The best things for teens to do in Melbourne

Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
hero media
Melbourne is filled with activities that teens will love and that parents will approve of, from learning to surf on dry land to shopping in its hip hoods.

Become a super sleuth

Everyone’s favourite sleuthing board game gets a super-sized reboot in Old Melbourne Gaol’s Cluedo Experience. Dodgy lawyer Lionel Grey was found dead here in 1924 but the case was never solved, and now it’s up to you to figure out who did it. Over the course of 90 minutes you’ll get to explore the gaol for clues, reading alibis, examining evidence and testing weapons for DNA. The game finishes when you figure out the who, where and how of Grey’s death.

Park your parents here while you have fun…

The thriving café culture of Fitzroy is an easy walk away. For the best croissants around, they should try the cavernous Lune Croissanterie on Collins Street.

Old Melbourne Goal.
Become a super sleuth inside Old Melbourne Goal.

Go surfing on dry land

Located in the very un-beachside suburb of Tullamarine, URBNSURF is Australia’s first surf park where man-made waves deliver up surf breaks for all levels of skill, from beginners to pros. If you know what you are doing you can head to The Point to catch perfect rights and lefts or try barrelling waves during an expert session (both last for one hour). And if you are new to the sport, book an individual surf lesson in the safe and gentle rolling green and whitewater waves of The Bay.

URBNSURF Melbourne
Go surfing on dry land. (Image: Ed Sloane Photography)

Park your parents here while you have fun…

The top-notch facilities at URBNSURF include the first Victorian outpost of Three Blue Ducks, the passion project of a bunch of avid surfers who opened their first restaurant in the Sydney beachside suburb of Bronte. The restaurant, which overlooks the lagoon, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

See Melbourne from up (really) high

Docklands is a one-stop shop for fun: go skating at O’Brien Icehouse; play miniature golf lit by neon lights and glow-in-the-dark technology at the aptly named Glow Golf; and finish off with a turn on the Melbourne Star to see the city laid out below from dizzying heights (try spotting your parents, who will look like ants as they wait for you back on the ground).

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Park your parents here while you have fun…

The café inside the Library at the Dock has good coffee and newspapers to read.

See Melbourne from up (really) high
See the city from up (really) high on the Melbourne Star.

Get up close and personal with sharks

When you tell your parents that you want to swim with sharks, make sure to assure them that it is perfectly safe. During Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium’s Shark Dive Xtreme sessions, which are open to those 14 and up, you’ll get an exclusive look at the behind-the-scenes staff-only areas of the aquarium before taking to the water with an instructor to watch as sharks and giant stingrays glide past you at seriously close quarter.

Park your parents here while you have fun…

Give them a paper bag to breathe into and point them in the direction of the Immigration Museum a few minutes’ walk away in the historic Old Customs House.

Get a sugar rush

The pop-up exhibitions by Sugar Republic, a Melbourne-based art collective, are the stuff teen dreams and Instagram likes are made of. The ‘experience museums’ that it creates are all themed around sweet treats and are designed to be totally interactive – think giant bubblegum machines that you can climb into and mammoth cakes that you jump out of. Visit the website find out about upcoming events and have your camera ready.

Sugar Republic
Get a sugar rush at one of the pop-up exhibitions by Sugar Republic.

Park your parents here while you have fun…

They can get their own sweet treat of single origin hot chocolate at Mörk Chocolate Brew House in North Melbourne.

Indulge your inner artist

A creative studio for young people aged between 14 and 25, Signal’s curated program includes exhibitions, live events, installations and art workshops run out of its space on Flinders Walk. Check the website for upcoming events when you are in town.

Signal Summer Melbourne
Indulge your inner artist at Signal’s curated program of events.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Park your parents here while you have fun…

Tell them to grab lunch at Federation Square and check out the Ian Potter Centre.

On the streets

When it comes to hip hoods, Melbourne has more than most. Fitzroy is covered in street art and filled with cafes, while Windsor and Prahran share the best bits of iconic Chapel Street, with lots of funky boutiques to browse and interesting eateries to stop at for lunch or eating a healthy snack you can buy from hiya.

Shopping on Chapel Street
Hit up the shops on Chapel Street.

