Solid free playgrounds and verified family activities across six cities, pinned to a live map.

Markers are clickable. Pick right on the map

Itineraries

Itineraries planned for kids

Day trips and multi-day routes where the stops, pace and tickets suit a family.

All family itineraries →

Sydney · Day trip

Grand Pacific Drive: cliffs and the blowhole

1 day, ~240 km by car

Sydney · Day trip

Blue Mountains with kids by train: Leura and Katoomba without the crowds

~105 km from Sydney, about 2 hours each way by train, 9–10 hours

Sydney · Day trip

Central Coast with kids: crocodiles, a marine centre and Terrigal

~190 km round trip by car, 9–10 hours

Melbourne · Day trip

Werribee safari & the You Yangs

1 day, ~135 km by car

Melbourne · Day trip

Phillip Island: pelicans, koalas, a farm and the Penguin Parade

~290 km return by car, 12–13 hours, back around 11 pm

Melbourne · Day trip

Healesville Sanctuary with kids: platypus, birds of prey and chocolate

~140 km loop by car, 8–9 hours

Brisbane · Day trip

Tamborine Mountain: skywalk and glow worms

1 day, ~145 km by car

Brisbane · Day trip

Minjerribah (Straddie): whales, gorge and beaches

1 day, SeaLink ferry + ~60 km on the island

Brisbane · Day trip

Australia Zoo with kids, then sweet Montville

~85 km to the zoo and ~110 km back, 9–10 hours

Full list

Every playground and activity

A short note on each place. The map above opens them with filters.

Sydney74

  • Darling Quarter Playground

    Darling Harbour · free

    One of the country's biggest city playgrounds: a 21 m flying fox, water play and a giant slide, smack in town. Water zone roughly October to April.

    Official site

  • Ian Potter WILD PLAY Garden

    Centennial Park · free

    6,500 m² of nature play: water, a bamboo forest and a treehouse (ages 2–12). Closes each August for maintenance, so plan around it.

    Official site

  • Bungarribee Super Park

    Doonside · free

    The western super park: a 14 m tower, 50 m flying fox and 26 free BBQs. The tower is closed weekday daytimes for maintenance.

    Official site

  • Livvi's Place, Timbrell Park

    Five Dock · free

    Australia's first all-abilities playground. Fully fenced, and the wheelchair path is not an afterthought.

    Official site

  • National Maritime Museum

    Darling Harbour · A$35, child 4–15 A$25, family A$89

    Climb through a real submarine and destroyer (kids must be over 90 cm).

    Official site

  • Luna Park Sydney

    Milsons Point · free entry; ride passes priced by height, check the site

    Old-school harbourside fun park under the bridge. Open daily in school holidays.

    Official site

  • Manly ferry + пляж

    Circular Quay → Manly · Opal daily caps: child A$4.80–9.65

    Best-value harbour cruise going. Beach and fish and chips waiting at the far end.

    Official site

  • Blaxland Riverside Park

    Sydney Olympic Park · free

    A three-hectare riverside play space on the Parramatta River: a double flying fox (a parent can ride alongside), mega-swing, tunnel slides, scramble wall and a multi-level tree house. The big draw is the huge outdoor water play area, open 10am to 5pm in daylight saving time (to 4pm otherwise). Shade is limited; free barbecues.

    Official site

  • Sydney Park Playground

    Alexandria / St Peters · free

    A large, partly enclosed playground for all ages and abilities: hill slides, climbing nets, swings, bridges and sensory elements. Next door is the children's bike track by the Sydney Park Cycling Centre, with a shaded learn-to-ride area. Toilets in the park and a kiosk café on the village green.

    Official site

  • Pirrama Park Playground

    Pyrmont · free

    A harbourside playground with a big sandpit under yellow umbrellas, rope climbing frames, swings, an accessible roundabout and water play fountains (8am to 6pm, closed Tuesdays). Good for toddlers and school kids. Toilets and a café sit next to it, but it is only partly fenced.

    Official site

  • Wulaba Park Playground

    Waterloo · free

    An adventure playground in Waterloo with a giant slide, climbing tower, tunnels, nets and swings. School-age kids love the tall slide, and there are smaller corners for toddlers too. Public toilets on site.

    Official site

  • Paperbark Playground

    Parramatta Park · free

    An inclusive playground in Parramatta Park's historic gardens, inside the World Heritage area. Older kids climb the 'explorer dome' of nets, ropes and tubes; little ones have swings and a carousel. Softfall surface, wheelchair-friendly equipment, plenty of seating and a public toilet.

    Official site

  • Domain Creek Playground

    Parramatta Park · free

    A big nature-style playground on the Westmead side of Parramatta Park: flying fox, slides, swings, in-ground trampolines, sand diggers and a water pump. Older kids love the branch-and-wire mazes; toddlers are happy with sand and water.

    Official site

  • Lizard Log Playground

    Abbotsbury (Western Sydney Parklands) · free

    A nature playground in Western Sydney Parklands: climbing wall, slide, dual and single flying foxes, balance beams, giant swings and a water play deck. Carved wooden animals from local timber dot the site, and loop paths suit scooters and bikes. Toilets, including accessible ones, by the picnic shelters.

    Official site

  • Bert Payne Park

    Newport · free

    A fully fenced, accessible playground right by Newport beach and surf club. Ground-level trampoline, climbing platform with a ramp, shade cloths, barbecues and public toilets. Perfect when you need the toddler contained between a swim and lunch.

    Official site

  • Victoria Park Playground

    Camperdown · free

    A playground in the big park by the University of Sydney: long flying fox, spinning bowl, climbing nets, swings and natural elements. Shade, seating and accessible paths. The outdoor 50 m Victoria Park Pool is right next door if you want to combine the two.

    Official site

  • Prince Alfred Park

    Surry Hills · free

    A park steps from Central with two playgrounds, one of them an enclosed toddler area. Older kids like the giant balloon-themed structure and the elephant slide. The heated outdoor pool next door is open year-round; toilets are by the pool entrance.

    Official site

  • Harold Park Playground

    Forest Lodge · free

    A colourful adventure playground with an enclosed tube slide off a timber sculpture, scramble nets, swings and nature play. Sensory elements, quiet spots in tepees and under the slide, and shade sails over parts. Toilets and cafés at the neighbouring Tramsheds.

    Official site

  • Balmoral Beach

    Mosman · free

    A calm harbour beach with a shark-netted swimming enclosure, so toddlers can paddle without surf. A small playground by the wharf, Hunter Park's play equipment and lawns nearby, and toilets and change rooms at Bathers Pavilion. Big shady trees line the promenade.

    Official site

  • Chinamans Beach

    Mosman · free

    A quiet Middle Harbour beach with shallow, calm water and a big lawn behind the sand. The reserve has a children's playground, toilets and change rooms, framed by bushland. There is no shark net, and dogs are banned from the beach, so little ones can dig in peace.

    Official site

  • Shark Beach, Nielsen Park

    Vaucluse · free

    Despite the name, one of the harbour's most family-friendly beaches: a shark net in summer, calm water and shady picnic lawns behind the sand. Toilets (including accessible) and The Nielsen kiosk for coffee and sandwiches. No lifeguards, so supervise closely.

    Official site

  • Clontarf Beach

    Clontarf · free

    A family beach on Middle Harbour with a swimming enclosure and a tidal pool. The reserve has a playground, barbecues, picnic tables, toilets, showers and a café, so you can stay all day. No lifeguards, and sunny weekends get very busy.

    Official site

  • Clovelly Beach

    Clovelly · free

    A narrow inlet sheltered by a breakwater, so the water is usually pool-calm. Older kids love snorkelling with the fish, toddlers sit on the concrete terraces by the water. Lifeguard-patrolled, with an access ramp on the north side.

    Official site

  • Bronte Bogey Hole

    Bronte · free

    A natural rock pool on Bronte Beach, originally built for women and children. Big boulders break the waves, so on a calm day kids can splash at the edge. Next to it is Bronte Baths, where running and jumping are banned. The open beach has strong rips, so keep little ones close.

    Official site

  • Shelly Beach

    Manly · free

    A sunny, sheltered north-facing beach just round from Manly, with barely any waves. The big draw for kids is mask-and-snorkel: fish and marine life are visible in shallow water. The Boathouse Shelly Beach café is right there. Lifeguards are not on duty all year.

    Official site

  • Dee Why Rockpool

    Dee Why · free

    A free 50-metre ocean pool at the southern end of Dee Why Beach, with a separate shallow toddlers area. It's seawater but wave-free inside, a calm place for kids to learn to swim. Accessible toilets and showers.

    Official site

  • Mona Vale Rockpool

    Mona Vale · free

    Two ocean pools at the northern end of the beach: a small one for toddlers and a 30-metre pool for bigger kids and adults. Across the road, Apex Park has a shaded playground, kids' bike path and electric barbecues. Toilets and change rooms by the pool.

