Can you believe it’s the last week of August – that means it’s officially the end of Winter!
This weekend gear up for White Night Reimagined, a three-day extravaganza of art, culture, music and food in Melbourne’s CBD. We’re going to be focusing on the Treasury Gardens precinct, as the kids are keen on experiencing the Pollution Pods after our visit to the other installations in Science Gallery’s Disposable program.
To make the most of your wintery fun visit the Winter Igloo Garden or the Winter Village and the last week of the Winter Night Market Queen Victoria Market.
Plus sit by the fireplace at The Westin Melbourne’s Wonka Bar and indulge in sweet treats inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE CBD/DOCKLANDS
- White Night Reimagined (Thu 22 Aug – Sat 24 Aug) – White Night extended to three days in three Melbourne CBD locations and cultural institutions.
- Marvel: Journey of Heroes (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 29 Sep) – free exhibition showcasing each of Marvel’s eight decades, starting with its origins as Timely Comics. Read my review.
- Terracotta Warriors and Cai Guo-Qiang (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 13 Oct) – Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality is a large-scale presentation of the Qin Emperor’s Terracotta Warriors. Presented in parallel, Cai Guo-Qiang: The Transient Landscape, will see contemporary artist, Cai Guo-Qiang, create all new art works inspired by his home country’s culture and its enduring philosophical traditions. Read my review and Buy discount tickets to the Terracotta Warriors here.
- A Fairy Tale in Red Times NGV (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 6 Oct) – free exhibition of contemporary Chinese art from Sydney’s White Rabbit Gallery. Read my review.
- Wonka Bar (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 31 Jan) – Enjoy scrumdiddlyumptious desserts, candylicious cocktails and a Wonkariffic kids high tea for kids inspired by the musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Read my review.
- Blakheart (Sat 24 Aug) – nine hour party of First Nations creativity including art, dance music and more.
- Terracotta Warriors High Tea (Sat 24 Aug – Sun 25 Aug) – luxurious Chinese-themed high tea where you can paint your own chocolate terracotta warrior. Read my review
- Under 8s Ice Fun at Medibank Icehouse (Sun 25 Aug) – unique toddler experience in shoes or skates.
- AFL Sunday Funday (Sun 24 Aug) – free entry for kids and activities on at Sunday AFL games.
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 1 Dec) – musical of Roald Dahl’s iconic book. Read my review.
- LEGO Sea Explorers SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium (Fri 12 Aug – Fri 19 Sep) – Build, draw, colour and create with LEGO bricks. Read my review.
- The Winter Village (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 29 Sep) – ice rink, food & drink pop up bars, a mega igloo dining hall and an Igloo Village of 21 cosy igloos. Read my review.
- Riverslide Skate Park Learn2Ride (Sun 25 Aug) – Riverslide Skate Park runs regular skateboard, BMX and scooter lessons for beginners as well as more experienced riders.
- The District Makers Market (Sun 25 Aug) – creative and colourful market stalls showcasing a variety of art, craft, jewellery, homewares, gifts and artisanal produce.
- Winter Night Market Queen Victoria Market (Wed 28 Aug) – crackling fires, mulled wine and a revolving line-up of roving entertainers and live music, over 30 street vendors and designer and artisan stalls. Read my review.
- Ned Kelly Tour (Wed 28 Aug) – Discover the story of Victoria’s infamous bushranger Ned Kelly, read pages from the Jerilderie letter and see photos and historic objects related to his life.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S NORTH / NORTH-EAST
- Disposable (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 31 Aug) – Science Gallery’s pop up exhibition all about waste and finding creative solutions to our throwaway culture. Full review.
- Free Kids Activities Preston Market (Sun 24 Aug) – free kids activities during June/July every Sunday.
- Diamond Valley Railway (Sun 24 Aug) – miniature railway with a playground next door. Read my review
- Hurstbridge Wattle Festival (Sun 25 Aug) – A rural street festival held on the last Sunday in August in Hurstbridge.
- Playbox Melbourne Museum (Mon 26 Aug – Thu 29 Aug) – special sensory program for kids 1-3 years an hour before museum opens. Read the review.
- Prehistoric Museum Playdates (Tue 27 Aug) – A celebration of all things ancient from the smallest trilobite to the largest sauropod at Melbourne Museum. Read my review.
- Pacific Kids (Wed 28 Aug) – Free kids activities every Wednesday.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S SOUTH / SOUTH-EAST / BAYSIDE
- Prahran Market Kids’ Activities (Fri 23 Aug – Thu 29 Aug) – every market day Prahran Market offers face painting, an animal farm, kids dance classes and music – most activities are free and no bookings necessary.
- DUPLO Kids Club Legoland (Fri 23 Aug – Thu 29 Aug) – special activities every weekday for kids 2-5 years at the DUPLO Farm Adventure inside Legoland. Read the review.
- Rain Room (Fri 23 Aug – Sat 29 Sep) – art installation in bespoke pavilion that is a 100 square metre field of continuous rainfall. Read my review.
