Looking for places to go to beat the heat?
If you’re stuck for ideas, check out my list of the 13 best places to go with kids in a Melbourne heatwave!
Things to do in a Melbourne heat wave
1. Hit the beach
Melbourne is blessed with shallow, gentle and safe bay beaches. Here are the best beaches in Melbourne for kids.
Our favourites include Altona Beach, Ricketts Point and Carrum Beach, all of which are great destinations because of their proximity to playgrounds and cafes.
Further afield check out Frankston Beach, Eastern Beach Geelong, Lorne and the beaches of the Mornington Peninsula.
2. Outdoor pool
Melbourne has lots of outdoor pools if you know where to look, and many of them are only open in the warmer weather so make the most of them.
My two favourite outdoor pools for kids is Lara Pool and North Melbourne. Both are only open in summer.
I’m not a huge of indoor pools when it’s hot but if you want to get away from the sun then Glen Eira has an awesome pirate ship facility and Aquapulse has some awesome water slides.
3. Free water play
Melbourne and surroundings have loads of free water play playgrounds where you can cool down.
Our favourites include Royal Park, Riverwalk Water Play Park, Ron Barassi Snr Park, the Children’s Garden at Royal Botanic Gardens and Australian Garden.
Click here for the ultimate list of free water play in Melbourne
4. Paid water play
Lion Gorge at Melbourne Zoo, Hippo Beach at Werribee Zoo and Badger Creek at Healesville Sanctuary all have great water play areas.
For older kids try Adventure Park in Geelong, Gumbuya World and Funfields Whittlesea.
Buy tickets to Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo or Healesville Sanctuary
5. Visit the library
Libraries are a free resource of cool entertainment. The State Library of Victoria is the most central and has an amazing Children’s Quarter with toys, games and of course books to browse (but not borrow).
Notable local libraries with great spaces for kids include Library at the Dock in Docklands, Kathleen Syme Library in Carlton and Melton Library.
Click here for the best libraries in Melbourne for kids
6. See a movie
VJunior at Village Cinemas Southland and VJunior at Village Cinemas Sunshine are cinemas designed by and for kids, with a play zone before the film, a slide, dim lighting, quieter sound and a more relaxed atmosphere.
During school terms, cinemas offer babes-in-arms sessions where you can watch the latest new releases with your baby. Hoyts, Palace, and independent cinemas such as the Sun Theatre all have babes-in-arms sessions.
See movies on the world’s second-largest IMAX screen in Carlton and you can drop into Melbourne Museum afterwards.
Best Melbourne cinemas for kids
7. Visit an art gallery
The National Gallery of Victoria always has an incredible children’s gallery installation. Previously, it was all about learning to make art like KAWS.
Artplay is a City of Melbourne children’s art and creative studio. They have paid workshops but also free drop-in events and exhibitions.
Heide Museum of Modern Art often have child-friendly exhibitions and they run regular creative workshops for kids during term time.
If you like to touch the art then head to ArtVo where the 80 interactive installations are there to be photographed for the ultimate selfie! Buy Artvo tickets
Find Accommodation near National Gallery of Victoria
8. Head to the museum
Melbourne Museum children’s gallery provides hours of entertainment both indoors and outdoors.
Scienceworks has a dedicated children’s STEM area mainly for under 5s called Ground Up, a permanent exhibition for teens Beyond Perception plus many interactive temporary and permanent exhibits.
There are also two specialist children’s museums – Museum of Play and Art in Geelong and the Melbourne Museum of Play and Art is opening soon.
9. Go to the zoo
In addition to water play Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary all have indoor play areas and undercover exhibits such as the reptile house or penguin area.
Buy tickets to Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo or Healesville Sanctuary
10. Indoor play centres
There are loads of Melbourne play centres to choose from and many offer air conditioning.
My favourite air-conditioned play centres include LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, DreamCity and Funtopia Carrum Downs.
