We set off on a 10-day Melbourne adventure in June with our kids aged 7 and 3, chasing a mix of city vibes, wildlife magic, orchard fun, and a sprinkle of snow. This road trip gave us a little of everything — urban comfort in fun indoor spots and cosy cafes, animal encounters, nature, and snow sports.
10D9N in Melbourne with Kids
Day 1 – Arrival & City Warm-Up
After landing, we checked into DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne – Flinders Street (270 Flinders Street), right across from Federation Square and Flinders Station, leveraging an international DoubleTree membership program. Parking is offsite at 300 Flinders Street (inform the front desk to validate for a slightly lower rate).
That evening, we wandered down the street for hearty Japanese food at Shujinko. A quick grocery stop at Coles nearby stocked us with road trip snacks and water for the week ahead. Tangerines were our best buy – have not tasted sweeter ones!
Day 2 – City Sights & Penguin Parade
We eased into Melbourne life with breakfast at The Quarters, a cozy CBD laneway café where we enjoyed people-watching over pastries and coffee.
UE SQUARE’S COSMIC SPACE EXPEDITION: Have An Out-Of-This-World Adventure!
CARNIVAL OF CHRISTMAS CHEER: Celebrate and Win at Plantation Plaza and Northshore Plaza!
SNOW MUCH TO CELEBRATE: Christmas Fun at The Centrepoint
The kids stretched their legs exploring Flinders Station, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the playground at Boren Reserve in Federation Square.
By midday, we were on the road to Phillip Island, stopping first at San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op for fresh fish and chips and oysters. There’s a daily pelican feeding session – we missed out on that – though the children made up for it by befriending (and chasing) seagulls in the area.
After lunch, we headed to the Koala Conservation Reserve. Prior to entering each zone, we would get the kids to note the number of koalas on the signboard. This kept the kids real busy – they found it fun to spot the koalas and count them, making sure their count tallied with the signboard numbers.
Another highlight came at dusk: the Penguin Parade. We booked Penguin Plus seats for better views and bundled the kids in layers against the chilly winds. Cameras aren’t allowed during the show, but official photos are free to download via QR.
It was magical watching the little penguins emerge on the shores, then waddle along, some to the manmade burrows we had spotted on the walk to the seating area. The suspense and wait till sundown can be long for kids. It is a good idea to pack light snacks and some materials to occupy them meaningfully during the wait.
Dinner was at Pino’s Trattoria, an Italian foodspot on Phillip Island that was warm and comforting after hours in the chill.
Day 3 – Red Rocks & Seal Cruise
The morning was all about outdoor play—climbing the ochre sandstone formations at Red Rocks Beach, where the kids chased seagulls, played with sand and jumped into puddles.
For lunch, we had a casual takeout picnic with sushi from Youki’s Sushi and sandwiches from G’Day Cafe.
We sat at the picnic tables beside G’Day Cafe. The kids found it amusing having to protect our meal from bold kookaburras and seagulls.
In the afternoon, we bundled up for a seal cruise to Seal Rocks, home to more than 5,000 fur seals. We got up to the deck to watch seals laze on the rocks and frolic in the water. It was cool for the kids to see seals in their natural habitat.
At some point nearing the Seal Rocks, we could smell the seals (rotting fish!) before we saw them. For little ones sensitive to pungent smells, do prep essential oil rubs or materials to distract them from the fleeting smell.
After the cruise, we enjoyed a gorgeous sundown at the beach near the pier before ending the day over dinner at The Hotel Phillip Island.
Day 4 – Kangaroos, Orchards & Chocolate
We started with breakfast at Café Laguna, then made our way to Maru Koala & Animal Park, where the kids got up close feeding kangaroos and alpacas. The kangaroos and alpacas were active and eager to be fed. They were also comfortable around visitors.
After animal feeding, the kids tried their hand at mini golf on the premises of the animal park before we whisked them away for lunch at Rayner’s Orchard.
From there, it was fruit and laughter at Rayner’s Orchard—a pick-all-you-want and eat-all-you-can-on-the-spot tractor tour. The kids were overjoyed at picking and tasting fruit straight from the trees. Takeaway fruit would be weighed — in our case, we had a couple of tangerines but the orchard staff generously waived our fees.
During winter, most of the fruit available for picking were citrus – lemon, clementine, navel orange, lime, kumquat, Japanese seedless mandarin, lemonade lemon, tahitian lime and hog plum with chili powder.
The guide also kept fruit from earlier harvests for our tastings, such as Gala and Pink Lady apples picked during fall. There was a macadamia nut cracking and tasting session too, which was eye-opening for the kids.
