Family Fun

The city comes alive during the holidays, with plenty to see and do for young and old. Check out these fun summer activities to boost your Christmas spirit and entertain the kids during their break.

Fed Square Adam Renyard

Melbourne Town Hall Adam Renyard

Let it Glow

See the city sparkle this Christmas with dazzling decorations and projections lighting up city streets and buildings. Visit the giant Christmas tree at Fed Square, Docklands’ sparkling reindeer on Harbour Esplanade, the seasonal Melbourne Town Hall projections and more festive favourites.

Festive Fun

The city’s Christmas Festival returns with festive events and family-friendly activities the kids will love. Find your way through the giant maze in Docklands, take a ride at the Christmas Carnival at Birrarung Marr and enjoy a pop-up playground at Queensbridge Square.

For Auld Lang Syne

Ring in New Year’s Eve in the city at one of the Official Fireworks Celebration Zones. Entry is free, with each zone hosting familyfriendly entertainment and amenities, early evening fireworks at 9.30pm and the best views of the city-wide rooftop fireworks at midnight. Plan ahead and be safe this NYE.

Summer in the City

School holiday fun continues in the city, with world-class galleries and museums to enlighten, exciting popup events and activities to entertain, and a range of delightful parks and gardens to play in.

Visit our website for more information on what to do throughout the holiday period. +whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Museum Magic

Gods, Myths & Mortals

With school holidays on the horizon, it’s time to plan some fun for everyone. Take the kids on an outing that will expand – maybe even blow – their minds.

Discover Other Cultures

There are 1.26 million Chinese Australians whose families have lived here for up to 200 years. Find out about their contributions and see artefacts from their time here at One Million Stories, the permanent exhibition at Chinatown’s Chinese Museum. Housed in the former Royal Melbourne Mint is the Hellenic Museum. See treasures from Athens’ Benaki Museum at the Gods, Myths & Mortals exhibition displaying 8,000 years of history. There’s plenty to explore, too, with collections of contemporary art and ancient artefacts changing all the time. +chinesemuseum.com.au +hellenic.org.au

Summer Sporting Brilliance

The season is all about relaxing and, if you’re a family of sports fans, perhaps spending a day at the cricket. Head into the Cricket Gallery at the Australian Sports Museum to learn more about it. Here, the kids will discover memorabilia that celebrates national teams, past and present, as you take in stories from Australia’s greatest rivalries and triumphs, as well as the disappointments and scandals. Then, if it’s not a game day, join a tour of the magical MCG and see behind the scenes. +australiansportsmuseum.org.au

Australian Sports Museum

Immigrant Stories and Timeline

Imagine the Past

Australia’s present is made possible by the people who’ve come before us. Many of them came from across the seas, and Immigrant Stories and Timeline is the Immigration Museum’s exhibition sharing personal stories of how and why people arrived here. At the moment, there are tales from Italian migrants in the 1950s, former international students, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo and more. Grab the Stories of me, Stories of us booklet and fill it in with your own family’s origins as you explore. +museumsvictoria.com.au/

immigrationmuseum

Marvel Stadium

Epic lives here! Come down to visit the busiest multi-purpose venue in Australia, located in the heart of Melbourne. Marvel Stadium is renowned for hosting some of the city's biggest sporting events including AFL, BBL and the soccer World Cup qualifi ers, as well as many memorable concerts including U2, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. The stadium also hosts special events and corporate functions, off ering spectacular views of the arena and harbour. Train: Southern Cross Station Tram:Bourke Street / Spencer Street footbridge entrance: 112, 31, 11, 48 La Trobe Street entrance: 30, 86, 35 740 Bourke Street, Docklands w: marvelstadium.com.au Find us on:

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

Melbourne's award-winning wildlife park invites you to visit and get an up-close look at Australia’s amazing animals. Explore our bushland while feeding kangaroos and wallabies, petting friendly koalas and enjoying experiences with colourful birds, dingoes, wombats and many other animals including endangered species. There are animal encounters, keeper presentations and wildlife shows at Moonlit Sanctuary every day. With more than 60 Australian species on display, and located just 50 minutes from central Melbourne, Moonlit Sanctuary is the ideal place to learn more about the fascinating animals that call Australia home. Open: Daily, 9:30am to 4:30pm 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Road, Pearcedale t: 03 5978 7935 w: moonlitsanctuary.com.au Find us on: