100 Activities for Teenagers in Melbourne

How do you get teenagers off electronics? We're not magicians but we've given it a damn good try with our blog. It can be difficult to wrench teenagers away from their devices and motivate them to do something different but Melbourne has a good range of things to do for children of this age. We have sought out the best activities suitable for teenagers. Click on the blue links for more information about each activity.

Tree Surfing Australia (Arthurs Seat)

Address: 55 Purves Road, Arthurs Seat
Opening Times: Every day 9am to 5pm except for Christmas Day
Cost: Adults: $70, Children 3-17 yrs: $60, Seniors: $60, Includes general admission to The Enchanted Maze Garden.
Notes: An exciting tree-top climbing challenge featuring 5 levels of aerial obstacles at up to 10 metres off the ground with ziplines ending each level taking you back to the ground.. This will get any teenager's adrenaline racing. Need to be over 135cm tall.

Rock Climbing (Various Locations)

Indoor rock climbing on high walls is fun and challenging. Add in the spice of an adrenaline hit, its a heady mix for teenagers. For those who don't like heights, bouldering where you climb along a low wall is an option. There are also a number of free bouldering areas under some bridges and at playgrounds and outdoor gyms.
Cost: Typically $20 per person at a Clip 'n Climb location and around $20 per hour for locations with more challenging walls.

Ten Pin Bowling (Various Locations)

Ten-pin bowling is a long time favourite activity for teens. Bowling centres have updated over the years to create a cool environment that teens like to inhabit. There are lights, music and fun animations on the scoring screens if you happen to get a strike or spare. Get a group together and hire a few lanes to get some competition happening. There are many bowling centres throughout Melbourne.
Cost: Typically $15-18 per person.

Scienceworks (Spotswood)

Address: 2 Booker Street, Spotswood
Opening Times: 9am-5pm, 7 days per week. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Cost: $15 adult, free for children to 16 years and concession. Optional extras are Planetarium or Lightning Room which is $9 per person each.
Notes: Scienceworks makes a special effort to attract to attract the teenage crowd. Kids can question and explore the world around them through a variety of interactive displays and interesting activities The Planetarium and Lightning Room will make your hair stand-up but teenagers will be so engaged that a bad hair day will be forgotten.

Luna Park (St Kilda)

Address: 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda
Opening Times: Open weekends, Victorian school holidays and every public holiday except Christmas Day. Various Opening Hours during the year.
Cost: The ride price is based on age. Teen & Adult Unlimited Ride Ticket (13+ yrs): $51.50, Child Unlimited Ride Ticket (4-12 yrs): $41.50, Toddler Unlimited Ride Ticket (0-3 yrs): $18.00, Family & Friends Funpass - 2 Adults 13+ & 2 Kids 0-12: $120, Entry with single ride: $15
Notes: Luna Park has 22 rides with seven rides suited to thrill seekers of varying ages. After walking through the giant open mouth, the whole family can experience the thrill of the oldest continually operating wooden roller coaster in the world on the Scenic Railway. There are great views across the city and some stomach churning dips on the ride. If you want more stomach-churning experiences try Power Surge and fly sky high with spinning and twisting, as it moves through one gravity and two motor driven rotations or the equally scary Pharaoh's Curse which is a thrilling ride for serious riders which is the only place in Melbourne where you can see Port Phillip Bay upside down!

Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium (Central Melbourne)

Address: Cnr Kings Way and Flinders Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Open every day of the year. Monday-Friday 10am-5:30pm, Weekends, School Holidays and Public Holidays 9:30am-6pm
Cost: $42 adult (16+), $22.40 Child (3-15), Free Child (0-2). Discounts available by booking online. Shark Dive Xtreme is $319.
Notes: The aquarium caters to all ages. A chance to get up close and personal to a range of sea life including the super cute penguins. For a teenage rush the Shark Dive Xtreme experience is a rare diving experience where you are guaranteed an underwater encounter with sharks up to three metres in size. It includes an introduction to scuba diving and a 30 minute dive. No previous diving experience is required (age 14+).

Aquatic Centres

Address: Various locations across Melbourne
Opening Times: Varies by Aquatic Centre
Cost: Varies by Aquatic Centre
Notes: Teenagers love hanging out at the pool and and many aquatic centres, as well as swimming pools, offer extra exciting facilities such as huge slides, diving pools or wave pools. Some of the best aquatic centres with a range of facilities for teenagers are Croydon Leisure & Aquatic Centre (AquaHub) in Croydon, Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC) in Frankston, Wyndham Leisure & Events Centre (Aqua Pulse) in Hoppers Crossing, Oakleigh Recreation Centre in Oakleigh, Ringwood Regional Aquatic & Leisure Centre (Aquanation) in Ringwood, Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre (GESAC) in Bentleigh East, Splash Aqua Park and Leisure Centre in Craigieburn, Casey Recreation & Aquatic Centre (RACE) in Cranbourne and WaterMarc Banyule in Greensborough.

Heide Museum of Modern Art (Bulleen)

Address: 7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen
Opening Times: Open daily except Mondays 10am-5pm. Open on public holidays.
Cost: Entry fee applies (aged 16 and over) to the Exhibitions area but the gardens and sculpture park are free. Adult $20 and concession $15. Seniors' Day every Tuesday $15. Various additional cost for activities.
Notes: A collection of modern art with a focus on art, architecture and landscape including a free outdoor sculpture park. There are often events and programs.

