Bucket list places to visit around Melbourne

Gliding quietly through the sky in a gondola at Arthurs Seat Eagle, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported a million miles away, rather than one hour’s drive from Melbourne. While you are in the area also checkout Enchanted Adventure Garden listed below.

The Melbourne’s oldest hedge maze set amongst 25 acres of beautiful gardens, perfect for a sunny day outing only 1 hour from Melbourne.

We have all heard of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, it's in the heart of city! But wait, there's more.. There is a second site managed by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria out in Cranbourne and it is quite impressive. Well worth checking out.

RRRaaaawwwww! Fun little dinosaur walk situated conveniently close to Melbourne with plenty of room for a BBQ or a picnic.

This is old skool with a capital K, forget your 80" OLED and 8.1 surround sound - head on back to the 50's and experience cinema like never before!

Fantastic family adventure! This place has it all and your little ones will love it! Also, you are also in the middle of one of Victoria’s great wine regions... Everyone wins!

This place is awesome, if you live nearby a season family pass will pay for itself tenfold. Wave pool, water slides, go-karts, show rides and more. Lots of BBQ facilities but it gets very busy in the summer! I am still wondering, how fast do I need to go to stack one of those toboggans..

Similar to Funfields above, Gumbuya World is of a similar pedigree on the other side of the city. Animals, rides, waterpark, BBQ, everything you would expect for a good day out that will ensure the kids sleep soundly all night!

Known for sports and its all-abilities playground, Hays Paddock is also a great setting for picnics. Tables and seating set in bushland are perfect for social gatherings.

We have always had a soft spot for Daylesford and have been here many times with the little ones. Best to get there early so you have the place to yourselves and we find it great during the winter months when it is cold outside! There is also plenty to do in Daylesford so well worth a long weekend.

The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Gardens is a garden in which children are encouraged to express themselves creatively by using their imagination and getting their hands dirty. Put down that iPad and get them experiencing nature!

Get out and get active! With experiences for all ages and right on Melbourne’s doorstep, Kinglake Forest Adventures is a great day out. Bike tracks, walks and tree top zip lines make it a fund day with the family in a beautiful setting. Apparently they also do weddings, I kinda found that odd..

It’s not quite ‘Game of Thrones’ and has a bit of a touristy feel but the kids will love it and there is always something on! Well worth a visit if you are heading up towards the Victoria Goldfields!

Lego, Lego... then more Lego... We have been here a few times and it is always fun, there are some great interactive experiences that involve the whole family with lots of Lego building as well as large versions of some of Melbourne’s most famous sites.

Not much else to say about this Australian icon - take a day out in St. Kilda and enjoy!

Experience a breath taking birds-eye-view of the magnificent Otway Ranges from the tree tops on a 25 metre-high elevate walkway or fly 30 metres high from tree to tree on the Zipline Tour. This is an experience the who family can enjoy and getting there is part of the adventure along the Great Ocean Road. Why not make a weekend of it!

Child and family friendly hot springs! That’s right, the Peninsula Hot Springs boasts a number of child and family friendly experiences for you and your little ones. “Not only are kids as young as one month old welcomed to our Bath House, but there is a range of experiences and activities designed specifically for kids of all ages. Little ones absolutely love exploring the hot springs and parents absolutely love how soundly they sleep afterwards.” Well worth a visit!

This will be more than a day trip, take a weekend to explore all the island has to offer, and it has a lot!!

I have fond memories as a child visiting Puffing Billy, there is just something magical about an old steam train. Now we take our little ones each spring to the "Day out with Thomas", seriously, if your kids like Thomas this will blow their little minds.

I still remember going on school camp at Sovereign Hill many moons ago. What a great experience, if you have not been before this is an absolute must! Experience what it was like to live back in the 1850's.

Tucked away in the Dandenong Ranges this quiet little farm comes alive in spring with over 900,000 tulips bursting into bloom spread over five acres. Come early with your little ones as the festival gets very busy later in the day as revellers celebrate Dutch, Turkish and Irish cultures that are all connected to the tulip.

A world of winding paths and beautiful artwork that melts into the natural wonder of Toolangi Forest. The site was originally created in 1996 and has been recently been refreshed with new sculptures from 14 local Victorian artists in November 2016. There are also some other nearby walks that take you deeper into the seclusion of the forest where you may catch a glimpse of some native wildlife.

Just putting it out there, but I am pretty sure this is what the first phase of the Ewok village on the forest moon of Endor looked like in Return of the Jedi. Close to the city with heaps of child friendly cafes nearby, this is a great way to get out and get active!

Experience one of Victoria’s most iconic coastlines, 'The Prom' offers some spectacular scenery of huge granite mountains, open forest, rainforest, sweeping beaches and coastlines. Why not try something different and take the kids camping, they will love it! Peak season is during the warmer months as it can get quite cold during winter.

There is chocolate, lots of chocolate, and ice cream - plus a big outdoor area when the little ones can burn of some of that energy they just consumed. Oh, and it is in the heart of one of Victoria’s best wine regions. Everyone wins!