The Peninsula is a region that's packed full of local produce, sandy beaches and fun things to do. It's a place where many fond childhood memories are made. Memories that last a lifetime.
An exciting way to kick the day off is to take a ride in a Lamborghini at Dromana near Red Hill. Imagine the stories. Just up the road is the Eagle Skylift. Here you can view the beautiful Peninsula from its highest point and across Port Phillip Bay. The skylift is a state of the art gondola. As you descend see if you can pick out the Melbourne cityscape emerging just beyond the big blue.
Further along the coast, Sorrento offers a sandy beachfront, local shops and a great range of places to eat. From the pier you can join a boat, sail out to sea and swim with the dolphins.
One of the most unusual ways to visit some of the best wineries is on horseback. The horseback winery tour is suitable for beginners and gets you out and about exploring the region with one of only two accredited facilities in Australia. Kids can enjoy a half day horse riding school holiday program at the same venue.
Nearby, there are tall, green mazes, chocolates delicacies, golden sandy beaches, fishing and a car ferry to take you across to the Bellarine Peininsula.
Swim with Dolphins, Adult
Swim with super-friendly Australian Fur Seals, and resident Bottle Nose Dolphins and discover the Weedy Sea Dragons in Port Phillip Bay.
To the Bellarine Peninsula
As well as playgrounds, roaming rhinos, chugging steam engines, boomerangs, frightening gaols, adventure flightsauthentic steam engine, offers unlimited rides. Plus the event hosts lots of fun things to do from jumping castles, a children's maze, movies and story telling.
Set aside the evening for a haunted tour of the repressive Geelong Gaol.
The tour takes you back in time when the building housed not only men and women but children too. It's creepy and scary too, so kids under 8 will have to bow out but everyone else is welcome to explore the three-story blue stone building.
Just 10 minutes away from Geelong off the Bellarine Hightway at Wallington sits Victoria's largest theme park. Packed full of water adventures, it makes a giant splash for the kids and adults alike. There's the crazy coaster and Red Baron rides. A giant, six lane slide named the Aqua Racer. The Gold Rush Rapids where you can take a 2m plunge in a two-seater raft.
It's easy to spend a whole day at the Adventure Park, so go prepared.
Traveling up toward Melbourne, Point Cook houses the RAAF museum. The museum tells the stories of the experiences of war from World War One to the present day. But to really enjoy a taste of aviation as it used to be, there is no better way than to don the leather flight suit, the Biggles goggles and take to the skies in a genuine 1940s Tiger Moth.
Tiger Moth flights take off at the old RAAF base in Point Cook and are available most weekends for children and adult alike. If you think your (or your children's) stomach can take it, try aerobatics.
From mild to wild, it's certain to topple the gyros.
[ Note: Tiger Moth flights have moved to the Yarra Valley and North of Melbourne.]
Tiger Moth Adventure Flight, 30 Minutes
Flight jacket, helmet, goggles and its chocks away chaps -it's a Tiger Mothadventure,a real taste of aviation history awaits.
Way, Way West of Geelong
Travelling west of Geelong, there's even more thrills to enjoy.
The Ottways offer a Zipline Adventure, a 2.5 hour experience that the kids will love. With its 8 cloud stations, 6 flights and 2 suspension bridges, its incredible fun, extremely safe and best of all, a thrill-a-minute for the family.
Just north of the Ottways, at Yeodene is a big favourite for the over eights - Zorbing. Zorbing?
Well it's like being in a giant washing machine. Safely strapped into a see-through giant ball, you are gently pushed down a slope. But that's where the gentle stops and if you like, the washing cycle starts. You go round and round, rolling with the ball helped by gravity alone. Hurtling down the hill you'll scream your heart out for a minute that seems to take forever. Simple, yet wonderfully dizzying you'll want to do it all over again.
At Ballarat you can dare to venture out into the night to explore the Gold Rush Cemetery. Eerie stories. Spooky sensations in the dark. Eureka! It's enough to send shivers down your spine and set many good people running. But for the kids, it's just perfect in the run up to Halloween.
Kids Activities Around Melbourne
The word 'bored' should never be in the vocabulary for children whose home is near Melbourne.
From hot air ballooning over the CBD, kayaking, paddle boarding to abseiling, recording a song to V8 hot laps and creative art, Melbourne offers a remarkable range of fun for kids.
Sports mad families will find plenty going on in Melbourne to keep their heart rates up, whether they want to be participants or spectators. Other activities that should appeal to kids are buggy adventures, rock climbing, chocolate tour, rap jumping, a visit to the Aquarium, flyboarding at Port Melbourne and even abseiling down rock faces.
Melbourne City Chocolate Walking Tour for Two
Discover the sweetest spots with our chocolate walking tours led by your friendly local guide. It's the start of a very tasty adventure.
Summary
Most parents find it difficult to get the children out and about during the school holidays. You probably do too. If you don't, chances are you probably have thought well ahead. This list of activities for kids in Victoria is just a sample to get the most out of the school holidays without having to spend a ton of time and energy searching.
Just pick the ones you feel are right for your budget, add in some free activities like family time on the beach and build your itinerary up from there.
