There is SO much on these school holidays – why not treat those hard working school kiddos to something more than just the old-faithful video games, arcades or movies?

We’ve recently previewed a whole bunch of family-friendly fun for you these September School holidays, and much of it you can only see during the Victorian, Canberra and NSW September school holidays!

1. – Sydney – WICKED the Musical

WICKED Australia is the smash hit musical now playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.

The untold true story of the witches of Oz, this wonderful musical is such a treat to see. We absolutely loved it from start to finish, with its blockbuster musical hits, amazing effects and sets.

Before the show there are even special Wicked themed Green Elixer and purple Ozmopolitan cocktails ($22 each) for Mum or Dad to try!

Wicked makes a great Sydney school holidays outing for families with older kids and teenagers to enjoy together!

What ages is Wicked suitable for?

The official recommended age to watch Wicked the Music is eight and up. There are some scary scenes and loud noises that may frighten younger children. (All theatre-goers must hold a valid ticket.)

How much are tickets to Wicked?

Ticket prices for Wicked Sydney start from $69 each for seats in the Stalls.

When is Wicked on?

Wicked is playing throughout the September school holidays into the Christmas Holidays until 21st of January 2023

Where can I buy tickets to Sydney Wicked?

You can get tickets to Sydney Wicked and find out more information at the official website here

See our Instagram reel of our opening night at Sydney WICKED here

Where is Wicked playing?

Sydney Lyric Theatre is located inside the Star City casino complex, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont NSW – you’ll find it on Google Maps here.

2. – Melbourne – LEGO® exhibition – RELICS: A New World Rises

Melbourne Museum is one of Australia’s best. We always try to drop in whenever we’re in Melbourne – they have some amazing exhibits, including a full-size, real dinosaur skeleton!

Right now the Melbourne Museum have another reason to visit. The extra-special exhibit for LEGO® Lovers RELICS: A New World Rises is a LEGO® Minifig bonanza. These LEGO displays look simply amazing but really, we would expect nothing less because they are all created by LEGO Masters TV show 2020 Winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler.

This first of its kind exhibition is definitely one to check out these Melbourne school holidays. Be sure to give yourselves plenty of time to explore the Museum too, it’s brilliant for kids and truly world-class.

What ages is the Melbourne Museum suitable for?

The Melbourne Museum is suitable for all ages.

How much does the Melbourne Museum cost?

RELICS: A New World Rises LEGO exhibition price includes your Melbourne Museum entrance.

RELICS Lego entry tickets cost:

Adult $27.50
Senior $22.50
Child/Concession $17.50

When is RELICS: A New World Rises LEGO exhibition on?

9am – 5pm during the September School Holidays right through the Christmas – Summer School Holidays

Where is the Melbourne Museum?

Melbourne Museum is located at 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053 – you’ll find it on Google Maps here.

More info at the Melbourne Museum official website here

Melbourne attractions online pass

Alternatively, you can just visit the Melbourne Museum only without paying to see the special RELICS exhibition – buy standard $15 tickets online with standard entry tickets or you can buy a Klook Melbourne Pass starting from $68 which gives you the option to select from a range of Melbourne attractions including the Melbourne Museum at a discounted price. You can see the full list of Melbourne attractions here.

3. – Canberra – Floriade flower festival 2023

If you think a flower festival sounds boring for kids you couldn’t be more wrong! Floriade is an amazing annual festival for every member of the family with its acres of stunning blooms, exciting garden paths to explore, plus more gorgeous photo spots than you can poke a stick at! There’s plenty of retail therapy of the garden variety too.

The kids certainly aren’t left out, and there’s even more than ever this year. The gorgeously decorated children’s gardens are always a hit – this year’s theme is Alice in Wonderland. There’s a super fun comical circus-style performance of Circus Wonderland: A Neverland Adventure in the new Wonderland Spiegeltent plus the essential big Ferris wheel ride and more.

Is there food at Floriade?

You won’t go hungry or thirsty at Floriade! There’s lots of yummy food stalls plus the delicious pop up Agostini’s pavilion Italian restaurant. Bars include the Bentspoke Brewing Beer Garden, Underground Spirits Gin Garden and more.

Is Floriade Canberra suitable for children?

Yes, Floriade flower festival in Canberra is suitable for all ages.

Floriade is free! There is no entry fee for Canberra Floriade.

When is Canberra Floriade 2023?

Canberra Floriade runs from 16 September to 15th of October 2023

What is Floriade Nightfest?

Nightfest is an extra after-hours (tickets required) Floriade event offering running from 28 September to 1 October. There are evening entertainment, food and drink offerings.

Is there a Floriade Tour?

There is a Floriade Tour available. Tickets can be purchased from Klook attractions here.

What time does Floriade open?

Floriade is open from 9.30am – 5.30pm every day (last entry is at 5:15pm)

Where is Canberra Floriade located?

Floriade is located inside Commonwealth Park, off Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra – you’ll find it on Google Maps here.

More Canberra Floriade info at the official website here
See our Instagram reel of our Floriade sneak peek here

4. – Sydney – Waru – journey of the small turtle – Bangarra Dance Theatre

Waru – journey of the small turtle is Bangarra’s first performance especially for young children. A story of discovery and survival inspired by the lives of green turtles. This charming immersive and interactive Torres Strait Islander culture dance performance is designed for small children ages 3-7 years to enjoy.

The show will also travel to several other Australian cities after the September school holidays, including Geelong, Goulburn, Shoalhaven, Cairns and Darwin.

How much do tickets to Waru cost?

Tickets to Waru – journey of the small turtle are $35 each or $30 each if you are buying four tickets.

When is Waru Journey of the Small Turtle on?

Waru Journey of the Small Turtle is on from 28 September to 14 October 2023

Where is the Bangara Dance Theatre?

Bangara Dance Theatre is located on Wharf 4/5, 15 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point NSW 2000 – you’ll find it on Google Maps here.

More info and tickets for Waru can be found on the official website here

5. – Sydney – Jurassic World – The Exhibition

Take a stroll around some of the biggest, most life-like dinosaur robots ever at Jurassic World – The Exhibition.
We got a sneak peek of the new Jurassic World: The Exhibition at Sydney Olympic Park and it’s…huge!

