If you've ever dreamed of uncovering Melbourne's best-kept secrets for kids' entertainment on a budget, then this guide is tailor-made for you. As a thrifty mum who recently explored this great city, I can't wait to spill the beans on the incredible things to do in Melbourne ... all for free!
Sure, playing with a million lego bricks at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and exploring science at Scienceworks are incredibly fun, but not everyone has a budget for that.
Good thing, with its vibrant cultural scene and captivating attractions, Melbourne offers a wealth of opportunities for frugal family fun. From picturesque parks brimming with laughter to engaging museums that ignite curiosity, you'll be amazed by the wealth of cost-free experiences.
Let's dive into a world of boundless excitement, where the magic across Melbourne unfolds without spending a single cent. Here's this single mamma's must do experiences in Melbourne:
Further reading: 8 Great reasons to house swap for a cheap family holiday.
17 Free fun things to do in Melbourne with kids
Royal Botanic Gardens
Pack some bathers and dirt-friendly clothes to get down and dirty so you and your kid can play and learn at the Gardens!
Just when you thought gardens were only great for adults who have a passion for horticulture, the Royal Botanic Gardens is filled with opportunities for exploration. These include the Children's Garden, the desert cacti garden, and the fern gully among many.
Your child won't possibly get to play mini-golf here, but they can learn about planting and cultivating soil, hands on! It's a good alternative to Collingwood Children's Farm.
This, for me, is definitely one of the best free kids activities in Melbourne.
Fitzroy Adventure Playground
Fitzroy Gardens is a possibly one of the most stunning places to visit in Melbourne, period. Its tropical conservatory, historic Scarred Tree, and cottages are just beautiful to behold especially during autumn. I have enjoyed their free weekly guided walking tour once, and I believe they still offer it every Saturday at 10am.
For your little ones, the best feature of Fitzroy will most likely be its Adventure Playground, also known as "Cubbies". Massive structures of animals and fantasy creatures, sometimes ingeniously made with recycled materials, serve as play centres.
If you're early and lucky, you and your kids might also chance upon the staff facilitating free activities, like storytime. Definitely one of the must do experiences for kids and families in Melbourne.
St Kilda Beach
There's nothing quite like the beach when you think of fun activities. Good news, there is no need to go to a pricey resort when you've got a beautiful beach that offers the best venue for free activities for the whole family. Head on over if your kids keep bugging you about Port Melbourne.
Whether you want to have a gorgeous picnic with your child, and tick off every activity you want to try with your kid on a beautiful summer day. You can have a fun swim and even try out the different water activities being offered by hobby shops, such as kitesurfing and windsurfing.
Is the water not your kid's thing? Just bring a bike or rollerblades and some yummy snacks, and your child will still have a blast at the beach.
Melbourne City Library
Inculcate in your kids the love for reading and books without having to build a collection yourself. As a kid, I loved going to the State Library of Victoria, and I hope I can get my kids to love doing it as well.
There is something magical and healing about libraries. I will never forget the wide-eyed amazement on my kid's face every time we visit Melbourne City libraries. All sorts of people reading. The endless rows of books. The smell of paper. It's a wonderland for anyone who loves books. Spend a few hours indoors cosied up in a new read while it's a chilly 16 degrees outside.
Your kids will enjoy the wide variety of books that they can read and enjoy for hours in the golden silence and comfort of this city's indoor treasure.
Seville Water Play Park
Cool down the best way possible during those hot days from September to April.
The sound of squealing and laughing kids are constant in this water play park, and you'll understand why. There are open spaces, share areas, and a playground where your kid can make new friends, play to their heart's content, just enjoy being in the water, and collect fun memories.
City Circle Tram
One of my own happy memories as a teen was getting on this zero-fare tram on special school holidays to take in the Melbourne's CBD sights and to hop off stops near my favourite shops.
Operated by Yarra Trams, this experience shows the beauty of Melbourne from the vintage beauty of a tram. It's also a great way to bond with your kids and save up on fuel and parking fees while you're in the city.
You can hop on and off stops near parks or food spots and make an adventure out of a school holiday with your kids, just like I did!
Free activities for kids in Melbourne (cont.)
Curtain Square Fountain
Saturday plans don't have to be complicated. A lot of times, all your kids need is sunlight, a sweaty couple of hours spent playing and making new friends, and a relaxing picnic with their amazing mum.
Visit the Curtain Square and watch your kids play with other kids at the play area or read books with them on the lawns. It will not cost you anything as it is open to the public.
