The ultimate three day Melbourne itinerary for families – explore the Great Ocean Road and visit the best family attractions in Melbourne.
Melbourne is a family-friendly city, with activities that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Here’s our Melbourne three day itinerary for families to enjoy the sights and surroundings of Melbourne. Discover the heart of Melbourne’s sporting passion at the MCG, help feed the animals at the Children’s Farm, and visit the Melbourne Museum. Plus, take the ultimate day trip to the Great Ocean Road – to see koalas in the wild, walk through lush rainforest and admire the stunning 12 Apostles rock formations.
In between there is plenty of time to enjoy Melbourne cafe scene, laneways and street art, and multicultural dining options. Here’s our Melbourne three day itinerary that your whole family will enjoy.
Day 1 – MCG and Collingwood Childrens Farm
Visit the sports Museum at Melbourne’s famous MCG and meet the animals at Collingwood Childrens Farm.
First up, take a stroll along the Yarra River to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Its here you’ll find the Australian Sports Museum. This museum celebrates Australia’s rich sporting history and the achievements of many Australian athletes – past and present. There’s fun for the whole family with interactive exhibitions, including the Game On! interactive gallery. You can become an athlete with great activities such as kicking for goal, cycling, archery, shooting a netball, and beating the goalie.
You can also take a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground to discover more about the 100,000 capacity stadium. It is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, and an important arena for cricket matches, AFL (Australian Football League) games and music concerts. The MCG is the place where Melburnians are most passionate – cheering on their sporting team.
In the afternoon, head a little further north to visit the Collingwood Children’s Farm. The Children’s Farm first opened in 1979 with the idea that city children could learn how to care for animals and nature. Today the non-profit Community Farm is a place to learn, explore and spend time in nature.
You can cuddle up to the guinea pigs or say hello to the goats. Meet the volunteer farmers who care for the animals and the land. There’s also plenty of space to sit and relax amongst the trees and beside the river.
Day 2 – Tour the Great Ocean Road
Take the whole family on a day tour of the iconic Great Ocean Road.
Explore Victoria’s Surf Coast, seaside towns, rainforest and incredible rock formations. There’s a reason why more people visit the Great Ocean Road than anywhere else in Victoria. This scenic journey includes many stops along the way to discover the wildlife, landscape and history of this region.
Start the day with a hotel pick up by your friendly driver and guide. You’ll head to the coast to enjoy morning tea on the picturesque beaches of Torquay, the surf capital of Australia. Then, enjoy the scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road with a stop at the Memorial Arch and to see koalas in their natural habitat at Kennett River. Take a lunchbreak in Apollo Bay before strolling through lush green ferns on the Maits Rest Rainforest Walk.
In the afternoon you’ll discover the incredible rock formations, beaches and cliffs of the Port Campbell National Park. This includes a visit to the famous 12 Apostles, where you’ll have plenty of time to explore the boardwalks and take in all the different views. You’ll also visit Loch Ard Gorge, the site of the Loch Ard shipwreck and Gibson Steps where you can descend the cliffs to the beach.
This is a great day out that the whole family will love. With plenty of scenery as you drive, and a comfortable small coach to travel in, we guarantee you’ll experience a tour that is memorable for all the right reasons.
Day 3 – Melbourne Museum and Lygon Street
Head north of the city to explore the Melbourne Museum, following by an afternoon in Little Italy – Lygon Street, Carlton.
The Melbourne Museum is an icon of the city. It is a great place to learn more about the history and culture of Melbourne – with plenty of interactive exhibits that will keep the whole family entertained. There are always major exhibits showing as well as the regular and the buzzing food scene. In particular the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre provides a rich experience immersing yourself in the lives of the First Nations Australians and learning about their people and culture.
Spend a relaxing afternoon at Melbourne’s Little Italy. Feed the whole family at your choice of many different Italian restaurants and cafes on Lygon Street, Carlton. A visit to icon cafe Brunettis is a must for the coffee and cannolis. Or try woodfired pizzas or handmade pastas from one of the family run restaurants. Plus it wouldn’t be a proper visit to Lygon Street without a scoop from Casa Del Gelato – Australia’s first and longest standing ice-cream boutique.
So there you have it – three awesome family fun-filled days in Melbourne. What do you think of our itinerary? Is there anything you would add? We highly recommend visiting Melbourne – it is a vibrant city with many great places and locations to explore. Of course, if you are planning a visit, be sure to check out our range of tours. As well as the Great Ocean Road, you can join us to taste wines, cheese and chocolate in the Yarra Valley, meet plenty of wildlife including penguins on our Phillip Island Tour, or immerse yourself in nature in the Grampians National Park.
On Tour with Go West
If you are visiting Melbourne we would love to welcome you on one of our day tours. We are a family-owned and operated tour business. In addition, we are the most highly-awarded tour operator in Melbourne and we look forward to welcoming you aboard a tour very soon!
Written by: Leah Furey – Digital Content Coordinator @gowest.com.au