Gumbuya World (Tynong)

Address: 2705 Princes Highway, Tynong
Opening Times: Various Opening Hours during the season.
Cost: During peak summer season: $57 Adult, $53 Junior (under 120cm), $48 Senior (60+ years), free for toddlers (less than 90cm).
Notes: Gumbuya World has four separate zones and three of them will be of interest to teenagers - Oasis Springs is a water zone, Oz Adventure is a ride zone with 4 main rides and the Wildlife Trail is an area with more than 50 species of animals. Oasis Springs has a wave pool, four exciting water slides, a Flow Rider and a Lazy River for chilling out.

Funfields (Whittlesea)

Address: 2365 Plenty Road, Whittlesea
Opening Times: Various Opening Hours during the season.
Cost: Anyone 130cm or taller: $55, Children 100cm and up to 130 cm: $48, children under 100 cm: Free, seniors: $40, slingshot fast pass: $20
Notes: Funfields is an ideal place for thrill-seeking teens. It is mainly centred around water activities with a huge wave pool and six exciting water slides plus five non-water rides - a high swinging pirate ship, Voodoo, a full 360 degree swing 18m up in the air, 700m long Alpine toboggan slide, go karts and a mini golf course. Enhance the experience by bringing your own food and having a BBQ or grab a burger, hot dog, pizza or ice-cream from the food outlets.

Melbourne Cable Park (Bangholme)

Address: 5 Riverend Road, Bangholme
Opening Times: The Aqua Fun park is open during the warmer months, while climbing and cable wakeboarding is open on Friday, weekends and school holidays.
Cost: Each activity is priced individually but combination tickets are sold for multiple activities on the same day. There is no admission fee for spectators accompanying paying guests. The Cable Wakeboard Park is $59 for 2 hours (adult & child), a 50 minute session at the Aqua Fun Park is $25 (adult & child) and the high ropes course is $29 for a 1 hour climb + 30-min safety briefing.
Notes: Melbourne Cable Park is an exciting destination that has a wakeboarding course where you get pulled around a lake with obstacles and jumps by an overhead cable. There are beginner sessions and also a Kid's Club (age 8 to 15 years) for wakeboarding which lasts two hours and includes equipment and coaching (cost is $59). If you want more excitement, test yourself on the five story high ropes tower. For some real fun, the Aqua Fun park is an expanse of inflatable obstacles, many of them extremely slippery, on a lake.

Escape Rooms (Various locations)

Address: Various locations
Opening Times: Every day
Cost: About $40 per person but often dependent on the number of people in the group.
Notes: In an escape room, a group of you get locked in a room and try and escape within a designated time (usually about 60 minutes) by solving a series of puzzles which can be multi-sensory, mathematical, lingual, spatial or even require very lateral thinking. If the time limit expires before you solve all the puzzles, you can still get out of the room but with a little less respect and dignity. Many of the puzzles are quite difficult and are more suited to groups of adults or a family with older children (at least 16 years old). Most teenagers seem to think they know everything, so an escape room will put this to the test.

Old Melbourne Gaol (Central Melbourne)

Address: 377 Russell Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Wednesday - Sunday, 10am to 6pm (night tours start after 6pm)
Cost: $30 adult, $17 child (5-15 years), $70 family (2 adults + 2 children). Additional experiences are an extra cost.
Notes: Between 1842 and its closure in 1929, the gaol was the scene of 133 hangings including the bushranger Ned Kelly. You can also visit to the Old Magistrate's Court where many of Victoria's most notorious criminals including gangster Squizzy Taylor, Julian Knight and Chopper Read stood for committal and bail hearings when the Court operated from 1911 to 1994 and the City Watch House where felons were brought to face justice. Teenagers can amp the grisly experience by taking a night tour in the Watch House (ages 16 and above and anyone 16 or 17 must be accompanied by an adult due to mature themes), a ghost tour (not recommended for children 12 years and under) or a Hangman's night tour (not recommended for children 16 years and under). A less scary experience is the Cleudo experience, which is designed for children 12 and above, a step back in time to solve a mysterious murder that brings the iconic board game Cluedo to life (additional $5 per person).

Mini Golf (Various locations)

Address: Various locations
Opening Times: Every day
Cost: A round of 18 holes is typically around $15 per person.
Notes: Mini golf is a traditional activity which the whole family can enjoy and there are more than 30 mini golf courses around Melbourne, both outdoors and under cover, which makes it an ideal activity for any weather - which is a great trait for a location like Melbourne where inclement weather is a fact of life. Many of the courses have themes which adds an extra element of interest.

Le Mans Go Karts (Dandenong South)

Address: 11-55 Waterview Close, Dandenong South
Opening Times: 12pm - 10 pm (Mon - Thu), 12pm - 11 pm (Fri), 10am - 11 pm (Sat-Sun)
Cost: 15 laps of the Penrite track in a Sprint kart is $45. A 10 min Laser Tag mission is $10.
Notes: With four outdoor tracks, karting at Le Mans is serious fun for teenagers - tackle sweeping bends, challenging chicanes, and hit up to 70km/h on the straights. The Penrite track has plenty of hairpin bends and tight corners while the 650-metre Lakeside track has long straights and fast corners. Drivers aged at least 12 years can ride on Sprint Karts which provide awesome performance. If you are experienced and can demonstrate the required capability, drivers aged 16+ can ride an even faster SuperKart. Drift Karts are also available for those aged 14+. The site also has Virtual Reality (take part in a virtual zombie battle) and Lasertag activities. This is an activity where teenagers can battle their parents before they even learn the road rules.

