Free Museums in Victoria

"Melbourne Museum is perfect if you want to show the kids the many different aspects of life in Victoria: from tall trees to old dinosaur bones, to Aboriginal artefacts to Melbourne’s most favourite racehorse Phar Lap. If you are visiting with a toddler, the Children’s Gallery will be perfect for you (opens 4 Dec 2016), a hands-on exploration facility for the under-5’s for an immersive educational experience. https://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum"

"The Melbourne Museum is the largest museum in the southern hemisphere. It’s located in the Carlton Gardens next to the Royal Exhibition Centre in an impressive modern building with a landmark roof visible from surrounding neighbourhoods. This is where you can get valuable insights into how life unfolded in Victoria - from natural environment to culture and history."

"Located in the lush Carlton Gardens, The Melbourne Museum is a showcase of Australian history and interactive learning. There are free exhibitions, so you don't have to spend a cent, but they also have rotating paid exhibitions. There is a dinosaur section, which features a skeleton of a Diprotodon - a giant wombat like creature."

"Hosting exhibitions and educational programs in addition to its function of keeping a record of Australia’s immigration history, the museum beautifully displays the personal stories of various immigrants. It carefully studies the influx, the time of the influx and the way the colony slowly developed into a nation. A fascinating part of the museum is the Interview Room, where visitors are...Read more"

"Displaying the striking collection of Black opals, light opals, boulder opals and other jewelry crafted by artisans, the national opal collection is dedicated to the world of opals!. A treasured collection of Australian Opals, this is where you can observe as well as shop for opal items and souvenir items!. The unique museum educates its visitors with the link between opals and dinosaurs; yes tha...Read more"

"This is a place to see rare opalised fossils and the life-size animal sculptures, and displays of unset opals and jewellery.It is located in 119 Swanston Street."

"Endeavoring to preserve and promote ‘the artistic and cultural heritage of ancient and modern Greece’, the Hellenic Museum holds a vast collection of artifacts. See Cypriot pottery, cast ancient Greek statues, and check out Bill Henson’s photographic installation ONEIROI.Starting in 2014, for 10 years the Hellenic Museum will also house a priceless collection of antiquities from the Benaki Museum, Athens, showcasing 8,000 years of Greek civilisation to Melbourne."

"As the name suggests, the Hellenic museum in Melbourne is dedicated to the display of Hellenic collection that includes the Greek Treasures Across the Millennia from the iconic Benaki Museum, Athens. Housed in the historic Former Royal Mint building, this museum offers you a journey into the Greek history, from Classical, to Byzantine, Post-Byzantine, and Neo-Hellenic, through 8,000 years of Gr...Read more"

"And to come across a camera museum while you are travelling can add another dimension to your journey. The Michael’s world famous camera museum offers you an insight into the world of cameras, their history and operation. Photography and its equipment have been a part of Michael’s family business ever since 1928 and this museum carries on ...Read more"

"If you are looking for some really yummy food, don’t miss the Cuff Food + Wine. While this place is open for lunch and dinner too (so if you miss breakky never fear) they have some really awesome breakfast options including totally amazing Acai Bowls. Their muffins are a bit of a vibe too."

"Albert Park, a suburb located right in the south-central of Melbourne, is home to a lovely little beach featuring a sandy, narrow stretch of coastline with safe, sheltered waters that makes it a great choice of beach destination in Melbourne with kids, especially due to how easy it is to reach from most major accommodation spots in the city. Accessible via public transport within around 20 minutes from the Melbourne CBD and situated next to the tram terminal on Victoria Ave, Albert Park Beach eases gently into the shallow and calm waters of Port Phillip Bay, making for ideal swim conditions for kids. The beach is a popular location for all beach-going purposes; not only swimming but sunbathing, windsurfing, kite boarding and walks along the road pier are all viable options to pass the time on the beach, while there are also many walking and bicycle paths that are popular with those rollerblading or simply going for a stroll."

"From here it’s a 15 minute cab ride (or 30 minutes by tram) to St Kilda beach, where you can stroll along the esplanade and historic St Kilda Pier, and enjoy a cake at one of Acland Street's famous patisseries. AfternoonFrom St Kilda it's a half hour tram ride back to the city centre. Visit Australia's oldest gallery, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), which hosts a wide range of local and international artists, exhibitions and events. Or you may like to see Melbourne from a new perspective aboard a cruise along the Yarra River."

"Melbourne’s most famous beach is perfect for a quick afternoon trip to the beach, and you can conveniently combine it with a visit to Luna Park (for the kids) or a dine and wine along Carlisle Street. In fact, St Kilda in itself has a lot to offer that will put it in one of the top positions for families visiting Melbourne. The Botanical Gardens, Catani Gardens, the historic Palais Theatre and the Esplanade Markets on Sundays are perfect to keep the whole family entertained."

"The calm waters of Elwood Beach make it great for swimming, and sometimes there’s enough surf for some boogie boarding. There’s the Bayside Trail bike and running track if you fancy a walk or cycle, plus cafes a’plenty. Getting there: Elwood Beach is 9km from the city centre."

"A little bit further south, Elwood Beach comes with plenty of parking and is less crowded than its famous neighbour St Kilda. Elwood has a great beachside vibe with quaint little shops and cute cafes. The promenade is great for prams and scooters."

"Parlour Diner would be best suited to be the proverbial poster child for what an authentic American Burger joint should look like. With classics that contain influences from international cuisines, you may just find the best burger in Melbourne here. The crispy fried chicken and brioche bun combination are revered by locals and burger lovers who travel from further afield for one of the best burger shops in Melbourne."

"If you’re the type to rock Air Max 90s, Yellow Bird is the place for you!. There’s great music, an affordable menu and an outdoor area that’s great for people watching on a warm morning. Most importantly there’s an all day breakfast menu for you late comers."