Melbourne with toddlers and under-5s
This is a menu of easy stops for Melbourne with toddlers and under-5s. Pick two or three rather than doing all five. Ron Barassi Senior Park, SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and Fitzroy Swimming Pool are within 2.7 km of the centre. Middle Park Beach is 4.4 km out and Billy Lids Playland in Hawthorn is 6.3 km out. The park and beach are free.
Pair one outdoor stop with one indoor stop. SEA LIFE lists a Sensory Session ticket at $10; check the listing for what it involves. The pool and the beach need swimmers and a change of clothes. Check each listing for facilities such as toilets and shade.
Every stop is a listing on Funtivities, checked against the place's own website. Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Prices and hours can change, so check the listing before you go.
The day at a glance
- Morning: Ron Barassi Senior Park
- Late morning: SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
- Lunch: Middle Park Beach
- Afternoon: Fitzroy Swimming Pool
- Late afternoon: Billy Lids Playland - Hawthorn
Morning
Play at Ron Barassi Senior Park
Ron Barassi Senior Park, Docklands · Playgrounds & Parks · Ages 2-12 · Free · 4.5 stars (706 reviews)
A free council park in Docklands, 2.5 km from the centre, with a playground, a sandpit with a digger, water play, a sports field and barbecues. It is open 24 hours. The sandpit with a digger and the water play suit toddlers well.
Tip: Free and open 24 hours.
Late morning
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, Melbourne · Zoos, Wildlife & Aquariums · Ages 2-17 · From $0 · 4.2 stars (18753 reviews)
A city aquarium on Flinders Street with penguins, sharks and a crocodile, 0.9 km from the centre. Under-2s are free, and child tickets (2-15) start from $25 online on weekdays. There is a Sensory Session ticket at $10. It is indoors, so it works on a hot or wet day.
Tip: Open 10am to 4pm on weekdays and 9:30am to 5pm on weekends.
Lunch
Middle Park Beach
Middle Park Beach, Middle Park · Beaches & Rock Pools · Ages 0-17 · Free
A beach on the other side of Kerferd Road Pier from South Melbourne Beach, 4.4 km from the centre. The council says it is great for families and lists restaurants and public toilets. Sandbar Beach Cafe is about 373 m away. No official page we found says it has its own lifesaver patrol.
Tip: Swim only where lifeguards are on duty. South Melbourne Beach is the nearest patrolled beach.
Afternoon
Fitzroy Swimming Pool
Fitzroy Swimming Pool, Fitzroy · Swimming & Aquatics · Ages 0-17 · From $5.50
Yarra City Council's heritage outdoor pool on Alexandra Parade, 2.7 km from the centre. It has a heated 50 m pool and a toddler pool that opens for the summer season, 9am to 6pm daily. Entry is $5.50 for ages 5-15, and free for under-5s, with a ramp and accessible change rooms.
Tip: On hot days there is a capacity limit of 480; check the listing.
Late afternoon
Indoor play at Billy Lids Playland
Billy Lids Playland - Hawthorn, Hawthorn · Indoor Play Centre · Ages 0-11 · From $14 · 4.0 stars (310 reviews)
An indoor playground at 86 Lynch St, Hawthorn, for kids up to 11, open seven days. Entry is $14.90 for ages 1 to 2 and $16.90 for ages 3 to 9. It is 6.3 km from the centre, so treat it as the wet-day alternative to the pool.
Tip: Open 9:30am to 5pm most days, and 10am to 4:30pm on Sundays.
Before you go
- Pick two or three stops; they range from 0.9 km to 6.3 km from the centre.
- SEA LIFE has under-2s free and a $10 Sensory Session ticket.
- Fitzroy Swimming Pool's toddler pool opens for the summer season, 9am to 6pm daily.
- Middle Park Beach has no confirmed patrol, so swim only where lifeguards are on duty.
- Billy Lids Playland is open seven days a week.
Questions parents ask
What is there to do in Melbourne with a toddler?
Try Ron Barassi Senior Park in Docklands (sandpit with a digger, water play), SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium (under-2s free), the toddler pool at Fitzroy Swimming Pool, Middle Park Beach, or indoor play at Billy Lids Playland in Hawthorn. Choose two or three for one day.
Is there a toddler pool in Melbourne?
Fitzroy Swimming Pool on Alexandra Parade has a toddler pool that opens for the summer season, 9am to 6pm daily, plus a heated 50 m outdoor pool. Entry is free for under-5s. The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre also has a toddler pool. Check the listing for current hours.
Is there an indoor playground in Melbourne for toddlers?
Billy Lids Playland in Hawthorn is an indoor playground for kids up to 11, open seven days. Entry is $14.90 for ages 1 to 2 and $16.90 for ages 3 to 9. It is 6.3 km from the city centre, and the listing has multi-entry passes if you plan to return.
More days in Melbourne with kids
- Your first day in Melbourne with kids - The places to start with when you have one day and want the best of the city.
- A rainy day in Melbourne with kids - Indoor stops close together, so a wet day still works.
- A beach day in Melbourne with kids - Patrolled beaches, calm water and what is near the sand.
- A free day out in Melbourne with kids - A full day where every stop has free entry.
- Melbourne with teenagers - Things teenagers choose for themselves, not just tolerate.
- Visiting Melbourne with kids: all guides