Phillip Island has long been a favourite holiday destination. Discover Phillip Island’s famous penguins, plus koalas, seals and more at one of the island’s four ecotourism nature parks.
Victoria
The ultimate guide to theme parks in Victoria
Victoria is full of fun, family-friendly theme parks to explore these holidays. Here are some of the best to check off your list.
From Melbourne to Ballarat and Geelong, there are theme parks, wildlife parks, amusement parks, and water parks galore in Victoria, as well as a range of entertainment attractions and immersive experiences that provide just as much fun. Friends, families and couples alike will all enjoy spending a day or even two out at these fun parks.
Victoria’s best adventure theme parks
Luna Park
St Kilda
When you think ‘theme park’, Luna Park is probably the first thing that comes to mind. A traditional carnival park with both thrill rides and kid-friendly attractions, Luna Park is a Melbourne icon for a reason.
Opening way back in 1912, it was named after the original Luna Park on Coney Island, New York. It’s packed full of rollercoasters like the heritage-listed Great Scenic Railway, thrill rides like Pharaoh’s Curse, family-friendly rides like the Red Baron, and classic carnival attractions like a haunted house and a sideshow alley.
If you want an old-school day out with the family (with modern amenities and safety requirements, of course), this is the theme park for you.
Sovereign Hill is set in the 1850s gold rush era. Image: Visit Victoria
Sovereign Hill
Ballarat
Sovereign Hill takes visitors back to the 1850s gold rush around the Ballarat region. It’s a fantastic regional historical experience full of costumed actors and 'ye olde' activities designed to teach you about life during the gold rush.
The park is located on an actual former gold mining site, complete with underground mines and a gold panning site. You can catch a horse-drawn coach ride, see soldiers fire their muskets, try the world-famous boiled lollies, make your own dipped candles, and watch the live-action demonstrations of old-world skills like blacksmithing and wheelwrighting – plus lots more.
If you’re game, you can even delve down into the mines on a guided tour, exploring original shafts and tunnels hidden beneath Sovereign Hill.
Kryal Castle is a medieval theme park. Image: Visit Victoria
Kryal Castle
Leigh Creek
Ever wanted to be a princess, a knight or a wizard? Kryal Castle is a theme park that transports you back to medieval times. Wander through the enchanted Dragon’s Labyrinth to enter the park, then head to the Main Arena to witness the royal joust and the mounted skill-at-arms display by heroic knights.
Join in the Knight School to learn the basics of sword fighting, battle tactics and the honour code before trying your hand at axe throwing or archery. Don’t forget to explore the stone maze and watch the lovable jesters at play in their theatre.
Brave souls (ages 12+ only) can even venture into the Torture Museum & Dungeon to witness ancient instruments of punishment.
Gumbuya World is Victoria's biggest theme park. Image: Supplied
Gumbuya World
Tynong North
Gumbuya World is Victoria’s biggest theme park, complete with the Oasis Springs water park, the Oz Adventure theme park, the Outback Explorers kids’ park, and the Wildlife Trail animal park.
In Oasis Springs, you can ride eight epic waterslides, relax in the lazy river or the hot tubs, swim in the wave pool, learn to surf, and more.
Swing by the Oz Adventure section for exciting thrill rides like the suspended coaster TNT, or the space test-themed Project Zero that reaches 5Gs of force.
Kids will delight in the Outback Explorers area, where they can work off their energy on the playground, dodgems, and kid-friendly rides. Finally, meet up to 52 animal species on the Wildlife Trail, from bearded dragons to tiger quolls.
Adventure Park Geelong is Victoria's biggest water park. Image: Supplied
Adventure Park Geelong
Wallington
Victoria’s biggest water park, Adventure Park Geelong, has plenty of hair-rising waterslides, like the gravity-defying Tornado, the triple funnel Tsunami, or the high-speed Aqua Racer.
There’s a giant lake onsite that you can paddle about in aboard a pedal boat, and several water play zones for younger children.
