This is a full 6-day trip to Melbourne and to the Snowy Mountains for the kids to explore the snow for the first time, during the Australian winter in August. This travel diary will cover the first three days in and around Melbourne. Our plane arrived Melbourne approximately 7am and we hardly had a good trip on the plane. However, our spirits were high and the kids really looked forward to their first trip to Australia.

Destination

1. Queen Victoria Market

We want to take a look within the Melbourne CBD before taking a visit at Luna Park. The first destination was the Queen Victoria Market. Rather than looking for food, our main focus are on the souvenir stores around the market, and the kids weren’t disappointed and got their souvenir straight away.

2. Rain Hayne & Shine Farmland

The trip took around one hour drive from our hostel at Doncaster, and it was all worthwhile. The farm is situated in the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne. I did some research and knew that this farm are designed for kids and we weren’t disappointed. Note that the farm closes on Thursdays and Fridays. The entry fee were more than reasonable and cost AU$17/head or AU$65 for a family of four. It was the first time the kids seen the animals in the barns and they were very excited, especially on the animal feeding to the goats and the pigs.

We were impressed that the entire farm were kept so clean, and it was a very pleasant experience even if we go inside the huts of the rabbits and guinea pigs.

3. Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

This was probably the highlight of the day. The Park is only around 20 minutes drive from the farm, south of Cranbourne. We would have love to stay longer, but unfortunately the park closes at 4pm and we arrived around 2pm, but it was enough for the kids to get some more excitement in meeting Wallabies up close, and get the chance to feed them. Currently entry fee for adults is AU$37 and $19 for child. A family pass for family of four cost AU$99.

We would have love to stroll through the entire park if there is enough time. Our kids were so excited meeting the Wallabies and ignored pretty much most attractions around the park. I am sure we will try to arrive earlier if we get the chance to visit again.

4. Enchanted Adventure Garden

This place is also situated at the Mornington Penninsula, its a beautiful place for the kids to visit, especially for the maze. The entry fee is , AU$42 for adults, AU$32 for child (for Garden entry and tree surfing only), but it is definitely worthwhile. If you want to take some gorgeous photos, playing around in the maze, and of course, understand the essence of tree-surfing, this is definitely the place to do it.

Tree surfing is definitely one of the highlights, I strongly advice to do this in winter, rather than summer, pulling the tube up the slope takes some energy and in winter, it was just right without a lot of sweat. There are several slides for everyone to have a crack, depending how much excitement you need.

5. Enchanted Adventure Tree Top Course

Across the garden, you will be able to see the Tree Top Course. The entry fee is AU$84 adults and AU$74 (it is inclusive of visiting the garden and tree surfing). We decided to let one of our kids (aged 8) to give it a crack, and she was up to the challenge.

6. Warrook Farm

Warrook Farm situated around one hour drive southeast of Melbourne, just north of Lang Lang. It provides a farm tour to give the kids an idea the everyday life on a farm. It was a worthwhile journey and it was the first time for them to look at how the farmers shaved off the fur from the sheep, as how they obtain milk from the cow.