If you’re looking for indoor fun when it’s cold/wet/too hot, head to ArtVo Melbourne at Level 1 of The District Docklands with your camera.
If your kids have ever wanted to surf a massive wave, float through outer space, or come face-to-face with a wild animal, ArtVo is the place. Australia’s first immersive trick-art gallery, it spans over 1,400 square metres across a range of themed zones, and the whole thing is self-guided — so you can spend as long (or as little) as you like in each section.
I’ve visited a few time, and my contributor Amy recently took my 3 and 5-year-old girls and was genuinely surprised by how into it they got. Something about giant painted walls made them forget themselves entirely.
Visiting ArtVo Melbourne with Kids
The current theme is Fantasy — taking you through the ocean, and the forest, with some dreamscape art that includes interactive experiences. The murals are massive and painted directly onto the walls and floors, so you physically walk into them.
Each wall has a marked spot on the ground showing exactly where to stand, what phone orientation to use, and a sample photo so you know what to aim for.
Even young kids can follow the prompts and pull off a great shot.
The gallery refreshes its artworks regularly, so even if you’ve been before, there’s a good chance you’ll see something new. The latest refresh involved 15 artists, 1,000 litres of paint, and 800 hours of work — so it’s a significant update, not just a few tweaks.
With the trick eye photography, you can ride the waves….
….join the circus….
….or meet Totoro!
Lady AB and Baby 2.0 are sometimes reluctant photo models, but they really enjoy their time posing at ArtVo!
They both race around the gallery in high excitement, making silly poses in front of their favourite 3D murals and then taking photos of each other using my iPhone.
Highlights for Kids
The trick-art format is genuinely accessible for all ages. Kids don’t need to understand art to get it — they just need to stand in the right spot and pull a face.
Some of the best spots for younger kids:
- The space and ocean zones are huge crowd-pleasers — my kids wanted to redo both twice
- Any mural where they can “hold” something giant or stand inside a bubble works brilliantly for little ones
- The staff are genuinely helpful and will get down on the floor with kids to help line up the shot
Staff assist with framing and angles, so even photography beginners get good results. That’s handy if you’ve got a toddler on one hip and you’re trying to be in the photo at the same time.
Older kids (8 and up) tend to get really creative with it — trying out different poses, experimenting with the perspective effects, and honestly getting more ambitious than the adults.
Each wall in the 3D Museum produces a fun 3D effect when a photo is taken from a designated ‘photo spot’ and by positioning your smartphone to portrait or landscape mode.
There are handy prompts on the ground directing you where to stand, what orientation to have on your phone and example photos to help you get the best out of the murals.
With the directions, even a kid can shoot some amazing photos!
What Parents Need to Know
Tickets
Adults are $35, children aged 5–15 are $25, and under-5s are free. Family passes start at $70 for one adult and two children, up to $95 for two adults and two children. Book online in advance — it’s cheaper and means you’re not scrambling at the door.
Toilets
This is the big one: there are no toilets inside the ArtVo gallery itself. You need to use the bathrooms in The District Docklands shopping centre before you scan your tickets and go in. Re-entry isn’t permitted once you leave. Sort this out before you enter, especially with little ones.
Pram and wheelchair access
Yes, the whole gallery is on one level and is fully accessible.
Food
There’s no café on site but The District has plenty of food options if you want to make a bigger outing of it.
Parking
The District Docklands East and West Car Parks are both undercover, multi-level, and have auto-pay options. If you’re driving on a weekday, it’s an easy run. Weekends can be busier, especially if there’s something else on at the precinct.
Getting there without a car
The City Circle free tram stops right outside the shopping centre — take Tram 70 or Tram 86 to The District D11 stop. If you’re coming from the city, you can also walk over the Bourke Street Pedestrian Bridge from Southern Cross Station.
What to wear
Some of the best illusions require sitting or lying on the floor. Put the kids in pants rather than dresses if you can — it makes a real difference to how many murals they can fully participate in.
Photography tips
Bring a phone with a decent camera and make sure someone else is holding it — selfies don’t work for the 3D effect. The prompts on the floor show you where the photographer needs to stand, and it’s usually a bit further back than you’d expect.
Some of the backgrounds are more effective than others – we like the wine glass and anything in a jar!
Our Experience
We spend just over an hour inside. The kids could have kept going, but we started losing the plot a little towards the end of the gallery.
The photos are genuinely great. Not just “cute kids in front of a mural” but actually convincing optical illusions. We show them to family and people were asking how we’d done it.
My one honest note: some murals are more effective than others. The ones where you’re “inside” a container — a jar, a glass, a bubble — tend to photograph really well. The wider scenic ones can be a bit harder to nail without getting the angle exactly right.
It is open 7 days a week and is a great indoor activity for the whole family in Melbourne.
ArtVo Melbourne FAQs
Is ArtVo suitable for young kids?
Yes. Under-4s get in free and can absolutely enjoy it, though they’ll need a parent in every shot. Kids aged 5 and up can follow the floor prompts independently and get the most out of it.
What age group does ArtVo suit best?
The gallery works well for ages 3 to adult. The sweet spot for families is probably 5–12, though teenagers and adults have just as much fun.
How much time should we allow for our visit?
Allow around 60–90 minutes. An hour is plenty for younger kids; older kids and adults who want to nail every shot might take closer to 90 minutes.
Is there parking?
Yes there is undercover parking at The District Docklands.
Is the venue accessible?
Yes the venue is wheelchair and pram accessible and is all on one level.
Are there toilets inside ArtVo?
No. Use the bathrooms in The District Docklands shopping centre before you enter — re-entry is not permitted once you leave.
Is there parking at The District Docklands?
Yes, there’s undercover multi-level parking at both the East and West Car Parks. You can also get there for free by tram (Tram 70 or 86 to D11).
Can I buy tickets at the door?
Yes, but booking online in advance is recommended, especially during school holidays.
How often does ArtVo change its artworks?
Some artworks are refreshed roughly every few months. The gallery just completed a good overhaul in early June 2026, so everything is brand new right now.
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