristbands or pay-as-you-go
🗓 26 Dec – 26 Jan
📍 Peter Scullin Reserve, Mordialloc (near the beach)
🎉 Congrats to the winners of the competition!
🤩 Climb N' Play
🧗♀️ Climbing walls
🛝 Play zones for all ages
🎂 Epic parties & private events
☕ Family-friendly café
🌰 Nutty Heights – For all climbing levels
🌱 Acorn Adventure – For kids over 24 months
🐾 Tiny Tails – For toddlers under 24 months
🍕 Café – Coffee, pizza, burgers & more
📍 3/98–108 Hampstead Rd, Maidstone (near Highpoint)
🎉 Congrats to the winners of the competition!
🤩 Funfields Giveaway
The Ultimate One-Day Holiday, Just 40km From Melbourne! Awesome Rides & Attractions:
⚡️ Supanova Waterslide
⚡️ Dragon’s Revenge Swing Ride
⚡️ Pegasus Sky Bounce ride
⚡️ Mystic Kingdom.
⚡️ Volcano Beach Heated wave pool
⚡️ 3 ProSlide WORLD RECORD Waterslides; Kraken Racer, Typhoon & Gravity Wave
⚡️ Wet & dry rides including: Re-Imagined Amazonia Falls, Pirate Ship, Go Karts, Alpine Toboggan Slide and so much more.
🎉 Congrats to the winners of the competition!
🎈 Balloon Story
After flying high in New York, Balloon Story pops up at MCEC this summer – opening Sunday 4 Jan! ⭐
A magical, interactive balloon wonderland with 400,000+ eco-friendly balloons the whole family will love.
🎈 Huge, playful balloon installations
🌱 Made from natural latex
🎨 Immersive art + interactive fun
📸 SO many photo moments
🤹 Fun for all ages
⭐ Rated 4.7/5 in New York
👶 All ages welcome
📍 MCEC | 🕘 9am–8pm | ⏳ ~70 min
💦 Free Water Playgrounds in Melbourne & Regional Victoria
Explore the Map to Find a Water Playground!
Use Tinytix’s Free Water Play Map to discover the best splash parks, water playgrounds, and interactive fountains across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Find kid-friendly water play areas near you and make the most of summer with free, fun, and refreshing outdoor adventures for the whole family!
🌇 Melbourne Skydeck & Edge Experience: Panoramic Views 285 Metres Up
✨ Take in Melbourne from 285m up at the Southern Hemisphere’s highest sky deck
✨ Enjoy sweeping views of icons like the MCG, Fed Square & Flinders St Station
✨ Add The Edge Experience to step into a glass cube nearly 300m above the city!
🗓️ Dates: various (select at checkout)
🕒 Hours: Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun: 12–9 p.m. Fri & Sat: 12–10 p.m.
Last entry: 30 mins before close
📍 Location: Melbourne Skydeck
⚡ HARRY POTTER™: THE EXHIBITION
Due to popular demand, Harry PotterTM: The Exhibition has been extended until 30 November! 🦉
Step inside the magic with authentic costumes, props, and behind-the-scenes secrets from your favorite films. An unforgettable, multi-sensory experience for fans of all ages. ✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Such an amazing experience for a Harry Potter fan and lover!!!” – Nic
🗓 Open Daily
📍 62 Dawson Street, Brunswick
🐧 Phillip Island Penguins Express Tour
🐧 Watch the magical Penguin Parade as little penguins waddle ashore at dusk
🌊 Take in stunning coastal views at Seal Rocks and the Nobbies
📸 Enjoy a guided day trip from Melbourne with plenty of photo moments
What’s Included
✔️ Guided Penguin Parade admission
✔️ Transfer to Phillip Island
✔️ Visit to the Nobbies & Seal Rocks
✔️ Onboard Wi-Fi
🐴 Melbourne Museum: Melbourne History Tour
Explore Melbourne’s history with a guided walk through the Melbourne Story gallery. Learn about the gold rush, the city’s grid design, famous landmarks, and the legendary racehorse Phar Lap. See artifacts that showcase how Melbourne evolved — perfect for both visitors and locals.
⭐ Hear fascinating stories from a knowledgeable guide
⭐ Walk through decades of Melbourne’s past
⭐ Includes a gift lanyard, tote bag & 10% off at the Museum Store
🚀 Saboteurs
Crewmates and Impostors - Original Map
Experience Saboteurs in real life! Complete tasks as a Crew Member or sabotage as an Impostor in this fast-paced, AmongUs-style game. Form alliances, spot the deceivers, and test your deduction skills!
⏳ 40 mins of action-packed fun
📍 The Wheel, Docklands, Melbourne
🚦 Mr. Wolf Game
Crewmates and Impostors - Original Map
Experience Saboteurs in real life! Complete tasks as a Crew Member or sabotage as an Impostor in this fast-paced, AmongUs-style game. Form alliances, spot the deceivers, and test your deduction skills!
⏳ 40 mins of action-packed fun
📍 The Wheel, Docklands, Melbourne
💣🔥 Melbourne, Can You Beat the Boom?
123Boom! is the real-life arcade game experience that’s taking Melbourne by storm! Solve puzzles, dodge lasers, battle flying monsters—and most importantly, stop the bomb before time runs out! ⏳
👥 Perfect for groups of 4-8 💥 6 immersive challenges that test your speed, skill & teamwork
🎯 Avoid lasers, solve puzzles & dodge flying monsters ♿ Wheelchair accessible
📍 551 Little Collins St, Melbourne CBD
📅 Choose your date & time
⏳ Duration: 75 minutes 👀 Age: 12+
🔒 Prison Island
Where escaping isn’t the goal… winning is! 💥
Gather your crew and take on 34 epic prison cells filled with wild mental and physical challenges. 🧠💪
🎯 90 minutes of non-stop action
👫 Teams of 2–5 (perfect for families, friends, or co-workers)
🎉 Awesome for birthdays, bucks & hens—bride/groom plays FREE!
📍 The District Docklands
👧 Ages 7+ welcome!
😉 Free things to do all year round
Discover the best free things to do in Melbourne with kids, all year round! From creative workshops and hands-on exhibits to outdoor adventures and family-friendly galleries, this guide brings together Melbourne’s top permanent attractions and weekly activities that won’t cost a thing.
🌈 SENSAS: A Multi-Sensory Experience
🖐️ Test all five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing) in both pitch-black and ultra-colourful workshops
✨ Gather your team to take on exciting challenges and surprising experiences in the Sensory Labs
🤩 Conquer your primary fears and embrace your emotions
🪙 Collect as many sensory charms as possible—each charm means a donation to a local charity supporting people with disabilities
💖 Perfect for groups of all sizes. Age requirement: 7+. Duration: 2 hours. 📍 South Yarra VIC
🚢 Titanic: A Voyage Through Time
🌊 Travel back to 1912 and walk the Grand Staircase, explore the deck, and meet the passengers & crew in this breathtaking VR experience. 🕰️ Step into the past and explore the Titanic in full VR ⚓ Walk through iconic spaces like the lavish dining halls & Grand Staircase 🌊 Dive to the wreck and see Titanic as it rests today 📖 Discover real passenger & crew stories 👨👩👧👦 Perfect for families, history lovers & Titanic fans!
📍 Melbourne
⏳ Duration: 45 minutes
👦 Age: 8+ | Wheelchair accessible ♿
Free Kids Events in Melbourne
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