Trampoline Centres (Various locations)

Address: Various locations
Opening Times: Every day
Cost: Typically around $16 per person for a 1 hour session
Notes: Trampoline centres are packed with action suited to teens. You can expect vast areas of interconnected trampolines, cliff jumps into a ball pit, slam dunk, super jump trampolines next to a wall to fine-tune your wall-walking technique, volleyball courts, giant air bags, basketball lanes and foam pits. Most of the centres have extra activity areas such as Ninja courses, climbing walls and high ropes course.

Federation Square (Central Melbourne)

Address: Cnr St Kilda Road and Flinders Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Varies depending on activity
Cost: Varies depending on activity
Notes: Federation Square is the heart of Melbourne and whether or not you like the striking architecture, there's plenty for teenagers to do here. Discover Fed Square from its art galleries and exhibitions, varied range of food and drink options including ice-cream served by a robot at Niska Robotic Ice Cream Bar, cultural attractions including NGV Australia (which showcases Indigenous and Modern Australian Art), Australian Centre for the Moving Image and Koorie Heritage Trust (has constantly changing art exhibitions which are very engaging, interesting and sometimes confronting), shopping and entertainment on the big screen and stage. There is always something happening at Fed Square - just check out the What's On Calendar to find out what is happening when you plan to visit.

Living Legends (Greenvale)

Address: 207 Oaklands Road, Greenvale
Opening Times: One hour daily guided tours at 11 am and 2 pm
Cost: Public guided horse tours are $25 for adults and $10 for children (5 to 13 years)
Notes: Living Legends was established to nurture the deep connection between the community and our racehorse champions and promote life after racing for all horses. Many teenagers have a deep affection for horses and this is a perfect setting to get up close and personal, and really come to know these former champions. There are guided or self-guided tours, photo opportunities and options to feed and pat the horses. The Black Caviar dining room serves delicious Devonshire Tea. Next door is the Woodlands Homestead and back paddock (free to visit) which can be explored on foot or bicycle and is a great spot to see wild kangaroos.

Bike Trails (Various Locations)

Melbourne has an excellent bike trail network which is a great way for teenagers and families to get active and explore new areas of Melbourne. There's nothing better than the freedom and adventure of a bike trip. Don't have a bike, no worries, you can hire one.

BMX Tracks (Various Locations)

Find a BMX track and practice some jumps and turns.
Cost: Free

Eureka Skydeck and The Edge (Southbank)

Address: Riverside Quay, Southbank
Opening Times: Open 5 days Wednesday to Sunday
Cost: Skydeck is $28 (adults) and $18 (children 4-16 years). The Edge is an extra $14 (adults), $9.50 (children 4-16 years). Note that no cameras are allowed in The Edge and a photo is $15. VR Plank is an extra $8 (adults), $6.50 (children 4-16 years). Voyager Theatre is an extra $14 (adults), $11.50 (children 4-16 years).
Notes: Spectacular views are guaranteed from the Skydeck but teenagers are going to want a dash of fear to add to the view. That's The Edge which is a glass cube - glass walls, ceiling and floor, that is suspended nearly 300 metres above the ground. A second add-on experience is VR Plank which convinces you that you're balancing on a narrow plank above the city and Voyager Theatre which is an immersive, multi-sensory discovery of Melbourne.

Art Galleries (Various locations)

Melbourne has a wide variety of art galleries with many holding contemporary and thought provoking exhibitions. Most museums are free which is not going to stretch the budget.
Cost: Typically free admission

Queen Victoria Market (Central Melbourne)

Address: 513 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Open on Friday between 10am - 3pm and Saturday & Sunday between 10am - 4pm.
Cost: Free entrance to the market
Notes: The market has a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere with half the market area dedicated to a huge range of fresh produce and the remainder for variety and speciality goods. Who can resist a market bargain. A favourite for teens is likely to be the famous American Doughnut Kitchen which serves iconic hot jam doughnuts from a van.

Shrine of Remembrance (South Yarra)

Address: Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra
Opening Times: 10am - 5pm daily (last entry 4:30pm). Closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and selected maintenance days.
Cost: Admission is free, however, the Shrine welcomes donations.
Notes: A visit to the Shrine is an experience that all Victorian families should do. Those commemorated at the shrine fought, and in may cases lost their lives, for us. They deserve our greatest respect and gratitude. The shrine has an extensive range of experiences. The 13 hectares of memorial parkland includes the Lone Pine, Legacy Garden of Appreciation (centred around poppies and containing the sculpture, Widow and Children), Women's Garden and Memorial Cairn (a garden of concrete memorial 'violets'), Gallipoli Memorial, sculptures Driver and Wipers, Purple Cross Horse Trough (which recognises the services and suffering of animals in war) and Cobbers sculpture (a memorial to Australian service and sacrifice at the Battle of Fromelles).

The Galleries of Remembrance is housed beneath the Shrine and has over 850 objects in permanent and temporary exhibition spaces which illustrate the experiences of Australians at war and in peacekeeping operations. There are regular guided tours, including some especially for children.