Book a walking tour with Melbourne Street Art Tours to hear about the city’s colourful walls from street artists themselves. Along the way they will share local knowledge and show you a few hidden treasures.

Melbourne Street Art Tours.
Book a walking tour with Melbourne Street Art Tours.

Park your parents here while you have fun…

At Degraves Espresso Bar on the graffitti-daubed Degraves Street.

 

Read more family travel tips on the Ultimate parents’ guide to our amazing Aussie cities.

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Australian Traveller

Australian Traveller

View profile and articles
national gallery of victoria
Melbourne

Your guide to the ultimate Melbourne weekend

Here's how to turn your next work trip into a Melbourne city break, with market lunches, rooftop bars and gallery visits fitting neatly around the odd meeting or two.

Read more
External view of Kirk's Wine Bar in Hardware Lane Melbourne
Melbourne

This is the best Aussie city to visit in winter – it’s even better than Hobart

Come winter, Melbourne doesn’t hibernate – it elevates. Here’s how to make the most of this city’s cool-weather culture.

Read more
22 of the best accommodation in Melbourne
Melbourne

22 of the best accommodation in Melbourne

From chic boutique hotels in the ‘burbs to quirky stays in the city and dreamy cottage conversions, here are some of Melbourne’s best accommodations.

Read more
The Snowtunnel
Melbourne

The world’s first rotating Snowtunnel is coming to Australia

An all-new Aussie invention is bringing year-round snow Down Under.

Read more
hero media

6 nature-based experiences to prove the Bendigo region comes alive in autumn

    Dilvin Yasa Dilvin Yasa
    Continue
    A change is as good as a holiday, but never more so than in the Bendigo region when it’s the seasons putting in the transformative work.

    With its gold rush history, opulent architecture and booming food and wine industry, there’s no denying that the Bendigo region is beautiful to visit at any time of year. Visit between March and May, however, and you’ll find the Bendigo in autumn really comes alive. Foliage erupts in a canvas of golden colours and the cooling air makes immersing yourself in nature all the more enticing.

    Need a few ideas to get you started? We’re so glad you asked.

    1. Tackle the bike trails

    Pink Cliffs Reserve
    Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

    Welcome to a region that punches well above its weight when it comes to cycling. This is where hammies are tested on multi-day rides, and first-timers fall in love with the sport on short (and ridiculously pretty) trails.

    The 49-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail is the headline act, following the old railway line between Bendigo and Heathcote. Cross the Campaspe River at Axedale Recreation Reserve and pause at the Platypus Compass Sculpture and the First Nations mural marking the connection between Djaara and Taungurung Country, with Axedale acting as the perfect halfway stop to refuel at a pub or cafe.

    Pedal a little further Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve to be rewarded with views of sculpted pink clay cliffs and narrow gorges that are perfect for a photo stop. Searching for a different type of reward? The Heatchote Wine Region is full of inviting cellar doors.

    There are plenty of other options in the Bendigo region, from the 210-kilometre Goldfields Track, to the Bendigo Creek Trail and Back Creek Trail – both ideal for riders of all abilities. The 3.7 kilometre Little Lake Boort loop is a great family-friendly option.

    Prefer something more adventurous? Spring Gully Mountain Bike Park has been keeping BMX Bandits’ dreams alive for years.

    2. Enjoy the crunch of autumn leaves

    two people having a picnic at Valley of Liquidambers heathcote
    Pack a picnic and head to the Valley of Liquidambers.

    Blinding clusters of crimson, burnt orange and brilliant yellow; here, autumn leaves are crisp confetti of fire and gold. See the magic up close with a slew of parks seemingly dedicated to showcasing Mother Nature’s colour wheel, especially from mid April to early June.

    Pack a picnic for an afternoon at Valley of Liquidambers in Heathcote, where Liquidamber trees transform into a wonderworld of magical foliage. Don’t miss taking a leisurely stroll across the swinging bridge back towards the main street.

    Rosalind Park might be celebrated for its annual tulip display come springtime, but it’s hard to compete with the theatre of autumn. Here, many trees date back to the 1800s, and there’s no better place for a romantic stroll than along the elms, oak and Queensland Kauri that dominate this park.

    Head straight to Lake Weeroona, where an ornamental lake begs for a leisurely lap around its edges, either on foot, or with pedal power.

