Melbourne CBD and Southbank are filled with great family experiences that are located within a relatively small area that you can walk around (or get to easily via free trams). And a good chunk of them cost nothing.
The Southbank arts precinct, Federation Square, and the riverfront all connect on foot, and the big cultural draws — ACMI, both NGV locations, the Immigration Museum — have free entry to their permanent collections. You can put together a full day on a tight budget and layer in the paid experiences.
This guide covers the CBD and Southbank as one connected family destination. It links out to our full reviews and round-ups for every category: cafes, playgrounds, free things to do and where to stay.
Table of Contents
Practical info at a glance
Getting there: The CBD is the hub of Melbourne’s public transport network.
The City Loop train stations (Flinders Street station, Southern Cross station, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central and Parliament) plus two of the Melbourne Metro Tunnel stations (State Library and Town Hall) between them serve every metropolitan train line.
Trams run free throughout the entire CBD and most of Southbank — no need to touch on or off with a Myki card within the Free Tram Zone.
Timing tips: The Children’s Quarter at the State Library of Victoria hosts free weekly Storytime sessions — check the State Library website for current times before you visit, as sessions book out.
The NGV Children’s Gallery is most manageable on weekday mornings during school term, when excursion groups are less likely to coincide with your visit.
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is a popular wet-weather destination so arrive early on rainy school holiday days or expect queues.
Free things to do in Melbourne CBD with kids
The CBD has more free family destinations and experiences than most people realise.
Visiting the State Library of Victoria’s Children’s Quarter is free. narrm ngarrgu library, Queen Victoria Market is Melbourne CBD’s other free library worth knowing about — a whole floor dedicated to children and a storytime program, right next to Queen Victoria Market.
Both branches of the NGV offer free entry to their standing collections, and Artplay at Fed Square runs a mix of free drop-in events and paid workshops throughout the year.
The Immigration Museum charges entry for adults but children are always free — and Museums Victoria members get free entry.
The City Circle Tram is free to ride and loops the outer CBD — a fun experience for kids who love trams, though worth knowing the heritage W-class carriages aren’t pram-friendly.
MPavilion brings free public programming to Queen Alexandra Gardens each season when it’s in operation — check their website for the current year’s program.
Read our guide: Free Things to Do in Melbourne CBD with Kids
Indoor play and rainy day ideas in Melbourne CBD
When the weather turns, Melbourne CBD has good options across a range of ages and energy levels.
For active kids who need to move, Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq QV Melbourne at QV Melbourne has arcade games, VR, and carnival-style fun, and Hijinx Hotel QV Melbourne is next door with challenge rooms that work well for kids aged 6 and up.
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium suits a wider age range and fills at least half a day with sharks, penguins, touch pools, and a 4D cinema, all undercover.
If you want something immersive but lower-key, ACMI‘s permanent exhibition is free and keeps screen-loving kids engaged for a couple of hours.
Read our guide: Best Indoor Play and Rainy Day Ideas In Melbourne CBD
Family-friendly cafes and restaurants in Melbourne CBD
Finding somewhere to eat in the city with kids takes a bit of local knowledge. The CBD has plenty of laneway and rooftop spots that unfortunately don’t work well with prams or noise levels.
Our guide covers the CBD north of the river with options that have the things families need: space, high chairs, menu items suitable for younger palates and somewhere to sit without feeling rushed.
Read our guide: 25 Best Family Restaurants Melbourne CBD
Parks and playgrounds in Melbourne CBD
Green, outdoor play spaces in the CBD are more plentiful than it looks on a map.
The Artplay Playground, tucked along the Yarra between Federation Square and the MCG, is best for kids aged around 5 and up, though there are baby swings and a sandpit for younger ones.
At the other end of the CBD, Flagstaff Gardens has a solid playground alongside large open lawns and picnic facilities, and sits directly opposite Queen Victoria Market. It’s easy to combine the two in one morning.
Queen Alexandra Gardens along the riverfront adds more open space and the Riverslide Skate Park, worth knowing about for older kids and teens.
Read our guide: Best parks and playgrounds in Melbourne CBD
Where to stay in Melbourne CBD with kids
A city staycation is one of the easiest ways to get more from a CBD trip — you can do morning and afternoon sessions at different venues without the drive home in between.
