The best free and cheap family activities

Need to keep your little mates entertained these holidays? Check out these awesome free events and fun adventures for an epic day of fun.

Girl looking out at mini village display in the garden.

When are the school holidays?

The school holidays in Victoria are from Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026.

When is public transport half price during the school holidays?

Public transport is half price in Victoria until the end of the year. This includes Melbourne trains, trams and buses as well as regional trains, coaches and buses. Check the full details.

Deals, discounts and pop-ups

A mother and two young children on the deck of a ferry looking out across the water.

Port Phillip Ferries

Kids (4-16 years) travel free on these weekly 2.5hour cruises, Tuesdays 9.30am-12.15pm, T&Cs apply.

Special offer
Cartoon style illustration of children with painted faces, against a blue background.

The Wharf Hotel

Enjoy free family activities every Sunday, incl. face painting, magicians & balloon twisters, 1-4pm.

Special offer
People taking a selfie with an animation character.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Animal Crossing exhibition, where characters meet real-life marine life: 16 Sep-8 Nov

Special offer
A family enjoying the 88th floor panoramic views of Melbourne from Melbourne Skydeck.

Melbourne Skydeck

Enjoy great value with family tickets from $64; for travel between 16 Sept to 16 Oct. T&Cs apply.

Special offer

TGI Fridays

Order a full priced food item, min $24.90 per item, to get a free kid's meal (under 12s) Mon–Thu.

Special offer

Free family-friendly events

Animator and filmmaker Adam Elliot working on a claymation set, adjusting characters.
Until

Making Memoir of a Snail

Explore handmade sets, props and characters from Adam Elliot's claymation film Memoir of a Snail.

Two street performers singing into microphones, with two guitarists playing music behind them.
Until

Pop-up Busking: Winter Sounds Series

Enjoy curated musical busking performances across the city this winter.

A performer sits at the top of a tall ladder, playing an electric guitar while below them, another performer stands facing away from the camera, holding the ladder steady with uplifted arms.
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Ocker

Ocker is roving circus tearing through the streets on a portable railway track built in real time.

Aerial view of an outdoor market on Southbank promenade, showing the Yarra River with boats on the right, market umbrellas and stalls on the concourse and city buildings in the background.
Until

Southbank Makers Market

Explore the Southbank Makers Market every Sunday on the promenade at Southgate.

Illustrations of two children with clipboards in (real) garden setting.
Until

Fitzroy Gardens Outdoor Adventure

A free fun outdoor seek and find adventure around the Fitzroy Gardens.

Group of children seated on the floor while adults look on.
Until

Auslan Storytime

Bringing stories to life through visual language and movement, 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.

A still from a videogame depicting a Chinese soldier fighting two warriors in front of an ancient Chinese temple.
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Feng Mengbo: Long March Restart

An free exhibition that playfully reimagines modern Chinese history as a videogame.

Free kids activities

Young children and their parents listening to a story book being read aloud in a colourful environment with large dinosaur cutouts.
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Dino Days

Young dinosaur enthusiasts, aged 3-5 years, are invited to explore all things dinosaur.

A preschool aged child with curly hair wearing a red dress, holding open a book and looking at it.
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Preschool Storytime

Sing songs and read stories with your young child at North Melbourne Library.

A woman holding a picture book titled 'Ruffles' and also holding a dog toy in a library reading area.
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Songbirds

Come along to East Melbourne Library on Thursdays for Songbirds: songs, rhymes and stories.

A smiling adult holding a ukulele seated at a low table, with two picture books resting on the table, in a library setting.
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Preschool Storytime

Share the wonder of books with your children at narrm ngarrgu Library.

A smiling woman with a ukulele seated at a desk with two picture books on display.
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Stompers

Join in the Stompers fun with your toddler at narrm ngarrgu Library every Friday.

Illustrations of two children with clipboards in (real) garden setting.
Until

Fitzroy Gardens Outdoor Adventure

A free fun outdoor seek and find adventure around the Fitzroy Gardens.

Events under $20

A standing and seated row of children in a large bright room, all holding up artworks they've created.
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Art Classes for Kids

A guided art class for children, led by an artist and educator, held at The Hub at Docklands.

Special occasion activities - $20 and over

Two people standing on the 'ceiling' of an inverted living room.

House Down Under

Australia’s favourite inverted house photo experience brings topsy-turvy fun to Melbourne.

Two people standing in an immersive room at Dreamskape surrounded by a virtual reality projection of interior of a spaceship.

Dreamskape

Explore the District Dockland's multi-media sensory entertainment complex.