What ages are suitable for Jurassic World – The Exhibition?

Adults and families with school aged children and teenagers – not suitable for kids who may be frightened of big moving robots and loud noises.

What dates are Jurassic World – The Exhibition on?

From September 22nd
More info and tickets at the official website here

See our Watch our Jurassic World Exhibition Instagram reel here

Where is Jurassic World: The Exhibition Sydney located?

 Jurassic World: The Exhibition is located in the SuperLuna Pavilion, Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park – you can find it on Google Maps here.

Special Mention – coming in October….

Sydney (& Gold Coast, Melbourne) – Monster Jam

Rev-heads alert! Monster Jam monster trucks return to Melbourne, Sydney and the Gold Coast in October 2023 – mark it in your calendar for a brilliant night of motorsport awesome stunts and family fun!

Monster Jam® is perfect for the whole family – we absolutely love it, and this year there will be exciting new Marvel monster trucks, including The Amazing Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther and Thor! Plus the old favourites Grave Digger®, Max-D™ and Megalodon®.

What ages is Monster Jam suitable for?

All ages but consider bringing noise blocking headphones for little ones to help mute those noisy, revving engines!

How much does Monster Jam cost?

Monster Jam ticket prices cost from $27.50 (Child) $42.50 (Adult).

What are the Monster Jam Australia dates?

Monster Jam dates are Melbourne, October 7 2023, Sydney October 14 2023 and Gold Coast, October 21 2023

Where can I buy Monster Jam tickets?

More info and tickets at the official website here
See our Instagram Monster Jam 2022 reel here

Where is Monster Jam?

In Sydney, Monster Jam is held in the Accor Stadium Australia, Edwin Flack Ave. Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney – you can find it on Google Maps here.

Have you attended any of these events or shows, or do you plan to go? Tell me, or ask your questions in the comments below…

All information is correct as at September 2023 – theatre, exhibition, show and event prices may vary accordingly – always check the official websites as linked above for relevant, up to date information and prices.

The Let’s Go Mum Family were invited guests to all of the above shows and events and personally have (or will) attend many of them. As always, all opinions remain firmly my own.

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We took a mid-week trip flying from Sydney to Melbourne to see the new Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play. On this trip we were delighted to be hosted by the Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel.

Watch our Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel tour video

No time to read? Watch our video tour of the Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel here.

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The Grand Hyatt Melbourne is pure luxury, yet wonderfully family friendly! From the moment you stroll past the ultra-exclusive designer stores lining the entrance to the crystal lit Main Lobby, you know this is no ordinary hotel.

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne Main Lobby atmosphere is one of exclusivity and elegance. The reception desk staff’s welcome is as warm and genuine as can be – you just know you and your family are about to be spoiled!

Modern convenience – five star service

The hotel Concierge had our taxi doors opened and our suitcases whipped away in a flash. After we checked in, we were on our way up to our 17th floor rooms in no time, thanks to the express hotel elevators. We soon learned that whilst this hotel is historically luxurious, it also boasts every modern convenience.

With several lifts available we never had to wait for a lift once during our stay – and indeed this seemed to set the theme of our stay at the Grand Hyatt. We were never inconvenienced by any hotel service. From the health club, to room service, to a simple desk enquiry – everything was attended to above and beyond efficiently – now that’s five-star service!

Our interconnecting family rooms

Watch our Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel interconnecting room tours video!

No time to read? Watch our video tour of our interconnecting hotel rooms at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel here.

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During our stay at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne we stayed in two interconnecting en suite rooms on the 17th floor.

Room 1708, a Spa King corner room and room 1709, a Twin room.

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne Spa King corner room with a view

My corner Spa King room was luxury personified. Whilst the room itself was deluxe comfort and elegance all the way, it was the fabulous sweeping views that were the wow-factor. A stunning Melbourne vista stretching down to Federation Square and beyond, along the Yarra River. I found myself ordering frequent room service just to sit and enjoy the view!

The room’s sumptuous all-marble spa bath ensuite bathroom was just gorgeous, with the bath also serving as a spa bath. There were plenty of large soft towels and luxury amenities included too.

A wardrobe housed all the handy conveniences such as an iron & ironing board, a safe, white robes and slippers.

A large dresser held a flat screen TV, and within was a well stocked mini bar, fridge and tea & coffee facilities. All luxury items of course – every detail had been considered.

Booking a Spa King room at the Grand Hyatt hotel is how to pamper yourself, whether it be on a staycation, a Melbourne weekend away or a Melbourne city holiday.

The Grand Hyatt Twin room

My teenage girls stayed in the adjoining twin bed ensuite room, with a view every bit as gorgeous as mine!

With the exception of the size of the room and the side corner window, their hotel room offered the same luxury features, from the floor to ceiling marble ensuite bathroom (minus the spa bath function) to the tea and coffee drawer and white robes!

Our interconnecting hotel rooms

The best thing about the Grand Hyatt Melbourne for families is the option to expand your accommodation by booking a connecting room.

These interconnecting deluxe rooms mean the kids are close at hand, yet you have your own luxurious space.

With a connecting door between our corner spa room and twin room, I had both privacy yet direct access to my girls.

They had their own accommodation space – and bathroom to mess up! (Let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than having to share a bathroom with your kids when you’re on holiday!)

Apart from the bed configurations and size, there was very little difference between the rooms, including the view – this kept everyone very happy.

Grand Hyatt Melbourne City Club

Not just a hotel gym and pool, the Grand Hyatt Melbourne has a fully operating health and well-being club, the City Club. It features day spa treatments, personal trainers, an expansive gym, heated pool and even a rooftop tennis court.

The Hyatt Melbourne Gym

Much more than just an exercise and workout room, the Grand Hyatt gym is huge, extending across an entire floor, and into several levels.

There are specific weight lifting rooms, banks of all kinds of exercise equipment including weight presses and treadmills, a dedicated Peloton cycle class room and open mirrored spaces.

For the travelling dance troupe or cheer squad, there’s even a large polished floor dance studio.