Parliament of Victoria (Central Melbourne)

Address: 110 Spring Street, East Melbourne
Opening Times: Parliament House is open to the public throughout the year. On non-sitting days the building is open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Friday (but is closed on public holidays). During sitting days the building opens at 8:30 am and remains open while parliament is sitting. The building is not open on weekends (except for special events such as Open Day).
Cost: Free admission
Notes: Watching politicians debating may not be every teens cup of tea but free public tours of Parliament are conducted on days when Parliament is not sitting which is an opportunity to learn about the history of the building and the parliamentary process.

After the tour you can indulge with a High Tea at Strangers Corridor which has been serving traditional afternoon tea since 1924. It is open on non-Parliamentary sitting days between 2:30pm and 4:00pm. The cost may not be within a typical teenagers budget so bring along the parents (or at least their credit card).

National Sports Museum (Richmond)

Address: MCG Gate 3, Brunton Avenue, Richmond
Opening Times: TBD
Cost: $30 (adult), $15 (child 5-15), $75 (family of 2 adults & 2 children), free (child under 5 years). A MCG tour can be added for $5-10 per person.
Notes: This museum is an excitement zone for any kid with an interest in sport and encompasses AFL, Australia as a sporting nation including some downright quirky sports, cricket, horse racing, Olympic Games and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. An added attraction is a guided tour of the MCG.

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) (Central Melbourne)

Address: Federation Square, Cnr St Kilda Road and Flinders Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Mon-Fri 12-5pm, Weekends 10am-6pm
Cost: General entry is free. There may be a cost for screenings and special exhibitions.
Notes: ACMI is a museum of screen culture covering the universe of film, TV, videogames and art. Teenagers are wedded to their screen so this is a match made in heaven. The site has undergone a $40 million redevelopment and has a vibrant calendar of exhibitions, screenings, commissions, festivals, and education programs. At the end of the visit drop into the ACMI Shop which stocks a curated range of screen-culture books, curiosities, gifts and cards.

Immigration Museum (Central Melbourne)

Address: 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Daily 10am-5pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Cost: $15 (adults), $10 (seniors), free (child up to 16 years and concession). Additional charges apply for some temporary exhibitions and special events.
Notes: More than 9 million people have migrated to Australia since 1788 and the museum explores their interesting and evocative stories through a series of exhibits and exhibitions. The main exhibitions are free for children up to 16 years.

Koorie Heritage Trust (Central Melbourne)

Address: Federation Square, Cnr Flinders Street and Swanston Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Open daily 10am-5pm. Closed all Victorian and National Public Holidays.
Cost: Free entry
Notes: Check out the constantly changing indigenous themed art exhibitions and activities which are very engaging, interesting and sometimes confronting. Free entry is a bonus to any cash-strapped teenager.

State Library of Victoria (Central Melbourne)

Address: 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Open Monday to Thursday 10am-9pm and Friday to Sunday, 10am-6pm (galleries earlier), except some public holidays.
Cost: Free
Notes: You don't need to be a book worm to enjoy the State Library of Victoria with activities ranging from computer games, chess, listening to music, tracing your family history in the Genealogy Centre or finding Ned Kelly's armour. There is also a range of interesting outdoor art and statues at the front of the library.

IMAX Melbourne Museum (Carlton)

Address: 107 Rathdowne Street, Carlton
Opening Times: Open every day of the year (except Christmas Day). Films usually screen on the hour, every hour from 10am to 10pm.
Cost: Varies depending on the film.
Notes: Standard movies might be a bit ho-hum for teens. That's where IMAX comes into the equation with its screening of a wide variety of specially made large format films, many in stunning 3D. Look out for interesting documentaries in the schedule. There is also an IMAX at Highpoint.

Family Beaches (Various Locations)

Teens love hanging out at the beach during warmer weather. The beaches at the northern end of the bay such as Port Melbourne Beach and St Kilda Beach are easy to reach by public transport and have plenty of restaurants and cafes along the beachfront. The famous Esplanade market on Sundays, which has more than 140 stalls selling a diverse selection of artwork and handmade items, is a fun place to wander around.

Further to the south is Elwood Beach which has a great beach vibe and a number of popular beaches around Brighton including Dendy Street Beach with its colourful boat sheds, which is one of Melbourne's most photographed beaches.

Continuing down the bay is the interesting Half Moon Bay Beach which has the remains of HMVS Cerberus, a protected and patrolled beach plus a chilled out cafe.

Melbourne Markets

Markets are a chance to practice life skills such as bargaining which might enable you to pick up a real bargain. Couple that with plenty of food stalls and sometimes, free entertainment, to provide a smorgasbord of delights for teenagers. Check out the market calendar to find a nearby market. One of our favourites is Rose Street Market which runs every Saturday and Sunday in Fitzroy where artists, designers, crafters and makers sell their work which includes everything from fashion through to jewellery and unique paintings.

Wunderkammer

Teenagers love quirky and weird and Wunderkammer in Lonsdale Street is the place to find odd, strange and fantastic items.

The Ministry of Chocolate

Address: 5/35 Lacey Street, Croydon
Opening Times: Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm. Closed public holidays.
Cost: Free to enter with prices for products reflecting the quality
Notes: Everyone in the family, irrespective of their age, loves chocolate. This factory outlet has a delectable range of chocolate products including chocolate stilettos!

