8 of the best family friendly activities
Geelong and the Bellarine, Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula, Phillip Island
There is so much to do and see for the whole family across our beautiful regions. Take to the high ropes, be an animal keeper for the day, or spoil yourselves with chocolatey treats. Or how about a pyjama party or a scenic train ride? Or some rock climbing or mountainboarding? Make the most of family time with our top 8 activities!
Great Ocean Road
Treetops Adventure, Yeodene
With courses for a range of ages, ‘re-tree-t’ into this Australian native forest and recharge with a 100% natural high. Soar through the messmate trees of the Otway Forest.
Ride through the air on a pegasus or relive your playground days on the 15-metre-high monkey bars.
Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie, Bellbrae
Sweet treats go hand-in-hand with school holidays and family time. Chocolate, confectionery, ice cream, milkshakes and other decadent sweets and desserts are serious business on the Great Ocean Road. Try a masterclass and become a chocolatier for the day, attend a Hot Chocolate Festival, make a giant lollipop or watch the experts make chocolate. Kids have free range of the grounds, with a sandpit to play in or say hello to the chickens and guinea pigs – there’s plenty to do here!
Phillip Island
Maru Koala and Animal Park
Maru is a family-run attraction where you can see koalas, wombats, crocodiles, kangaroos, Australian birds, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, emus and even more!
If you are looking for a special experience with one of the animals, Maru Koala and Animal Park is the perfect place to do it! Sign up for one of the animal experiences, or meet and greets. When you’re done, you can head off to Pirate Pete’s Mini Golf for some more family fun.
Wildlife Coast Cruises – Cape Woolamai & Seal Cruises
From Australian Fur Seals, Whales on migration, dolphins, coastal birdlife and stunning scenic rock formations, there’s plenty on offer for you to see in these incredible areas on a leisurely boat cruise Wildlife Coast Cruises.
In Autumn, the Phillip Island Seal Cruise is a great option as you find pups’ are starting to get curious and you will start to see more in the water as they confidently approach large pods within meters of the boat!
Experiencing Phillip Island from the water is a fantastic experience you won’t forget.
Mornington Peninsula
Arthurs Seat Eagle
Soar the heights of the Mornington Peninsula with scenic views across Port Phillip Bay towards Melbourne, around the coast and beyond.
Gliding quietly through the sky in a gondola at Arthurs Seat Eagle, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported a million miles away, rather than one hour’s drive from Melbourne. Your flight takes you 314 metres above sea level to the summit of Arthurs Seat. The perfect spot to discover local wildlife, take in more breathtaking scenery or relax and enjoy an Eagle Picnic Package.
At the summit, the cafe offers amazing views from nearly every table and an expansive outdoor deck.
Fun at The Ranch MP
Embark on a plethora of adventure activities, including horse riding, mountainboarding, flying fox, the giant swing, archery, leap of faith, rock climbing, holiday programs and more!
Geelong & The Bellarine
Fun kids activities at Big 4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon
The CoutaKidz Activity Program is completely free, operates on weekends and through School Holiday Periods and is offered exclusively to guests of BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon. With everything from painting and crafts to treasure hunts to sports days, your children will be in heaven on weekends and School Holidays! Every activity includes all materials as well a friendly, helping hand from our lovely team. Parents are more than welcome to join in the fun but with the kids entertained, you might want to sneak some “me time” and sneak off for a peaceful coffee.
Each session operates for approximately one hour and is aimed at children from pre-school onwards. Children under 4 years of age are more than welcome to join in, however parental/guardian assistance will be required.
Know before you go
Conditions can change anywhere, fast, for many reasons. For the latest information on changes to local conditions, please visit the relevant park page on the Parks Victoria website.
Depending on your location, be water safe or bushfire ready in the great outdoors. Refer to the Safety in nature section on the Parks Victoria website for tips on how to stay safe.