A rooftop tennis court in the Melbourne CBD

Up a staircase you’ll find a full-sized outdoor rooftop tennis court. Surrounded on all sides by both historic buildings and modern city high rises. This tennis court provides a surreal, totally unique place to play a few sets of tennis right in the middle of the city of Melbourne!

Alongside the tennis court is a basketball half court and several golf driving cages too.

The entertainment and exercise spaces available to the Grand Hyatt Melbourne and their guests are simply mind blowing.

The Heated Indoor Pool unique to Melbourne

Inside the Health Club is also where you will find the iconic hotel pool.

With its art deco black and white tiling, a separate plunge pool and spa, this heated indoor swimming pool is totally unique to the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.

Steam rooms and saunas

Branching off from the pool are the steam rooms, saunas. There are dedicated women’s and men’s separate steam rooms and hot timber sauna rooms located on either side of the swimming pool.

The women’s steam room area includes two stories of facilities, including showers, dressing rooms with mirrors and secure lockers.

Collins Kitchen Full buffet breakfast restaurant

When the Grand Hyatt say full buffet breakfast – they mean it! Anything your heart desires for breakfast is available.

There are dedicated hot food buffets, plenty of fresh cold foods such as fruit and cereal stations  plus yoghurts, juices and pastries.

From chef-curated eggs to a dedicated pancake cook and of course barrista, you’ll start your day wondering if you’ll be able to fit lunch in at all!

Dinner, bars and room service

The Grand Hyatt hotel restaurant Collins Kitchen is also open for dinner, plus there is a bistro bar and lounges on site to grab a bite to eat – or a pre-show or dinner cocktail!

Grand Hyatt room service

Room service is fast and efficient and also offers a range of snacks and drinks to decadent meal cuisines. We rarely had to wait more than 15 minutes for a simple snack or drink order.

Centrally located for the perfect Melbourne staycation

The Grand Hyatt Melbourne is ideally located in the heart of the city, only a few minutes stroll from some of Melbourne’s most iconic tourist spots such as Federation Square, Hosier Lane and Flinders Street Station.

Designer shopping is right at the door on prestigious Collins Street, with major city department stores such as Myer and David Jones, museums and theatres only a short stroll away.

A beautiful Melbourne family holiday

We all loved our stay at the Grand Hyatt – spoil yourself and book a stay now – because all mums and dads deserve to be spoiled like the Grand Hyatt Melbourne spoils their guests – and that includes the kids!

The Letsgomum family partnered with Jetstar Australia & the Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel for this Melbourne trip. 

Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel handy information

Grand Hyatt Melbourne Address: 123 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia

Grand Hyatt Melbourne phone number: 03 9657 1234

Grand Hyatt Melbourne distance from Airport: 19.5km – 20 minutes taxi or uber drive

Grand Hyatt Melbourne Valet and hotel parking is available

The number 7 tram stop servicing trams 11, 12, 48 and 109 is located right outside the hotel on Collins Street

To find out more – visit the official Hyatt website here

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This page contains affiliate links. If you book a stay through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

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This page contains affiliate links. If you book a stay through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

If you’re looking for a fantastic afternoon or evening  out in Melbourne, I think we’ve found it for you!

This week we attended the opening night of the new theatre production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and it has cast its magical spell over Melbourne already!

Opening Night – the hottest event in Melbourne!

The Opening Night event was held in the forecourt of the Princess Theatre, and had to be the best party in town!

A star studded VIP invitation-only event, there were shoulder-to-shoulder Melbourne elite, TV celebrities, social media influencers – and of course, die-hard Harry Potter fans! We felt so thrilled to be there.

See our Instagram post about Harry Potter And The Cursed Child with more photos here

Watch our Harry Potter And The Cursed Child opening night experience on YouTube

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One thing about Harry Potter is that everyone loves him! Attendees were embracing the theme en masse, and costumed appropriately. Robes twirled, scarves swung and wands swished and flicked everywhere. Because let’s face it – dressing up for Hogwarts is so much fun!

We pulled my girl’s precious Hogwarts robes out of the wardrobe and added a few new accessories, including my new favourite – a screaming Mandrake scarf!

This premiere event took full advantage of the beloved magical Potter theme with several impressive installations. They proved perfect for fun family and Instagram photos.

The first thing to catch our eye entering the event was a massive flaming golden snitch dominating the forecourt. It was an impressive sight that served to emphasise the flickering, magical atmosphere.

As we circulated we posed for some really fun Harry Potter themed photos.

There was a Dumbledore picture frame you could step into, like the moving pictures on the walls at Hogwarts.

There was even a Platform 9¾ wall, complete with a half-through baggage trolley – so that you could pretend to make a run at the wall of course!

A red carpet photo wall was there too, and perhaps the most fun surprise of all – a trolley lady handing out chocolate!

The Hogwarts Express Trolley Lady

The trolley lady was just like the one in the Harry Potter movies on the Hogwarts Express! We were met with a cocky “Anything from the trolley, dears?”. Potter fans from way-back in, I thought my girls were going to jump for joy at the sight of her!

It wasn’t just my teenagers clamouring around her, either – adults left right and centre were excitedly lining up to interact with the trolley lady, and get their own chocolate! Harry Potter of course now has generations of adult fans too.

A brand new version of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child

This Wizarding World licensed production is a Potter Head’s dream! A brand new, reimagined version of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child that has been combined into one part instead of the original two part version. The result is a fast-paced exciting tale that is a delight to watch.

On with the show! Act 1

From the moment you enter the theatre, the atmosphere is other-worldly. You can hear eerie, indistinct train station platform calls echoing in the light-studded dim of the historic Princess Theatre.

The stage offers a mysterious glimpse at what is to come, with suitcases spotlighted by a station clock.

A levitating bowler hat is seemingly suspended above the stage, and you find yourself trying to puzzle out how it’s actually DOING THAT? The answer just may be – magic!

The show starts off at a run, and at the appearance of each original character, there are audience roars of approval and love.

