 The trick to a great family holiday is to plan enough action to keep everyone entertained, and in Victoria you will find a vast line-up of family fun in all corners of the state.
Melbourne’s latest family attraction is the new AFL Hall of Fame and Sensation. AFL Sensation is the most technologically advanced interactive museum in the country, where kids can kick a goal in virtual footy, commentate a game on radio or host their own version of ‘The Footy Show’.
AFL Sensation joins the list of city attractions for kids including Melbourne Zoo, the Melbourne Aquarium, Scienceworks, IMAX and the Children’s Museum at the Melbourne Museum and the long-time favourite, Luna Park.
Out of town, the historic port town of Echuca on the Murray River is packed with things for kids. A river cruise on the paddlesteamer is a must and the historic port is a great place to wander, while the town’s thriving food and wine industries make for a pleasant stay for adults too. If history delights, try your hand a gold panning at Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill and in the evening watch ‘Blood on the Southern Cross’, a dazzling fire, sound and light show based on the Eureka Uprising.
The Grampians region is a wonderful place to spend a few days – try canoeing on Lake Fyans, horseriding or bushwalking. In the state’s north-east you can paddle along the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail. You can cruise a section of the 94-kilometre trail or ride the entire route, which takes about four days. Hire a bike at a town along the route and a bike taxi will collect you and return you to your car.
Lake Mountain is 120 kilometres east of Melbourne and in winter is buzzing with toboggans and snowman-making. A new café opened in 2004 as well as a hire shop with all the gear for your day in the snow.
In summer, Victoria has an array of great beach destinations for families. Phillip Island has fabulous surf beaches as well as the famed penguin parade. Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road is another family-friendly beach town while further along the coast, Warrnambool has beaches, museums and parks for kids. In late June-early July the town is turned over to children with the Fun 4 Kids Festival, the biggest of its kind in the state.
 Top Ten Things To Do
- Play virtual footy in an AFL Grand Final in the new AFL Hall of Fame and Sensations.
- Ride a paddlesteamer in Echuca.
- Toboggan the slopes of Lake Mountain.
- Feed the animals at Healesville Sanctuary or Werribee Park.
- Ride on the Puffing Billy steam train.
- Hire a bike and coast along the Murray to the Mountains Rail Ride.
- Hop from one museum to the next – Scienceworks, Children’s Museum at Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum.
- Catch a wave or watch the penguins waddle in at night at Phillip Island.
- Step back in time a Sovereign Hill.
- Canoe on Lake Fyans at the Grampians.
Events
Australian International Air Show
Held in February, this is the Southern Hemisphere's largest aviation and aerospace event. The show includes night time flying displays and the spectacular Night Alight.
Harvest Picnic at Hanging Rock
The Harvest Picnic takes place on the last Sunday in February at the famous Hanging Rock Reserve. It's a fun day out for families and food lovers with over 100 food and wine producers gathering to put on a feast for visitors.
 Australian Grand Prix
This major Formula One motor racing event in Melbourne is the opening round of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The four-day event is held in Albert Park in early March.
Bendigo Easter Fair
First held in 1871, this festival offers a range of free entertainment for all ages at various venues around the city.
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
This festival celebrates Victoria's food and wine culture by highlighting the calibre and diversity of Victoria's top restaurants, wineries and speciality food industries. The Festival is held during March in various venues and includes the World's Longest Lunch and specially priced meals at Melbourne's top restaurants during Restaurant Week.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Australia's funniest festival is held over three weeks in March-April in various venues in the city and suburbs. You'll laugh until you burst with over 1000 of the world's best comedians performing over 100 shows.
Spring Racing Carnival
The highlight of this carnival is the famous Melbourne Cup race, held on the first Tuesday of November. The carnival begins in October and ends in November and features glamorous fashion, brilliant food, live entertainment and of course plenty of exciting horse racing.
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