A plate of fluffy pancakes with ice-cream and chocolate over the top.
Until

Chocolate Family Adventure Day

Enjoy an all-inclusive, stress-free family outing filled with fun, creativity, and delicious treats.

Picnic spread of dishes, boxed food and drinks on a blue gingham tablecloth.
Until

Family Mystery Picnic: Melbourne Laneways

Solve clues, taste and collect pre-paid gourmet food on this unique foodie adventure.

A hooded figure positioned centrally in a circular emblem holding a talisman with a stylized letter 'H' in the centre surrounded by flying bats against a vintage image of city buildings.
Until

Shadows in the Dark

Go on a guided paranormal tour to reveal the hidden secrets of the Queen Vic Market.

Man wearing a tuxedo performing sleight of hands tricks with a glass in front of a seated audience.
Until

Melbourne Magic Show

Enjoy a theatrical magic experience like no other.

A dancer wears a vibrant green, light-up ballerina-style tutu dress with a matching crown, and large, glowing translucent fairy wings spread out behind her, standing against a dark background.
Until

Ballet of Lights: Peter Pan in a Sparkling Show

Peter Pan lights up Neverland in a dazzling dance spectacle.

A smiling young girl seated as a table in front of a pile of slime.

Slime Lab

A play and retail space offering awesome and creative slime workshops for kids.

A child wearing a plastic coat, squirting paint with a paintgun at a pink canvas on a wall splattered with paint.
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Melbourne Paint Lab Art Workshop

At Melbourne Paint Lab you can splash, splatter and drip paint to unleash your inner artist.

'Wonders of the sea' themed high tea treats including mermaid-tail cupcakes on a white plate on a display of sand and shells.
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Le Petit Wonders of the Sea: Kids High Tea

An enchanting under-the-sea themed High Tea designed especially for small explorers.

A solar eclipse, with light emerging around the edges of the blacked-out sun.
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Solar Tours

Come and experience the wonders of the Sun at the historic Melbourne Observatory.

People holding their glass bowl terrariums, looking amazed.
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Terrarium Miniature Garden Workshop

Join a hands-on workshop making your own living garden.

For teens and older kids

Exterior of Holey Moley mini golf venue at night.

Holey Moley Golf Club

Holey Moley offers a mini golf course and bar with 27 themed holes plus a karaoke room.

Two people seated below a neon sign.
Until

The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

A butterfly brooch with green and pink mother of pearl inlay wings, against a white background.
Until

Mother of Pearl Inlay Brooch Making Workshop

Join this jewellery making class on mother-of-pearl inlay, perfect for beginners.

A group of smiling participants in a studio workshop setting, holding glass-domed terrariums.
Until

Serene Terrarium: Workshop for Beginners

Create your mini plant world while enjoying a soothing cuppa and a calming environment.

Seven people in coloured aprons holding up kokedama balls in a workshop.
Until

Kokedama Workshop

Enjoy a beginner's workshop and learn how to make a little moss ball plant.

Two smiling workshop participants holding up jewellery they have made.
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Polymer Clay Workshop

Create beautiful pairs of earrings and necklaces using polymer clay in this fun workshop.

Three smiling workshop participants in a studio space, holding up jewellery they have made.
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Polymer Clay Earring Workshop

Create beautiful jewellery in this fun workshop.

A beige and white knitted shoulder bag with plush trim and a chain strap, made in a cross-stitch workshop.
Until

Cross-stitch Embroidery Bag Workshop

Make your own pretty cross-stitch bag to style your look in this beginner class.

A sophisticated music store with guitars hanging on the wall.

The Music Gym

Drop in to The Music Gym, Melbourne's most playable pit stop!

Person on a skateboard at Riverslide Skate Park.

Riverslide Skate Park

The city's biggest skate park, overlooking the Yarra River and Birrarung Marr.

Small brick building illuminated at night, housing Signal creative arts studio.

Signal

Signal is the City of Melbourne's creative studio for young people 14 to 25 years.

People skating in an indoor ice rink with disco lighting.

O'Brien Icehouse

An ice arena for public skating and ice sports events, located in Docklands.

Brightly coloured singing booths arranged around the walls in a large room, with bench seating in the central open space.

Kono Coin Karaoke

Enjoy a karaoke experience at a singing booth.

The exterior of Hardrock climbing in the city, surrounded by other buildings.

Hardrock Climbing

The ultimate indoor rock-climbing experience in Melbourne is at Hardrock Climbing.

People lining up outside a retro photobooth at night.