The whole gang is back for this play – Harry (Gareth Reeves), Ron (Michael Whalley), Ginny (Lucy Goleby), Hermione (Paula Arundell) and Draco (Lachlan Woods)…plus some fun surprise come-backs! But this magical tale is really all about the new generation. New characters to instantly adore such as Albus Potter (Ben Walter), Scorpius Malfoy (Nyx Calder) and Rose (Aisha Aidara) .

This play is very-much the story of what happens next – a continuation of the Harry Potter stories.

With a whirl of wizard and witches robes, scenes change and magical twists, turns and slight of hand illusions happen seamlessly.

Intermission

Intermission seemed to come all too soon, but somehow everyone replenished their drinks and snacks from the Princess Theatre bar in time to be back in their seats for the second act – no mean feat by theatre staff!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Chid Act 2

Act 2 was every bit as wonderful as the first, and the audience were so ready for it – you could feel the anticipation before it even began. After all, the stage was already set with an ominous Dark Mark!

I don’t want to go into too much detail or give out any spoilers, however I will say that this show takes you from wonder to joy and even to delighted fear!

The audience was completely caught up in what was happening on stage – and off of it!

Is the Harry Potter Play suitable for children?

My teenagers (and myself) loved this show. For older primary school aged children up, this would be a wonderful outing and magical experience. That said, I would probably leave the younger kids at home due to a scary section. Under-fours are not permitted at all.

A standing ovation

One things for sure- this new show is a highly entertaining, and often completely astonishing  production that will have you on the edge of your seat.

At the end of the play as the cast came to take their bows they were met with a very well deserved, noisy standing ovation. It was an obvious seal of audience approval. This fabulous production is a hit – and a truly spellbinding way to spend a special night out in Melbourne.

Exclusive to Melbourne at the Princess Theatre

Book your tickets without delay! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is travelling the world, but playing only at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne. The production won’t be travelling Australia, or playing in other cities.

So if you don’t live in Melbourne then this is the excuse to visit you’ve been looking for!

Fly Sydney to Melbourne to see the show

Why not make a weekend of it and have a lovely getaway like we did?

We were flown Sydney to Melbourne by our sponsors and favourite budget airline Jetstar Australia.

The flying time between Sydney and Melbourne is just 1 hour 35 minutes, and check in and boarding is now as straightforward as it ever was.

We love buying our meals or snacks on board too, because it’s great to be able to eat and drink just what you feel like!

Have a luxury Melbourne Staycation at the Grand Hyatt

While you’re in Melbourne, why not spoil yourself with a decadent five star stay? We loved being hosted by the gorgeous Grand Hyatt Melbourne.

I highly recommend this stunning hotel for a luxurious Melbourne stay – and it’s just a few minutes walk from the Princess Theatre. Perfect!

Book a stay at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne here.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child quick info

Tickets are eligible for the Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program where you can claim 25% back on each ticket

Suitable for: all ages over 4, however there is an over 12 years recommendation, as there are some scary themes.

How long is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?: 3 hours, 20 minutes including intermission

How much are tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?: The Princess Theatre is three tiered levels with the Stalls at the bottom, Dress Circle in the centre and Grand Circle on the top tier. Tickets are priced from $56 (obstructed view Stalls) t0 $155 (Dress Circle front) each. You can phone 1300 795 012 or  buy tickets online here

Is there disabled access seating and room for a wheelchair? Accessible seating should be booked on the Stalls level on the ground floor, as there is no lift in the Princess Theatre.

Where is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child playing?: The Princess Theatre, 163 Spring Street, Melbourne.

When does Harry Potter and the Cursed Child finish?: Exclusive to the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, the season runs from the 19th of May to October 16th, 2022. Performances are generally every day excepting Monday, with afternoon performances on weekends.

Do I have to wear a mask during the performance? You must be vaccinated and wear a mask in the Princess Theatre.

Where can I buy tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?: More info and tickets can be found at the official website here

Have you attended Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, or do you plan to go? Tell me how you liked it, or ask your questions in the comments below…

All information is correct as at May 2022 – theatre seat prices vary according to their position – please check the official websites as linked above for relevant, up to date information and prices.

We were invited guests to Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, and we’re sponsored by Jetstar Australia and the Grand Hyatt Melbourne for this trip. I speak from personal experience. As always, all opinions remain firmly my own.

This page contains affiliate links. If you book a stay through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

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Hold onto your hats dinosaur-lovers – there’s a new BIG kid in town! Triceratops Horridus is Melbourne Museum’s brand new – yet prehistoric – exhibition, and he’s unlike anything your or your kids have ever seen before!

A REAL dinosaur skeleton in Australia

Did you know there’s a real dinosaur skeleton in Australia? This month we were really excited to be invited to attend the official opening of the Triceratops Dawn of the Dinosaurs at Melbourne Museum

Watch our video tour of the opening event & new dinosaur exhibition

No time to read? Watch our video tour of the Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs launch VIP Melbourne event and Triceratops exhibition.

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The Melbourne VIP celebrity event of the year!

You could cut the excitement with a flint at the VIP opening event of Triceratops at the Melbourne Museum.

Held after-hours in an empty Melbourne Museum prior to the Members preview event, Melbourne’s VIPs, celebrities and influencers – many with excited children in-hand – arrived to find an official grand opening event full of dino fun!

Dinosaur themed launch party fun

Upon arrival to the Museum, guests were directed to the event room fitted-out to Jurassic Park proportions.

Dinosaur themed treats

Dinosaur fans young and old were served with dino-themed drinks, appetisers and snacks. Dinosaur treats such as dinosaur gingerbread cookies and even gold-covered chocolate dinosaur droppings made a really fun novelty, and set the dinosaur theme perfectly.

Dinosaur themed crafts

There were lots of dinosaur themed crafts for the kids at the event too, including a Triceratops hat and mask-building station, and a special photo wall provided the perfect place for some unique dinosaur event Instagram photos.

An expert-manned ancient fossil table

A table crowded with a huge dinosaur skull and dinosaur bone casts offered genuine fossil examples for guests to take part in some hands-on learning thanks to the help of a friendly and highly knowledgeable paleontologist.

A circulating baby Triceratops puppet man kept everyone completely enchanted, particularly the toddlers and babies who were completely convinced they were patting a baby Triceratops!