    Official site

  • Fairlight Rockpool

    Fairlight · free

    A small harbour rockpool by quiet Fairlight Beach, with a shallow paddling pool for toddlers beside the main pool. The harbour barely has waves, making it one of the calmest spots for first swims. Great for the littlest swimmers.

    Official site

  • Silver Beach Tidal Baths

    Kurnell · free

    A netted swimming area midway along long Silver Beach on Botany Bay. The bay water is calm and shallow, ideal for toddlers. Toilets, a bubbler and parking; no dogs in the baths and no lifeguards.

    Official site

  • Shelly Park Ocean Pool

    Cronulla · free

    An ocean pool on the Cronulla peninsula with a park above it: a fenced playground, barbecues and a big lawn. Council calls it a great option for parents with young children: swim, eat, then let them run inside the fence.

    Official site

  • The Grounds of Alexandria

    Alexandria · kids' menu (12 and under): breakfast $14, lunch $15

    A café on a former industrial site with gardens to wander and seasonal installations (Winnie the Pooh at the moment, Santa photos at Christmas). Kids' menu for 12 and under: mini pancakes, scrambled eggs on toast, mini pizza, fish and chips.

    Official site

  • Queens Park Kitchen

    Queens Park · kids' menu $12 to $18

    A rustic café inside Queens Park, 'Sydney's biggest backyard', next to a large fenced playground. A proper kids' menu: pancakes, granola, spaghetti, nuggets, a cheeseburger and gluten-free fish and chips. Kids play, parents get coffee on the grass.

    Official site

  • The Boathouse Balmoral

    Balmoral, Mosman · free

    A café right on the sand at Balmoral Beach with its own kids' menu and milkshakes. The netted swimming enclosure is steps away and there's a playground nearby, so breakfast and splashing can alternate all day.

    Official site

  • Oli's Cafe & Diner

    Miranda · free

    A family café in the Sutherland Shire with a kids' play area and an enclosed courtyard, so little ones play in sight while you eat. All-day brunch, specialty coffee and kids' milkshakes, with room for prams.

    Official site

  • Sideways Deli Cafe

    Dulwich Hill · kids' breakfast $11

    A neighbourhood café in Dulwich Hill with a play corner of toys and colouring-in while parents have coffee. For little ones the 'kiddies breakie': an egg, chipolata sausages and toast soldiers. The kitchen tailors kids' meals to each child's needs.

    Official site

  • Outfield Cafe

    Ashfield · free

    A café on the edge of Yeo Park's outfield, by the playground and wide open lawns. Grab a coffee, spread a rug and let the kids run. It's clearly family-minded: the catering list even has fairy bread for a whole kids' party.

    Official site

  • Sydney Park Kiosk

    St Peters · free

    A kiosk on Sydney Park's village green, a couple of minutes from the big playground and bike track. Kids' toasties, coffee for parents and a huge lawn for snacking on the grass between slides and scooter laps.

    Official site

  • Calmsley Hill City Farm

    Abbotsbury · free

    A working farm inside Sydney, open every day. Little ones hand-feed lambs and kids in the animal nursery, then watch the daily shows: cow milking, sheep shearing, working dogs, a stock whip show and a koala talk. Best for ages 2 to 8; older kids love the tractor ride.

    Official site

  • Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary

    Calga · Adult $40 online / $45 at the gate, child 3–11 $25 online / $30 at the gate, under 3 free

    A bush sanctuary an hour north of Sydney, open every day of the year. Kangaroos and emus roam freely, and rangers run daily feeding talks plus emu and kangaroo roundups. Great for kids 4+ who enjoy walking the bush tracks.

    Official site

  • Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures

    Glenworth Valley · Day Trip & Picnic Pass $15–16 per person (online), feed bag $5; petting farm sessions free for Valley visitors

    A huge outdoor adventure valley with a petting farm: Scottish Highland cows, miniature goats, emus, ducks and chickens to pat and feed. On weekends at 4:30pm the horse herd runs through the valley, a big hit with kids. Good for all ages.

    Official site

  • Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve

    Manly · Free

    A no-take marine reserve between Manly and Shelly Beach with more than 160 recorded fish species. Snorkellers spot blue gropers, giant cuttlefish and wobbegong sharks resting on the bottom close to shore. The sheltered water at Shelly Beach suits confident young swimmers from about 6.

    Official site

  • Cape Solander Lookout

    Kurnell · Vehicle entry to the Kurnell area $8 per day; no separate charge for children

    One of Sydney's best spots for land-based whale watching. Humpbacks pass from May to October, peaking in June and July, sometimes just 200 m off the cliffs. The viewing platform has whale info boards; kids 4+ love counting the spouts.

    Official site

  • Long Reef Aquatic Reserve

    Collaroy · Free

    An 80-hectare aquatic reserve around Long Reef headland. At low tide a wide rock platform opens up with rock pools where kids from 3 can spend hours looking at shells, crabs and other sea life. Everything is protected: look, but take nothing home.

    Official site

  • Powerhouse Parramatta

    Parramatta · Opening weekend 7–8 November 2026: free entry with a booked arrival time; Task Eternal is free for children under 16

    Sydney's big new science and design museum on the river in Parramatta, opening 7 November 2026. The headline show, Task Eternal, is about aviation and space and is free for under-16s, and an opening festival with workshops runs all November. Best for ages 6+.

    Official site

  • Sydney Observatory

    Millers Point · free

    A historic observatory on Observatory Hill overlooking the Harbour Bridge, with a time ball on its tower. Guided tours, including family tours, run Wednesday to Sunday. Best for space-loving kids from 6.

    Official site

  • Sydney Tower Eye

    Sydney CBD · General admission online from $29; SKYWALK closed until 12 November 2026

    An observation deck 250 metres up Sydney's tallest structure. Kids spot the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and their own suburb, and parents finally see how the city fits together. Fine for all ages; little ones love the lift ride.

    Official site

  • Madame Tussauds Sydney

    Darling Harbour · Online from $38 adults and $28 children 2–15; under 2 free

    The wax museum on Aquarium Wharf. Kids 5+ love the Marvel zone, where you can try on Iron Man's suit, and the interactive Justice League zone, plus selfies with stars and sports heroes. A good rainy-day pick.

    Official site

  • Splashers Playground

    Sydney Olympic Park · Included in Aquatic Centre pool admission

    A heated indoor water playground at the Olympic Aquatic Centre, open all year. Toddlers get an interactive play zone and kid-size slides, a giant bucket tips water onto shrieking kids, and over-120 cm kids can ride the waterslide and the Rapid River Ride.

    Official site

  • Cockatoo Island

    Sydney Harbour · Free admission; you only pay the Opal ferry fare

    An island in the middle of the harbour with a UNESCO-listed convict site and an old dockyard full of huge workshops and cranes. Kids 5+ treat it like an adventure game, and a night at the waterfront campground turns it into a real trip.

    Official site

  • F1 Manly ferry

    Circular Quay / Manly · Opal: ages 4–15 pay child fares, 3 and under free; child daily cap $4.80 Friday to Sunday and public holidays, $9.65 Monday to Thursday

    Sydney kids' favourite ride: the big ferry sails from Circular Quay past the Opera House right across the harbour to Manly, with a gentle roll where it crosses the open-ocean heads. It's regular public transport that feels like a cruise. All ages.

    Official site

  • F3 Parramatta River ferry

    Circular Quay / Parramatta · Opal: ages 4–15 pay child fares, 3 and under free; child daily cap $4.80 Friday to Sunday and public holidays

    A long river trip from Circular Quay up the Parramatta River: under the Harbour Bridge, past Cockatoo Island, mangrove banks and Olympic Park, all the way to central Parramatta. Kids wave at boats and count bridges; best for ages 3 to 10.

    Official site

  • Sydney Metro

    Chatswood / Sydenham · Opal: ages 4–15 pay child fares, 3 and under free

    Australia's first fully automated driverless trains, so in the front carriage you can sit right at the front window and watch the train dive into the tunnel under the harbour. Kids from 2 will happily ride back and forth just for fun.

    Official site

  • Sydney Live Steam Locomotive Society

    West Ryde · Entry $6 adults, $3 children, babies free (ticket still required); rides $2.50 each

    A miniature live-steam railway club where kids ride astride small trains on a real miniature track. The volunteer drivers love talking about their locomotives. Pure joy for toddlers from 2 and every Thomas fan.

    Official site

  • NSW Rail Museum

    Thirlmere · Museum: $15 adult, $10 child 2–17; museum plus train ride: $35 adult, $25 child

    A railway museum with an undercover hall of historic trains and real 40-minute steam train rides from heritage Thirlmere Station. Steam trains run every weekend and in school holidays, and toddlers get the weekly Tots & Tracks program. Ages 2+.