- Outdoor Escapades Forest School (Sat 24 Aug) – Engage your tactile senses, ignite your imagination and experience the winter in this hands-on workshop designed with the principles of leading International forest schools.
- Hank Marvin Market (Sat 24 Aug – Sun 25 Aug) – launch of weekly markets at Elsternwick Primary School and Ripponlea Primary School.
- Live N Local (Sat 24 Aug – Sat 31 Aug) – week of free live music and events.
- Mornington Railway (Sun 25 Aug) – Climb aboard the Mornington Railway steam train for a fun-filled outing.
- Kids Mornings Westfield Southland (Wed 28 Aug) – Every Wednesday a different activity where your mini me’s can play, learn and be entertained.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S EAST
- Lake Mountain (Fri 23 Aug – Thu 29 Aug) – toboggan, cross country skiing and snow play 2 hours from Melbourne. Read my tips on visiting Lake Mountain with kids
- Mt Baw Baw (Fri 23 Aug – Thu 29 Aug) – Melbourne’s closest downhill ski resort open for winter season. Read my tips on visiting Mt Baw Baw with kids
- Jurassic Unearthed by Silver’s Circus (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 1 Sep) – See Australia’s finest circus along with everyone favourite prehistoric creatures.
- Melbourne Tram Museum (Sat 24 Aug) – Visit a Melbourne icon at this quirky museum. FULL REVIEW.
- Yarra Valley Railway (Sun 25 Aug) – take a trip on the historic Walker RM22 Railmotor from Healesville to Tunnel Hill. Read my review.
- Winter Igloo Garden (Fri 23 Aug – Thu 29 Aug) – Hire a private igloo and enjoy wintery food and beverages. Read my review.
- Auburn Kids Sunday Funday (Sun 25 Aug) – Petting zoo, Fairies, mermaids, superheroes, face painting and balloon animals galore! Read my review.
- Mooroolbark Miniature Railway (Sun 25 Aug) – miniature rail running every 4th Sunday.
- Bumble Bee Baby and Children’s Market (Sun 25 Aug) – high quality pre loved, handmade, and new goods at reasonable prices.
- Heide Art Babies (Tue 27 Aug) – 30 minutes of sensory play in the gallery, looking, thinking and talking about art. Read the review.
- Wallaby Wednesdays Healesville Sanctuary (Wed 28 Aug) – Dress up as wallabies with wallaby face painting, wallaby ears and wallaby tails for pouch races, hopping games and wallaby trails. Bring your favourite soft toy animal to join in the fun. Wallaby tails and wallaby ears are provided for dress up fun. Also don’t forget Future Vets and Pouch House indoor play.
- Possum Play Thursdays Healesville Sanctuary (Thu 29 Aug) – Join our play makers for stories, activities and possum-themed face painting. Every Thursday during school term at 11am.
- Hot Chocolate Festival Yarra Valley Chocolaterie (Fri 23 Aug – Sat 31 Aug) – 31 limited edition hot chocolates and hot chocolate tastings. Full review.
WHAT’S ON – MELBOURNE’S WEST
- Eel Trap opening (Fri 23 Aug) – launch of Eel Trap installation on the Maribyrnong River as part of Disposable.
- Brickman Cities Scienceworks (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 3 Oct) – Discover the world’s most iconic cities and build your own creations at this brand-new interactive LEGO® experience. Read my review.
- Pac Maze Escape Room (Fri 23 Aug – Sat 24 Aug) – This immersive maze will have you losing yourself in a pixelated world, while you and your friends run, dodge ghosts and grab fruit.
- Dingo Puppy Encounter (Fri 23 Aug – Sun 25 Sep) – Cuddle and photograph cute fluffy cubs and meet friendly dingo adults at the Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre. Full review.
- Essendon Traffic School (Sat 24 Aug) – mini road set up for kids aged two to ten years, complete with road signs, railway bells and traffic lights. Full review.
- Mini Zoo Keepers Werribee Zoo (Sat 24 Aug, Thu 29 Aug) – Children aged 2-5 years and their adults can go on an intimate guided tour with a Zookeeper to help look after some of the special animals in the zoo.
- Eynesbury Market (Sun 25 Aug) – Genuine farmers, producers and makers meet and sell directly to the public fresh, local and organic foods.
- STEM Sundays Scienceworks (Sun 25 Aug) – robotics and coding workshops for kids every Sunday. Read my review.
- Pacific Werribee Kids Club (Tue 27 Aug) – free activities every Tuesday in the Kids Mall, near Target
- Mini Makers Highpoint (Wed 28 Aug) – free kids activities every Wednesday.
- Toddler Circus Footscray (Thu 29 Aug) – learn circus skills with aerials, balances, circus circuits and games. Read my review.
- Toddler Thursdays Werribee Zoo (Thu 29 Aug) – special program for 1-5 yo and their carers.
- Hot Chocolate Festival Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie (Fri 23 Aug – Sat 31 Aug) – 31 limited edition hot chocolates and hot chocolate tastings. Full review
I hope this post has helped or inspired you! Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to find out more ways for your family to have fun together!