Official Melbourne Museum exhibition opening

Official ceremonies included speeches and further historic, statistical fun facts and background on just how amazing the new Museum acquisition is. Then it was time for the main event – actually visiting the much-anticipated Triceratops Horridus exhibition – Triceratops: The Fate Of The Dinosaurs.

Triceratops: The Fate Of The Dinosaurs

Located in the dinosaur section of the Melbourne Museum where there is already a large collection of impressive dinosaur skeleton cast models, the new exhibition provided a wonderfully interactive experience.

The opening night Melbourne Museum after-hours tour

Opening night visitors found themselves transported to a lost world – immersed into an audio-visual prehistoric jungle and river dating back 67 million years ago.

Dinosaurs roamed and thumped along the exhibition walls thanks to the clever soundtrack and projections that covered not only the walls, but also the carpet below museum visitors very feet.

Whilst it would be easy to spend a lot of time just enjoying the introductory walk-through experience, with the promise of a genuine dinosaur up ahead, people were spurred onward to emerge into the large space that hosted what has to be one of the most spectacular Australian Museum coups of all time – the world’s most complete Triceratops skeleton – Horridus!

Triceratops Horridus display area

Fully re-assembled and atmospherically and dramatically lit with an eerie jungle background audio, this real dinosaur skeleton stands a terrifying 2 metres high, this is the world’s most complete Triceratops Horridus skeleton. It’s mesmerisingly glittering – a product of the type of rock that fossilised the bones.

Triceratops Horridus dinosaurs lived during the Late Cretaceous period, and went extinct half a million years before a mass extinction-level asteroid hit earth. An impressive asteroid representation is installed on one wall of the large display space surrounding the dinosaur skeleton.

Neither a girl or a boy due to the eons of time erasing such details, this Triceratops dinosaur is regarded as a “they”- and what an jaw-dropping sight they are!

Multi-level dinosaur viewing platforms

Multi-level platforms offer different perspectives of the huge dinosaur skeleton. A mid-way viewing platform offers a close-up overhead view, whilst the second floor gives plenty of room to spread out and appreciate this most impressive of dinosaur relics.

Also to be found on the second floor are further fascinating insights into dinosaurs thanks to a detailed bird feature display to accompany the various prehistoric displays spread over the two main floors of the exhibition.

A Melbourne April school holidays must-see

You can visit Triceratops Horridus now at the Melbourne Museum.

With its imposing stature and trademark horns, Horribillis is a spectacular world-class permanent addition to the Melbourne Museum, and truly needs to be experienced in person to be appreciated.

Melbournians and all dinosaur enthusiasts big and small – don’t miss this incredible new exhibit!

Essential info

How much does the Melbourne Museum cost?

Melbourne Museum ticket prices: $15 per person – pensioners and concessions (including single parent concession) and children are free.

Admission to Triceratops: The Fate Of The Dinosaurs is included in general admission – BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL

Where is the Melbourne Museum located?

Melbourne Museum address: 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053

How to get to the Melbourne Museum

Public transport: Trams, trains and buses all service the Melbourne Museum.

Parking: There is a Melbourne Museum carpark located underneath the Museum.

What dates is Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs on?

Exhibition dates: Triceratops: Fate Of The Dinosaurs with the world’s biggest Triceratops dinosaur skeleton is a permanent exhibit at the Melbourne Museum from March 2022

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If you’re looking for a family-friendly luxury hotel for your next Melbourne trip or staycation, Melbourne Marriott is the one!

We took a trip to see the Christmas lights of Melbourne – and to do a bit of last-minute Christmas shopping – and absolutely loved our family getaway staying at the Melbourne Marriott!

Watch our Melbourne Marriott Hotel room tour video!

No time to read? Watch our video tour of the Melbourne Marriott hotel here.

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A family-friendly luxury hotel

Flying to Melbourne with Jetstar Australia (our Melbourne trip airline partner), the Melbourne Marriott was only twenty five minutes Uber trip from Melbourne Airport. We were soon receiving a warm welcome at the Melbourne Marriot hotel reception desk.

Our five-star hotel corner suite

Even though we were staying in a luxurious executive corner suite with a a huge master bedroom, it had been adapted to accommodate our family comfortably.

I loved the master bedroom (oh, the stretched-out luxury!), whilst the girls slept in the additional beds in the lounge and had plenty of room for themselves. Our beautiful suite could have easily slept a family of five.

The décor was modern and elegant with panoramic city views from every window. A huge walk-through robe and a stunning marble accent bathroom en-suite with luxury complementary amenities continued the luxurious theme.

Our room had every convenience we could have needed. An iron & ironing board, a safe for any valuables, tea & coffee facilities and a refrigerator mini bar. There were toothbrushes & paste in addition to the luxury toiletries, complimentary slippers, plenty of generously-sized plush towels plus white terry robes to relax in too. The Marriott is geared for relaxation!

As if all that wasn’t enough, the gift of a spectacular welcome platter awaited us in the room loaded with everything delicious – and even a bottle of champagne. My parent luxury weekend was activated! As soon as we had enjoyed a mini-platter feast, we set off to enjoy the delights of Melbourne – and of course some Melbourne Christmas shopping!

A hotel near Her Majesty’s Theatre

Right next door to the Melbourne Marriot hotel we discovered the East End theatre district. Her Majesty’s Theatre (playing Disney’s Frozen the Musical) was mere steps away, as was Chinatown and a multitude of tempting Little Bourke Street restaurants!

A centrally located hotel to make your Melbourne staycation easy

This was a great base to explore the Melbourne CBD from, including the wonderful shopping precinct. From designer to discount, Melbourne shopping has it all, and staying at the Marriot Melbourne meant we didn’t have far to walk to reach any Melbourne  attractions.

From the Flinders Street Station and Federation Square Christmas lights at night, to David Jones, Myer and the Emporium shopping centre, we didn’t even need to catch a tram once during our stay – yet we explored so much! Centrally located, the Melbourne Marriott is such an advantage for a Melbourne weekend or holiday.

This Melbourne city hotel has an indoor pool & gym!