    Official site

  • Riverboat Postman

    Brooklyn · free

    The historic Hawkesbury River mailboat that delivers mail and supplies to outlying riverside communities. Kids watch mail bags handed straight onto jetties, with steep forested banks all around. About three hours round trip; best for ages 5+.

    Official site

  • Zig Zag Railway

    Clarence (Lithgow) · Adult $46.50, child 3–16 $30, family (2+2) $140, under 3 on a lap free (prices as at 1 January 2025)

    The famous zig-zag mountain railway in the Blue Mountains is carrying passengers again: 4 rides a day, 7 days a week. The train descends through tunnels and over stone viaducts, and the return trip to Bottom Points takes 90 minutes. Ages 3+.

    Official site

  • Sydney Royal Easter Show

    Sydney Olympic Park · 2026 prices: adult from $47, child 4–15 from $35, 3 and under free; same-day return public transport was included. 2027 prices not yet published

    The family fair of the year: 19–30 March 2027 at Sydney Showground. Farm animals and baby animals, competitions, arena shows and rides, plus the famous showbags. Kids of every age look forward to it all year.

    Official site

  • Vivid Sydney

    Circular Quay · The outdoor light installations are free; some events are ticketed

    The festival of light, 28 May to 19 June 2027: the Opera House, bridges and buildings around the harbour become giant glowing artworks. Kids love the interactive installations, and in winter it gets dark early, so evening walks can start before dinner. All ages.

    Official site

  • Santa's Sydney sleigh ride and tree lighting

    Martin Place · Free

    The start of Christmas in the city: on 26 November 2026 Santa arrives in Martin Place and the big tree is lit. The same evening the Canopy of Light switches on in Pitt Street Mall. For kids from 2 it's the most magical pre-Christmas night.

    Official site

  • Sydney New Year's Eve 9pm fireworks

    Sydney Harbour · Many vantage points are free; some areas are ticketed

    On New Year's Eve the harbour has two fireworks shows, at 9pm and midnight. The early 9pm show is made for kids: they see the fireworks over the Harbour Bridge and still get to bed at a sensible hour. The vantage points guide has a family-friendly activities section.

    Official site

  • Australia Day Ferrython and Mega Kidz Zone

    Circular Quay · Mega Kidz Zone free; watching the Ferrython from the shore is free

    On Australia Day, 26 January 2027, Sydney's ferries race across the harbour in the Ferrython from 12:10 to 12:30pm, and the free Mega Kidz Zone at Circular Quay runs 10:30am to 4pm with inflatables and games. Great for ages 3 to 10.

    Official site

  • Taronga Zoo

    Mosman · A$51.30 online, child 4–15 A$29.70

    Harbourside zoo: arrive by ferry, ride the Sky Safari cable car to the top.

    Official site

  • SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

    Darling Harbour · from A$39, child from A$26 (online, in advance); A$57 and A$42 on the day

    Underwater tunnels, rays and a dugong: the classic rainy-day kids outing.

    Official site

  • Australian Museum

    College St · free

    Australia's oldest museum (1827): dinosaurs, minerals and First Nations culture. General entry is free.

    Official site

  • Stockton Bight Sand Dunes

    Anna Bay, Port Stephens · sandboarding with Port Stephens 4WD Tours A$45, ~1 h

    The largest moving coastal dunes in the Southern Hemisphere, running 32 km along Stockton Beach. This is Worimi land, and the board tours leave from Anna Bay.

    Official site

  • Imagine Cruises Dolphin Watch

    Nelson Bay, Port Stephens · adult A$50, child 4–14 A$30, 1.5 h

    A 90-minute sail on a catamaran out to the bay's bottlenose dolphins. About 100 dolphins live in Port Stephens.

    Official site

  • Questacon

    Canberra, Parkes · free

    The national science centre where everything is hands-on: slides, lightning, earthquakes. With kids it is Canberra's top stop.

    Official site

  • Sydney Zoo

    Bungarribee · free

    A large zoo in Western Sydney Parklands, separate from Taronga. Open daily 9:00 to 17:00. Check the site for the day ticket, which moves.

    Official site

  • Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park

    Doonside · adult A$49, child 3 to 15 A$29, under 3 free

    An Australian wildlife park in Doonside: koalas, kangaroos and reptiles. Online tickets are usually about 10% less.

    Official site

  • WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo

    Darling Harbour · weekday advance: adult A$39, child A$26; weekends, holidays and same-day: A$49 and A$36

    An indoor zoo of Australian animals at Darling Harbour, across the plaza from SEA LIFE. Under 16s must be with an adult. Under 1 is free.

    Official site

  • Australian Reptile Park

    Somersby · adult A$58.99 at the gate, A$53.99 online. Child prices are on the site. Shows are included.

    A reptile park at Somersby, about an hour north of Sydney on the Pacific Highway. Snake and spider shows are included.

    Official site

  • Symbio Wildlife Park

    Helensburgh · adult A$49, child 3 to 15 A$32 online

    A family park below Helensburgh: koalas, kangaroos you can hand-feed, and meerkats. Two hours covers it.

    Official site

  • Australian National Maritime Museum

    Darling Harbour · adult A$35, child 4 to 15 A$25, family A$89

    You can climb through a real submarine and a destroyer. Children need to be at least 90 cm tall for the vessels.

    Official site
Melbourne48

  • Nature Play at Royal Park

    Parkville · free

    Nature play themed on the seven Wurundjeri seasons: a climbing forest, escarpment slides, sand and water.

    Official site

  • Booran Reserve

    Glen Huntly · free

    Built in a decommissioned reservoir: Australia's first 10 m rope dome, a dual flying fox and in-ground trampolines.

    Official site

  • Ron Barassi Snr Park

    Docklands · free

    Timber cone slide-tower in white sand, water play under the Bolte Bridge. Docklands' waterfront playground, easy to underestimate.

    Official site

  • Hays Paddock

    Kew East · free

    One of the country's first all-abilities playgrounds, renewed in 2024: a sensory water zone and shaded sand play.

    Official site

  • Casey Fields Playspace

    Cranbourne East · free

    Three hectares of play by the lakes: hillside slides, sand zones and accessible paths.

    Official site

  • Scienceworks

    Spotswood · A$15, children 16 & under free

    Hands-on science museum. On a wet Melbourne day, kids vanish in here for hours.

    Official site

  • Collingwood Children's Farm

    Abbotsford · A$20, child 2–17 A$10

    A real inner-city farm on the Yarra. Goats, cows and morning animal encounters, no glass boxes.

    Official site

  • LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

    Chadstone · online from A$28.80; after 2pm from A$25.20

    Indoor LEGO rides and build zones at Chadstone, pre-book a timed entry.

    Official site

  • The Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden

    South Yarra · Free

    A garden scaled for children inside the Royal Botanic Gardens: a gorge, a rainforest ruin, a huge 'grandmother tree', bamboo and a kitchen garden showing how food grows. Kids climb, hide and crawl. Best for ages 2–10, especially in spring and summer.

    Official site

  • Jells Park Playscape

    Wheelers Hill · Free

    A Parks Victoria playscape modelled on the Dandenong Creek valley: a blue 'creek' path winds down to water-play tables and a 'bay' sandpit, plus a rope spider web, a granite maze with kangaroo carvings, bird echo chambers and accessible swings. Good for ages 2–12.

    Official site

  • Wombat Bend Playground

    Templestowe Lower · Free

    A much-loved regional playground by the Yarra, designed with the local community: inclusive layout, a nature-play zone for building cubbies from branches, sand, slides and flying foxes, with a picnic and BBQ area next door. Suits toddlers up to about 12.

    Official site

  • SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

    Melbourne CBD · Online: adult from A$39, child 2–15 from A$25, under 2 free

    An aquarium on the Yarra: king and gentoo penguins, a bay of rays and Port Jackson sharks, a glowing night reef, jellyfish and Melbourne's only saltwater crocodile. Kids 2–10 happily spend 2–3 hours, toddlers stick to the penguins.

    Official site

  • CERES Community Environment Park

    Brunswick East · Free entry

    An eco park on Merri Creek: 200+ free-range chooks, veggie gardens, a wildlife dam, the Terra Wonder Playspace with a climbing mound, and a café. Big market every Saturday. Kids 1–10 love everything from the chickens to the garden beds.

    Official site

  • Bundoora Park Farm

    Bundoora · Adult A$12, child 2–16 A$8, under 2 free

    Darebin Council's children's farm in a big northern park: cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and ponies, donkeys, alpacas and llamas, plus kangaroos and emus. Animals can be fed with farm-supplied feed. Great for toddlers to 10-year-olds, with a café and kids' menu at the gate.

    Official site

  • Myuna Farm

    Doveton · Entry A$10, family of four A$39; train or pony ride A$3.60

    Casey Council's community children's farm in the south-east: baby animals to pat, kangaroos and other natives, llamas and a community garden. The big hit with kids aged 2–8 is a ride on the little train or a pony for a few dollars.