It also has historic drinking fountains that will help you and the family stay hydrated during your stay in the city.
You can pack a couple of sandwiches or lunches from home and spend precious time with your kids at Curtain Square.
Phoenix Park Community Playground
I still have a cute photo of my youngest posing in the gorgeous wooden fairytale castle playground at Phoenix Park. That was a great day which I am pretty sure my kids enjoyed a biiiit more than I did.
Certainly a picturesque and free kid activity in Melbourne, this playground is built for the enjoyment for kids of all ages. Every turn and level of this playground have been utilised to provide various sensory and physical activities. Adjacent to the playground is a grassed area with picic tables.
Our kids' childhood have become incredibly digitalised. It would be great to bring your kids out to Phoenix Park every now and then to get some physical exercise, learn and socialise through play, enjoy fresh air, and eat and bond with the family under the sun. Seriously, add this to your list of family activities!
Birrarung Marr
As Australian mums, it's also important for us to expose our kids to the rich heritage of our country. Melbourne is bursting with museums and galleries including ones with entry fees like the Old Melbourne Gaol and also heaps of free ones. Birrarung Marr is a beautiful place full of artwork and designed with so much symbolism that honours the Aboriginal culture, especially of the Wurundjeri people.
The park is a popular venue for so many public events and bazaars which you and your kids can attend now and then.
Familiarity with the history and design of Birrarung Marr will help your kid develop a sense of community and appreciation for the diverse and indigenous culture of Melbourne.
Queen Victoria Market
On a no-school Monday, you should take your kids to Queen Victoria Market for a really cool activity: the Kids Passport!
Starting at 9am every Monday, kids can pick up a their Kid Passport from the Information Hub. They can use their passports to collect stamps from different traders and vendors around Queen Vic Market. They will be able to meet different kinds of entrepreneurs and artisans, and learn plenty about crafts, products, and trade items.
At the end of their little market adventure, they can return to the Information Hub and present their stamped passports to claim special prizes.
Royal Arcade
I remember, one of my favourite memories with my mum is strolling and window-shopping at the Royal Arcade.
We didn't necessarily have to buy anything but it was a beautiful place with a history that amazed me. The different shops sparkled with their wares just like they do today. Although you can't find arcade games here, the Victorian building's pathways leading to different streets are fun to explore.
You can also tell your kid how many generations have walked and shopped here since it opened in 1870 as you browse around and appreciate the arcade's architecture.
National Gallery of Victoria
Here's one for the lovers of culture and the arts! The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is a gem for families looking for a mix of culture, creativity, and fun in centre Melbourne. Whether it’s a rainy day or sunny skies, the NGV offers something special for every age. It's a great alternative to MoPA.
Your kids will love exploring the interactive exhibits in the NGV Kids space, where art meets play in the most colourful and engaging way. Wander through breathtaking galleries filled with masterpieces from around the world, or marvel at the iconic stained-glass ceiling in the Great Hall—it’s a perfect spot to lie down and take it all in.
If you’re feeling peckish, the café has plenty of family-friendly options, or you can enjoy the peaceful gardens outside for a relaxed picnic. With free entry to many areas and an ever-changing array of exhibits, the NGV makes a day out with the kids both exciting and inspiring.
Best activities for kids in Melbourne for free
Docklands Park
The Docklands might remind you of nights spent in inebriated fun back during your younger years. Nowadays, the area has developed into a more family-friendly area perfect for spontaneous day trips with your kids.
For example, the Docklands Park is open to the public at no charge. It has a playground and beautiful green space that are perfect for children and adults to stretch their legs, spend some pent-up energy and play around in after eating at the different culinary spots nearby.
Australian Centre for the Moving Image
A trip to Melbourne isn't complete without going to the country's national museum for film, video games, digital culture, and art. Mums of multimedia-loving kids, need I say more?
Being cultured and having an appreciation for art should start from a young age. It's great for older kids who love art. Thankfully, Melbourne is brimming with such, like the Melbourne Museum and Australian Sports Museum.
With highly developed and curated exhibition areas and film showcases and no entrance fee, this museum is a free kids' activity in Melbourne that you shouldn't pass up. Once you see how cool, immersive, and educational everything is inside, you will be glad to have taken your kids who will surely enjoy "watching" the museum. They won't be looking for their virtual reality goggles once they experience the story of the moving image in real life.