The hotel’s facilities are kid-friendly too.

An elegant indoor pool was a great place to have some fun and unwind. There were pool noodles for the girls to play with and a warm spa to relax in. A motorised chair lift provided accessibility to the pool too.

There was a sauna and a well-equipped indoor exercise gym located off the pool, plus a fairy light-lit courtyard too.

The Melbourne Marriott’s Essence On Exhibition restaurant is located on the ground floor, and is open for both dinner and breakfast.

It was lovely to sit and watch the world go by from the restaurant’s picture windows looking out onto the busy street whilst eating from the self-service full buffet breakfast selections. Enjoying a barista coffee and my favourite (chef-cooked and not me – hurray!) poached eggs and the kids happily munching on Cocoa Pops, it was a beautiful start to our Melbourne day.

Book your Melbourne weekend away

Our stay at the Melbourne Marriott hotel really made our Melbourne trip  – it was lovely to be spoiled! After all, we mums deserve a bit of luxury! You can book your stay at the Melbourne Marriott hotel now at Booking.com .

The Letsgomum family partnered with Jetstar Australia & the Melbourne Marriott hotel for this Melbourne Christmas trip. 

Melbourne Marriott hotel handy information

Melbourne Marriott’s Address: Corner of Exhibition & Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne Australia

Melbourne Marriott’s phone number: 03 9662 3900

Melbourne Marriott’s distance from Airport: 20km – 25 five minutes taxi or uber drive

Melbourne Marriott hotel parking is available

Book your stay with Booking.com here

To find out more – visit the official Marriott website here

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This page contains affiliate links. If you book a stay through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!

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Melbourne mums and dads – did you know that Jurassic Park exists right under your very nose in the Melbourne CBD?!
Jurassic World by Brickman is the Summer school holidays exhibition for all ages!

The exciting new Melbourne family LEGO exhibition

After some Melbourne lockdown false starts, we were so excited to be invited to visit Melbourne’s exciting new Brickman attraction.

Located in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the first floor, this LEGO display is absolutely huge!

Watch our video tour of the LEGO Jurassic World by Brickman exhibition

No time to read? Watch our video tour of the Brickman Jurassic World LEGO exhibition.

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Ryan The Brickman has done it again!

You’ll find Ryan ‘The Brickman” McNaught’s epic, world-first exhibition at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Ryan McNaught is of course Australia’s official LEGO certified master builder. He is always coming up with fun new ways for LEGO fans to interact with everyone’s favourite building bricks.

A Melbourne summer holidays must-see

This exciting LEGO show transforms Jurassic World — the blockbuster franchise from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment — into an immersive must-do adventure that will be the largest LEGO® brick experience in Australian history!

We couldn’t believe our eyes right from the very start when we were met with the iconic 4-metre-tall Jurassic World gates (made of no less than 180,000 LEGO bricks!) as we entered the Isla Nublar! We knew from that very moment that we were in for a real treat. After all, this exhibit was made up of two of our favourite things – LEGO and Jurassic Park – what a combination! It definitely didn’t disappoint.

Take a Melbourne Instagram photo with life-sized velociraptors!

You really need to visit this exhibition in person to understand its sheer scale. Inside you encounter over 50 large-scale dinosaurs, props and scenes from the blockbuster Jurassic World movie franchise, including life-size dinosaurs in the petting zoo, a simply enormous Brachiosaurus you can walk underneath, minifig dioramas everywhere, and what has to be some of the best Instagram photo opportunities in Melbourne! Recreating some of the most iconic moments from the Jurassic Park films is so much fun (which of course my girls got right into – drama queens!). These included getting up close and personal with 2 life-size velociraptors! Rawrr!

Lots of LEGO building opportunities

You get to build your own mini Jurassic World and even dinosaur footprints in regular LEGO, but there’s also the opportunity for the preschoolers to join in too, with the more toddler-friendly DUPLO LEGO. Create hybrid dinosaurs, help assemble enormous LEGO® brick mystery mosaics, and even build your own escape vehicles to get away from a one ton T Rex model! (Truly the best LEGO Instagram shot in Melbourne right now!)

Melbournians big and small – don’t miss this special LEGO display!

With huge thanks to Brickman Exhibitions for inviting us to visit, Jetstar Australia for flying us out on our Melbourne adventure and the Melbourne Marriott hotel for giving us the most beautiful stay.

What dates is Brickman’s Jurassic World display running?

Jurassic World LEGO Melbourne is running until 30 January 2022

Book your tickets at Ticketek here

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Play the video to below to watch…

Watch it on the Today Show website here

For more information on each of the budget school holiday activities, see each state listing below!

Australian School Holidays Activities

Brisbane

Activity: Towers of Tomorrow Lego exhibition
Where: Ipswich Art Gallery
When: Until 9th of July 2017
Cost: 4 sessions daily – $5 per person, per session – bookings are essential
For more information go to the website here

Sydney

Activity: Nestle Healthy Active Kids Cooking Sessions
Where: The Royal Easter Show – Woolworths Food Farm
When: Until 19th April
Cost: Free (In addition to entry fees – Adults $38 / Child $23)
For more information go to the website here

Melbourne

Activity: Easter Egg Scramble
Where: The Big Goose Farm
When: All Easter long weekend
Cost: $5 (in addition to farm entry fee – $17 adults/$13 children)
For more information go to the website here

Adelaide

Activity: Playford Alive Colour War & Outdoor Cinema- Minions
Where: Playford Alive Town Park
When: 15th April 2017
Price: Free – register for tickets from the Eventbrite website
For more information go to the website here

Perth

Activity: Animal activities
Where: Landsdale Farm School
When: All school holidays (except Good Friday & Easter Monday)
Cost: $7 entry per person – under 2yo free
For more information go to the website here

Do you have any school holiday budget ideas? Share them in the comments below!

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During a recent trip to Melbourne we found ourselves with a spare afternoon on our hands, so we decided to catch a tram over to the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel and see what all the fuss is about!

Located in Harbour Town, the Melbourne Star is pretty hard to miss due to it’s sheer size. Standing at 120 metres high, this gigantic Ferris wheel makes for an imposing Melbourne skyline stand-out.