    Official site

  • Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

    Pearcedale · Day: adult A$37, child 4–17 A$19, under 4 free, family A$99

    A sanctuary on the Mornington Peninsula with 70+ Australian species: hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, see koalas, wombats, quokkas, dingoes, Tasmanian devils and owls. Evening lantern-lit tours visit the nocturnal animals. Great for ages 3–12.

    Official site

  • ACMI

    Federation Square · Free entry, some exhibitions and sessions ticketed

    A museum of film, TV and videogames at Federation Square. The free permanent exhibition, The Story of the Moving Image, is hands-on: interactive screens, playable games and animation. Kids 6+ can spend hours, and The Lens lets them save favourite objects.

    Official site

  • Polly Woodside

    South Wharf · Open day: adult A$16, child 3–15 A$9.50, family A$43; Pirate Day: adult A$25, child A$15

    A real 1885 three-masted barque that rounded Cape Horn 16 times, moored at South Wharf. On the third Sunday of each month it hosts Pirate Day: kids in costume scrub the deck, haul ropes, get a pirate name and washable tattoo, and hunt for treasure. Best for ages 4–10.

    Official site

  • City Circle Tram (Route 35)

    Melbourne CBD · Free, no myki needed

    A free loop on heritage maroon W-class trams with audio commentary: Parliament House, State Library, Docklands, Federation Square, Melbourne Museum and the aquarium. For kids aged 2–8, riding a wooden heritage tram is the adventure itself.

    Official site

  • Diamond Valley Railway

    Eltham · A$5 per ride, under 2 free

    A volunteer-run miniature railway in Eltham Lower Park: small steam and diesel locos pull riders around a track with bridges, a tunnel and stations. Kids aged 2–8 want ride after ride, and there's a big park for a picnic next door.

    Official site

  • Melbourne River Cruises: City Highlights Express

    Federation Wharf · Adult A$35, child 3–16 A$20, family A$100, 2 and under free

    A 45–50 minute Yarra cruise with live commentary: downstream to Queens Bridge and Southbank, then upstream past the Botanic Gardens to Punt Road. Just the right length for ages 3–10, and bridges, rowers and towers look different from the water.

    Official site

  • Melbourne Royal Show

    Flemington · free

    Melbourne's big 11-day agricultural show: thousands of animals, an Animal Nursery with kid goats, lambs and piglets, working-dog shows, carnival rides, 400+ showbags and nightly fireworks. In 2026 there was even a PAW Patrol Playland. For kids of all ages.

    Official site

  • Moomba Festival

    Birrarung Marr · Free entry, rides cost extra

    Australia's largest free community festival, running since 1955: a parade, carnival rides in the riverside gardens, water shows and the famous Birdman Rally, where people in homemade wings leap into the Yarra. Kids aged 3–12 love the parade and rides.

    Official site

  • Gumbuya World

    Tynong North · free

    A theme park south-east of Melbourne with everything in one place: 8 water slides, 3 rollercoasters, 9 rides, 2 live shows and 70+ animals from koalas to kangaroos. There are zones for little ones and teens, so it works for families with kids aged 3–14.

    Official site

  • SuperPark Highpoint

    Maribyrnong · 2 hours: A$35 weekends and holidays, A$30 off-peak weekdays; grip socks A$3.50; under 2 free

    A huge indoor activity park in Highpoint shopping centre: a 50 m pedal-car track, Adventure City with slides and tunnels 6 metres up, a soft-play Mini-Adventure City with a ball pit, jump-to-play digital games and bowling. A rainy-day lifesaver for ages 2–12.

    Official site

  • Rush HQ

    Rowville · All access (over 110cm): 2 hours A$31; Junior Jumper (under 110cm): 2 hours A$19; grip socks A$4

    An indoor trampoline and adventure park: 100+ interconnected trampolines, a ninja course, The Gauntlet ropes course, climbing, dodgeball and slam-dunk lanes. Little ones from 18 months and under 110cm get their own inflatable castle zone.

    Official site

  • Old Melbourne Gaol

    Melbourne CBD · Adult A$38, child 5–15 A$22, family A$90; Watch House +A$7

    Victoria's oldest prison, where Ned Kelly was held. The highlight for school kids is Life in the City Watch House: a 'Charge Sergeant' playfully 'arrests' visitors, leads them through the cells and ends with a mug shot. Best for ages 8+ who love outlaw stories.

    Official site

  • NGV Kids at NGV International

    Southbank · Free entry, some exhibitions ticketed

    The National Gallery of Victoria runs a dedicated kids' program: participatory children's exhibitions, free activity sheets for the collection, under-5s sessions and school-holiday events. Kids love touching the water wall at the entrance. Good for ages 3–12.

    Official site

  • Williamstown Beach

    Williamstown · Free

    A wide sandy beach on the western side of the bay with city views. A shallow sandbar fronts the shore: at low tide you can wade 100 m before it gets deep, so toddlers can splash safely. A lifesaving club has been here since 1922, with a park and picnic area nearby. Good for ages 1–10.

    Official site

  • Altona Beach

    Altona · Free

    A long, calm beach with a 500 m pier and one of the lowest hazard ratings on the bay. The sand flats are perfect for little ones: wade and hunt for shells at low tide, swim at high tide. Playground and facilities near the pier. For kids from age 1.

    Official site

  • Elwood Beach

    Elwood · Free

    A well-kept city beach south of St Kilda: shallow inshore bars, easy parking, accessible water entry and skyline views. Kids aged 3–12 love the shallows, and in summer Elwood Life Saving Club runs its Nippers program for young beachgoers.

    Official site

  • Seaford Beach

    Seaford · Free

    A long sandy beach behind a strip of bushy dunes that locals see as the family option: quieter than Frankston, with a pier and a lifesaving club dating from 1919. In calm weather the inshore bar is shallow and great for little splashers. Good for ages 2–10.

    Official site

  • Minta Hilltop Fantasy Playground

    Berwick · Free

    A fairy-tale hilltop playground in the Minta estate: a three-level timber castle with slides, climbing walls and tunnels, Excalibur in the stone, a life-size steel knight's horse and a 'Sherwood Forest' with teepees. Residents voted for the theme. For ages 2–12.

    Official site

  • Wattle Park Playscape

    Burwood · Free

    A park steeped in tram history: its 1928 chalet was built from old tram engine houses and real W-class trams sit nearby. The playscape has a double-storey tram fort, play domes, swings, spinners, slides and sensory play, accessible with assistance. For ages 2–10.

    Official site

  • Funtopia & Mr Spriggins Cafe

    Carrum Downs · free

    A huge indoor play centre with the Mr Spriggins restaurant: parents get specialty coffee and breakfast while the play areas are in view of the tables. A five-storey playground, climbing arena, enclosed toddler world and Messy Studio sensory play. For ages 1–12.

    Official site

  • Matthew Flinders Hotel

    Chadstone · free

    A classic Aussie family pub bistro near Chadstone: a huge kids' play area with its own bowling arcade and a dedicated kids' menu. While adults enjoy a steak or pub classics in peace, kids aged 3–12 disappear into the play zone for hours.

    Official site

  • Berwick Springs Hotel: Kid's Planet

    Berwick · free

    A south-east family pub bistro with its own indoor playground, Kid's Planet: kids run, climb and slide in a safe play hall while parents eat nearby. There's a kids' menu, and it hosts children's birthday parties too. For ages 2–10.

    Official site

  • Fitzroy Gardens Playground

    East Melbourne · Free

    A creature-filled playground in historic Fitzroy Gardens: kids slide down a giant dragon's tail, swing on the giraffe's ears and check the dragon glowing in the dark. Sandpit, plenty of shade and a toilet nearby. Ideal for ages 2–8 in the middle of a city walk.

    Official site

  • Carlton Gardens North Playground

    Carlton · Free

    A big maze-style playground inspired by 19th-century garden mazes, right behind Melbourne Museum: red walls, multi-level towers, slides, a climbing wall, musical elements, swings, a track glide and a sandpit. Enough for half a day with kids 3–10, plus a toilet and basketball court.

    Official site

  • Lincoln Square Playground

    Carlton · Free

    A playground rebuilt in 2021 beneath giant Moreton Bay figs: two tall towers joined by a rope bridge, a rainforest-floor walk among ferns, balance beams, speaking tubes, giant music chimes and water play. Lots of shade, good for ages 3–10.

    Official site

  • Melbourne Zoo

    Parkville · from A$54.50, child 4–15 from A$28.50; kids free on weekends and Vic school holidays

    Australia's oldest zoo (1862), 10 minutes from the CBD.

    Official site

  • Melbourne Museum

    Carlton Gardens · A$18, under-16 free

    The Southern Hemisphere's largest museum: dinosaurs, an indoor forest and a children's gallery.

    Official site

  • Пингвины пирса St Kilda

    St Kilda Pier · free

    A little-penguin colony lives right off the city pier. The new pier (2024) made the viewing platform fully accessible.