Dry coasters are available in Adventure Park Geelong too – why not try the thrilling Wave Swinger, the spinning Crazy Coaster, or the toddler-friendly Grand Carousel? Just be sure to check the date before you go: Adventure Park Geelong is only open some months of the year, generally over summer and autumn.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre had more than two million LEGO® bricks. Image: Supplied
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre
Chadstone
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre is a massive indoor LEGO® playground, with more than two million LEGO® bricks, interactive rides, a themed 4D cinema and much more. It’s specifically designed for kids aged 3 to 10 years old. In fact, adults must be accompanied by at least one child aged 17 or under to visit – unless it’s a special Adult Night for older LEGO® fans.
Embark on the Factory Tour to learn how LEGO® bricks are made, join in on interactive workshops and soft play areas, jump aboard the two family-friendly rides, and experience MINILAND® Melbourne, a miniature LEGO® replica of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks and monuments.
Just outside is a large retail LEGO® shop with the latest and greatest LEGO® sets, hard-to-find and exclusive LEGO® items found only at LEGO® stores, and an extensive range of LEGO® home and fashion products.
MONOPOLY DREAMS has arrived in Melbourne after a popular run in Hong Kong. Image: Supplied
MONOPOLY DREAMS Melbourne
Melbourne Central
MONOPOLY DREAMS is a real-life experience of the world's best-selling board game where players compete to become property moguls. The interactive attraction features games, a 4DX cinema, Mr Monopoly’s mansion activities and artefacts, a laser maze, and the Chance to win MONOPOLY money through games, challenges, and experiences.
Open seven days a week, ticket holders will be allocated a specific session time to manage capacity, which are scheduled in 30 minute intervals. Set aside at least 1 – 1.5 hours to fully enjoy the experience.
Ballarat Wildlife Park has over 400 species of native Australian animals. Image: Supplied
Victoria’s best wildlife parks
Ballarat Wildlife Park
Ballarat East
Animal lovers are sure to enjoy Ballarat Wildlife Park, set on 15 hectares of natural bush and hosting over 400 species of native Australian animals.
You’ll see everything from cassowaries to crocodiles in their natural habitats. Go on a self-guided tour, attend the daily keeper talks and animal feedings, or book kids aged 6 to 15 into the Junior Keeper Program so they can shadow a keeper to learn about daily care for the animals.
Animal encounters are available to book if you want to get up close and personal with tree kangaroos, meerkats, koalas or wombats. There are also photo opportunities with the snakes, koalas, wombats, giant tortoises and more.
Best of all, a visit to Ballarat Wildlife Park helps to support their conservation efforts.
Phillip Island Nature Parks consists of five experiences. Image: Supplied
Phillip Island Nature Parks
Phillip Island
Phillip Island Nature Parks is a collection of four eco-tourism experiences, plus a wildlife cruise. Its best-known attraction is the Penguin Parade, where guests can watch the world’s largest Little Penguin colony waddling out of the ocean and up the shore to their burrows at sunset.
At the Nobbies Centre, the Antarctic Journey is a small but fun interactive museum about Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Just outside is 500 metres of boardwalks overlooking Bass Strait to explore, with the chance to spot seals or whales.
The Koala Conservation Reserve offers two treetop boardwalks with ample koala-spotting opportunities, plus six hectares of bush nature trails.
Just off Phillip Island is Churchill Island, with a daily schedule of agrarian events like whip cracking, sheep shearing, and working dog displays.
Finally, the Seal Cruise takes visitors on a two-hour journey to Seal Rocks, where one of Australia’s largest fur seal colonies plays and sleeps.
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium has all sorts of aquatic creatures. Image: Supplied
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Melbourne CBD
Come face-to-fin with majestic ocean creatures at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium in Melbourne’s CBD.
Here, you’ll find 12 habitat zones full of aquatic creatures like jellyfish, seahorses, lungfish, and so much more. Head to Ocean Invaders, an immersive experience over 300 square metres featuring interactive activities, light projections and a giant spherical globe filled with swimming jellyfish in all their glory.
Pinjarra, one of Australia’s largest saltwater crocodiles at over five metres long, also lives at Crocodile Lair in the aquarium.
Don’t miss the King and Gentoo Penguins, who are often caught stealing rocks from each other’s nests. Penguin lovers can add on a Penguin Passport ticket to suit up in Antarctic snow gear for a tour of the penguins’ exhibit.
With a hands-on touch pool and 4D cinema rounding out the experience, both children and adults will love a day out at this world-class aquarium.