The Melbourne Star is easily accessible from the city via the free city circle tram line or the Melbourne Visitor Shuttle buses, or you can simply catch a train or drive and park nearby (for the finer details, see our info section below).

A trip to the Melbourne Star also happens to have an added attraction for mums – on-site shopping! You need to walk right through the Harbour Town Shopping Centre from the tram stop to get to there – so you can do a bit of outlet shopping on the side before or after your Melbourne Star ride – bonus!

Boarding your “flight”!

Even though it was school holidays when we visited, we didn’t have to queue for long – it wasn’t busy at all. I bought our tickets at the entrance – Melbourne Star have 1 parent and children packages which is great for single parent families like us – and then we were directed to catch an escalator up to the short walk to the Observation Wheel loading point – it was exciting to think that we were going to be at the top of this gigantic moving structure before long!

Attendants assisted us all to step into our carriage – it was moving slowly, so getting in was no problem. The large carriages are shared, so there was other families being loaded into the same carriage as us – there were perhaps 15 people in our carriage in all. I couldn’t help but wish that with the low numbers of people they were boarding that day that we might have got lucky and got a carriage to ourselves, but alas – it wasn’t to be!

Riding the Melbourne Star

Off we went on our “flight”, with an estimated total rotation time of 30 minutes. If you’re a bit afraid of heights, don’t let that put you off. To me, the Melbourne Star seemed no more scary than being on a high floor of a skyscraper – albeit a moving one! Huge and almost imperceptibly rotating, no one in our carriage seemed phased at all by the fact that we were in a large glass container, attached to a massive steel wheel which was suspended as high as 120 metres!

Inside the carriage there was a communal wooden bench running down the centre to sit on if you wished to, and a hand rail running right around the windows – that is, apart from the doors which were rather disconcertingly signposted, “Do not lean against the door”! We made sure the kids kept well-away from those, although I’m sure it was just a precautionary measure…I think!

Obeservation Wheels give you a constantly changing elevated view – and a great overall picture of an area. Melbourne can be a hard place to get a size perspective of when you’re actually in it, so the Melbourne Star was great for appreciating the general size of the Melbourne CBD and the surrounding suburbs, docklands and bay.

Even though you are basically locked into a carriage for half and hour with a small group of strangers, don’t worry too much about the kids getting bored or noisy – particularly if they’re really little. We had a toddler in our carriage, but she found the ride fascinating from start to finish. My kids really enjoyed having the freedom to roam about the carriage at will to see the constantly changing vistas  – and sticky-beak at the neighbouring carriages too!

Within 15 minutes we had reached the very top of the wheel where we had spectacular 360 degree views of Melbourne and surrounds. It was a Melbourne I’d never really seen before in this way.

Inch-by-inch, we rotated back down to the ground, and disembarked from our flight on the Melbourne Eye. We headed out via the gift shop to grab a souvenir and check out their giant Lego Melbourne Star!

Riding on the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel had been an exciting, one-of-a kind experience. It’s a great school holiday activity for both Melbournians and visitors to Melbourne alike, and I’d definitely recommend the Melbourne Star as a fun, unique family experience – don’t miss it!

Melbourne Star Important Info

Admission prices (as at January 2016)

Adult $35.00
Child (5 – 15 Years) $21.00
Children (up to 4 Years) Free
Family (1 Adult & 2 Children) $62.00
Family (2 Adults & 1 Child) $73.00
Family – Additional Children $17.00
Seniors / Concession $31.00

Location of the Melbourne Star

101 Waterfront Way
Docklands
VIC 3008
Melbourne

Opening hours

Melbourne Star is open daily from 10am – 10pm with the last flight departure at 9.30pm

Contact details

Phone: +61 (3) 8688 9688
Official website – http://www.melbournestar.com/

How to get there

By Car – Paid parking is available at Pearl River Road West Car Park and Waterfront Way East Car Park.
By Train – Get off at Southern Cross Station.
By Tram – Catch the free City Circle tram no.35 and get off at Waterfront City/Harbour Town Shopping Centre – Docklands Stop.
By Melbourne Visitor Shuttle – catch this bus from any of the stops in and around the city.

Have you ever been on the Melbourne Star? What did you think – did your family enjoy it? Tell us in the comments below…

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It’s time to find some easy school-holiday outings to entertain the whole family. The Old Melbourne Gaol has long been a popular tourist attraction – so let’s take a closer look to see what it has to offer families….

The Old Melbourne Gaol and City Police Watch House

If you’ve visited Glenrowan or any of the other numerous Ned Kelly historic sites  (perhaps like we did on our way down to Melbourne during our Victorian road trip last year), then visiting the Old Melbourne Gaol makes for a great wrap-up of the famous Kelly story.

There you can view the exact place where the infamous bush ranger Ned Kelly, was hung. Gruesome perhaps, but of course that’s exactly what primary-school-aged children love – the gory bits!

But there’s more to the Gaol than just Ned – here you can also wander about at-will, checking out numerous tiny prison cells and climbing several stories up old steel stairs and along extensive balconies (be sure to keep toddlers firmly in-hand and young children under close supervision – staircases are steep and railings, whilst safe, are rather narrow!).

You can read tales of the actual prisoners of yesteryear in different cells – including Ned Kelly’s cell, of course!

There’s some audio-visual film shown on the walls of a cell or two as well, which is always great to capture the attention of busy kids – let’s face it, trying to read history off wall placards is difficult when you have kids racing around like excited squirrels from one display to the next!

Luckily there is also the odd guide dotted around to explain just what went on and where – like this case full of interesting Gaol paraphernalia.

As already mentioned, the Ned Kelly’s hanging area is a major feature of course, and this is where you can stand and view a reproduction of the Ned Kelly hangman’s noose – and even get a photo with the noose around your own neck if you like!

While you are there, don’t miss the opportunity to get a photo of the kids dressed up in some mock-Ned Kelly amour and helmet, located right next to the hanging site – that is if you can lift the heavy iron armor plates over their heads – because it really does feel like it weighs a ton!