    Official site

  • Luna Park Melbourne

    St Kilda · unlimited rides 13+ A$57, ages 4–12 A$47; entry only A$30 (at the ticket box)

    The 1912 fun park with the Great Scenic Railway, the world's oldest continually operating wooden coaster.

    Official site

  • Puffing Billy

    Belgrave · A$66 return to Lakeside, children A$33

    The steam train from Belgrave into the hills. The daily Lakeside train takes about an hour each way and lands you at Emerald Lake.

    Official site

  • Squeaky Beach

    Wilsons Promontory · free

    A white beach between granite boulders, the most photographed at Wilsons Prom. The round quartz grains squeak underfoot.

    Official site

  • Werribee Open Range Zoo

    Werribee · from A$54.50. Kids free on weekends and Victorian school holidays. The safari bus is included.

    An open-range zoo on the Werribee plains: giraffes, zebras and rhinos on open grassland, and now the Elephant Trail, home to nine Asian elephants. The free safari bus is included.

    Official site

  • Healesville Sanctuary

    Healesville · adult from A$58. Child 4 to 15 free on weekends and holidays, from A$29 on weekdays. Under 4 free.

    A Zoos Victoria sanctuary in the Yarra Valley: platypus, devils and birds. Open 9:00 to 17:00. Book ahead, including babies.

    Official site
Brisbane33

  • Riverside Green + Aquativity

    South Bank · free

    South Bank's flagship: tower slides plus the free, patrolled Aquativity water play (the Streets Beach lagoon is under maintenance).

    Official site

  • Frew Park Arena

    Milton · free

    The award-winning deconstructed tennis stadium: an 8 m commentary box and a mega tube slide.

    Official site

  • Hidden World

    Fitzgibbon · free

    A story-themed park of prehistoric marsupial mice: a bridge tower, sandworms and an all-abilities carousel.

    Official site

  • Calamvale District Park

    Calamvale · free

    A huge adventure playground: an enclosed slide, wobbly bridges, a flying fox and wetland boardwalks.

    Official site

  • Wheel of Brisbane

    South Bank · A$19, child 4–12 A$13.50

    Fifteen minutes in a climate-controlled gondola above South Bank, views in any weather.

    Official site

  • CityCat по реке

    вся река · 50 cents; under-5 free, ages 5–14 free on weekends

    Ride the Brisbane River end to end by catamaran for half a dollar. Hard to beat as a city thrill.

    Official site

  • GOMA Children's Art Centre

    South Brisbane · free

    Free interactive kids exhibitions inside the modern-art gallery (current show to 13 Sep 2026).

    Official site

  • Streets Beach

    South Bank · Free

    A real white-sand beach with palm trees right across the river from the CBD towers. No waves or rips, shady shallows for toddlers and a deeper lagoon for older kids. Patrolled by professional lifeguards seven days a week and free to use. Great for ages 1 to 10.

    Official site

  • Settlement Cove Lagoon

    Redcliffe · Free

    A palm-lined tropical lagoon on the Redcliffe foreshore overlooking Moreton Bay. Little ones get a children's pool up to 0.3 m deep with mushroom and gecko fountains, plus a nearby playground with swings and a slide. Free, no bookings. Ideal for ages 1 to 8.

    Official site

  • Wynnum Wading Pool & Aqua Park

    Wynnum · Free

    A heritage tidal wading pool on Moreton Bay with the Wynnum Aqua Park next door: water-spouting whales, a splash tower with a tipping bucket and a toddler zone with a bubbling stream, plus a playground. All free, great for ages 1 to 9.

    Official site

  • New Farm Park

    New Farm · Free

    A big riverside park with two playgrounds, one of them properly adventurous, plus picnic lawns, electric barbecues, a coffee kiosk, a bandstand rotunda and a rose garden, with its own ferry terminal. Good for ages 2 to 10 and a long family day.

    Official site

  • Daisy Hill Koala Centre

    Daisy Hill · Free

    A free centre in eucalypt forest where you watch koalas from a raised walkway over their enclosure. Inside is an interactive display about koala life, and rangers give free talks daily at 11am and 2pm. Forest trails and picnic spots around. Suits ages 2 to 12.

    Official site

  • Queensland Museum Kurilpa

    South Brisbane · Free entry; SparkLab and some exhibitions are ticketed

    Queensland's state museum at South Bank with free entry: the state's nature, history and culture, with children's activities and interactives built into the exhibitions. Family room with a change table, lifts to every level and pram-friendly. Good for ages 3 to 12, rain or heat.

    Official site

  • Queensland Maritime Museum

    South Brisbane · Adult $18, child (under 15) $8, family $42–50

    One of Australia's largest maritime museums, under the Goodwill Bridge. The big thrill is clambering over the WWII frigate HMAS Diamantina, from the bridge to the captain's cabin and crew quarters, plus the historic lugger Penguin and riverside cannons. Best for ages 5 to 12.

    Official site

  • Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

    Mt Coot-tha · Free entry; dome shows adult $17.50, child (3–14) $11; children's show $11 for everyone

    A planetarium inside the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha: free to wander in, with star and space shows in the Cosmic Skydome. A shorter children's show at a flat $11 keeps little ones from getting restless. Suits ages 3 and up.

    Official site

  • Brisbane Tramway Museum

    Ferny Grove · free

    A volunteer-run museum where you ride Brisbane's preserved heritage trams through bushland. Kids ring the bell, watch the motorman work and explore the trams in the depot. Open to the public since 1980; allow about two hours. For ages 2 to 10.

    Official site

  • Tangalooma Beach Day Cruise

    Moreton Island · Adult from $109, child (3–14) from $79; Extended option $159/$119

    A day at sea: a catamaran across Moreton Bay Marine Park to Moreton Island, with white sand, clear water and the Tangalooma Wrecks offshore. Includes access to the resort's two pools and a lunch voucher. Kids aged 4 to 14 love both the crossing and the beach.

    Official site

  • Rocks Riverside Park

    Seventeen Mile Rocks · Free

    A 26-hectare riverside park with two playgrounds, a water play area, a jumping pillow, paths for bikes and scooters and a huge lawn for running around. Local families spend whole days here with a barbecue. Suits ages 2 to 12.

    Official site

  • Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha: Hide 'n' Seek Children's Trail

    Mt Coot-tha · Free

    Queensland's premier 56-hectare botanic gardens, free to enter. Kids follow the Hide 'n' Seek Children's Trail map full of surprises, plus there's the Tropical Display Dome, the Japanese Garden and paths through rainforest, woodland and wetland. For ages 3 to 10.

    Official site

  • Brisbane Koala Bushlands

    Burbank · Free

    A chance to spot wild koalas in the trees rather than in an enclosure: a network of eucalypt forest and rainforest pockets from Belmont to Burbank protecting key koala habitat. Kids hunt for grey bundles in the forks of branches along the trails, then picnic. Ages 4 to 12.

    Official site

  • Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway

    Swanbank (Ipswich) · free

    A real heritage train in timber carriages from the early 1900s: the 75-minute Collier Run passes bushland, old mining relics and horse paddocks to Bundamba Racecourse station and back. The whistles, steam and clatter thrill kids aged 3 to 10.

    Official site

  • Tiddlywinks Dance and Play Cafe

    Nundah · Kids 1–4 $15.95, 5–11 $17.95; adults and under-1s free

    A café and play centre in one: a three-storey indoor playground, a separate toddler area and two kids' disco sessions per visit while parents sit with a coffee. A lifesaver on rainy or very hot days, especially for ages 1 to 8.

    Official site

  • Peach Cafe

    Auchenflower · free

    A cosy neighbourhood café right next to a playground, so kids play a few steps away while parents finish their coffee and breakfast. Relaxed, without the bustle of big venues. A good weekend-morning pick for ages 1 to 7.

    Official site

  • The Corner, State Library of Queensland

    South Brisbane · Free drop-in; some special workshops ticketed

    State Library's playful learning space for ages 0 to 8: daily songs and stories, a messy-play art studio, giant building blocks, book nooks and a garden courtyard. Free drop-in, perfect for escaping heat or rain.

    Official site

  • Ekka (Royal Queensland Show)

    Bowen Hills · free

    Queensland's great agricultural show since 1876: 10,000 animals from cattle to cats and dogs, giant vegetables and woodchop contests, carnival rides and the famous showbags. Over 400,000 visitors a year. Ekka 2027 runs 7 to 15 August, fun for all ages.

    Official site

  • Riverfire

    Brisbane River · Free

    Brisbane's biggest fireworks show over the river and the Story Bridge, visible from both banks. It's a free highlight of Brisbane Festival, with families picnicking along the riverside. The next Riverfire is Saturday 4 September 2027, for ages 3 and up.