Holey Moley Golf Club (Central Melbourne)

Address: 590 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Monday - Friday: 12pm - Late, Saturday - Sunday: 10am - Late. Minors or under 18's are not allowed in the venue after 5pm. Due to the liquor licence requirements, minors attending the venue prior to 5pm must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Cost: $18 per person for mini golf and $100 per hour for karaoke.
Notes: Melbourne's craziest and most unique mini golf venue or belt out some tunes at karaoke.

Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq (Docklands)

Address: 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands
Opening Times: After 8pm the venue is not suitable for those under 18.
Cost: $18 per person for bowling, $6 per bumper car ride, $7 per VR ride, $8 per Thrillrider gaming experience ride.
Notes: A range of fun activities including arcade games, bowling, immersive gaming experience, bumper cars and Virtual Reality.

Montsalvat (Eltham)

Address: 7 Hillcrest Avenue, Eltham
Opening Times: Thursday to Sunday 10am - 4pm
Cost: Adults $14, Concessions $10, Children under 5: free entry, Children aged 5-12 $8, Families $35 (2 adults & up to 3 children under 13)
Notes: Australia's oldest artists' community which is set amid interesting grounds and medieval-inspired buildings. Explore contemporary art in the large number of artist studios (during the week) and have a bite to eat at the cafe.

Virtual Reality Experiences (Various locations)

Address: Various locations
Opening Times: Every day
Cost: $20-70 per session
Notes: There is a wide range of Virtual Reality experiences available including 4D cinema, immersive games, multi-person games and virtual reality films.

Lantern Ghost Tours (Various locations)

Address: Various locations around Melbourne
Opening Times: Tours are available most nights
Cost: $36-48 per person
Notes: What is better than scaring the bejesus out of teenagers by exploring the underbelly of Melbourne.

Studley Park Boathouse (Kew)

Address: 1 Boathouse Road, Kew
Opening Times: Weekends with timeslots starting at 10am and last booking at 3pm.
Cost: $36 per half hour for 4 people (row boats), $32 per half hour for 3 people (canoes), $30 per half hour for 2 people (kayaks)
Notes: Hire a rowboat, kayak or canoe on the weekend for some fun and exercise on the river. There is also a nice cafe on site.

Peninsula Hot Springs (Fingal)

Address: 140 Springs Lane, Fingal
Opening Times: Bath House (5am-11pm), Spa Dreaming Centre (8am-11pm)
Cost: Bath House bathing ($65 for 16+ years and $40 for 3-15 years), Spa Dreaming Centre ($110)
Notes: It's stressful being a teenager and they can relax and treat themselves at an award-winning natural hot springs, day spa and wellness destination. The Bath House is a sociable bathing experience open to all ages while the Spa Dreaming Centre is a tranquil sanctuary for guests 16 years and older.

The Enchanted Maze Garden (Arthurs Seat)

Address: 55 Purves Road, Arthurs Seat
Opening Times: Every day 9am to 5pm except for Christmas Day
Cost: Adults: $35, Children 3-17 yrs: $25, Seniors: $25
Notes: A wide range of fun activities for all ages including a number of different mazes, tube slides, canopy walk with multiple gently swinging bridges suspended amongst the treetops, aerial playground, giant brain teaser puzzles and sculpture walk. Tree surfing is an optional activity.

Trees Adventure Glen Harrow (Belgrave)

Address: Old Monbulk Road, Belgrave
Opening Times: Daily except for Christmas Day, New Years Day and annual winter maintenance.
Cost: Adults: $51, child 8-17 yrs: $41, Junior 3-7 yrs: $28. Sessions include harnessing, training and approximately 2 hours of climbing.
Notes: Soar through the treetops of the Dandenongs using a mix of flying foxes, tight ropes and tunnels. There are 10 tree rope courses, 6 vertical challenges, 100+ aerial obstacles and 23 flying foxes with the longest being 100m long. There are courses for all ages and abilities.

Family Walks (Various locations)

Address: Various Locations
Opening Times: Every day
Cost: Free
Notes: Walking may not be every teenager's cup of tea but choosing interesting locations such as beaches may entice wary teenagers and the offer of a cold drink at the end may seal the deal.

Polperro Dolphin Swims (Sorrento)

Address: Esplanade, Sorrento
Opening Times: Departures twice daily at 8.00am and 12.00pm (weather permitting) from late September to early May.
Cost: Swimmers: $165, Adult Observers: $70, Child Observers: $50
Notes: What teenager wouldn't want to meet dolphins and seals in their natural surroundings.

Koala Conservation Centre (Phillip Island)

Address: 1810 Phillip Island Road, Rhyll
Opening Times: Every day from 10am (from 2pm on Christmas Day)
Cost: Adult (16 years+): $13.70, child (4-15 years): $6.85, family (2 adults and 2 children): $34.30
Notes: Teenagers with an affinity for wildlife, especially cute and cuddly koalas, can get up close and personal to koalas using the tree top boardwalks.

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Go Kart Track (Phillip Island)

Address: 381 Back Beach Road, Ventnor
Opening Times: Year round excluding the periods for MotoGP and the Superbike World Championship.
Cost: 1 x 10 minute session: $35 per person, 2 x 10 minute sessions: $60 per person, 3 x 10 minute sessions: $80 per person
Notes: The smooth curves and super fast straight of this unique go kart track are strung along some of the most breath-taking coastline on Phillip Island with rolling hills, rugged cliffs, and ocean to horizon. Teenagers, whether they have a driving license or not, will love roaring around the 720 metres long track which is based on a scale replica of the world famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Age limits and height restrictions apply - for single Karts there is a minimum 10 years of age and 148cm height.

Phillip Island Wildlife Park (Phillip Island)

Address: 2115 Phillip Island Road, Cowes
Opening Times: Friday-Tuesday 11am-5pm with last entry at 4pm
Cost: Adult: $19, child (4-14 yrs): $9, family (2 adults and up to 3 children): $50. One bag of kangaroo food is included with every ticket.
Notes: Better than a zoo, you get close encounters with the wildlife. Kangaroos and wallabies roam throughout the grounds in a free-range environment, where you can hand feed and pat them. The park has over 100 different species of Australian animals.

Wildlife Coast Cruises (Phillip Island)

Address: 11-13 The Esplanade, Cowes
Opening Times: One or more departures per day
Cost: Adult: $88, child: $61.60
Notes: Pack the sea-sickness tablets and take a seal watching cruise to Seal Rocks where you will drift among more than 5000 Australian Fur Seals.

A Maze N Things (Phillip Island)

Address: 1805 Phillip Island Road, Cowes
Opening Times: Varies depending on the season
Cost: Puzzle Island, Magic Manor & Maze - Adult (16 yrs and over): $39, child (4-15): $26, family (2 adults & 2 children): $118. Maxi Mini Golf - Adult: $18, child: $14, family: $58.
Notes: A wide range of attractions which suit all ages including Maxigolf (mini golf course), maze with over two kilometres of passageways, Magic Manor, a theatre with magic displays and illusions, Puzzle Island which is an interactive world of illusions, puzzles and challenges including a near vertical slide and SkyTrail, a 10-metre high ropes adventure course with over 30 varying obstacles.

Pioneer Kayaking (Phillip Island)

Address: Cowes, Phillip Island
Opening Times: There are fairly regular tours
Cost: $30 for a one hour tour, $60 for a two hour tour and $80 for a three hour tour.
Notes: Explore the coastline and waterways surrounding Phillip Island with a guided sea kayak tour ranging between 1 and 3 hours. Tours include the Cowes Foreshore Tour (1 hr), Rhyll Wetlands Tour (2 hrs), Churchill Island Tour (2 hrs) and the Cape Woolamai Coastal Tour (3 hrs)

Laser Tag (Various Locations)

Address: Various Locations
Opening Times: Available every day
Cost: Around $12 per person per game
Notes: Battle it out at a laser tag/skirmish location. Its combat simulation just like paintball but without the pain or the bruises!

Archery Attack (Reservoir)

Address: 118-120 Henty Street, Reservoir
Opening Times: Regular open public sessions.
Cost: $40 per person for a one hour session
Notes: Have a game of Arrow Tag which is a hybrid between the classic game of dodgeball and the traditional sport of archery.

ArtVo (Docklands)

Address: 26 Star Crescent, Docklands
Opening Times: 10am-6pm. Last admittance is 1 hour prior to closing.
Cost: Adult: $28, child (5-15 years): $18, child (0 to 4 years): free
Notes: Teenagers love to take selfies and this place, an immersive, 'trick-art' gallery is Insta heaven.

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (Southbank)

Address: 111 Sturt Street, Southbank
Opening Times: Open during exhibitions and closed between exhibitions for installation.
Cost: Free
Notes: Challenging, innovative and creative visual art displays. Just what a teenager wants from art.

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia - NGV Teens (Central Melbourne)

Address: Cnr St Kilda Road and Flinders Street, Melbourne
Opening Times: Daily 10am-5pm
Cost: Entry to NGV Australia is free. Some activities may incur a cost.
Notes: NGV Teens offers specially tailored programming that connects young people with art and artists at the Gallery.

UrbnSurf (Tullamarine)

Address: 309 Melrose Drive, Tullamarine
Opening Times: Every day from 6am to at least 10pm
Cost: 1 hour surf sessions for beginner to intermediate: $69-79, 1 hour surf sessions for advanced: $79-89, 1 hour whitewater play: $25-35, 2 hours swimming: $15-20, 1 hr 45 min group surf lesson: $74-109
Notes: Provides perfect waves and incredible surfing experiences for all ages and abilities in a safe, controlled environment. Either surf, play, swim or have a lesson.

Boneo Discovery Park (Fingal)

Address: 695 Limestone Rd, Fingal
Opening Times: Daily 10am - 4pm. Closed on Christmas Day and under extreme weather conditions. Additional rides available during school holidays and weekends (11am-3pm)
Cost: General entry is adult $18 and child $15. Additional rides suited to teenagers are $8-12 per session.
Notes: Teenagers think they know it all so getting out of the mazes should be child's play. There are also some mega-sized games and a mini golf course. During school holidays and weekends there are additional rides: pedal boats, bungee tramps, carousel, rock wall and mini train.