CERES Community Environment Park
CERES have 4 locations that are all fantastic places to visit where your kids can learn about different kinds of plants and interact with nature. My particular favourite is their East Brunswick location; let me tell you why.
This community environment park has a nursery and bookstore where little ones can engage in the amazing process of cultivating plants. It also has a creative play-space for kids, a stunning shed made out of recycled bikes where you can relax, an organic grocery, and a cafe where your kids can refuel with healthy and delicious meals after a full morning of exploring the park.
Cooks' Cottage
Is your child showing signs of great interest in history? Here's one of the best places to nurture that curiosity at no extra cost.
Bring your kids to the Cooks' Cottage where they can learn about the incredible story of the cottage which was transported brick by brick to Australia from England in the 18th century! The interior setup was also preserved in its 1700's fashion as well as the attire of the guides who will be imparting their knowledge of the cottage and Melbourne during that time.
Cooks' Cottage is a fun and inexpensive way to travel to the past. If your kids have already seen the infamous Ned Kelly museum, this is a great way to expand that experience.
Edinburgh Gardens
This is a spot I love visiting during the cooler days of summer with my kids.
Edinburgh Gardens is a beautiful venue for several free kids' activities in Melbourne. You can do biking, relaxing under the shade of majestic trees, walking your family dog, having a barbie, and enjoying the company of other kids at the playground.
You and your kids can easily spend a full day at Edinburgh Gardens with all the space and fun opportunities you can explore as a family.
"Almost" free fun activities in Melbourne
Heide Museum of Modern Art (Gardens and Sculpture Park)
Lucky for us, we've got Heide to bring our kids to for creative inspiration and education. Entrance is free for all kids aged under 16 This astonishing museum is must-visit for mums like you who are looking for free kids' activities in Melbourne.
Aside from outstanding paintings and artworks in various media, Heide also has a mind-blowing sculptural park and gardens that are especially perfect on sunny days. The museum regularly offers art programs targeted towards kids and families.
Your kids can join a workshop or group activity where they can create and learn about artistic techniques.
The Pauline Gandel Children's Gallery
The Pauline Gandel Children's Gallery at Melbourne Museum is one of my favourite spots for kids indoor play and it runs throughout the year! Entry is free for kids for a 50-minute session ... though the adult has to pay $15. It’s a play-based learning and creative exploration that's an absolute treasure for curious kids under five. Your toddlers and school kids will light up every time they dig for fossils, pretending to be mini paleontologists, or climb through the bushland play area like they’re on a real adventure.
It’s so much more than a play space in a safe and fun environment. It’s an indoor play area where their imaginations run wild and they learn without even realising it. From the sensory displays to the interactive exhibits, every visit feels like a new discovery. It's one of the best children's museums, hands down.
Melbourne Zoo
Saving this for last because zoos are ALWAYS a hit for kids. Kids ages 4 to 15 get free entry weekends while children ages 0 to 3 are always free. If you don't have the budget for Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, this spot is a fascinating alternative for your kiddos to appreciate flora and fauna.
It's the perfect place to spend a day exploring with your kids, especially when the weather is just right for a little outdoor adventure.
Home to over 300 species from around the world, the zoo offers an unforgettable experience where you can get up close to wildlife. Stroll through the lush trails, marvel at majestic lions, playful lemurs, or the always-fascinating penguins. The kids will love the Keeper Kids play space, where they can role-play as zookeepers, while you might enjoy a quiet moment by the tranquil Japanese Garden.
Pack a picnic or grab a bite at one of the cafés on-site. There's plenty of space to relax and recharge. Melbourne Zoo isn’t just about animals; it’s about making memories with your family in a vibrant, educational, and fun environment.
(By the way Werribee Open Range Zoo is also free for kids on weekends, so it's a nice alternative.)
Conclusion: Free indoor and outdoor kid-friendly activities in Melbourne
You might have read of negative experiences incurred in free activity places ... but not in Melbourne!
Melbourne truly shines as a treasure trove of free, family-friendly activities that make every day an adventure without denting your wallet. From lush parks and inspiring museums to sandy beaches and playful playgrounds, Melbourne is definitely a city for kids!
As a single mum, I know how important it is to balance fun with affordability, and Melbourne delivers this in spades. So, pack your snacks, grab your kids, and set out to explore these incredible spots. The beauty of it all? Every moment is a reminder that the best things in life really are free.
Here’s to discovering the magic of Melbourne with your family, without breaking the bank.
Further reading: 15 Essential tips for planning a stress-free single parent holiday.A