    Official site

  • Brisbane Festival

    South Bank · Many free events; ticketed shows

    A three-week city arts festival with a dedicated family strand of shows and installations, plus circus, music and dance. Plenty is free to enjoy just by wandering South Bank and the city. Brisbane Festival 2027 runs 3 to 25 September, for ages 3 and up.

    Official site

  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

    Fig Tree Pocket · A$63, child 3–13 A$45, family A$193

    The world's first koala sanctuary (1927): kangaroos roam free and eat from your hand, koalas sit at eye level, plus sheepdog and bird-of-prey shows.

    Official site

  • SparkLab, Sciencentre

    South Brisbane · A$16.50, child 5–15 A$13.50, age 3–4 A$5, family A$50

    The hands-on science lab on level 1 of Queensland Museum Kurilpa, built for ages 6–13: everything is there to touch, spin and launch. The museum itself is free and open daily 9:30am–5pm.

    Official site

  • Eli Creek

    K'gari, 75 Mile Beach · free

    A clear freshwater creek that runs straight out onto the ocean beach. A boardwalk follows it, and people float back down the current.

    Official site

  • Australia Zoo

    Beerwah · adult A$77.45, child 3–14 A$51.95, under-3s free

    The Irwin family zoo at Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast, about an hour from Brisbane: over 1,200 animals, the Crocoseum show, a peek into the wildlife hospital and a kids' splash park. Open daily 9am–5pm.

    Official site

  • Riverside Green and Aquativity

    South Bank · free

    South Bank's main kids zone: the tower-and-slide playground on Riverside Green and the free Aquativity water play, whose features tell the story of the river, its mullet and dugongs.

    Official site

  • Hidden World Playground

    Fitzgibbon · free

    A park about prehistoric marsupial mice: a tower of bridges, sand creatures and a carousel a wheelchair can use.

    Official site
Perth32

  • Rio Tinto Naturescape

    Kings Park · free

    Bush play that sets the bar: a creek, climbable islands and cubbies. Winter hours 9am–4pm; closed Mondays.

    Official site

  • Pia's Place, Whiteman Park

    Whiteman · free

    8,000 m² of all-abilities play: a lighthouse slide tower, a Liberty Swing and an accessible carousel; entry and parking free.

    Official site

  • Moort-ak Waadiny (Wellington Sq)

    East Perth · free

    An award-winning 3,000 m²: towers, a flying fox, embankment slides, a pump track and parkour.

    Official site

  • Piney Lakes Sensory Park

    Winthrop · free

    An inclusive sensory playground: accessible water and sand tables among sensory planting.

    Official site

  • Scitech

    West Perth · A$28, child 4–17 A$19

    Hands-on science centre with a planetarium. On a rainy Perth July day, it saves the outing.

    Official site

  • WA Maritime Museum

    Fremantle · A$15, children 15 & under free

    The real HMAS Ovens submarine at Victoria Quay; kids go free.

    Official site

  • Rottnest: день с квокками

    паром из Fremantle · ex-Fremantle A$85.50, child 4–12 A$44.50 (same-day return incl. admission)

    Selfies with the planet's smiliest animal; winter crossings can be lumpy.

    Official site

  • Hillarys Boat Harbour

    Hillarys · Free

    A beach inside the harbour walls, sheltered from waves and current: shallow, calm water that suits toddlers. A shaded playground sits right on the sand, and older kids swim out to a pontoon with slides. Cafés, ice cream and AQWA are steps away.

    Official site

  • Coogee Beach

    Coogee · Free

    A quiet beach by the heritage jetty with a netted swimming enclosure about 300 by 75 metres. Waves are usually small and the water clear, with pontoons in summer. On shore: a playground, lawns, BBQs and showers, so you can stay till sunset.

    Official site

  • Bathers Beach

    Fremantle · Free

    A small beach right below the Round House, WA's oldest surviving building, at the entrance to Fremantle Harbour. It is usually calmer than the ocean beaches, and kids love watching the boats and ships. A perfect stop between a Fremantle stroll and the Maritime Museum.

  • Adventure World

    Bibra Lake · free

    Perth's big theme park: thrill coasters for brave teens, gentle rides for little ones such as Little Leaper, plus a large water park with pools and slides. It runs seasonally from spring to autumn; the 2026/27 season opened on 26 September 2026.

    Official site

  • WA Museum Boola Bardip

    Perth Cultural Centre · Under-16s free, adults $15

    A huge city museum where Otto the blue whale skeleton hangs overhead, with the Otto's Symphony show three times a day. Under-5s get daily Curious Kids sensory play and stories. Dinosaurs, meteorites and Australian wildlife keep school-age kids hooked too.

    Official site

  • Aviation Heritage Museum

    Bull Creek · Adults $17.50, kids over 5 $9, under-5s free, family $40

    One of Australia's largest aviation collections: huge hangars of military and civil aircraft you can see up close. Kids get the hands-on Young Aviators zone, and teens love the Macchi VR experience that puts them in the pilot's seat.

    Official site

  • Gravity Discovery Centre

    Gingin · Adults $23, kids 5–15 $15, under-5s free

    A science centre in the bush where kids climb the Leaning Tower of Gingin and repeat Galileo's falling-objects experiment themselves. There is a 1 km scale Solar System Walk, a hands-on forces gallery and a weekend night observatory.

    Official site

  • The Perth Mint

    East Perth · free

    A historic mint where real gold is poured in front of visitors. Kids are spellbound by the world's biggest gold coin, weighing a tonne, and the world's largest gold bar. Best for school-age kids from about 6 who wonder where money comes from.

    Official site

  • Yanchep National Park

    Yanchep · Entry $17 per vehicle

    A national park with a boardwalk for spotting koalas in the gums (the first joey in 15 years was born here recently). Kangaroos graze the lawns, guided tours go into Crystal Cave, there are Play Trails scavenger hunts and a treetop ropes course.

    Official site

  • Kanyana Wildlife

    Lesmurdie · Adults $25, kids 3–15 $15, family $70

    A wildlife rescue centre in the Perth Hills. On a two-hour tour kids meet bilbies, echidnas, owls and possums, peek into a working wildlife hospital and learn how injured animals are cared for. Touching and educational for kids from about 4.

    Official site

  • Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm

    Henley Brook · Adults $22, kids 2–15 $16.50, under-2s free

    A farm where little ones get right in among kids, piglets and lambs, with bottle and bucket feeding included in entry. Also included: a tractor or train ride, an undercover bouncy castle, a playground and one merry-go-round ride per child. Best for ages 2 to 8.

    Official site

  • Ivey Watson Playground

    Kings Park · Free

    Kings Park's favourite playground for the littlest ones: a pirate ship, a castle and a fire truck for pretend play, all designed for under-6s. Shady lawns and free electric BBQs surround it, and Koorak Cafe opens right onto the playground.

    Official site

  • Variety Place

    Kings Park · Free

    A wooden playground under shady trees: a fort, climbing net, bridges, tunnels and balance logs, with insects carved into the furniture for kids to hunt for. It was designed with children with disabilities in mind, so it works for everyone.

    Official site

  • BHP Water Park

    Elizabeth Quay · Free

    A splash play area with fountains plus an ocean-themed playground right on the Elizabeth Quay waterfront. On hot days kids dash through the jets while parents grab a coffee nearby. The South Perth ferry leaves from here, so it pairs well with a river trip.

    Official site

  • Transperth Ferry Elizabeth Quay to Mends Street

    Elizabeth Quay · Standard Transperth fare: $2.40 cash, less on SmartRider, concession $1.10

    Perth's cheapest river cruise: the regular city ferry across the Swan River from Elizabeth Quay to Mends Street Jetty in South Perth. Kids love the water and skyline views, and Perth Zoo is a walk away on the other side.

    Official site

  • Bennett Brook Railway

    Whiteman Park · Adults $12, kids 4–14 $6, family tickets available

    A narrow-gauge heritage railway where volunteers run vintage trains through 6 km of Whiteman Park banksia woodland. Little ones love the whistle and open carriages, and from May to September steam engines sometimes run on weekends.

    Official site

  • Whiteman Park Electric Tram Rides

    Whiteman Park · Adults $6, kids $3, pay the conductor

    A genuine heritage electric tram runs along 4 km of track through Whiteman Park's picnic lawns and farmland. Kids love watching the conductor swing the trolley pole at each end. It stops right by Pia's Place playground.

    Official site

  • Koorak Cafe

    Kings Park · free

    A Kings Park café that opens straight onto Ivey Watson Playground with its pirate ship and castle. Parents have breakfast and coffee without losing sight of the kids, and takeaway works for a picnic on the lawn. Open seven days.

    Official site

  • Perth Royal Show

    Claremont · free

    Western Australia's big agricultural show: farm animals, competitions, carnival rides and famous showbags. Kids pat lambs and calves, ride the Sideshow Alley attractions and watch evening shows. The 2027 show runs 25 September to 2 October.