Flinders Street Photobooth

Have your photo taken at a vintage black and white photobooth.

Looking into the interior of a studio space, with a row of five small booths on the left and shelves of props and equipment on the right wall.

Life4Cuts Chinatown

A Korean-inspired self-photo booth studio in Chinatown.

Three girls posing and holding up their hands in peace signs while wearing flower headbands.

Hama Film Self Photo Studio

A self-photo studio where you can take amazing photos in special concept rooms.

A giant ball pit with brightly coloured geometric patterns and neon shapes on the walls.

Hijinx Hotel

No beds here. Just ball pits, bold colours, brain-teasing challenges and a lot of laughter.

Interior of Archie Brothers games venue, showing a candy counter, and a central bar area.

Archie Brothers

Archie Brothers delivers circus themed arcade charm, whimsical cocktails, and big-kid energy.

People enjoying tenpin bowling.

Strike Bowling

Tenpin bowling plus laser tag and escape rooms - great fun for everyone.

School holiday workshops

A standing and seated row of children in a large bright room, all holding up artworks they've created.
Until

Art Classes for Kids

A guided art class for children, led by an artist and educator, held at The Hub at Docklands.

A child wearing a plastic coat, squirting paint with a paintgun at a pink canvas on a wall splattered with paint.
Until

Melbourne Paint Lab Art Workshop

At Melbourne Paint Lab you can splash, splatter and drip paint to unleash your inner artist.

Kids on the grass outside the Shrine of Memorial, holding kit bags and smiling.
Until

Shrine Kids

Embark on a family adventure with this engaging program designed for discovery at every turn.

Family-friendly attractions

Baby looking in a mirror.

Children's Gallery Melbourne Museum

This is a wondrous place for young children to explore, play and learn.

Koala in a gum tree at Melbourne Zoo.

Melbourne Zoo

Journey through a world of wildlife in the heart of Melbourne.

Child looking over right shoulder with delighted smile, dark dinosaur model behind.

Melbourne Museum

Explore history, culture, science and nature at this popular Melbourne attraction.

Two friends in exaggerated poses against a hand-painted interactive artwork of a jungle scene, at ArtVo.

ArtVo

An interactive 3D art gallery with optical illusions that visitors can touch and explore.

Family in a glass tunnel looking up at a very large stingray.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Discover thousands of aquatic animals in four enchanting worlds at this top Melbourne attraction.

Water wall installation at the entrance to NGV International on St Kilda Road.

NGV International

NGV International houses a whole world of international art.

Large, rectangular building of Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square.

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia

The world’s first major gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art.

Smiling vendor selling a range of pastries, dips and spreads at Queen Victoria Market.

Queen Victoria Market

This beloved Melbourne landmark is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere.

Dark silhouetted figures in a space with red and blue lighting.

ACMI

Museum dedicated to the moving image through events, film screenings and exhibitions.

People browsing a museum with paper lanterns and artwork.

Museum of Chinese Australian History

Museum preserving and displaying the history of Chinese immigration.

Double-storey ArtPlay building with city skyscrapers in the background.

ArtPlay

A creative arts centre for children to share unique experiences with professional artists.

More family-friendly ideas

Note: Some age limits may apply, check with venues before visiting.

Last updated on Thu 24 Sep 2026

Only In The City

Only in the City
Inside a bustling market hall

Things you can only see in the city

Uncover secret rooms, historic architecture and iconic landmarks found only in the city.

A family of four standing in a grand library with antique desks, large white walls and a dome ceiling.

Things you can only do in the city

There's only one place to find these rare Melbourne experiences and secret spots.

Multiple plates on a white table cloth.

Things you can only eat in the city

Where to find the city's most iconic dishes.

Discover more

A smiling man holds a cheerful toddler in his arms as the child reaches toward a large, textured, teardrop-shaped gourd hanging from the ceiling; part of an interactive installation at ArtPlay.
Until

Exhibition: Obang 오방

Step into a Korean grandmother's home while she is away visiting her grandchildren overseas.

A Georgian room with marble fireplace and a large Christmas tree.
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A Taste Of Christmas

Current exhibition, Taste and Temptation, has been transformed for the festive season.

A young boy and girl pointing to triceratops bones in the Museum.

Free things to do with kids in Melbourne

Get the kids out and explore these free events and adventures for an awesome day of fun.

Inside a small shop filled with sparkly decorations and plastic novelty goods.
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Squish, Twist, Fizz: Mika Rottenberg for Kids

A new children's exhibition by Mika Rottenberg as part of 2026 NGV Triennial.