This is probably the only place where littering of fruit peels is welcome. It felt so strange to be discarding our peels anywhere, everywhere!
After fruit picking, we stopped at the Phillip Island Chocolate Factory, where we took a break watching chocolatiers work behind glass panels and had hot chocolate and ice cream. The kids refueled enough to run around in the green rolling pasture outside the factory, and interacted with the farm animals like goats.
That evening, we drove to the Yarra Valley and checked into Balgownie Estate, a vineyard retreat surrounded by rolling hills—quiet, spacious, and a refreshing pause before heading into the mountains.
Day 5 – Towards Mt Buller
After a hearty breakfast at the estate, we stocked up on snow chains in Mansfield, then warmed ourselves with soup and hot chocolate at the Mansfield Produce Store.
The kids let off steam at Mansfield Botanic Park, with swings, rope courses, flying foxes, and big open fields to run in. My older child even climbed a tree in the park.
After we left Mansfield, we drove our car to the resort entry gate. We had booked our resort entry beforehand, and showed the staff at the booth our printed parking permit. We then drove to one of the designated carparks within Mt Buller Village, and boarded a pre-booked Park & Ride service up to Mt. Buller. Dinner that night was at The Villager Pub.
Day 6 – First Taste of Snow
This was the day the kids had been eagerly waiting for. Mt Buller greeted us with clear blue skies which was the ideal condition for toboggan rides, squeals, and lots of falling over in the powdery snow.
Lunch at Pat’s Italian kept little bellies warm with generous pasta portions, before our 7-year-old and 3-year-old had their first day of private ski lessons (book early with the ski school if you plan this—it fills quickly!)
We chose a private class for our two kids instead of enrolling them into the Bunyip group program. Even though they were at different ski levels, the instructor coached them effectively and was terrific in identifying and customizing things to work on for each child.
Day 7 – Adverse Weather
We woke on the second day of our mountain visit to pouring rain and strong winds. The ski lifts were closed for the day, and we had to reschedule our private ski class to the following day.
We pivoted to indoor fun. The Mt Buller Ski Museum kept the kids busy with coloring activities while we learned a bit of ski history. I especially liked the visual display of olden to modern skis.
Later, the kids bounced their energy out at Buller Air Zone, and my older child did a lot of rock climbing.
We thought of checking out the fascinating Gnome Roam Trail in the evening but the weather didn’t clear enough for us to venture outdoors.
Day 8 – Snow Wrap-Up
We squeezed in one last round on the magic carpet before heading down the mountain.
My younger child began running a fever. We made a quick, efficient stop at the Mt Buller Medical Clinic for a checkup and were given a prescription to collect at one of the Mansfield pharmacies.
By afternoon, we caught a rideshare back to our car and made our way to the calm of Balgownie Estate again for the night. The illness was thankfully a shortlived one.
Day 9 – Rainy Day in Melbourne
Rain continued, so we cancelled all outdoor plans and headed for the Museum of Play and Art (MoPA). This play-based museum was heaven for our kids—immersive zones, crafts, play, dance, storytelling and room to explore.
Afterward, we bounced away the afternoon at BounceInc Heidelberg, a massive trampoline park with high rope elements, and play spaces suitable for the older as well as younger crowd.
Dinner back in the city was hearty rice and meats at Sool Tong Korean BBQ, before we checked back into DoubleTree for our final night in Melbourne.
Day 10 – Farewell Melbourne
Our last morning began with a peaceful breakfast at MockTurtle Café. Before heading to the airport, we made one final stop at Organ Pipes National Park, where a short, easy walk revealed striking basalt columns—a little taste of nature before saying goodbye.
By evening, it was time to fly back to Singapore, carrying home new memories of penguins, seals, fruit orchards, and snow.
Our Thoughts on Melbourne with Kids
If you’re planning Melbourne with kids, a few things stood out. Rayner’s Orchard which is open all seasons makes it convenient to add to the travel itinerary. The Penguin Parade at dusk is magical and worth the cold. The seal cruise and kangaroo feeding were close-up wildlife experiences the kids won’t forget in a hurry.
Mt Buller gave us snow play, skiing, and a few weather hiccups, but we felt safe and in good hands even while our littlest fell sick. When the skies remained rainy, MoPA came to the rescue.
Practical tips for Melbourne with Kids
Pre-book key activities like ski lessons, Penguin Plus etc
Don’t forget the essentials—extra socks and change of clothes on the go (especially for young kids who love beach play and may get themselves wet/sandy), and snacks for longer road-trips.
During the declared winter season, if you’re driving to Mt Buller and staying overnight, you will need to carry wheel chains by law
Melbourne is a destination that blends city, nature, and snow into one seamless adventure!
