Things to do in Melbourne

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Gippsland

Penguin Parade

8.6

4.4/5

213 reviews

Penguin Parade is located at Summerland Beach on the southwestern tip of Phillip Island and is the signature viewing experience of Phillip Island Nature Parks, taking place every day around sunset: after a day of foraging at sea, flocks of little penguins ride the waves ashore, first gathering in the shallows and peering around, then waddling across the beach and following a fixed route back to their burrows in the dunes. Spectators on the viewing stands and boardwalks can watch this "little parade" of the natural world up close, and the penguins often pass just a few steps away. The island is home to tens of thousands of little penguins. They have blue feathers on their backs and snow-white bellies, and as adults they stand only just over 30 cm tall and weigh about one kg; their round bodies and waddling gait make them endearingly cute. During the day they head out to sea to forage, and after dusk they return to their nests together, traveling back and forth between the sea and their burrows along almost unchanged routes for generations, and on site you can also hear their calls rising and falling. A few points are worth noting when watching: little penguins' eyes are very sensitive to light, so cameras and video recorders cannot be used on site, and only by waiting quietly can you avoid disturbing them; after sunset the seaside is windy and rather cool, so even in summer it is advisable to bring a warm jacket and to arrive early to wait for the penguins to come ashore. This spectacle takes place all year round, and during the spring and summer of the Southern Hemisphere (roughly August each year to February of the following year), which is the breeding season, the penguins come ashore and move in and out of their burrows more frequently, so the scene is usually livelier. △ The little penguins leave the island during the day to forage at sea, and return to their nests on the shore in groups at night to rest. △ These little penguins are timid and highly sensitive to light, so photography and video recording are prohibited on site; only by waiting quietly can you avoid disturbing them. △ The Penguin Parade can be viewed year-round. From September to January, the weather is warm and it is the breeding season, so the penguins are more active and it is a good time to watch them.

Summerlands · 78.7km from Melbourne

No. 5 of Family-friendly Attractions in Australia

Puffing Billy Railway

8.4

Belgrave · 330m from downtown

495 reviews

Puffing Billy Railway is an experimental narrow-gauge railway built at the turn of the 20th century. It is Australia's historic steam train and one of the best-preserved steam railway lines in the world. The train trip covers 25 km,Along the way from Belgrave to the Dandenong Ranges, you will pass through beautiful forests and fern-filled gullies. The open-sided carriages on both sides allow you to enjoy the scenery along the route, such as the Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge, a famous landmark on the Puffing Billy Railway line. In addition, there are many stations along the way where passengers can get off and explore. △ Ride a steam mini train with over a century of history △ Breathe fresh air and enjoy the lush natural scenery along the way △ Put your legs outside the train car, as if traveling back to the 20th century

No. 4 of Spring Outings in Australia

Carlton Gardens

8.3

4.0/5

75 reviews

Carlton Gardens covers an area of approx. 26 hectares and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004, together with the Royal Exhibition Building located within the gardens. The garden maintains a Victorian-style landscape, with open lawns and avenues lined with plane trees complementing each other. Multiple tree-lined paths connect historical buildings with leisure areas. The garden features 3 fountains, among which the one designed by sculptor Joseph Hochgertel for the 1880 exhibition is particularly striking, and 2 decorative small lakes are located in the southern part. The garden is planted with various trees, including English oaks, elms, London plane trees, and Moreton Bay figs, offering different scenery throughout the seasons. The Melbourne Museum on the north side forms a sharp contrast with the classical garden through its modern architectural language, and the same area also features a children's playground inspired by the Victorian maze. The garden is perfect for a stroll; people can walk along the tree-lined paths or rest on the lawns to experience urban garden life in Melbourne.

Carlton · 703m from downtown

2026 Global 100 - Night Attractions

Melbourne Skydeck

8.1

Southbank · 1.1km from downtown

768 reviews

Melbourne Skydeck is located on the 88th floor, 285 m above ground. Take the express elevator and in just a few dozen seconds you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire Melbourne cityscape with no blind spots. Viewfinders are available here to accurately observe important landmarks across Melbourne. There is also The Edge glass cube, which extends out from the edge of the building—standing on it and looking down is extremely thrilling. △ Enjoy the sunset views of Melbourne △ Experience the thrilling Edge

No. 9 of Family-friendly Attractions in Australia

Melbourne Zoo

8

Parkville · 1.2km from downtown

592 reviews

Melbourne Zoo is a zoo with a long history in Australia and a wide variety of animals. Many species of wild animals are kept in natural environments. At the zoo, you can see animals unique to Australia, including koalas, kangaroos, platypuses, and seals. Featured animals include rainforest animals from Africa and Asia, such as gorillas and pygmy hippos, as well as a sweltering butterfly house filled with a variety of tropical butterflies. △ Observe how gorillas forage, socialize, and care for their young △ Learn more about the behavioral traits and living habits of wild species △ Get a close look at the platypus, a semi-aquatic animal unique to Australia

