Last Updated:
August 11, 2026
Taking your family out of Melbourne for a day trip should tick boxes for fun, comfort, discovery and memories. Luckily for you, Victoria has no shortage of places to visit with kids that encompass wildlife, history, scenic views, farm experiences and more seasonal activities. Here are some of Victoria’s best day trips from Melbourne with kids.
Phillip Island Penguin Parade
Phillip Island is a very popular day trip from Melbourne with families. The highlight for many kids is seeing the Penguin Parade.
Seeing these tiny penguins stumble out of the ocean and onto the beach to return to their burrows is a day children (and adults) won’t forget.
Along with viewing the penguins in the evening you can enjoy coastal scenery, beaches, wildlife and relaxing stops during the day on Phillip Island.
Phillip Island is a great choice for animal and nature loving families looking for a full day activity with lots to see and do on the way.
Dandenong Ranges and Puffing Billy
Taking a trip on the Puffing Billy steam train is great fun for families with younger children and older kids alike.
Zipping around the gorgeous forests of the Dandenong Ranges, riding the vintage steam train offers excitement and calm mountain views all in one. Towering trees, forests full of ferns, cute villages, picnic spots and lookout points are all family-friendly attractions found throughout the Dandenongs.
It’s a leisurely and entertaining day trip that allows you to soak up history, nature and one of Victoria’s most recognised attractions for families.
Yarra Valley
Wineries come to mind when thinking about visiting the Yarra Valley but if your itinerary includes kid-friendly attractions then its actually a pretty amazing place for families too.
Kids entertainments: chocolate and ice cream, farms, animal interactions, farm fresh goodies, orchards, beautiful country landscapes and chilled out stops amongst rolling green hills await you.
Perfect for families who want to get away from Melbourne for the day and enjoy somewhere that isn’t too hectic with food, farms, nature, country views and things that adults and kids will love.
Sovereign Hill
Sovereign Hill is Victoria’s premier family-friendly educational day trip. It’s a fun way to let your kids experience Australian history.
The town has been recreated to look, and feel like a gold-rush town in the 1850s. There are historically accurate streets, buildings, costumed characters, demonstrations, shops and plenty of things to do.
Kids love fossicking for gold. Panching gold is a big favourite. It really helps bring history to life and is a lot more exciting than reading about it.
Fruit Picking Experience
Enjoy a hands-on family adventure and take time out in the fresh air with your kids. Teach them where fruit comes from by letting them pick it straight from the tree or paddock.
Many orchards offer family-friendly fruit picking – depending on the time of year, various fruits will be in season and available to harvest. Children love fruit picking and there are many activities to complement your day out in the country such as sightseeing, farm tours, local produce and more.
As fruit picking is seasonal, times will vary depending on harvest schedules, weather, and farm by farm differences. Different fruits are available at different times of the season, so please be aware that the experience we offer may change throughout the season.
If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Melbourne during the warmer months then add fruit picking to your list for a relaxing day out in the country.
Lake Mountain Snow Experience
Lake Mountain is one of the nearest and family friendly options for families wanting to catch some snow.
Throwing snowballs, having snow races or building snowmen might be the most lasting impression for many children of their Australian winter holiday.
If you time your drive right there are some lovely forest and mountain views along the way to Lake Mountain too.
Lake Mountain is a seasonal winter resort and snow conditions will vary from season to season and even week to week. Activities and snow cover are at the mercy of Mother Nature, what falls, the weather conditions, when the resort is operating and what time of the season you visit.
Choosing the Right Family Day Trip from Melbourne
There are so many choices depending on the ages and interests of your children, the time of year, and how busy you want the day to be.
Phillip Island may be the perfect destination for wildlife-loving families. Puffing Billy is always popular with younger kids, and Sovereign Hill offers great educational value and fun.
For families wanting to enjoy the outdoors without going too far, try exploring the Yarra Valley.
Visit a farm for fruit picking when it’s in season for a fun-filled day, or if you visit during winter, Lake Mountain could provide a snowy experience to remember.
With Melbourne so close to so many different areas, your family’s day trip has the potential to be one of your best memories of Victoria.
Max Zaytsev
CEO
Max Zaytsev is a Melbourne-based entrepreneur and CEO of Reforts Pty Ltd, the company behind Ozplora Tours and Bilby Tours. With more than 15 years of hands-on experience in touring and passenger transport, he specialises in group and private tours, chartered transport, and tourism operations across Australia.
