Five Days with the Family

Why plan for a two-day weekend in Melbourne when you can extend it to three, four, or even more?

Day One

Arrive into Melbourne and check-in to your two- or three-bedroom apartment at Punthill Northbank Melbourne [560 Flinders Street], before strolling over to tram 55, at the nearby intersection of Flinders Street at Market Street. Tap your myki card and head north towards one of the city’s favourite attractions, the Melbourne Zoo [Elliott Avenue, Parkville]. It’s free for children under 16 years old on weekends, public holidays and during school holidays, making it an affordable way to spend an afternoon.

For dinner, why not use Public Transport Victoria’s Journey Planner App to explore more of Melbourne’s tram network? Transfer to tram 3 or 67 to Inkerman Street, and the fantastic Mr Wolf [9-15 Inkerman Street, St Kilda] for dinner. Stylish and friendly, it’s perfect for traditional pizza, pasta, and other delicious Italian fare that the kids (and you) will love.

Day Two

Don’t sleep in too late, there’s lots to be done! Hop on the train from Flinders Street or Southern Cross Stations towards Spotswood so you can be there at 10am when the world-renowned science museum, Scienceworks [2 Booker Street, Spotswood] opens. Once the kids have had a blast – literally – by getting hands-on with all types of awesome exhibits, hop back on the train to Southern Cross Station, before crossing the Yarra River to The Boatbuilders Yard [23 South Wharf Promenade, South Wharf] on South Wharf. Reasonable prices and a good kids menu ensures you’ll be well-fuelled for your next stop, PLAYTIME Crown [Crown Towers Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank].

Jam-packed with more than 150 games, you can also take sides in a game of laser tag or show ‘em who’s boss in a game of ten-pin bowling; it’s your choice and you’re bound to leave with a smile on your face, and maybe even a prize under your arm.

Day Three

No trip to Melbourne is complete without some retail therapy, and there’s no bigger retail destination than Chadstone [1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone]. They make it easy with a shuttle bus leaving Federation Square regularly for the suburban megamall, and there are enough big names and boutiques to keep you occupied for days. Make sure you check out the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.

Return to the city and, before heading to your apartment, pop by the Screen Worlds exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) [Federation Square, Flinders Street], which explores the rich history of Australia’s television, film and gaming industry. Finish the day with a fun dinner at New Kum Den BBQ [7-9 Waratah Place] in Melbourne’s vibrant Chinatown district.

Day Four

Today is your day to sleep in because after breakfast you’ll be heading just over the road to SEA LIFE Melbourne [King Street and Flinders Street]. After a morning of exploring the seas, head down Flinders Walk to Arbory Bar [Flinders Walk] and dine outdoors for lunch. On one side of you, enjoy the views of the Yarra River and on the other you can people watch as the commuters of Flinders Street Station pass by. After lunch take a stroll down the Yarra River past Princes Bridge through to Birrarung Marr [Batman Avenue] where you can enjoy more riverside views and the beautiful elm trees. Take the kids over to ArtPlay, a creative art studio where they can let their imaginations run wild. ArtPlay connects young people with local artists through artistic workshops in areas including indigenous art, sculpture, singing and creative movement. It is also home to an awesome playground, with slides, sandpits and rock climbing for the kids to enjoy. This space also includes special features designed specifically for children with physical disabilities, making it creative, fun, and inclusive!

Take the 1 or 8 tram to Brunswick East for an early dinner at 400 Gradi [99 Lygon Street, East Brunswick]. Dive into delicious hearty meals inspired by those you would find in Naples, Italy. Taste some of the best wood fire pizzas in Melbourne, delicious pasta dishes as well as a select number of fresh seafood dishes. Once you’ve polished off your meals (and if you feel like you have the space!) head next door to Zero Gradi [93-97 Lygon Street, Brunswick East] for dessert. Although there may sometimes be a wait, we promise it will be worth it with their endless number of ice-cream and gelato flavours to test out, all with the option of adding Nutella on top. This place won’t disappoint!

Day Five

Jump on the 96 tram and head down to St Kilda for a day by the bay. Enjoy breakfast at Cowderoy’s Dairy [14 Cowderoy Street, St Kilda West], a milk bar style cafe that serves all of the breakfast classics — the kids will love eating outside on ‘the deck’, the kid-friendly menu (soldiers anyone?), as well as the selection of milk-bar-style sweets on offer by the register. After breakfast, walk down Cowderoy Street towards the St Kilda Esplanade and take in the views of Port Phillip Bay until you reach the iconic Luna Park [18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda] entrance. Step through Mr Moon’s giant mouth and spend the day winning carnival game prizes, eating fairy floss and zooming around on the rollercoasters — be sure to enjoy the view from the top!

After a full day of theme park fun with the troops, meander along St Kilda Beach with your toes in the sand. If the timing is right, enjoy the sunset with fish and chips on the beach from Pink Flake Fish n Chips [92A Acland St, St Kilda]. If you’d prefer to dine indoors, head up to Acland Street for some delicious Mexican fare that won’t break the bank at Trippy Taco [6 Acland Street, St Kilda]. The kids will seriously love the fun decor as well as the tasty tacos, burritos and quesadillas. If there’s still room for dessert, head over to 7 Apples Gelato [75 Acland Street, St Kilda] for one more sweet treat before your journey home.