Kingpin Crown (Southbank)

Address: 8 Whiteman Street, Souhbank
Opening Times: Typically 10am-2am
Cost: Bowling: $16 pp, Laser tag: $21 pp, Virtual Reality: $21 pp
Notes: Your choice from ten pin bowling, laser tag, Playtime Arcade with over 150 arcade games, Virtual Reality games and private karaoke room.

Skate Parks (Various Locations)

Bust out the skateboard and find a suitable skate park which are located right across Melbourne. There are a number of indoor parks as well as an outdoor park in most suburbs.
Cost: Free

Melbourne Zoo (Parkville)

Address: Cnr Elliott Avenue and Kendall Avenue, Parkville
Opening Times: Open 9am-5pm every day of the year.
Cost: $40 adult, free child (4-15 yrs) on weekends and holidays, $20 child (4-15 yrs) Monday-Friday outside holidays
Notes: The zoo has wonderful animal experiences and a range of activities which would keep a teenager interested. There's sure to be some species which your teenager will want to interact with. Plan your time around special activities such as feeding times to make it even more interesting. The experience might encourage taking affirmative action for wildlife or to volunteer at the zoo. A teenager with a sense of adventure might want to try a Roar 'n' Snore overnight camp where you feast and slumber overnight in the historic elephant exhibit of the zoo (extra cost applies).

Trapeze & Circus Skills (Various Locations)

Learning circus skills such as trapeze, juggling, acrobats, tumbling, hula hoops, tightwire and mini-tramp is fun and challenging. You don't need to run away and join the circus when there are plenty of places in Melbourne to learn circus elements such as trapeze. Tumble over to Circus Oz in Collingwood, National Institute of Circus Arts in Prahran, Little Devils Circus in Moorabbin, Westside Circus in Fitzroy or The Circus Spot in Coburg North.

Roller Skating and Ice Skating (Various Locations)

Roller skating or ice-skating is something that a cool teenager would like to do but falling over may not be quite so cool.
Cost: Roller skating is $15-20 per session including skate hire and ice-skating is around $25-30 per session.

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park (Pearcedale)

Address: 550 Tyabb-Tooradin Rd, Pearcedale
Opening Times: Daytime admission - open daily 9:30am-4pm (last entry at 3:00pm) including all public holidays except Christmas day. Night Tours are available every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening throughout the year and every night during school holidays.
Cost: Daytime admission is $13 for child (aged 4-17) and $26 for adults (18+). Night tour admission is $33 for child (aged 4-17) and $55 for adults (18+).
Notes: More than 70 Australian native animals are waiting to meet you by day or by night. The night tours in particular where you get close and personal to nocturnal animals are very special experiences. There are also close encounter experiences with wombats, koalas, dingos, pythons, barn owls and kookaburras or "be a keeper for a day or half day" experiences.

Healesville Sanctuary (Badger Creek)

Address: Cnr Badger Creek Road and Gleneadie Ave, Badger Creek
Opening Times: Open 9am-5pm every day of the year.
Cost: $40 adult, free child (4-15 yrs) on weekends and holidays, $20 child (4-15 yrs) Monday-Friday outside holidays
Notes: Explore a bushland haven for Australian wildlife by dropping into the frequent keeper talks or make the visit even more special by taking an exclusive close-up cuddly encounter with a koala, a prickly encounter with an echidna or an encounter with kangaroos or dingos.

Melbourne Museum (Carlton)

Address: 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Opening Times: Daily 10am-5pm. Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Cost: Entry to Melbourne Museum and Bunjilaka is $15 per adult. Children (up to 16 years), concession card holders and students with a valid student card are free. There is an entry cost for some exhibitions.
Notes: The mix of science, history and culture at the museum is a powerful motivator to explore topics ranging from astronomy, dinosaurs & fossils, bugs, birds & animals, indigenous Australia, Immigration, cultural identity to technology & industry.

Royal Botanic Gardens (Central Melbourne)

Address: Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra
Opening Times: The gardens are open from 7:30am-7:30pm during the warmer months and close earlier during the cooler months. Punting times and frequency vary according to the season.
Cost: Free admission to the Botanic Gardens. 30 min private boat tour is $75 with a maximum of 6 passengers.
Notes: The Botanic Gardens are a joy to explore with highlights hidden around every corner. Teens will love the Ornamental Lake where you can take a 30 minute punt ride around the bays and islands with your own personal guide.

Horse Riding Lessons (Various Locations)

Horses and teenagers are a natural match. Maybe learn to ride a horse or improve your horse riding skills. There are a number of Equestrian Centres which provide horse riding lessons on well behaved school horses or enable you to bring your own horse.
Cost: Around $70 per hour on a school horse

Outdoor Cinemas (Various Locations)

One of the best ways to enjoy Melbourne's lovely summer evenings is to watch a film at one of the outdoor cinemas which pop-up at that time of the year. Bring along a few friends, a comfortable chair to relax in or a picnic rug to sit on and you are set for a stellar evening. You can also find a friend with a car and transport yourself back in time at an historical drive-in.