    Official site

  • Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe

    Cottesloe · free

    A display of giant sculptures right on the sand and rocks of Cottesloe Beach. Kids race from piece to piece, pick a favourite, take photos and then jump in the sea. Modern art without museum hush. In 2027 it runs 5 to 22 March.

    Official site

  • Rottnest Island (паром)

    Barrack St Jetty · A$135.50 return from the city, A$87.50 from Fremantle, island admission included

    Quokka island: you cycle between turquoise bays, snorkel and take that selfie with Australia's smiliest animal. There are almost no cars on the island.

    Official site

  • Perth Zoo

    South Perth · A$40, child 4–15 A$20

    A zoo on the Swan's south bank: Australian wildlife, African savannah and Asian rainforest. Ten minutes by ferry from the city, then a short walk.

    Official site

  • AQWA

    Hillarys Boat Harbour · A$37 all-day

    The Aquarium of Western Australia at Hillarys: the state's 12,000 km of coastline under one roof, and the Shipwreck Coast tunnel with sharks and rays.

    Official site

  • Caversham Wildlife Park

    Swan Valley · adult A$39, child 3 to 14 A$18

    A hands-on wildlife park inside Whiteman Park: kangaroos wander among visitors and eat from your hand, with koalas, wombats and Molly's Farmyard show next door.

    Official site

  • Moort-ak Waadiny

    East Perth · free

    The Wellington Square playground: towers, a flying fox, embankment slides, a pump track and parkour. About 3,000 square metres, free to enter.

    Official site
Gold Coast33

  • Broadwater Parklands

    Southport · free

    The free Rockpools water play (winter 9am–4pm), the all-abilities Peninsula playground and a swim enclosure.

    Official site

  • Kurrawa Pratten Park

    Broadbeach · free

    The coast's first all-abilities playground, beachfront: fenced, a huge hill slide and wheelchair-height sand play.

    Official site

  • Pirate Park, Palm Beach

    Palm Beach · free

    Rebuilt A$1.4M pirate ship on Currumbin Creek. Mega slide, flying fox and cannons, no half measures.

    Official site

  • Laguna Park

    Palm Beach · free

    Fully fenced lakeside play: a pirate ship, a pedal-powered monorail and a toddler zone.

    Official site

  • Warner Bros. Movie World

    Oxenford · from A$129 a day (cheaper online; child = 3–13)

    DC heroes, Looney Tunes and the Junior Driving School; open year-round.

    Official site

  • SkyPoint для детей

    Surfers Paradise · from A$33 (fixed date)

    Level 77 in any weather. Easy with a pram, and the view stretches to Byron.

    Official site

  • iFLY Indoor Skydiving

    Surfers Paradise · 2 flights A$99 online; from age 3

    Real indoor skydiving from age three, a winter thrill without the open sky.

    Official site

  • Tallebudgera Creek

    Burleigh Heads · Free

    A local family favourite: a calm, sparkling creek mouth between Burleigh Heads National Park and the ocean beach. The creek itself is waveless, so toddlers splash at the edge while older kids swim, kayak and paddleboard. Parkland with shade, tables, toilets and showers beside it. From age 1.

    Official site

  • Greenmount Beach

    Coolangatta · Free

    A wide beach sheltered by the headland at the southern tip of the Gold Coast, with a laid-back small-town feel. Lifeguards patrol every day all year, with parkland, barbecues, shade and showers behind. In winter the headland walk can reveal dolphins and migrating whales. From age 2.

    Official site

  • Paradise Point Parklands

    Paradise Point · Free

    An upgraded inclusive park on the Broadwater: two jellyfish-themed climbing towers with slides and nets, swings, a carousel, an inground trampoline and toddler play, plus a low obstacle-course playground for early walkers. There's also a netted swimming enclosure with shade sails on the beach. Ages 1 to 10.

    Official site

  • Aquaduck Gold Coast

    Surfers Paradise · Adult $65, child $49, family $185

    A one-hour amphibious bus tour: first through the streets of Surfers Paradise, then a big splash into the river where it becomes a boat. The highlight is that kids get to drive the Duck on the water. Live commentary, fine for all ages, best for 4 to 10.

    Official site

  • Sea World Cruises Whale Watching

    Main Beach · Adult from $89 (web offer); child prices on the website

    A cruise out to sea to meet the humpback whales that migrate past the Gold Coast every year. Seeing a live whale from the deck is something kids remember for years. If you don't spot one, you get a free return cruise valid for 12 months. Allow up to 2.5 hours; best for kids 5 and up.

    Official site

  • Jellurgal Little Explorers

    Burleigh Heads · Child $39, adult $19

    A 90-minute program for ages 5 to 12 at Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre: an Aboriginal art workshop where kids learn the symbols and paint their own piece, then a guided walk into Burleigh Head National Park along Tallebudgera Creek with Dreaming stories. Kids take home their artwork and activity book.

    Official site

  • Doodlebugs Indoor Play Centre

    Miami · Kids 1–5 $13, 6–12 $14; adults and under-1s free

    An air-conditioned indoor play centre with play structures and a separate toddler zone, while parents watch from the café with a coffee. A lifesaver on rainy or scorching days when the beach is off. Best for ages 1 to 8.

    Official site

  • Bella's Wonderland

    Southport · free

    A kids' café and play centre under one roof: children run around the play zones while parents enjoy coffee, milkshakes, waffles and tacos in the Kids Café with a clear view. Babies under 6 months enter free. Good for hot or wet days, ages 1 to 8.

    Official site

  • Gold Coast Show

    Southport · free

    The annual show on the Broadwater: woodchop, show dogs, Dock Dogs leaping into the water, equestrian events, homecrafts and rides, with fireworks over the water every night at 6.45pm. The 2027 show runs 27 to 29 August, fun for all ages.

    Official site

  • SWELL Sculpture Festival

    Currumbin · Free

    For ten days giant sculptures stand on the sand and along the Currumbin foreshore, on a 1.5 km walk from Currumbin Alley to Flat Rock, Tugun. Kids get their own SWELL Kids Elements zone, and some works light up at night. Open around the clock and free. Usually mid-September; 2026 ran 11 to 20 September.

    Official site

  • Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast

    Oxenford · free

    The Gold Coast's biggest water park: thrill slides like Black Hole and Tornado plus the new four-slide Zoom Zone (opened December 2025) for braver kids, and the Wet'n'Wild Junior area with a play structure and small slides for little ones. Open year-round, best for ages 3 to 14.

    Official site

  • Paradise Country

    Oxenford · free

    An Aussie farm experience: kids feed kangaroos, watch the sheep dog show and sheep shearing, and for an extra fee you can have a photo with a koala. Gentle and family-paced, a nice break between the big theme parks. For ages 2 to 10.

    Official site

  • Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens (Rosser Park)

    Benowa · Free

    A peaceful botanic garden with a natural-timber playground: climbing frame, big slide and toddler slide, balance pieces and swings. Around it are the Butterfly Garden, a Sensory Garden to touch and smell plants, lake boardwalks and the Kaialgumm Games Trail of traditional Aboriginal children's games. Ages 2 to 10.

    Official site

  • Timezone Surfers Paradise

    Surfers Paradise · free

    A big entertainment venue in the Paradise Centre: prize arcade games, bumper cars, laser tag, Glow Golf, mini bowling for little ones and full bowling, plus the interactive ColourGrid. A rainy-day or heatwave saviour, best for ages 5 to 14.

    Official site

  • Currumbin Beach & Elephant Rock

    Currumbin · Free

    A classic ocean beach patrolled every day all year, with Elephant Rock right on the sand: kids love climbing the stairs to the lookout on top, with views to Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta. Shade, showers and cafés along the foreshore. From age 3.

    Official site

  • Rainbow Bay

    Coolangatta · Free

    A cosy beach at the southern tip by the famous Snapper Rocks surf break, where pros ride the waves. Kids watch the surfers from the sand and swim in the patrolled area, with lifeguards every day all year. Parkland with barbecues, shade and showers behind. From age 2.

    Official site

  • Upper Coomera Adventure Parklands Mountain Bike Trail

    Upper Coomera · Free

    A kids-friendly bike trail rebuilt after Tropical Cyclone Alfred and reopened in June 2026: 1.1 km of green (beginner) riding. The top loop has small jumps and B-lines, the bottom section adds berms and bigger jumps. A great place for 6 to 12 year olds to build confidence on a bike.

    Official site

  • Point Danger

    Coolangatta · Free

    A headland right on the Queensland and New South Wales border, where kids love standing with a foot in each state. On top are the Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse and views north to Surfers Paradise and south to Byron Bay. A short outing, fine from age 3.

    Official site

  • Gold Coast Marathon 2km Junior Dash

    Southport · 2027 entry price TBC

    A 2 km kids' race inside one of Australia's biggest marathons: children aged 5 to 14 run the real thing, with race bibs and a big sporting-festival buzz. A great goal for family training runs and a reason to visit in winter. In 2027 it's on Saturday 3 July.