    3. Immerse yourself in First Nations culture

    woman exploring Kooyoora State Park with guides
    Explore Kooyoora State Park on a cultural tour.

    Its ‘Mountain of Light’ (Guyura in the Dja Dja Wurrung language) title is impressive, but so too is Kooyoora State Park’s rugged landscape of granite outcrops, rocky ridgelines and wide-open skies.

    While there’s nothing to suggest you couldn’t explore Kooyoora’s walking tracks on your own, the best way to understand the 40,000 years of history behind its natural wonders is to book a 2.5-hour Kooyoora Cultural Tour with Dumawul Tours.

    Led by Djaara cultural guides, expect a traditional Welcome to Country smoking ceremony, before engaging storytelling rewinds the clock to reveal the deep cultural significance of the land, its flora, fauna and its continuing connection to Country.

    Keen to stay a little longer? Consider staying overnight at the campground and committing to the park’s wealth of walking trails, such as the 5.3-kilometre hike from the camping ground to the lookout on the Long Rock Walking Track.

    4. Splash in the region’s waterways

    Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail
    Paddle through Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Water babies rejoice: the Bendigo region offers a wealth of waterways to explore.

    Flowing 392-kilometres from the Great Dividing Range to the Murray River, the best way to enjoy Loddon River is with a stop at Bridgewater. Here you can swim in the natural infinity pool or tackle the all-abilities, five-kilometre Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail before browsing the cute stores in town. Hungry? Grab a bite at Bridgewater Hotel.

    Lake Eppalock is popular for water activities, but don’t miss a visit to Little Lake Boort and Big Lake Boort. Birders, in particular, will love the former, thanks to the large variety of bird species that nest in the boardwalk area surrounding the lake.

    Meanwhile, Big Lake Boort is celebrated for its significant Indigenous history and over 400 scarred trees, and offers an opportunity to spot birds and go canoing.

    Meanwhile, watersports and recreational activities at Crusoe Reservoir, located on the outskirts of Bendigo, are the order of the day. Take a walk to the picnic spots of No. 7 Park nearby, and maybe even camp there for the night.

    5. View epic lookouts

    customers at Peregrine Ridge
    Spend time at Peregrine Ridge.

    Sometimes a holiday requires a phenomenal spot on which to perch as you survey your temporary kingdom below. The Bendigo region, happily, doesn’t do anything by halves.

    Located in Heathcote-Graytown National Park, Viewing Rock Lookout – a rocky outcrop offering spectacular views over Heathcote and surrounds – remains a popular choice. Take the hour-long Viewing Rock Circuit Walk and try your hand at gold prospecting nearby.

    Prefer the romance of sunrise or sunset? Pyramid Hill, a stunning granite hill rising 187-metres above sea level, is the place to be (preferably with a coffee and a bagel)

    Over in Terrick Terrick National Park, a walk to the summit delivers a full 360-degree panorama of woodlands, farms and open-sky plains. Pack lunch – and perhaps a tent – as picnic tables and camping are available.

    Carve out time for Peregrine Ridge, a vineyard situated at the eastern side of Mt Camel Range with an elevation ranging from 250-290 metres. Be rewarded with delicious wine and a cellar door which offers floor-to-ceiling views.

    6. Enjoy the Bendigo region’s parks and gardens

    Rosalind Park in bendigo
    Stroll through Bendigo’s best gardens. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Rosalind Park, located right in the centre of town, is considered Bendigo’s backyard and rightly so. Home to the Bendigo Easter Festival, it’s just as popular year-round for its sixty acres of rolling lawns, towering elms, fernery and winding paths – not to mention the playground which has plenty of little fans of its own. A short drive away, Bendigo Botanic Gardens – established in 1857 – offers a more tranquil space for deep-level nature immersion.

    Those who favour something a little more formal, cottage-style Canterbury Park Gardens – famous for its dahlias in autumn – delivers.  Stroll through its meticulously maintained ornamental gardens before checking out Lake Tom Thumb and Lake Neangar nearby.

    Time to start planning your adventure to the Bendigo Region, visit bendigoregion.com.au.

    Best Things For Teens To Do In Melbourne | Australian Traveller