Click here for the best indoor play centres in Melbourne
11. Go ice-skating
Rooms filled with ice are essential hot weather activities! Try ice-skating at ice rinks all over Melbourne, with the biggest being at O’Brien Group Arena in Docklands.
Buy O’Brien Ice Skating tickets
12. Bowling and arcade games
Get your daggy bowling shoes on or challenge yourself on arcade games at places like Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq.
Find some fun places to go on hot days with our list of the Best Ten Pin Bowling spots in Melbourne.
13. We all scream for ice cream
In summer, ice cream seems to be a separate food group for our family! It’s definitely become one of the most fun things to do on a hot day.
Here’s a list of the best ice cream and gelato in Melbourne. Bon appetite!
14. Get the High Score at Fortress, Melbourne
Fortress Melbourne is the largest ultimate game entertainment venue in Australia and spans over two gigantic levels inside Emporium Melbourne.
It holds 160 premium Alienware PCs, two licensed bars, private party spaces, a huge themed basement Tavern restaurant with VIP video game booths and board game areas, and much more.
The venue offers broad appeal to adults and kids and it’s a great place for kids to play games to their heart’s content.
Fortress Melbourne, 23 Caledonian Lane, Melbourne, +61 3 9606 8800
15. Visit an escape room
Beat the heat with a cerebral challenge! Dive into the air-conditioned world of Melbourne’s escape rooms, where your family can enjoy a thrilling and mind-bending experience while staying refreshingly cool.
Here’s our list of the best escape rooms in Melbourne. It’s the perfect escape offering both mental stimulation and a break from the sun.
16. Challenge your friends to laser tag
Dive into an action-packed escape from the heat at Melbourne’s laser tag arenas. Engage in high-energy battles under the cool glow of neon lights, providing a thrilling respite for the whole family.
Read our list of top Melbourne Laser Tag experiences.
17. Find a tranquil garden
Find solace in Melbourne’s lush gardens, where towering trees and shaded paths offer a serene escape. One of the most rejuvenating warm weather activities.
Take a leisurely stroll through the cool, green surroundings, providing a peaceful respite for families seeking both natural beauty and relief from the hot Melbourne weather.
Find somewhere tranquil with our post on the Best Melbourne Gardens.
18. Head to an outdoor cinema
Embrace the heat with a twist by enjoying an open-air movie experience at Melbourne’s outdoor cinemas.
As the sun sets, the warm breeze and starlit skies create the perfect backdrop for a family-friendly film night, offering a refreshing alternative to indoor entertainment during the balmy evenings. It’s one of those delightful things to do on a hot day.
Read our post with 19 outdoor cinemas in Melbourne to choose from.
19. Chill out on Puffing Billy Railway
Looking for cool outdoor activities when it’s hot? Hop aboard the Puffing Billy Railway!
Take a scenic ride through the Dandenong Ranges, where the cool breeze and stunning landscapes provide a refreshing escape from the heat.
Kids and grown-ups alike will love the vintage steam train experience.
Puffing Billy Railway, 1 Monbulk Rd Belgrave VIC 3160, (03) 9757 0700
20. Cool down with the fishies at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
Plunge into an underwater oasis at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium.
Explore mesmerizing marine life in air-conditioned comfort, providing an educational and refreshing escape for families looking for places to go when its hot.
It’s an aquatic adventure that ensures both entertainment and relief from the soaring temperatures.
Buy tickets to Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium.
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium, King St, Melbourne VIC 3000
21. Spoil the kids at a toy store
For fun things to do on a hot day, these air-conditioned wonderlands are not only a paradise for young minds but also provide a delightful escape from the summer heat.
At Melbourne Central you can find the largest LEGO® Certified Store in the Southern Hemisphere, offering a treasure trove of hot day activities.
Explore our list of the Best Melbourne Toy Stores.
Best TV shows on ABC Kids and ABC Me
Click here for more outdoor play ideas
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