Horse Trail Riding (Various Locations)

It's a wonderful experience to head out on a horse ride through amazing surroundings. A number of companies offer trail rides suitable for teenagers in the Melbourne area including Woodlands Trail Riding (rides inside Woodlands Historic Park at Greenvale), Dandenong Ranges Horse Trail Rides (rides every weekend through the Doongalla Estate Reserve in the Dandenong Ranges National Park), Gunnamatta Trail Rides (extensive range of rides on the Mornington Peninsula), The Ranch
(fully supervised horse rides for beginner and intermediate riders at Cape Schanck) and Chum Creek Horseriding (2.5 hour horse trail ride which is suitable for all levels of experience)
Cost: Around $80 for a one hour tour

Street Art (Various Locations)

Teenagers may thumb their noses at traditional art galleries but Melbourne has wall after wall of street art to excite the taste buds of teens. Street art is Melbourne can be quirky, edgy, fun and colourful - all traits which can keep teenagers entertained.
Cost: Free

Karaoke (Various Locations)

One Direction, eat your heart out because Melbourne teens are strutting their stuff at karaoke.
Address: Locations where you can sing along to the words include Holey Moley Golf Club (Central Melbourne). Holey Moley does not allow minors or under 18's in the venue after 8pm. Unaccompanied minors are permitted entry to the venue prior to 3pm and between 3pm and 8pm minors or under 18's must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Strike Bowling also has karaoke at Glen Waverley, Eastland (Ringwood), Highpoint (Maribyrnong) and QV (Central Melbourne). Minors are allowed in the venue till 9pm Sunday - Thursday and to 8pm Friday - Saturday.
Cost: $100 per hour for up to 26 people at Holey Moley and $100 per hour for up to 21 people at Strike.

Parkruns (Various Locations)

Address: More than 40 locations across Melbourne plus regional centres
Opening Times: Runs starts at 8am every Saturday in every location
Cost: Free
Notes: Parkruns are a bit of exercise (each run, irrespective of the location is 5 kilometres in distance and can be completed at any pace) and a chance to mingle with others. After each run there is a nominated place for participants to get together for a coffee.

Cooking Classes (Various Locations)

Hopefully teens, after having mastered boiling water, will be ready for some more advanced cooking lessons. There's no chocolate crackles or traffic light sandwiches at Luscious Affairs in Toorak where teens and kids of all ages will be learning, preparing and eating like gourmands. How does herb crusted rack of lamb with roasted Mediterranean vegetables with a balsamic reduction followed by an Alain Ducasse lemon tart sound?

Heavenly Morsel has teen Indian cooking classes held at Berwick North or online.

Relish Mama Cooking School has quality cooking lessons for teens during the school holidays.

Parkour Activities (Various Locations)

Parkour, a cool activity for teenagers, was developed in France in the late 1980s and was featured in the James Bond movie "Casino Royale" in 2006. Parkour develops upper and lower body strength, flexibility, balance and problem-solving in a fun, safe manner. There are an increasing number of parkour areas around Melbourne.
Cost: Free

Water Play Spaces (Various Locations)

Most of the free water play parks may be considered a little juvenile for teens. One of our favourite spots, which is suited to all ages, is the Seville Water Play Park which is a former swimming pool which has been filled in and landscaped into a water play area with fountains spouting during the summer season.
Cost: Free

Go Karting (Various locations)

Cost: $35-60 for a session
Notes: Speed, noise, action, competition - what isn't there to not like about karting for teenagers. There are a range of indoor and outdoor go kart tracks across Melbourne.

Burden Park Ninja Warrior Course (Springvale South)

Address: Cnr Heatherton Road and Springvale Road, Springvale South
Opening Times: Open 24/7
Cost: Free
Notes: This fantastic outdoor ninja warrior course is the first of its kind in Victoria and is designed for adults and teenagers. There is even an app which can be used to time your run and get a position on the leaderboard. It is located next to a full size basketball court with rings and metal soccer goals at each end.

Watch a Movie (Various locations)

There is a huge range of movies and cinemas on offer in Melbourne ranging from cheap and cheerful to super deluxe with the latest and greatest audio and visual systems making movies truly immersive. The only trouble for teens is going to be deciding where and when to go.
Cost: From $9 per film. Varies depending on the film and class of experience.

Werribee Open Range Zoo (Werribee South)

Address: K Road, Werribee South
Opening Times: Open 9am-5pm every day of the year.
Cost: $40 adult, free child (4-15 yrs) on weekends and holidays, $20 child (4-15 yrs) Monday-Friday outside holidays
Notes: If your teenager has a passion for wildlife (or even a budding interest), wildlife doesn't get much bigger or more exciting than the African savanna in Werribee. Stretch your legs on the 1km long Pula Reserve Trail which takes 60 minutes and passes an African village, Vervet monkeys, lions, gorillas, African Wild Dogs, hippos and cheetahs. There is also a truck tour which gets close to animals such as the hippo, zebra, giraffe and rhinoceros. There are extra amped experience like behind-the-scenes wild encounters and the Slumber Safari allows you to stay overnight (extra costs).

High Ropes Courses (Various locations)

Whether its a ropes obstacle course set high in the treetops or a multi-level indoor course, high ropes courses offer unrivalled excitement coupled with mental and physical challenges. Is this teenager up for the challenge?
Cost: Outdoor courses are typically $35-50 and indoor courses are $15-20.

Go for a Picnic (Various locations)

Melbourne has some great spots to picnic. Despite our fickle weather, there are plenty of opportunities to grab some food, grab some drink and grab some friends for a great time outdoors. Locations range from bushland, beaches and parks and there is a beautiful and fun place for everyone to enjoy.

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100 Activities for Teenagers in Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000