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Goldfields

Sovereign Hill

7.9

596 reviews

Sovereign Hill is an open-air museum located on the Ballarat goldfields, recreating the original appearance of a gold rush town during the first decade after gold was discovered in 1851. Walking into the park, the gravel-paved main street is lined with bakeries, candy stores, blacksmith shops, candle workshops, and old-fashioned photo studios, where staff in period costumes move about, and horse-drawn carriages occasionally pass by, transporting visitors back to the gold rush era of the 1850s. The signature experience here is gold panning: carefully sifting through creek water with a pan, and with luck, you might take home tiny gold flakes. The underground tunnels of Red Hill Mine recount the story of miners discovering the "Welcome Nugget," a gold nugget weighing nearly 70 kg. In the gold melting workshop, staff pour molten gold into bars on the spot—a truly impressive sight. The red-coated soldiers' musket-firing demonstrations along the main street and the handmade raspberry hard candy process in the candy workshop are year-round highlights. After dark, visitors can enjoy the AURA sound and light show, which tells the legend of gold. The park is spacious with many activities, so it's recommended to set aside most of a day for a leisurely visit. The main street has gravel paths, so wearing comfortable shoes is advisable. Gold panning, vintage photos, and carriage rides are particularly popular, so it's best to prioritize these upon arrival. △ It feels like traveling back to the gold rush era of the 1850s △ Observe the candy-making process up close △ Listen to the stories of the red-coated guards on Main Street

Australia · Golden Point

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

7.9

Melbourne · 850m from downtown

1k reviews

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is located on the banks of the Yarra River, with a building designed to resemble a boat moored by the river; its interior extends several meters underground and features 12 themed exploration zones, connected by a one-way visitor route that links diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical coral reefs to Antarctic ice and snow. Penguin Playground is a much-loved exhibition area in the aquarium, where you can observe king penguins and gentoo penguins up close as they swim and play in a real ice and snow environment. The circular oceanarium at the center of the aquarium is another highlight, where visitors can walk around and watch large marine life such as sharks and rays swimming beside them. The crocodile lair is home to saltwater crocodiles, which can be observed up close through an underwater viewing window. In addition, Seahorse Pier displays delicate creatures such as seahorses, squid, and weedy seadragons, the marine symbol of Victoria; the Coral Atoll presents the brilliant colors of tropical fish schools; and the Marine Invaders area is themed around jellyfish, showcasing a variety of transparent and graceful jellyfish species. The aquarium has a touch pool where you can touch intertidal creatures such as starfish by hand. Free guided talks and feeding demonstrations are held regularly every day, covering multiple exhibition areas. The aquarium also offers paid experience programs such as glass-bottom boat rides and close encounters with penguins, suitable for visitors who want a deeper understanding. A visit takes approx. two hours in total.

2026 Global 50 - Cool Water Escapes

Phillip Island

Ventnor · 78km from Melbourne

506 reviews

Phillip Island, also known as Penguin Island, is located at the entrance of Western Port Bay in southern Victoria, Australia. It is a true wildlife paradise where you can see koalas, kangaroos, penguins, seals, and many other wild animals. △ The Penguin Parade is one of the most popular attractions on Phillip Island. Here, you can hear the "huffing" sounds of the penguins up close and watch the little penguins waddle from the sea back to their burrows on land. △ Panny's Chocolate Factory is a fun and delicious attraction on Phillip Island, perfect for a family visit. You can watch the chocolate-making process and purchase them as souvenirs. △ Phillip Island Wildlife Park is home to many native species, including kangaroos, koalas, emus, and various birds. Visitors can observe these animals up close, feed kangaroos, and take photos with koalas.

No. 13 of Best Things to Do in Victoria

Twelve Apostles

666 reviews

Twelve Apostles stand in Australia inthe Great Ocean Road-adjacent Port Campbell National Park (Parks Victoria), and are the product of the Southern Ocean's waves and strong winds eroding limestone cliffs over tens of millions of years. Seawater carved caves into the cliff face, the caves widened into arches, and when the arches collapsed, they formed isolated stacks that broke away from the coast, some reaching approx. 45 m in height. These stacks were named Twelve Apostles in the 1950s—although only nine remained at the time. The name comes from Jesus' twelve apostles in the Bible, but there were never actually twelve stacks. The waves erode the limestone at approx. 2 cm per year. Stacks collapsed under wave erosion in 2005 and 2009, and this geological process is ongoing. Wooden boardwalk viewing platforms run along the cliff, allowing visitors to walk out and overlook the stacks and the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean. At sunset, the setting sun turns the stacks golden, making it one of the classic scenes along theGreat Ocean Road.

Australia · Princetown

No. 16 of Family-friendly Attractions in Australia

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4.8/5

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9D8N • Australia + Sydney + Cairns + Melbourne + Blue Mountains + Great Ocean Road + Great Barrier Reef

EnglishGuaranteed departureArr. & dep. transfers incl.Choose your hotelMultiple car types availablePrivate Tours

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EnglishGuaranteed departureArr. & dep. transfers incl.Choose your hotelMultiple car types availablePrivate Tours

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Max. 50 peopleMandarinGuaranteed departureNo mandatory shoppingTour guide includedChoose your hotelGroup Tours

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7D6N • Sydney + Melbourne

Max. 14 peopleMandarinGuaranteed departureNo mandatory shoppingTour guide includedArr. & dep. transfers incl.Choose your hotelGroup Tours

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