Our full hotel guide covers family-friendly options across Melbourne, with several CBD picks that offer interconnecting rooms, pools, or proximity to the main family precincts around Federation Square and Southbank.
Read our guide: 27 Best Family Hotels in Melbourne
Not sure where to start?
These are the venues that we recommend as an anchor for family day in Melbourne CBD.
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium sits on the Yarra riverfront at the western end of Flinders Street. It’s a full half-day for most families and the covered, climate-controlled layout makes it one of the most reliable wet-weather options in the city. Read our full review: SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
ACMI at Federation Square is free to enter and the permanent exhibition The Story of the Moving Image is one of the best family experiences in Melbourne for kids who love screens, stories, games, or film. Interactive elements include a Foley sound studio, retro arcade games, and animation-making stations. It works across a wide age range, though kids from about 6 upwards get the most from the exhibition content. Read our full review: ACMI: The Story of the Moving Image
The State Library of Victoria is worth visiting for the Children’s Quarter alone. It’s a stunning two-level space with a storybook castle, reading nooks and free Storytime sessions. It’s one of the best free stops in the city for under-5s, and older kids can explore the Ian Potter Queen’s Hall, one of Melbourne’s most striking heritage rooms. Read our full review: Children’s Quarter, State Library of Victoria
Artplay is a City of Melbourne children’s art studio with a rolling program of free and paid creative workshops for kids 0–12. Next door is the Artplay Playground, which suits older kids more than toddlers but has enough in the sandpit and swing area for little ones. Check what’s on at Artplay before you go — the program changes regularly. Read our full review: Artplay Playground
The NGV Children’s Gallery runs a rotating free installation. The quality is consistently high, and across both NGV locations there’s almost always something on for families. NGV Australia sits at Federation Square and NGV International is on St Kilda Road, an easy walk across Princes Bridge from the CBD. Read our full review: NGV Children’s Gallery
Also worth your time
The Immigration Museum on Flinders Street is housed in the beautifully restored Old Customs House. Children always get in free, and Museums Victoria members get free adult entry too. The exhibitions work best for upper primary school-aged kids (and see if you can spot Joyce inside one of the exhibitions!). Read our full review: Immigration Museum Melbourne
The Koorie Heritage Trust at Federation Square runs cultural programs and guided walks for families and is one of the most accessible introductions to First Nations culture in Melbourne. Read our guide: Koorie Heritage Trust
Melbourne Skydeck at Eureka Tower in Southbank takes families to the 88th floor for 360-degree views across the city and bay. The Edge — a glass cube that slides out from the building — is for those who want a thrill, and the Voyager Theatre adds a VR experience that works well for older children. Read our full review: Melbourne Skydeck
Arts Centre Melbourne on St Kilda Road runs family programs and backstage tours. The tour is particularly good for kids curious about how performance and theatre come together. Read our guide: Arts Centre Melbourne Backstage Tours
Queen Victoria Market, in the north of the CBD grid, is one of the world’s best fresh food markets and on Wednesday nights throughout the year you can visit the Summer Night Market or Winter Night Market. It’s easy to pair with Flagstaff Gardens playground, which is directly opposite. Read our guide: Queen Victoria Market with kids.
How to plan your visit
A morning-and-afternoon structure works well in the CBD. A good combination: Federation Square in the morning with ACMI or a wander through the Koorie Heritage Trust, lunch at Good Nature Hotel or one of the other Federation Square eateries, then the Artplay Playground in the afternoon.
For older kids or a longer stay, SEA LIFE, Melbourne Skydeck and the Immigration Museum each earn their own half-day.
Read our guide: Federation Square with Kids
Getting to Melbourne CBD with kids
Every metropolitan train line runs through the City Loop train stations (Flinders Street station, Southern Cross station, Flagstaff, Melbourne Central and Parliament) plus two of the Melbourne Metro Tunnel stations (State Library and Town Hall).
Once you’re in the city, trams are free across the CBD and most of Southbank. Just hop on and off without a Myki as you move between Federation Square, Southbank, and the northern end of the grid around the State Library and Queen Victoria Market.
If you’re driving in, parking varies significantly by location and day. Individual venue reviews include parking notes specific to each area.