The City Police Watch House Tour

The City Police Watch House is located right next door to the Old Melbourne Gaol. Here they run a rather fun tour experience which is great for adults and older kids. During the tour, you are treated just like a prisoner!

The female police officer who conducted our tour “arrested” us! She allocated us our alleged crimes (Brooke, 10, was apparently caught driving without a licence!), then told us all off soundly and split us into groups of women or men. Then we were locked into a pitch-black cell for a minute! It’s a little spooky to say the least, even though you are sat with several other “fellow prisoners”!

Young kids? It can be a little spooky!

I say this tour is suitable for older children, because whilst my 10yo was half scared/half thrilled, Samantha my 8yo was a bit frightened – she really thought we were in trouble! When the cell we were locked in with our other “inmates” went dark, both Samantha and another child on the tour were quite worried! The Gaol does warn the tour may confronting for children on their website – it’s good advice if perhaps you have children under-ten, or sensitive kids.

During the tour you also get to check out the old exercise yards, plus see more audio-visual jail stories too. After being “locked up” we were allowed to roam the cells – the girls decided the padded cell was the best one – and proceeded to go mad in there!

Then at the end of the City Police Watch House Tour you get the opportunity to take “line-up” photos of your family with prisoner i.d. numbers – all tour members were eager to have their turn at this – plus it’s great material for kid’s future 21st birthday parties too!

Souvenir Gift Shop

At the end of your visit to the Old Melbourne Gaol and City Police Watch House visit you exit through the gift shop – a great place to grab some unusual souvenirs.

The kids had me talked into buying a pair of handcuffs until I found out that if you lose the key, you’re stuck for good! I reckoned that it would have taken the kids about 5 minutes before they managed to lock themselves together and lose the key. I opted to buy some ice creams instead!

The Old Melbourne Gaol is a fascinating and authentic look into the past, which also just happens to entertain and educate the kids at the same time – bonus! This historic Melbourne attraction is a great destination for the school holidays, and well-worth a visit.

 Old Melbourne Gaol Important Info

Admission price

(as at December 2015)
$25 Adult
$20 Concession
$13.50 Child (5 to 15 years)
$55 Family (2 adults + 2 children.

Location of Old Melbourne Gaol

377 Russell Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Contact details

Phone: 03 8663 7228
Email: info@oldmelbournegaol.com.au

How to get there

By Train – Melbourne Central Station.
By Tram – Catch the free City Circle tram no.35 and get off at stop 7 (corner of La Trobe and Russell Streets) or just ask the conductor – they’re really friendly on these brown tourist trams!
The Old Melbourne Gaol is  2 minutes walk from either the tram or train.

Have you been to the Old Melbourne Gaol? What did you think – did your family enjoy it? Tell us in the comments below…

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Melbourne is the perfect place to be in at Christmas-time. Now that the kids are on school holidays, it’s time to head into the city to experience some of the wonderful Christmas fun and magic that only Melbourne has to offer. With the free city circle trams, there really is no excuse not to go and spend a very Christmassy day in the city with the kids!

The Federation Square Lego Christmas Tree

If your children love Lego (and even if they don’t!), they’re going to love the giant Lego Christmas Tree which is currently taking pride-of-place in Federation Square in the city.

Standing at 10 metres tall, this is actually the biggest Lego Christmas Tree in the whole Southern Hemisphere – now that’s big! With a distinctly beachy-theme, there’s even a Lego Santa with his surfboard – plus Santa’s sleigh of course!

This is one Lego sculpture that your little Lego fans really shouldn’t miss!

The Myer Christmas Windows

A right of passage for every Melbourne child, the Bourke Street Mall Myer Christmas Windows won’t disappoint this year, their 60th, with the tale of Little Dog And The Christmas Wish. We won’t spoil the story for you except to say that the story and windows are just as charming as ever, and of course has a happy ending.

As always, give yourself some time to queue up if you’re visiting in peak times. We were there at around lunchtime on a weekday and needed to queue for about twenty minutes – but it was well-worth the wait!

The Myer Toy Department

Let’s face it – Myer in the city have Christmas magic nailed – as if the Christmas windows outside weren’t good enough, there’s the amazing Toy department inside. They sell just about every toy you can think of, all in their own specially decorated areas.

Thomas toys surround a Thomas Train which the kids can sit in, Barbie toys are in a bright pink blinged-out area of their own, as are the Disney Princess toys – which even have a magical tree to sit under! Giant robotic dinosaurs preside here too, and there are more life-sized character Lego sculptures than you can point a pogo-stick at.

Give yourself some time for the kids to run screaming from one area to another here – don’t miss it!

The David Jones Magic Cave

David Jones have a slightly different approach to their Christmas decorations with a Magic Cave in their toy department. Once the kids see the signs and footprints leading there, all mum-shopping-hope is lost – you’re going there first! After all, what kid can resist a Magic Cave?

It also happens to be where a truly fabulous Santa lives. In a cute twist, you enter through Santa’s “house” which has the kids absolutely spellbound. Although Santa sits in a rather small room, I swear that he looks and sounds so authentic that he really must be the real thing! Although the usual Santa pics are on offer you don’t have to buy any photos at all if you don’t want to, so this still remains a free activity.

Once you leave Santa you emerge into the Magic Cave, a world of twinkle lights, toys, window-display elves, and even a fabulous talking tree. It truly does seem magic to the little ones!

Make the time to take a look at the David Jones Magic Cave for a great Christmas experience with the family.

Go for a walk around

Make sure you spend some of your day in the city centre on foot. Drift from street to street to see the huge, beautiful public buildings of Melbourne dressed in their finest Christmas gift-bows and lights.

The streets are adorned with beautiful decorations, the Bourke Street Mall flies Christmas flags and is strung with suspended bells and stars. The city of Melbourne is dressed in its best Christmas finery right now – don’t miss it!

So why not grab the kids and make a day of it in the city for your dose of Christmas spirit? Your family is going to have a magical day – and with any luck, you may even fit in a bit of Christmas shopping on the side – enjoy!

Have you ever visited Melbourne at Christmas? What was your favourite thing to do with the kids? Tell us in the comments below…

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