    Official site

  • SkyPoint Observation Deck

    Q1, Surfers Paradise · from A$33 online, the outdoor SkyPoint Climb from A$89

    Level 77 of the Q1 tower: 360° views from 230 m, from the New South Wales border to the green hinterland. For the brave there is Australia's highest external building climb.

    Official site

  • Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

    Currumbin · from A$50 online, Astra Lumina night walk from A$30

    A not-for-profit sanctuary and wildlife hospital: koalas, kangaroos, crocs and the famous wild rainbow-lorikeet feeding. Open daily 9am–4pm.

    Official site

  • Sea World

    Main Beach · from ~A$105 online (single day)

    The marine park on The Spit: dolphins, penguins and rides.

    Official site

  • Dreamworld

    Coomera · A$99 dated day ticket, A$109 flexible; annual pass A$149

    Australia's largest theme park: coasters like the Steel Taipan, the big cats of Tiger Island and the new family precinct Rivertown with Jungle Rush. WhiteWater World next door has the same owner.

    Official site

  • David Fleay Wildlife Park

    Burleigh Heads · A$21.50, child A$9.65

    A state-run wildlife park where rangers, not entertainers, show you around: platypus, cassowaries, crocs and enclosures that look like real rainforest and bush. Without the big-park crowds.

    Official site

  • Pirate Park

    Palm Beach · free

    A pirate-ship playground in Palm Beach Parklands: ropes and interactive panels under the hull, rope bridges up top, a mega slide, a plank to walk, a flying fox and cannons. Free.

    Official site
Hobart26

  • Kingston Park Playground

    Kingston · free

    Nine age zones: the dual flying fox launches from a giant Tasmanian long-eared bat sculpture.

    Official site

  • Legacy Park

    Queens Domain · free

    Terraces echoing kunanyi's Organ Pipes: bouldering, cave slides and free public pizza ovens.

    Official site

  • Waterworks Reserve

    South Hobart · free

    Reserve around 1860s reservoirs: play plus covered BBQ huts. Best winter shelter in town, full stop.

    Official site

  • Long Beach Reserve

    Sandy Bay · free

    A beachside park with upgraded accessible play and BBQs. Derwent sunsets included.

    Official site

  • Mawson's Huts Replica Museum

    набережная · A$15, child 6–16 A$5, family A$35

    Full-size replica of Mawson's 1911 Antarctic hut. Warm shelter from a Hobart winter, and oddly gripping.

    Official site

  • MONA + паром

    Berriedale · museum: under-12 free; ferry return from A$30

    For kids the ferry is often the highlight. There's a children's library inside; flip on the app's content flags.

    Official site

  • Hobart Zoo & Aquarium

    Brighton · A$37, child 2–15 A$21, family A$102

    Safari bus, animal feeds and Tasmania's biggest indoor aquarium zone. Open daily 9–5.

    Official site

  • Kingston Beach

    Kingston Beach · Free

    Hobart's main family beach to the south, at the mouth of Browns River on the Derwent. The foreshore has playgrounds, a bike park and BBQs, with shops nearby. Kingston Beach Surf Life Saving Club patrols from December to April, which makes swimming easier on nerves.

  • Bellerive Beach

    Bellerive · Free

    A long beach on the Derwent's eastern shore with calm water and views of Hobart and kunanyi. Little ones dig in the sand and paddle in the shallows, and Bellerive Beach Park has a playground. Kangaroo Bay's cafés are just around the corner.

    Official site

  • Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery

    Hobart CBD · Free

    Tasmania's main museum, a short walk from the waterfront: island nature, history and art under one roof. Entry is free, so you can pop in for an hour and leave before anyone gets tired. There's a parents' room.

    Official site

  • Maritime Museum of Tasmania

    Hobart CBD · Kids 12 and under free with an adult, adults $16, family $32

    A compact maritime museum by the harbour: ship models, wheels, navigation instruments and tales of whalers and Antarctic voyages. A perfect hour for ship-loving kids from about 5, then go and see the real boats in the dock.

    Official site

  • Tasmanian Transport Museum

    Glenorchy · Entry $12, kids $6; steam train to Berriedale incl. entry $18, kids $11

    A museum of old trains, trams and buses with a heritage station, signal box and turntable. On selected Sundays you can ride a steam train to Berriedale, a diesel railcar or a vintage bus. A dream for any train-mad kid from about 3.

    Official site

  • Bruny Island Cruises

    Adventure Bay, Bruny Island · 3-hour cruise: adults $190, kids 3–16 $115, family $590

    A three-hour fast-boat cruise along Bruny's sheer sea cliffs: a big seal colony at the Friars, often dolphins, albatross and sea eagles, and whales in season. Children of all ages are welcome aboard; sightings aren't guaranteed, but they're the norm.

    Official site

  • Derwent Ferries

    Hobart waterfront · free

    The regular commuter ferry across the Derwent from Brooke Street Pier to Bellerive in 15 minutes, which kids treat as a proper sea voyage. You see the Tasman Bridge, kunanyi and the whole harbour from the water, and Bellerive Beach with its playground waits on the other side.

    Official site

  • Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

    Queens Domain · Free

    Fourteen hectares of lawns and paths for kids to run free, plus the Subantarctic Plant House where you feel the chill and mist of the subantarctic islands. The Japanese garden has a pond with a wooden footbridge, and the kiosk does ice cream and snacks.

    Official site

  • Rivulet Cafe

    South Hobart · free

    An affordable South Hobart café with a fenced playground: kids play safely while parents enjoy coffee or hot chocolate. There's plenty of room inside and out even for a pram crowd, and a playgroup meets in the playground next door on weekday mornings.

    Official site

  • kunanyi / Mount Wellington

    Wellington Park · Free

    A 1,271 m mountain right above Hobart; drive or take a shuttle to the summit. Up top it's wind, boulders and a view over the whole city, and in winter there's often snow for a first snowman. Halfway up, The Springs has short easy walks and Lost Freight café.

    Official site

  • Montrose Foreshore Community Park

    Montrose · Free

    A park on Elwick Bay with a playground, electric BBQs and a picnic shelter. It's the start of GASP, a sealed path and boardwalk along the water past dunes, wetlands and sculptures, easy with a pram or balance bike and good for birdwatching.

    Official site

  • Salamanca Market

    Battery Point · Free entry

    Hobart's famous Saturday market beneath the old sandstone warehouses of Salamanca Place. Kids watch buskers, pick handmade toys and sweets, and parents graze on Tasmanian food. It runs nearly every Saturday of the year, a ready-made morning plan.

    Official site

  • Taste of Summer

    Hobart waterfront · free

    Hobart's waterfront summer food festival, formerly Taste of Tasmania: dozens of stalls of Tasmanian produce, music and holiday buzz between Christmas and New Year. Kids love the ice cream, berries and evening gigs by the water. Dates: 27 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.

    Official site

  • Royal Hobart Show

    Queens Domain · 2026: adults $20, kids 5+ $12, family $50, under-5s free

    Tasmania's big agricultural show: waterfront carnival rides, Showbag Alley, main-stage shows, a pet parade and street food from around the island. The 2026 show runs 22 to 24 October, and Thursday 22 October is a Hobart public holiday.

    Official site

  • Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

    Brighton, 25 мин от Хобарта · A$37, child 6–17 A$22, family A$105

    Tasmanian devils, wombats and free-roaming kangaroos; four free guided tours daily.

    Official site

  • Richmond village

    25 мин от Хобарта · free

    Australia's oldest bridge still in use (1825), the Amaze hedge maze and a legendary lolly shop.

  • Tasmania Zoo

    Riverside · A$43, child 2–15 A$26, family (2+2) A$125

    A private hillside zoo in the Tamar Valley, about 20 minutes from Launceston: more than 100 species, from Tasmanian devils to big cats, and the second-largest primate collection of any private zoo in Australia.

    Official site

  • Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary

    Mole Creek · adult A$35, child 3 to 15 A$20, family 2+2 A$99. Tours at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 are included.

    A family-run sanctuary near Mole Creek and one of the longest-running devil breeding centres: devils, wombats and roos you can meet up close. Open 9am–5pm except Christmas Day.

    Official site

  • Devils@Cradle

    Cradle Mountain · adult A$27.50, child 4 to 15 A$15, family 2+2 A$80. The day keeper tour is included.

    A devil and quoll park at Cradle Mountain. Open 9:30 to 17:00 except Christmas Day. Aim to enter by 16:30.

    Official site

Data verified: July 2026, against council and operator sites. Expanded to 240+ places on 16 October 2026: beaches and pools, animals, ferries and trains, kid-friendly cafés and events.

Data sources

Playgrounds and schedules are checked against official sources, but check the council or operator site before a long trip. Seasonal closures happen.

See also: itineraries, including family routes · restaurants & coffee · the family suburb picker